🇬🇧 8 reasons for you to get to know other religions

This is a text with 8 reasons for you to get to know other religions besides the ones your family practices.

I'm Nycka Nunes, digital and cultural nomad and I work as a visual artist, fine art photographer and stylist. As a stylist, I believe that personal style is linked to self-knowledge, personality and lifestyle, and therefore it is impossible to label a personal style and if someone imitates the appearance of another person, this goes against the grain of developing a strong personal style.

1. A still widespread way of educating children is through reward and punishment. For everything there is a right option and all others are wrong. Like a multiple-choice test. (If you suffer from anxiety, a clue to the cause is here.) But life is not a multiple-choice test. So, for you to make smart choices, you need to evaluate different possibilities and take a critical look at them. Thus, it is important to know different religions to discover which path best suits your quest for personal development at the moment. And this option can change along the journey.
2. You will see that all religions have characteristics in common and it will be very useful for you to respect those who follow a different religion, and also those who do not follow any religion, as one of the common characteristics between religions is respect for individuality.
3. You will realise that the purpose of religions is not for you to judge who is different, but to expose yourself to what is different and respect it in order to become a better human being.
4. You will realise that all religions have different characteristics too, and the choice for a religion, when made consciously, is based precisely on these different characteristics. Each person seeks a religion aligned with their personal values. It makes no sense, for example, for a homosexual person to choose a religion that criticises homosexuals.
5. Based on what I've read of Joseph Campbell's books, I realise that today's religions are generally not judgmental or condemning. Those who condemn are religious people who have a stance of fanaticism. Campbell is an author that I highly recommend for anyone who wants to know the world's religions in a broad way to begin the process of consciously choosing a path of personal development.
6. I once read that when the wise point to the moon, the fool looks at the finger. This explains the attitude of people who, instead of using religion to become better people, use it as a crutch to judge who acts differently from how they interpret religion.
7. No religion conveys its teachings literally. Perhaps the form of transmission of teachings of another religion is easier for you to understand than the form of the religions you know today. Just like at school, sometimes we don't quite understand content the way a certain teacher explains it, but with another teacher who explains it differently, the same content seems much easier!
8. To be a fanatic is to be a bore. And not every religion is theistic.

Nycka Nunes

🇬🇧 Those who had traumatic experiences in childhood do not usually have hobbies

Psychologists say that those who had traumatic experiences in childhood do not usually have hobbies. This text is about my childhood and how I dealt with the limitations that were imposed on me.

I'm Nycka Nunes, digital and cultural nomad, and I work as a visual artist, fine art photographer and stylist, in addition to creating content on this blog and on social media. I graduated in advertising.

I started working at 5 years old. I lived with my maternal grandmother for most of my childhood and adolescence.

When I was very young I studied ballet, piano and flute. I lived opposite the music conservatory in my hometown at the time. I've been passionate about piano ever since, but even though they enrolled me in the course, my family never encouraged me and I didn't have a piano to practice with. And I was frustrated with the lack of evolution between one class and another. The other courses I don't even remember wanting. I still reject the flute. I now know that narcissists - and emotionally immature people - tend to do things to impress others. Maybe that's why they enrolled me in these courses and others. To impress others, keep up with the Joneses.

I also liked to draw and I wanted to learn to paint, and I wasn't given any encouragement to do so. To the point where I got to draw only in therapy sessions, in childhood. I only went back to drawing in the first year of college for advertising. And, surprisingly to me, I was drawing well.

Notice that what was important to me, what brought me satisfaction and joy, was not encouraged. In some cases it was even prohibited. And that went beyond art. I remember once asking for a Barbie as a gift and my mother saying that I was no longer a child to play with dolls. I was a child. I started playing with boys, with He-Man and Thundercats dolls. I started playing football. And I continued to allow myself to be a child, even though I had to work and was treated like an adult by my mother and her family.

In the store, they put me in charge of organising the products in stock, hidden from customers. I thought it was boring, I did what had to be done quickly and went to the counter to try to serve customers. Several did not accept my help. I was small, and just as capable of serving them as the adult saleswomen. I knew the names and prices of everything, I knew where each product was, and I even knew better than the others what was in stock because most of the time I was in stock.

In childhood, I found in literature an escape from the annoyance and disrespect I experienced in living with my maternal family.

Unfortunately, for a large part of Brazilian society in inland cities, family is something above good and evil. Even as an adult, when I voiced criticism of abuse committed by family members, several people criticised me. I also got a lot of support when I talked about these bad experiences on social media.

The memories I have of living with my father's family are all good. After my parents' divorce, I started to see my father a lot less, but when he was there he was 100% there, always supporting me, praising me. My paternal grandmother used to talk to me a lot. My uncles also treated me very well, and respected my weird behaviour, for example, being isolated at Christmas parties when there were people I didn't know.

This positive interaction with my paternal family and the literature that took me to different realities than the one I lived with my maternal grandmother were essential for me to deal with the authoritarianism of my maternal grandmother and the cruelty of my mother and my aunts, who always they humiliated me, treated me badly, repeated countless times that I was ugly, stupid, useless, and no matter how good my grades at school or my behaviour were, nothing was good enough.

