Remember when I said that Louis-Justin was really sick? Well, now it's my turn! Cough + sore throat + runny nose + fever + asthma = not a good combination.
See you in a few days!
Julie xox
Friday, February 19, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Penpal of the Week #35
This time, let's say hello to Nina from Switzerland!
1. Please tell us about you!
First of all I'd like to thank Julie for featuring me as Pen Pal of the Week! I'm really excited to do this and I hope you will enjoy reading my interview!
My name is Nina Chiara ("Kiara") and I'm a 22 year-old student from Switzerland. I'm currently studying Political Science and Anthropology but honestly, I don't think I'll actually graduate in these subjects. I'm thinking something a little more artsy might suit me much better!
On my 22nd birthday. I love this picture, it shows me at my best – laughing!
I live in a tiny village surrounded by forests, fields and the Swiss Alps. I absolutely love the nature and the view (I'm neighbors with a bunch of horses) but I wouldn't mind living a bit closer to Zurich, where I go to university, the movies, the opera, the theater, etc.
I still live at home with my parents and younger brother. Rent is incredibly expensive in Zurich and I don't have a job right now. Nevertheless, I'd love to move closer to the big city! I've lived in Barcelona and Vancouver so far and although I miss nature sometimes, I adore big city life.
View from our balcony.
My family is really crazy, we always say we should do a reality show like the Osbournes and we'd have tons of success :-D
We've got 5 pets, 3 cats and 2 turtles. I love cats very much and cannot imagine a life without cats in it!
I'm in love with music. I play the piano every day, I sing and sometimes I play around on my brother's guitar, although I really don't know how to play the guitar. I love music I can listen to with my heart and soul and I've found that in the music of Tori Amos. Of course I also like other artists such as Alanis Morissette, Bob Dylan, Mark Knopfler, Ani Difranco, classical and world music.
One of my biggest hobbies is writing letters, of course. I write about 4 letters a week when I'm on vacation and maybe one a week when I'm in university. Feel free to check out my Interpals profile.
Other hobbies of mine are drawing and painting – I can lose myself in a project for hours and really forget everything around me. I also love to go to the movies, the theater, concerts and operas. It's a pity that so few young people are interested in classical music!
Back when I still had long hair. Close to the opera house in Zurich.
I'm a big bookworm! My favorite author is Virginia Woolf but I read anything from Dostojewskij to Kathy Reichs. You could say that music and literature are two of my biggest passions in life.
I've basically been acting all my life. It's only recently that I've stopped because I haven't found a good drama group yet but I'm determined to keep theater arts in my life.
I'm a real globetrotter, mostly due to my parents who took me on a trip for the first time when I was barely 4 months old. I love discovering new and exciting places where I can listen to languages I don't understand and get to know people who lead lives that are very different from mine. No matter where I go in the world, however, I always find evidence supporting my most valuable conviction: that all people are the same. We might speak different languages, like different things, look different, lead our lives according to different religions and mores; but in our hearts we're exactly the same human beings longing for love and connections and a way to live our lives in a meaningful manner.
The country that has affected me the most is Kenya. It has shown me that happiness is not connected to anything material, it is simply a way of life.
The country that has given me most is Canada. Nowhere can I be myself the way I can with my Canadian friends and some day – sooner rather than later - I will move to Canada for good. There is nothing I'm more determined to do!
At least I certainly do!
Canada is my favorite country in the world, it's where I feel at home.
Another thing you might want to know about me – I'm a lesbian. Personally, I don't find it to be that big a deal but apparently society feels a need to condemn people like me. I had this epiphany a couple of months ago where I realized that I've got much more in common with my female friends in general than with the other lesbians I know. The aspects that unite us are much more numerous that the ones that set us apart. I really think love is love and I don't see a big difference between my straight friends and me. But some people are still very afraid of things they don't know and they make up the weirdest stories about homosexuals.
This summer I participated in the Vancouver Pride Parade.
It was an awesome experience!
2. Describe your personality in 10 words!
Private, emotional, intellectual, bookish, different, polite, interesting, musical, multilingual, geeky.
