Hummm...

Not really sure about what I should write about first:

1. Going back to Portugal in a few days.
2. Being "2nd most popular outgoing link" in Tiago's blog (I knew it!! there was one more person coming to my blog and the total of weekly visitors sometimes was almost 5!!)
3. Receiving postcards from cities that remind me of Lisbon.
4. Home made dinners by friends.
5. My new room.
6. My new responsibilities at work.
7. Butterflies.

I guess I will end up just writing about the bottom line: They all make me smile.

Am I the only one who thinks this is ridiculous?

So.. when you least expect it, war eclodes again. Beirut and Lebanon are under attack and it just frightening to see how the violence is escalating..

Just received an email from Chris and he arrived safe into Damascus. Thank God. Desperately trying to get out though as everyone, somehow, expects Damascus to be the next target for Israels air strikes.

Was just browsing through CNN and found an "alleged" message sent from the US embassy in Lebanon to US residents in the country. I say alleged because I really hope it is not true.

Somehow it just makes me sick to think that they mention more details about money and costs of the repatriation efforts than actually focusing in supporting/calming americans in Beirut.

Well I guess when it comes to war, it is as most of things in life (unfortunately) all about the money...

Message to Americans in Lebanon
The Department of State continues to work with the Department of Defense on a plan to help American citizens depart Lebanon.
As of the morning of July 15, we are looking at how we might transport Americans to Cyprus. Once in Cyprus, Americans can then board commercial aircraft for onward travel. Commercial airlines provide the safest and most efficient repatriation options to final destinations.
The Department of State reminds American citizens that the U.S. government does not provide no-cost transportation but does have the authority to provide repatriation loans to those in financial need. For the portion of your trip directly handled by the U.S. Government we will ask you to sign a promissory note and we will bill you at a later date.
In a subsequent message, when we have specific details about the transportation arrangements, we will inform you about the costs you will incur. We will also work with commercial aircraft to ensure that they have adequate flights to help you depart Cyprus and connect to your final destination.
The Department of State continues to work around the clock and will continue to send updates to you as appropriate.

There is a first time for everything...

.. and this time it was for KARAOKE singing.

After a very shy attemp in a New Year's Eve and a Birthday Party where I sang for about 3 seconds in a row, yesterday, for the first time ever, I sang a karaoke song.

.(just for the record).

The Underdogs.

A couple of years ago I didn?t even know the meaning of this word. Now it seems to be everywhere I go, especially if the discussion is around football.

Informal and unwritten ?World Cup Rules? tell you to support, at least, 3 teams (This way, in case your home nation team doesn?t make it you can still enjoy the World Cup for a little bit longer):

- Your country team - of course!!
- Your favourite team ? the one you like the most right after your country, or in case your country didn?t make it to Germany ? in which, most of the cases, the chosen team will be Brazil
- An ?underdog? ? normally a new team in the competition; a team no one was expecting to go so far or a team from Africa.. This year you would probably choose a team like Australia, Ukraine, Ghana, or even Portugal J

This World Cup my underdog is Germany.

Few would argue this statement. Few will say that it is because I am surrounded by zee German flatmates and that they actually forced me to write this.

Anyways, yesterday I jumped up and down* when Germany scored and they won their match against Italy.

Why? Because I can really see how much this World Cup is uniting the country, uniting the german people around their country, their flag and their cultural heritage.

It is a tough deed, as the country is still rebounding after so many years of separation and shame.

But if football can do it, then GO GERMANY!!!

*According to my german flatmates I am really emotional when I am watching Portugal playing and it even seems that sometimes, whilst the match is going on, I am crazy enough to jump up and down without any planned methodology!! Ahaha.