My self-esteem was low and remained so until I was in my thirties, because I placed too much importance on being loved by my mother's family. Today, if someone doesn't like me, I move on with my life, I've achieved great emotional autonomy. Anyone who doesn't value my qualities doesn't deserve my affection.

As I traveled to my father's farm on the weekends, and there I was always treated well, I really like to travel. I also like to practice individual physical activities (cycling, walking the dog, etc). And to watch football matches, but I usually only watch Palmeiras matches. Sometimes I watch games of some European teams too.

I look for joy and satisfaction in everything I do, and I've learned to be intolerant of certain attitudes. Because satisfaction was something forbidden to me in almost all of my childhood and adolescence. And I don't want to be satisfied only on weekends. That's why I don't limit my satisfaction to hobbies. I do not accept that only they bring me joy and relaxation.

And you, how do you deal with the bad experiences you had in childhood?

Nycka Nunes

🇬🇧 Songs to deal with grief

This Christmas it will be twenty years since I last saw my father alive. He was my biggest emotional support. I decided to make a list of songs to deal with grief, or to listen to when we miss someone we love and has passed away. As in some parts of the world it is common to gather the family at Christmas, it can be more difficult to deal with losses during this period. Perhaps the list is useful to listen to in other situations of grief, of closing cycles as well, but I made it thinking about this type of grief. I believe that we should show love while we are alive and I try to do that. The list mixes a bit of what I listen to when I miss someone I'll never see again and songs written for situations of losing someone the composer loves.

• Love in the afternoon, by Legião Urbana.
• Letter to Dana from Sonata Arctica.
• Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton.
• Gostava tanto de você, de Tim Maia.
• Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day.
• Farewell, from Apocalyptica.
• The Loneliest, by Måneskin.
• Need to Believe, by Gotthard. The album this song is part of was the last released during singer Steve Lee's lifetime.
• Come home, by OneRepublic and Sara Bareilles. It's not a song about grief, as far as I'm aware, but it has a sing-to-cry energy.
• Kiss while your lips are still red, by Nightwish.
• Dead boy’s poem, by Nightwish.
• Wish you were here, by Pink Floyd.

Suggest any more?

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Listen to these songs: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2CyHDYl25HSTQflH21ESZS?si=b-CUIXC6R92_CXcLGAs7nA

Nycka the Nomad

🇬🇧 About brazilian dancing and attitude during the World Cup

Let's talk about the World Cup. Once again.

After the victory of the Brazilian team against South Korea, a former Irish player complained about the Brazilian players dancing after each goal. He said the dances were disrespectful to the opposing team. I've been following Brazilian football since the 90's. Goal celebrations vary from time to time and with the success of Tiktok, dancing is the newest trend. It's not just during the World Cup. In any game of the national or international championships, players from Brazilian teams celebrate in this way. So why criticise the national team for doing something they are used to doing and is harmful to nobody? Was it perhaps because of the former player's past of aggression on the field that he made the criticism? Could he be a macho man from the countryside who thinks that dancing is not a man's thing, and to play football one must demonstrate his masculinity by breaking an opponent's leg? The time for that kind of man has passed. In today's society there is very little room left for the aggressive man, fortunately.

On the other hand, the Brazilian team deserves criticism for another reason. Still on the game against South Korea, in the second half Brazil stopped playing. The game was sleepy. They looked like those bad students who just try hard enough to get through their grades in school. They opened an advantage over the opponent and lost the opportunity to play well and score more goals. In the group stage they did the same. In the game against Cameroon, as they had already secured a place in the round of 16, they relaxed and... they lost! They use the excuse that they played with a reserve team, but a national team should have the best players from that country. Including reserve players. Is that having a winning mindset? In my view, no. And I have my reasons for criticising the brazilian national team in this regard. Let's go to them.

Football is, above all, entertainment. People want to see beautiful plays and lots of goals. If it is possible to win 12-0, there is no reason, in the eyes of the fan, to accept winning only 4-1 (South Korea scored due to the ridiculous attitude of brazilian players in the second half of the game). And in football, as entertainment, the fan matters.

Another point: Palmeiras, the current Brazilian champions, has, since Abel Ferreira was hired as the team's coach, a very different mentality from that of being satisfied with securing the result. By respecting the fans by bringing a team that seeks to score the most goals per game and take the least number of goals from the opponent, the team gains support from the fans who sing and cheer and support the team even in very difficult games. Palmeiras also has a team that even with substitutions and improvisations, the team plays well. They don't use the excuse of playing with reserves to justify a defeat. The coach assumes the responsibility for the defeat, either because he chose the players badly, because he opted for a game strategy that did not work or for any other reason that he perceived as the cause of the problem.

Using the excuse of playing with a reserve team is childish. A sign of immaturity. It's like tripping over a stone and blaming the stone for having crossed your path. Those who act like this don't learn from their own mistakes.

Will Brazil reach the World Cup final? I don't know. With that mindset I don't trust enough. But eventually the student who puts in the least effort also is approved. But for anyone whose personal values ​​include  striving for excellence, this attitude is unacceptable.