3. How long have you been penpalling? How did you first start? Tell us about your first penpal!
I'd say I've been pen palling seriously since I was 12 years old, for 10 years now, that is.
My first pen pal's name was Nula and she lived in Switzerland too. She responded to an ad I'd put in a children's magazine and we ended up writing to each other for about 4 years. During our best times I'd get a letter from her every Thursday and she'd get one from me every Tuesday. It was an incredible experience. We also met up twice, once at her house and once at mine. Our friendship endured her exchange year in Chile and mine in Canada and we were very close – we wrote about everything. Unfortunately when Nula started to go to university she didn't have time to write letters anymore and she suddenly stopped responding to mine. That was definitely a huge disappointment, not knowing why she'd stopped writing until I found her on Facebook where she explained it to me. Remembering the time we were pen pals, however, will always be very special to me.
Since then I've had many pen pals, my oldest right now is Katri from Finland. She's an awesome young lady and I feel like I've known her all my life. I hope we'll manage to meet up in person one day!
The Oberengadin. Isn't it just so beautiful? I love mountains.
I grew up surrounded by the Alps and whenever I'm somewhere
I can't see mountains for too long, I feel like something's missing.
4. How many penpals do you have now and where are they from?
I've got roughly 14 pen pals. They're form Switzerland, Scotland, Germany, Croatia, Canada, the US, Singapore, Sweden, Turkey, Finland, China, Trinidad and Tobago, Hungary.
I'm lucky enough to have a few long-term pen pals and others whom I just recently met on Interpals and am very excited to get to know better.
5. What are your favorite topics to discuss in letters?
Generally I'm up for any topic. Nothing is really off limits for me since I love hearing other people's opinions, no matter how different they might be from mine. Sometimes, however, I'm a bit reluctant to write about difficult or painful things that might have happened in my life, especially when I'm not feeling too positive. In a good mood I'll write about anything and answer any questions my pen pals might have for me.
My "little" brother Lucca and I. We get along great and I love him to pieces!
6. What are you looking for in a penpal?
A friend.
I like people who are different, who are artsy, have opinions and plans and, most of all, who have a positive attitude towards life. We all get depressed from time to time but to maintain a positive, optimistic attitude about it all is vital and essential for me. Pessimists just pull me down and I find life too precious to have a negative outlook on it.
A very important criteria for a pen pal of mine is that they take letter-writing seriously. I'm not expecting my pen pals to write letters of 10 pages or to write once a week. But to really get to know someone it's important that you keep talking to them regularly and fairly often.
What I like most is to hear about the daily lives of my pen pal. Some people might find that boring, but I do enjoy reading about what my pen pal has been doing the day she is writing a letter to me. Then of course I also like to hear about their work/studies and anything else that is going on in their lives. A letter only bores me if it is only about the weather or very superficial. Fortunately I've only read very few superficial letters in my 10 year career as a pen pal.
Corsica. One of my favorite places on earth.
7. What do you like the most about penpalling?
There's nothing quite like the feeling of opening your mailbox and finding a handwritten letter from halfway across the world in it. I think it's wonderful to get to know people you would never have meet otherwise. And the thought that someone takes the time to sit down and write a letter to you, a stranger (in the beginning), making an effort to get to know you, is wonderful.
8. In what language(s) do you correspond?
I correspond in English, German and Spanish. I'd love to have a French pen pal so as to practice the second of Switzerland's 4 official languages.
My best friend. :)
9. What are some of your habits in regards to letter writing?
For a few months now I've been writing my letters at my new big desk in my room. I like to respond to a letter I've received as quickly as possible. This past semester, unfortunately, I've been a bit overwhelmed by university; therefore it took me a lot longer than usual to write back. For this next semester I'm determined to use my time more wisely, thus being able to respond to letters much faster than before.
I usually use nice stationery, but not always. Although I enjoy beautifully decorated letters, I really think it's more about the content than the appearance. As long as I can read my pen pal's handwriting, I'm happy, and I always try to keep my letters as legible as possible.