I’m a photographer, but I can help you to develop the right attitude towards your career, through a strong personal brand and help your business to become remarkable too.

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Nycka the Nomad

🇬🇧 Gwendoline Christie and the choices of tall women

In the previous text I talked about men in high heels. In this one I talk about tall women and the impact of common sense on their choices. Actress Gwendoline Christie, Larissa Weems from the series Wednesday, is 1.91 m tall and has already said that when she decided to be a film actress people around her said it would be difficult due to her height. I also saw she said that in the series Wednesday is the first time that she thinks she is beautiful on screen, because in other roles her image tended to be masculinised, usually without makeup, that feature that so many women love.

Many of us live in a society that is still very sexist and even women have sexist thoughts. And the beliefs we hold affect our choices. Including our style and career choices. Do not read this text thinking about the oppressor and the oppressed. It is a mistake. Think of individual responsibility. In what you do that reinforces your belief of being "oppressed", for example. I mentioned Gwendoline Christie because, from the little information I had about her, she didn't surrender to what the people around her said and believed in her ability to build the career she chose, the life she chose.

There is a lot of talk about “beauty standards”, and it is curious to note that even though all runway models are tall, ordinary women who are tall often feel uncomfortable with their height. Which reinforces what I said in another text I published here on the website about representation.

It is common for tall women not even to wear heels, which seems not to be a problem for Gwendoline Christie. In a text I wrote in 2008 on the subject, many women, some even shorter than me, who am 1.75 m, said that they don't wear heels because they would look much taller than their friends and boyfriends. I've been wearing heels since I was a kid and one of my best friends in high school was a ballerina. And, of course, shorter than me. And we keep in touch today, even almost thirty years after finishing high school.

About love relationships, where does the need for a taller man come from? Gwendoline's partner is 6cm shorter than her (according to information I found on the internet). Why would it be embarrassing for a woman to date a shorter man? Why would it be embarrassing for a man to date a taller woman? Height we cannot change. It's one of those things that you either accept yours or you accept it. Heels can make someone look taller, but they also convey other messages. Among them, that of assuming your personal power. And this is also possible for tall women. As I commented in the previous text, if even tall men wear heels, there is no reason for tall women to limit themselves to shoes without heels.

Certainly, the way people educate their daughters interferes with these impressions, as well as what is publicised by the local media. In Brazil, it is common to repress girls who act like boys, who sit with their legs apart, or cross their legs in order to occupy more space, as it is common for men to do. I know the weight of the family's opinion in a child's head, but I assume that those who read my content are adults. It's already easier to question, even very ingrained beliefs in the mind.

About career, in adolescence I often heard that I should be a volleyball player. I was very bad at team sports, including football, which I played until I was about 12 years old at a time when women's football did not exist in Brazil. Once they invited me to play volleyball on the school team because I was tall. I knew almost nothing. No one at school or on the team offered to teach me. One day I went to my cousin's house and we played until I learned, at least, how to serve the ball. Nobody told me we had a game that day and when I got to school I found out that the team lost by W.O. I only won because I solved the “problem” of not knowing how to play volleyball. And I preferred to follow professional paths where my creativity is more relevant than my physique. Today I see professional athletes in a different way.

How much do you let other people's opinions of your height influence your decisions? Are you submissive to the opinions of family members and close people or do you seek to build a life that exalts your qualities? 

I’m a photographer and style advisor. If you need some help to deal with your height, style or appearance or if you love yourself and want to register how beautiful you are, you can count on my services. 

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Nycka, the Nomad

🇬🇧 Playing in high heels

The World Cup is taking place in Qatar and, in football, sometimes people say that a player is playing in high heels (I know they say that in Brazil, I don't know if there is an equivalent expression in other languages). This means that he thinks he is better than others and at the same time puts in less effort. Illuminate my ignorance and comment if there is an equivalent expression in your language and what it is. This text is about other ways of wearing heels, mainly by men.

In addition, of course, to men who have a fetish for feminisation, for dressing like a woman, there are those who wear heels without looking for a feminine image.

Back in the 80s, Tom Cruise wore heels to look taller in Top Gun. You didn't see it, but he wore it because he's much shorter than actress Kelly McGillis, who was his love interest in the movie.

Robert de Niro wore high platform shoes to look taller than Al Pacino in "The Irishman".

Robert Downey Jr., Brad Pitt, Vin Diesel, Mark Wahlberg, Daniel Radcliffe, among other actors, some of whom are over 6 feet tall, wear shoes that make them look taller.

If tall men wear shoes that make them look taller, I see no problem with tall women wearing heels. In fact, I've never had a problem with tall women wearing heels, and as I'm 5'11, I've always worn heels. In recent years I prefer combat boots and boots without heels because for my current job they are usually more comfortable, but I still wear high heels.

Among male celebrities who wear heels as part of their style, not just to look taller, we have names like Sir Elton John, Prince, Jared Leto, Troye Sivan, Cody Fern, Adam Lambert, Brendon Urie, Damiano David and many others.

Have you - man - ever tried wearing shoes with high heels?

Regardless of whether you have a conventional or more daring style to take care of your appearance, get to know my services.

Nycka the Nomad

🇬🇧 How to get to know the neighbours of your new home

So you've moved to a new city. Maybe a new country. Alone. And now you want to meet people, your neighbours. How to do it?

If you move in with someone who already lives in the city, they usually already know the neighbours and you will naturally end up getting to know them too. If you've moved to live alone, this text has a few options for how to approach it. You need to evaluate the local culture and even the neighbourhood profile to see which options might work best.

If you have dogs, the tendency is that, when walking your dogs, you will find other neighbours walking their dogs, and you can use these situations to start conversations. Compliments to the dog, or asking for a veterinarian's recommendation, brand of dog food (if you are in another country), etc are options for starting a conversation. Over time, you establish some connections with these neighbours and the topics of conversation are expanded.

If you don't have dogs... eventually cat hair on your clothes can make someone start a conversation with you. But don't count on it. All kidding aside, it's possible to be kind to any neighbours, and find ways to get to know them without being intrusive.

If you are going to live in an apartment or condominium and there is a group of residents on the internet, you can introduce yourself to the group, offer some kind of help that is within your reach to the neighbours, present them with some delicacy that you have prepared. Talking to them when meeting them in common areas or around the neighbourhood is also an option.

If you live at a house... I don't recommend knocking on the door of neighbours you've never met to introduce yourself or anything else. If you have small school-age children and you let them be free to make friends with the neighbourhood kids, naturally you'll get to know the neighbours. With no dogs or small child, I don't know what your options are for meeting the neighbours living at a house. I accept suggestions in the comments.

Tell me what you've already done to meet neighbours, and what you'd like your new neighbours to do when they arrive at their new home next to yours.

Nycka the Nomad

🇬🇧 15 cover songs you need to hear

Yesterday was musician's day in Brazil and today is jukebox day in the United States, so let's talk about music.

Music is an important part of my lifestyle and today I'm going to list 15 covers that, in my opinion, are better than the originals or just as good, but with a different identity. Comment your opinion and suggest other covers that I should know (and maybe I really do). My criterion takes into account the cover bringing a new face to the song. In almost all cases I also like the original song.

• Blind Channel playing “Left outside alone”, originally by Anastacia.
• Sonata Arctica playing "Still Loving You", originally by Scorpions.
• Evergrey performing "I'm sorry", originally by Dilba.
• Måneskin playing "Beggin'", originally by Frankie Valli.
• Gotthard performing "Hush", originally by Deep Purple.
• Iisa singing “Kellot Kappelin”, originally by Samuli Putro.
• Blind Channel playing “Numb” by Linkin Park. In my opinion, they convey a better sense of numbness than the original, which, in the chorus, conveys more anger.
• Cat Casino playing “Piano Man” by Billy Joel.
• Cat Casino playing “Millionaire” by Chris Stapleton.
• Joel Hokka singing “Diamonds” by Rihanna.
• Apocalyptica playing Metallica's "Nothing Else Matters".
• Apocalyptica and Till Lindemann performing David Bowie's "Helden".
• The Mayries performing “God is a woman” by Ariana Grande.
• Angra, with André Matos, playing “Wuthering heights” by Kate Bush.
• Lucia Muniz singing “Lonely Day” by System of a Down.

Almost all of them are available on my Spotify playlists.

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Nycka the Nomad

🇬🇧 About fashion clothing that “nobody” wears

Let's talk about the fashion shows where the models, and especially the female models, have an exaggerated styling, which scares a lot of people. Those that many people wonder if there are those who wear those clothes off the catwalk, because “nobody” sees stylised people like the models on the streets. Those clothes usually go to stores and are sold. I'll explain why no one sees someone dressed like the models on the streets. This is a post about the fashion clothing that “nobody” wears. And “nobody” in quotes reminds me of Homer’s Odyssey (although Odysseus says his name was NoMan in the passage the expression reminded me of).

What some call the fashion industry I separate into:

• Clothing industry, which encompasses basic apparel, cheap clothes and accessories, and fast fashion.
• Fashion industry, which is where the original, different creations are, the source from which the clothing industry often drinks, seeking to make cheap and simplified versions of pieces that can be more easily acceptable to the masses.

The brands that use that impactful styling in their fashion shows and even in their campaigns are usually in the second group. And that has a reason. Whoever buys the pieces of the first group needs the information masticated, so the brands use fashion shows and campaigns to teach the customer how to combine jeans with a blue shirt. Customers of brands in the second group don't need the fashion show to teach them how to wear the clothes, because either they pay stylists to do so or they know how to wear those daring design pieces on a day-to-day basis. That's why brands use the show to present the collection's concept, to tell a story. And also because these collections have a history of their own, something the first group usually lacks, as it is based on what already exists and is widely accepted.