From time to time I like to swap little things like tea or post cards. I've never been a big swapper, but lately I've become interested in it.
The box I keep the letters of my current pen pals in.
10. Has anything strange/funny ever happened to you since you've been penpalling?
I've got this wonderful pen pal from Turkey, Seda. In every letter she sends me little gifts from Turkey. Key pendants, post cards, sweets – it's great!
I once had a pen pal from Kenya; she was the daughter of the hotel receptionist where I stayed with my family in Mombasa. In the beginning writing to her was great but then she started asking me for money, which I actually sent but she claims she never got it. Things got a bit confusing from then on with me receiving letters from her with Swiss postage on it and gradually we lost touch. That was weird.
I also had a pen pal from Sri Lanka when I was about 15 years old. Again, at the beginning it was all good but then he seemed to be under the impression that I was interested in a romantic (letter?) relationship with him. Yeah, no.
My cat on my bed. He seems to be under the impression that he actually owns it.
11. Have you met any of your penpals?
I've met four of my pen pals in person, so far. My first pen pal, Nula, I've already told you about.
Then here's Millie from Canada, who was my e-pal for a while and invited me to stay at her house when I went back to Canada a couple of months after I'd gotten home from my exchange year. I had a great time with her but the funny thing is that today I'm friends with her sister Sadie and almost don't hear from Millie anymore. But I'm grateful that I know them both and I consider Sadie to be a very good friend of mine.
Last summer I also met Narisa, another Canadian pen pal of mine. We spent two wonderful days together and she showed me an incredible dessert place called True Confections where they make the most amazing cakes ever! Spending time with Narisa is really interesting; she's lived in very different countries due to her dad's profession and has some funny stories to tell.
My pen pal Narisa and I in Vancouver.
The third pen pal I've met in person is Lavinie from the French part of Switzerland. The first time we met was at a piano recital by Hélène Grimaud in Lucerne. It was fun to see her in person because I felt like I knew her and at the same time I didn't. In January I went on a spur-of-the-moment kind of trip to Vienna, Austria, where Lavinie is doing her MA, and she offered me to stay at her apartment. We couldn't spend that much time together because she had to go to university every day, but we did go see an opera together and we also went for coffee. I enjoyed myself very much in Vienna.
Like I said above, I'd love to meet my Finnish pen pal Katri in the near future. I just have this feeling that we'd get along great face-to-face as well.
I'm happy to say that this summer my pen pal Lucy from the US is probably coming to Switzerland and I'm very excited to meet her in person!
12. Are you currently looking for more penpals?
I am, especially male pen pals. I only have one male pen pal and although I know there are some really interesting guys out there who love writing letters, so far I haven't been lucky enough to meet one. But everyone is welcome, as long as you're open-minded and have something interesting to say!
Thank you, Nina!
If anyone is interested in being featured on my blog as Penpal of the Week, just reply to this post!
Julie xox
1. Please tell us about you!
First of all I'd like to thank Julie for featuring me as Pen Pal of the Week! I'm really excited to do this and I hope you will enjoy reading my interview!
My name is Nina Chiara ("Kiara") and I'm a 22 year-old student from Switzerland. I'm currently studying Political Science and Anthropology but honestly, I don't think I'll actually graduate in these subjects. I'm thinking something a little more artsy might suit me much better!
On my 22nd birthday. I love this picture, it shows me at my best – laughing!I live in a tiny village surrounded by forests, fields and the Swiss Alps. I absolutely love the nature and the view (I'm neighbors with a bunch of horses) but I wouldn't mind living a bit closer to Zurich, where I go to university, the movies, the opera, the theater, etc.
I still live at home with my parents and younger brother. Rent is incredibly expensive in Zurich and I don't have a job right now. Nevertheless, I'd love to move closer to the big city! I've lived in Barcelona and Vancouver so far and although I miss nature sometimes, I adore big city life.
View from our balcony.My family is really crazy, we always say we should do a reality show like the Osbournes and we'd have tons of success :-D
We've got 5 pets, 3 cats and 2 turtles. I love cats very much and cannot imagine a life without cats in it!