In everyday situations, no one is likely to wear fashion show pieces styled exactly as they do on the catwalk. When I talk about it, I remember a fashion show for a women's fashion brand where the styling was reminiscent of rag dolls. A shoe saleswoman who followed me on Facebook at the time was shocked by the styling of this show and didn't see how wearable the clothes were, even though they weren't common. Therefore, those who only wear clothes from clothing brands cannot even identify a blouse from a fashion collection worn with jeans, for example, on the streets.

The real difference between these two universes is the repertoire and the ability to interpret. Whether it's the repertoire and interpretation capacity of those who wear fashion, when the person has information, like me, or the repertoire of stylists who are paid to guide those who want to have a more striking style (like me too, because I  work as a stylist).

My reference to Odysseus wasn’t by chance. As the ogre screamed “NoMan” was in his house, while in fact there was somebody there, some people say “nobody” wears those clothes when in fact many people wear them. Maybe not people who frequent the same environments as those who say this, or not the same way the clothing are styled for the fashion shows, but they exist and I am one of them.

Nycka the Nomad

🇬🇧 Restaurants in non-touristy places

Have you noticed that in many cities the options available at local restaurants are very limited? Several cities, especially those that do not give importance to tourism and are not capitals, economic centres, have little variety in terms of gastronomy, have few or no foreign cuisine restaurants, and creative or contemporary gastronomy options are even rarer.

From what I observed in the places where I lived, in the trips and research I did, this happens for two main reasons:

• For accommodation of the local population. When people from a place do not usually travel and get used to the local cuisine as if it were the best in the world without knowing other options. No one in that environment is dedicated to studying cuisines from other parts of the world, let alone opening a restaurant that is different from the options that already exist in the local market, be it foreign cuisine or contemporary/creative cuisine with local ingredients.
• For not attracting immigrants linked to gastronomy. In addition to local people going out to learn about the cuisine of other places, there is also the possibility of a place having restaurants with varied cuisines by attracting immigrants who try to replicate the dishes of their homeland where they will live and make a business out of it.

In both cases, the creativity of entrepreneurs and chefs is also important. When creativity is lacking, they tend to create menus with dishes that they know will be well accepted, without taking any risks.  The best restaurants in the world are those that take the most risks and create the most original dishes. Those who offer typical food from a certain region or country gain from the creativity in choosing dishes that most similar restaurants have not chosen (in a scenario where there are already direct competitors). Average restaurants do what the entrepreneur's grandmother might do at home with both her hands tied and her glasses off. In the very bad ones we suspect that the cooks are in fact old ladies with tied hands and without glasses. 😥

The lack of appreciation of the local culture and the natural beauties of the region also contributes to this lack of options indirectly, because if someone found the culture of that place interesting or appreciated the natural beauties of the region, they would want to spread it to the world, transforming the place into a destination tourist. And one would act to create that reality. It lacks vision and ambition. And people like me, who love to see off-the-beaten-path places, but also love staying in a comfortable hotel and eating well, can't do that in many of these cities with limited dining options. I am curious to know: if the place is not interesting, why do people live there?

Why do you think these places have few dining options and often no good hotels? Would you live in a place without good dining options?

Nycka, the Nomad

🇬🇧 How to plan a relocation

Once you already have in mind where you want to live, it's time to start planning the move to know what needs to be done to make the dream come true. When planning to move to another city or country, it is important to research:

• Neighbourhoods in the city where you want to live that suit your needs and expectations. Anyone who is used to living in a neighbourhood where you can walk to the supermarket may not feel comfortable in a completely residential neighbourhood. If you have school-age children, having schools close to home can be important. If you know what your needs and expectations are, you know what characteristics the neighbourhoods you are going to consider living in should have.
• Property features that meet your needs and expectations. What are your needs and expectations regarding the property where you will live? Do you prefer furnished property or buy the furniture and decorate it yourself so the place reflects your identity? Do you prefer house or apartment? Need a garage? How much space is needed for the garage? Covered or open garage? How many bedrooms? How many bathrooms? How big is the kitchen? What other features of the property layout are important? Does it need to be close to public transport? Do you prefer properties with conventional energy or sustainable energy sources like solar energy?
• Calculate the approximate cost of living for you (and your family, if any) to live in that city. I already explained here on the site how to do this calculation.
• How can you have the necessary income to maintain an acceptable standard of living. When you know the cost of living in the place, you can think about what you need to earn that income. Do you have any source of income that is independent of work and accessible on a monthly basis, such as rented properties? Are your current professional skills enough to have a job that provides the necessary income in the desired city? If not, what do you need to learn to be more professionally valued? We're talking planning, so you have time for that. Nothing prevents you from ignoring this point and lowering your standards. It's a matter of choice.
• Types of visa or residence permit, requirements and values, if you want to move to another country and need a visa to enter legally. And, through that, discover the best options for your case.

The complete move planning roadmap varies depending on the reasons that lead you to move and also if you are moving alone, with family, etc. The above tips are a foundation for you to start looking at what you need. Add information according to your own experience.

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Nycka, the Nomad

🇬🇧 Turning the dream of living elsewhere into a goal

Planning to move to another city or country takes a few steps. In this text I will ask some questions that we must answer before turning the dream of moving to another city into a goal.