I'm in love with music. I play the piano every day, I sing and sometimes I play around on my brother's guitar, although I really don't know how to play the guitar. I love music I can listen to with my heart and soul and I've found that in the music of Tori Amos. Of course I also like other artists such as Alanis Morissette, Bob Dylan, Mark Knopfler, Ani Difranco, classical and world music.
One of my biggest hobbies is writing letters, of course. I write about 4 letters a week when I'm on vacation and maybe one a week when I'm in university. Feel free to check out my Interpals profile.
Other hobbies of mine are drawing and painting – I can lose myself in a project for hours and really forget everything around me. I also love to go to the movies, the theater, concerts and operas. It's a pity that so few young people are interested in classical music!
Back when I still had long hair. Close to the opera house in Zurich.I'm a big bookworm! My favorite author is Virginia Woolf but I read anything from Dostojewskij to Kathy Reichs. You could say that music and literature are two of my biggest passions in life.
I've basically been acting all my life. It's only recently that I've stopped because I haven't found a good drama group yet but I'm determined to keep theater arts in my life.
I'm a real globetrotter, mostly due to my parents who took me on a trip for the first time when I was barely 4 months old. I love discovering new and exciting places where I can listen to languages I don't understand and get to know people who lead lives that are very different from mine. No matter where I go in the world, however, I always find evidence supporting my most valuable conviction: that all people are the same. We might speak different languages, like different things, look different, lead our lives according to different religions and mores; but in our hearts we're exactly the same human beings longing for love and connections and a way to live our lives in a meaningful manner.
The country that has affected me the most is Kenya. It has shown me that happiness is not connected to anything material, it is simply a way of life.
The country that has given me most is Canada. Nowhere can I be myself the way I can with my Canadian friends and some day – sooner rather than later - I will move to Canada for good. There is nothing I'm more determined to do!
At least I certainly do!Canada is my favorite country in the world, it's where I feel at home.
Another thing you might want to know about me – I'm a lesbian. Personally, I don't find it to be that big a deal but apparently society feels a need to condemn people like me. I had this epiphany a couple of months ago where I realized that I've got much more in common with my female friends in general than with the other lesbians I know. The aspects that unite us are much more numerous that the ones that set us apart. I really think love is love and I don't see a big difference between my straight friends and me. But some people are still very afraid of things they don't know and they make up the weirdest stories about homosexuals.
This summer I participated in the Vancouver Pride Parade.It was an awesome experience!
2. Describe your personality in 10 words!
Private, emotional, intellectual, bookish, different, polite, interesting, musical, multilingual, geeky.
3. How long have you been penpalling? How did you first start? Tell us about your first penpal!
I'd say I've been pen palling seriously since I was 12 years old, for 10 years now, that is.
My first pen pal's name was Nula and she lived in Switzerland too. She responded to an ad I'd put in a children's magazine and we ended up writing to each other for about 4 years. During our best times I'd get a letter from her every Thursday and she'd get one from me every Tuesday. It was an incredible experience. We also met up twice, once at her house and once at mine. Our friendship endured her exchange year in Chile and mine in Canada and we were very close – we wrote about everything. Unfortunately when Nula started to go to university she didn't have time to write letters anymore and she suddenly stopped responding to mine. That was definitely a huge disappointment, not knowing why she'd stopped writing until I found her on Facebook where she explained it to me. Remembering the time we were pen pals, however, will always be very special to me.
Since then I've had many pen pals, my oldest right now is Katri from Finland. She's an awesome young lady and I feel like I've known her all my life. I hope we'll manage to meet up in person one day!
The Oberengadin. Isn't it just so beautiful? I love mountains.I grew up surrounded by the Alps and whenever I'm somewhere
I can't see mountains for too long, I feel like something's missing.
4. How many penpals do you have now and where are they from?
I've got roughly 14 pen pals. They're form Switzerland, Scotland, Germany, Croatia, Canada, the US, Singapore, Sweden, Turkey, Finland, China, Trinidad and Tobago, Hungary.
I'm lucky enough to have a few long-term pen pals and others whom I just recently met on Interpals and am very excited to get to know better.
5. What are your favorite topics to discuss in letters?
Generally I'm up for any topic. Nothing is really off limits for me since I love hearing other people's opinions, no matter how different they might be from mine. Sometimes, however, I'm a bit reluctant to write about difficult or painful things that might have happened in my life, especially when I'm not feeling too positive. In a good mood I'll write about anything and answer any questions my pen pals might have for me.
My "little" brother Lucca and I. We get along great and I love him to pieces!6. What are you looking for in a penpal?
A friend.
I like people who are different, who are artsy, have opinions and plans and, most of all, who have a positive attitude towards life. We all get depressed from time to time but to maintain a positive, optimistic attitude about it all is vital and essential for me. Pessimists just pull me down and I find life too precious to have a negative outlook on it.
A very important criteria for a pen pal of mine is that they take letter-writing seriously. I'm not expecting my pen pals to write letters of 10 pages or to write once a week. But to really get to know someone it's important that you keep talking to them regularly and fairly often.
What I like most is to hear about the daily lives of my pen pal. Some people might find that boring, but I do enjoy reading about what my pen pal has been doing the day she is writing a letter to me. Then of course I also like to hear about their work/studies and anything else that is going on in their lives. A letter only bores me if it is only about the weather or very superficial. Fortunately I've only read very few superficial letters in my 10 year career as a pen pal.
Corsica. One of my favorite places on earth.7. What do you like the most about penpalling?
There's nothing quite like the feeling of opening your mailbox and finding a handwritten letter from halfway across the world in it. I think it's wonderful to get to know people you would never have meet otherwise. And the thought that someone takes the time to sit down and write a letter to you, a stranger (in the beginning), making an effort to get to know you, is wonderful.
8. In what language(s) do you correspond?
I correspond in English, German and Spanish. I'd love to have a French pen pal so as to practice the second of Switzerland's 4 official languages.
My best friend. :)9. What are some of your habits in regards to letter writing?
For a few months now I've been writing my letters at my new big desk in my room. I like to respond to a letter I've received as quickly as possible. This past semester, unfortunately, I've been a bit overwhelmed by university; therefore it took me a lot longer than usual to write back. For this next semester I'm determined to use my time more wisely, thus being able to respond to letters much faster than before.
I usually use nice stationery, but not always. Although I enjoy beautifully decorated letters, I really think it's more about the content than the appearance. As long as I can read my pen pal's handwriting, I'm happy, and I always try to keep my letters as legible as possible.
From time to time I like to swap little things like tea or post cards. I've never been a big swapper, but lately I've become interested in it.
The box I keep the letters of my current pen pals in.10. Has anything strange/funny ever happened to you since you've been penpalling?
I've got this wonderful pen pal from Turkey, Seda. In every letter she sends me little gifts from Turkey. Key pendants, post cards, sweets – it's great!
I once had a pen pal from Kenya; she was the daughter of the hotel receptionist where I stayed with my family in Mombasa. In the beginning writing to her was great but then she started asking me for money, which I actually sent but she claims she never got it. Things got a bit confusing from then on with me receiving letters from her with Swiss postage on it and gradually we lost touch. That was weird.
I also had a pen pal from Sri Lanka when I was about 15 years old. Again, at the beginning it was all good but then he seemed to be under the impression that I was interested in a romantic (letter?) relationship with him. Yeah, no.
My cat on my bed. He seems to be under the impression that he actually owns it.11. Have you met any of your penpals?
I've met four of my pen pals in person, so far. My first pen pal, Nula, I've already told you about.
Then here's Millie from Canada, who was my e-pal for a while and invited me to stay at her house when I went back to Canada a couple of months after I'd gotten home from my exchange year. I had a great time with her but the funny thing is that today I'm friends with her sister Sadie and almost don't hear from Millie anymore. But I'm grateful that I know them both and I consider Sadie to be a very good friend of mine.