• Where do you want to go? (If you just want to get out of where you are, to almost anywhere, the chances of frustration are high).
• What reasons do you have to go? Remember the part of the Alice in Wonderland story where the cat explains to the girl that if she doesn't know where she wants to go, she just wants to get out of where she is, any path will lead her to the goal. Note that this does not mean that any path is good. Adult and emotionally mature people, as I assume you are, learn from mistakes and bad experiences and build their references from there. What do you already know about what you want and what you don't want in your life? What kind of life do you want to build in your next destination and how does it help you to build that life?
• If you are moving to another country for any reason other than just studying, do you have the professional competence to work in that country in your area of ​​expertise? What do you have to offer the place where you want to live?
• What do you know about the culture of the place where you want to live? Are you able to respect it? (Each city has its peculiarities, its culture, and there are cultural differences even within the same country).
• What is your current standard of living and lifestyle?
• How used to being away from family and friends and going out alone are you?
• How used to eating different foods are you? (This question is more relevant in case of moving to another country).

With these questions answered, you can start researching the best places to live, calculate costs, and assess the feasibility of a few different places. You can start to plan your relocation. 

To know the next steps to make the dream come true, follow my profiles on social networks and follow the publications on this website. To read older texts can be useful to prepare your mindset.

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Nycka, the Nomad

🇬🇧 Opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors in Bosnia and Herzegovina

If you are looking for investment opportunities around the world, this text is about opportunities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This site has texts with opportunities in other countries and if you follow my profiles on social networks you will have more information of this type, and other information of interest to those who, like you and me, consider the world as home.

One of the options for investors is to seek information on companies that are being privatised in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as these are opportunities open to both citizens and foreigners.

Furthermore, the country offers interesting opportunities in the following sectors.

Agriculture and food processing:

The agricultural sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina offers enormous opportunities for potential investors, based on the following main advantages:

• Abundance of agricultural land - about 50% of agricultural land is uncultivated.
• Favourable weather conditions.
• Availability of skilled and cheap labor and a long tradition in agriculture.
• Educational system developed.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina is a major importer of agricultural and food products.
• Privatisation of state-owned companies.

Automotive industry:

The main reasons for choosing Bosnia and Herzegovina as a destination to invest in their automotive sector are:

• Strategic position: the geographical proximity to the automotive production base in Europe offers foreign investors low distribution costs and punctuality in the delivery of products.
• A long tradition in the supply of auto parts and in the metalworking industry.
• Steady export growth and reliable customers.
• The existence of research and development institutes (six engineering faculties).
• Production quality - ISO and industrial certificates.
• Existence of infrastructures and availability of energy sources.

Energy:

The energy sector is one of the strongest economic sectors in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a long tradition and enormous potential and opportunities for further development and investment, such as:

• The main primary energy source in Bosnia and Herzegovina is coal (brown coal and lignite) with estimated reserves of 10x109 tons.
• The hydroelectric potential, which is 6,000 MW, is used for only 35%.
• According to the analyses, there is significant potential for wind energy.
• The sources of raw materials for the production of energy from biomass are very favourable, including about 1.5 million m³ of forest residues and residues of the wood industry (wood residues, wood chips and technical wood residues, etc.).
• Opportunities for harnessing geothermal and solar energy are widely available, but have yet to be explored and exploited.
• Preliminary investigations on oil and gas indicate the existence of potential fields in a large number of sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina (reserves are estimated at around 50 million tons of oil).

Forestry:

The most famous natural resource of Bosnia and Herzegovina is wood. 53% of the country is covered by forests, used for wood processing and furniture production.

Forests and forest land in Bosnia and Herzegovina cover an area of ​​2,709,800 hectares.

In addition to wood as a raw material, the country's forest sector has important opportunities for the production of:

• Bioenergy based on forest residues, sawdust and shavings;
• Non-woody / secondary forest products: stone fruit, berries, bark, roots, pine cones, grasses, flowers, medicinal and aromatic herbs, mushrooms;
• Endemic species of plants and animals and much more.

Tourism:

Bosnia and Herzegovina has natural beauties and historical and cultural heritage that largely satisfy the new trends of the travel market, especially the demands of travellers looking for new destinations, adventure and authenticity.

The most promising branches of tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina are:

• Winter and mountain tourism
• Ecotourism
• Spa tourism
• Cultural and religious tourism
• Sports and adventure tourism
• Maritime tourism

The tourism sector has enormous development potential and all the prerequisites to play a significant role in the country's economy. Therefore, tourism development is recognised as one of the most important priorities of the country's general economic development policy.

Textile and clothing industry:

The proximity of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Western and Eastern European markets is a great advantage.

Why invest in the textile and footwear sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina:

• A long tradition in the production of clothing and footwear
• Good reputation as a supplier in the German and Italian markets
• Low labor costs
• Skills of the workforce in spinning, weaving and knitting
• Proximity to the main world textile markets
• Development of small and medium entrepreneurship

Bosnia and Herzegovina can be a good choice to start your business in a country that offers benefits not found in the place where you live. If your field of interest has not been mentioned in this text, it is worth making a business plan to evaluate its feasibility in Bosnia and Herzegovina or research other countries that offer interesting advantages for what you want to implement, or which, culturally, are more interesting for you, because living in a country where we have no cultural affinities is not a good choice.