Last summer I also met Narisa, another Canadian pen pal of mine. We spent two wonderful days together and she showed me an incredible dessert place called True Confections where they make the most amazing cakes ever! Spending time with Narisa is really interesting; she's lived in very different countries due to her dad's profession and has some funny stories to tell.
My pen pal Narisa and I in Vancouver.The third pen pal I've met in person is Lavinie from the French part of Switzerland. The first time we met was at a piano recital by Hélène Grimaud in Lucerne. It was fun to see her in person because I felt like I knew her and at the same time I didn't. In January I went on a spur-of-the-moment kind of trip to Vienna, Austria, where Lavinie is doing her MA, and she offered me to stay at her apartment. We couldn't spend that much time together because she had to go to university every day, but we did go see an opera together and we also went for coffee. I enjoyed myself very much in Vienna.
Like I said above, I'd love to meet my Finnish pen pal Katri in the near future. I just have this feeling that we'd get along great face-to-face as well.
I'm happy to say that this summer my pen pal Lucy from the US is probably coming to Switzerland and I'm very excited to meet her in person!
12. Are you currently looking for more penpals?
I am, especially male pen pals. I only have one male pen pal and although I know there are some really interesting guys out there who love writing letters, so far I haven't been lucky enough to meet one. But everyone is welcome, as long as you're open-minded and have something interesting to say!
Thank you, Nina!
If anyone is interested in being featured on my blog as Penpal of the Week, just reply to this post!
Julie xox
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Las Vegas, baby!
I'm back from Las Vegas. I'm happy to report that I won a fabulous... $20! Did I ever mention that I'm not much of a gambler?!
The 2 shows I saw were amazing: "Viva Elvis" and "O" by Cirque du Soleil. The first one was entertaining but the second one was simply astonishing. You have to watch the trailer!
Louis-Justin got really sick while I was gone, which is highly unusual for him who's usually very healthy. He had a fever, threw up and still has the flu / a big cold. He's getting better though, thankfully!
I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things. I'm sorry if I haven't replied to your email - I'm not ignoring you, just feeling a bit overwhelmed at the moment.
Time for supper!
Julie xox
The 2 shows I saw were amazing: "Viva Elvis" and "O" by Cirque du Soleil. The first one was entertaining but the second one was simply astonishing. You have to watch the trailer!
Louis-Justin got really sick while I was gone, which is highly unusual for him who's usually very healthy. He had a fever, threw up and still has the flu / a big cold. He's getting better though, thankfully!
I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things. I'm sorry if I haven't replied to your email - I'm not ignoring you, just feeling a bit overwhelmed at the moment.
Time for supper!
Julie xox
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Penpal of the Week #34
This week, the interview is published on Sunday since I'm leaving for Las Vegas at 5:30 am on Monday. I hope you all have a nice week! I'll be back on Thursday night.
In the meantime, say hello to Erin from Canada!
1. Please tell us about you!
Hello world! My name is Erin. I'm 25 and I'm a born and raised country girl. I'm originally from a small farming community called Onoway. It's tiny, and I mean tiny... only about 1200 people live there. To describe it, I have to use the same old cliche, everyone knows everyone else. I moved away in 2004 for college but my grandparents and mom are still out there, so I try to visit at least once a week. I love the drives out to the country, the beautiful scenery, and damn, do I miss the fresh air!
I currently live in Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, with my boyfriend Nathan (he'll be 31 soon) and our 8 month old son Benjamin. We were actually co-workers to begin with, then started to date. We've been dating for a few years now and I remember in the beginning of our relationship Nathan kept saying how he wanted to be a dad soon, preferably in 2-3 years. I always kind of brushed it off, as I was told that I'd never be able to have kids naturally. Plus, the thought of labour scared me more than death itself. Well, one fateful day in September 2008 I discovered I was pregnant. (surprise!) It came as total shock and excitement. That same day actually I was hired by my current employer, so that was interesting. I guess the planets were aligned for good luck or something!
Nathan and I before parenthood (Aug. 2008) and after parenthood (Dec. 2009).
Changed a lot but still going strong.