If you have a business and want to increase its visibility in the world, read the media kit.

To receive more information on art, culture, style and lifestyle for those who consider the world as home, follow my social profiles.

Nycka, the Nomad

🇬🇧 Challenges of cohabitation

This is a text about living with other people in the same house, whether they are family members or not. In Brazil, when you are moving alone to another city or country, some good housing options are sharing an apartment or renting a room. In these options, you may be able to rely on people who have lived there longer to get some insight into the city and neighbourhood. It is rare to find furnished apartments for rent in the country, so these are also cheaper options. But they bring the challenge of living with an unknown person (or more). How to deal with this situation? What I have learned about this since I moved from my hometown is also helpful in living with family and in the process of self-awareness, of knowing your limits.

In my first experience outside my hometown I shared an apartment with 3 other girls who already lived in the city and from the very beginning we established house rules. Between sweeping the house, cooking, washing dishes, and taking out the trash, we all did some activity each day, alternating what each would do each day. We went to the supermarket together, we shared the cost of common products equally and those who wanted to buy something just for themselves paid for it themselves.

I believe that whenever we live with other people, family members or not, establishing rules on housework and also on life at home are important points.

When I lived in a guesthouse, the landlady set the rules, but I was lucky she made some exceptions for me. She prepared food for everyone and when she realised that I didn't eat cooked meat, she started preparing other meat for me, for example. And even though it was a girls' boarding house, she once or twice agreed to let me meet my male colleagues in the living room in the afternoon to do group work for college.

This sense of respect for individual needs is very important in defining the rules of coexistence.

In another experience I lived with a person who didn't like washing dishes. So we established the cleaning rules as it was in the first apartment I lived in after I left my hometown, but I agreed to wash the dishes every day and the person washed the toilet every day. In Brazil, using a dishwasher is unusual. They exist on the market, but the cheapest ones cost more than two minimum wages, much more than a simple refrigerator, for example. If you are thinking of living in the south of the country, I recommend that you have a budget to buy one. Not all homes have hot tap water and washing dishes in winter can be a hassle. In all of the above examples I lived in the Southeast.

Of course, not all is rosy about socialising with other people and from time to time the negotiation does not work or there is disrespect and even dishonesty, and in some cases, stopping living with certain people is the only possible way. An advantage of cultural nomadism as a way of life is that self-knowledge becomes part of our routine and we learn to face challenges.

This text, like all others on this site, is protected by copyright. All rights are reserved to the author.

Companies interested in promoting their products and services in my communication channels should read the media kit to know how to proceed. Governments interested in advertising tourist destinations and destinations for entrepreneurs and investors should do the same.

Nycka, the Nomad

🇬🇧 Pork consumption in Brazil

Today I will talk a little about pork as an option for our meals, based on the Brazilian reality.

In Brazil, although bacon is widely used, other cuts of pork are not used like beef. Considering that pork is cheaper than beef in the country, why are most of the typical meat dishes based on chicken or beef and, furthermore, do we consume relatively little other cuts of pork on a daily basis?

A supermarket I went to once held a small in-store event with a local chef to teach a recipe for a main dish (with pork), dessert, and wine tasting. I went because I like to try different things. At the time, I often bought pork tenderloin. Is very good.

And at this event, the chef made a comment on the little use of pork in Brazilian cuisine. He said that pork is used less in everyday life because at school we learn about various diseases transmitted by pigs and end up being afraid of consuming them. My observation: Curiously, no one is afraid to consume bacon, given its popularity in burgers, coffee shops, restaurants, etc. He also stated that this fear is currently unfounded because pork in good Brazilian supermarkets is inspected and safe for consumption.

It is true that the most famous Brazilian dish, feijoada, takes, in its most "root" version, pieces of pork such as ears, legs, etc. The more gourmet versions use different types of sausages. My taste buds prefer the sausage-only versions, but feijoada is far from a dish I love. Brazilian cuisine has much better dishes, in my opinion.

Some typical Minas Gerais dishes also include pork or lard, but most use beef or chicken.

For singles and couples, pork has the advantage of having smaller portions than similar cuts of beef.  Pork tenderloin is smaller than beef fillet, to the extent that a person can eat for three days or four or five meals for a couple. Assuming that those who live alone do not prepare several side dishes and a couple tends to prefer a slightly more elaborate meal. For someone like me who prefers fresher food and avoids freezing, it can be a differential.

It is also worth mentioning that it is usually possible to replace beef cuts in the kitchen with their pork equivalents.

If you are planning to live in Brazil, it is worth knowing the most common options for your food. If you already live in Brazil, it's interesting to think creatively and vary your menu.

This text, like all others on this site, is protected by copyright. All rights are reserved to the author.

Companies interested in promoting their products and services in my communication channels should read the media kit to know how to proceed.

Nycka, the Nomad

🇬🇧 How to expand your horizons

One of the best things about the lifestyle of cultural nomads is getting to know new places, new cultures, new flavours, etc. Curiosity moves us. We love art and culture and to live new experiences.

In this text I will give some tips for those who have never done it and want to start expanding their horizons. Especially for those who live in a small town, without much choice, and want to try something different. Of course, the tips are also useful for those who live in big cities and don't have the habit of going to places they don't know, eating in different restaurants, etc.

• Travel to nearby cities on weekends. Here on the site there are tips on how to make your own travel itinerary.
• Include several restaurants in your schedule. Follow my social media profiles for suggestions.
• Try making different recipes at home. Here on the site there are some great recipes. Follow the tag / column "Savouring the world".
• If you don't usually go out alone, do it. Go see a movie, theatre, museum, or music show on your own to get started. These are very safe activities to do on your own.
• Read books in styles other than what you usually read. There are several texts with book recommendations on this site.
• Go to film festivals and events that feature films other than what you usually see or explore the streaming channel options that no one talks about.
• From time to time attend orchestra and opera performances.
• Follow my Spotify profile to listen to music from all over the world.

Follow my social media profiles for more tips and new posts on this website. The links are in the sidebar.

This text, like all others on this site, is protected by copyright. All rights are reserved to the author.

Companies interested in promoting their products and services in my communication channels should read the media kit. Cities that want to attract tourists and new residents should do the same.

Nycka, the Nomad

🇬🇧 What Palmeiras can teach entrepreneurs and managers

What does Palmeiras have to teach entrepreneurs and managers around the world?

Before Abel Ferreira became manager of Palmeiras (Brazilian soccer team, current second place in Club World Cup), I commented many times on social media about the emotional fragility of the team when it took a goal. I have been following Palmeiras since the 1990s and this has really happened many times over this nearly thirty year period. In many moments Palmeiras won in turns. But it rarely won by rout against any team. Abel, at Palmeiras, corrected precisely the weakest point of the team, which is the emotional issue. I've always felt that professional football teams should have psychologists to help players and coaches deal with pressure. While big team players usually make good enough money to pay psychologists, they don't always have a family culture that welcomes this investment. So, in my opinion, clubs should offer this to professional teams. Whether or not they offer it, I don't know.

In Brazil every citizen thinks he is a football coach and wants to give his opinion on everything and the pressure of playing in a great team can be immense. Being part of the front line of a big club is not for everyone. By the front line, I mean people with jobs with higher media exposure, especially players and coaches. Once, the employee of a pet shop I frequent commented that her son's dream is to become a professional player and she goes out of her way to support him because the boy is good, but with every selection for the local teams he becomes anxious and plays badly. If this is the case in the selection for teams that are not even strong out of the state, what would it be like if he could play for a day in the Brazilian team? This inner strength is essential. But that's not the only thing that has accumulated so many titles at Palmeiras in the short time Abel Ferreira is coaching the team.

What does this have to do with entrepreneurship and management?

In football there are large, medium, small, very small teams, even that team of friends who do not practice any kind of sport, but meet sporadically to play football. There are also companies of different sizes and profiles in business.

The entrepreneur is the person who recognises their talents and identifies opportunities to contribute to society through them, doing something different from what already exists in the market. Preparation is part of the entrepreneur's life. And this has several possible and valid interpretations, and many misinterpretations. Since only those who have talent and recognise it are able to value and recognise the talent of others, this also interferes with the corporate culture, in the selection of personnel, in the attraction and maintenance of skilled labor, etc. Abel is young, but he recognises his worth, his qualities and tries to build a team of mentally strong young talents like him.

The mental strength, not only of not going down when conceding goals, but also of trying to win with a rout whenever possible, is not the only change. With it came a team committed to creating the best possible result. This, in companies, is linked to branding 360°, a service that I am a world pioneer in offering.

Another interesting point is that the leader (Abel) creates opportunities for the whole squad, there are no players with guaranteed position. And he offers opportunities for young people from the youth teams on the base to be part of the professional team. One such player who hailed from youth teams, Gabriel Menino, has already been champion at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 with the Brazilian team, as well as racking up prizes and championships playing for Palmeiras. Another Palmeiras player, Rony, always tries to score goals on a bicycle. He doesn't just want to score goals, he wants to create a beautiful show to watch. It has already become a joke among fans who, at every game, ask if he has already tried to score a goal on a bicycle that day, but he has qualities that have made him the team's top scorer in the Copa Libertadores da América, the tournament that defines the representative of the Americas for the Club World Cup.

Companies can and must give opportunities to young people, choosing those who have a profile that can add value to the company's proposal and at the same time having a business culture that truly values ​​diversity and creativity in order to always seek extraordinary results.

I could write much more, but I prefer to invite entrepreneurs and leaders from all over the world interested in having a company with a differentiated identity and offering products and / or services with high added value to learn about my services for entrepreneurs and my 360 ° branding, marketing and innovation consultancy. An innovation that goes beyond the implementation of new machines, robots and applications.

This text, like all others on this site, is protected by copyright. Total or partial reproduction or translation is prohibited.

Nycka, the Nomad