Benjamin came into the world on June 6 a huge 10 lbs 5 oz. He's a wonderful baby, and I wouldn't take him back for the world. He's good tempered and always flashing a gummy grin... I love figuring out what makes him ticklish and just playing with him. When he's older I want to begin travelling more and showing him the world. I'm looking forward to the future.
Love of my life right here.
A bit about my job... I'm a video editor for a local TV station here in Edmonton. I studied Television Broadcasting in college and had the good fortune to work on music videos and TV series around town here (the latest series I worked on was "The Family Restaurant" shown in Canada). However, my passions lie in camerawork and editing. I was a camerawoman / editor for APTN National News for a while before I got offered to be a full time editor at my current station. I love my job. It's fast paced, exciting, and really cool to see your work on TV at the end of the day. I'm proud of my work, but it's not all glitz and glamour... it's high stress and tight deadlines. But would I change it for the world? Oh, hell no!
The control room at my work! So many hypnotic screens...
Some things I absolutely love are letter writing, scrapbooking, photography, anything to do with punk and goth culture, learning (I have an insatiable thirst for knowledge and I'm currently taking astrology / parapsychology courses via correspondence), film making, thrift stores, the paranormal, piercings, tattoos, pin-up style from the '40s and '50s, summer storms, tea, classic cars, anything vintage, playing guitar, astrology (I'm a Scorpio), hair dyes (I'm an addict!), plus so much more. I love life and want to live it to the fullest.
If you want to know more or contact me, feel free to check out my Interpals page.
2. Describe your personality in 10 words!
Passionate. Humorous. Curious. Caring. Addictive. Open-minded. Cynical. Loyal. Loving. And ultimately, creative.
Creativity = Life.
3. How long have you been penpalling? How did you first start? Tell us about your first penpal!
I guess my first penpal was back in elementary school, now that I think about it. My class was paired up with another class in a town about 45 minutes away. We exchanged letters, but nothing ever became of it.
Welcome to Alberta. Your daytime high will be -30°C.
Have fun with that!
I didn't get my first actual real penpal until I turned 13. My French teacher had received a brochure from IYS in Finland and encouraged us to order some addresses through them. I chose to have a penpal from Sweden... Her name was Evelina and we exchanged letters for a couple of years. We lost contact for a long time, then reconnected on Facebook for a while. We don't really talk much anymore, it's a pity.
I actually put penpalling on hold a few years ago. I was going through a tough time in my life, really down and out, and stopped doing the things I loved. It was really depressing. I finally got out of that rut though and with the encouragement of Nathan I picked it up again. I'm so glad I did! I absolutely love writing and receiving letters. I couldn't imagine my life without that hobby.
4. How many penpals do you have now and where are they from?
Oooh, to be honest I have no idea how many penpals I have! But what I do know is that I love writing to each and every one of them. I write to pals all over the world, either through snail mail or e-mail (I prefer snail mail though!).
Some of my letters, including a Beatles onesie for Ben. Nifty!
There are a few that instantly come to mind (I'm not playing favourites, so if you don't see your name please don't get mad at me!!)...
Hanna from Sweden is like my sister, we've been writing for around 10 years now. It's incredible to think we've known each other since we were teenagers! I adore her though. She saw my address through a friendship book and decided to send me a letter, which I'm grateful she did!! She got me into my now 2 favourite bands, HIM and Turbonegro, when she sent me a mix CD years ago. I love hearing from her, and we keep in contact on Facebook as well.
Sabrina from Finland is another girl that comes to mind... Years ago we began writing, but lost contact (gotta love that "reliable" postal service here). I just so happened to start using my Interpals page again when she found me online. I was so excited to see her message in my inbox... "Is that YOU?!" She's awesome and I feel like if we met we'd be the types to stay up all night chatting away.
Palak from India is an amazing girl. We met on a Facebook penpal group and instantly clicked. Her writing is like poetry, so beautiful and wonderful to talk to.
Shivanee from Trinidad & Tobago is also fantastic to hear from, I love her writing style and wit about her.
Pavel from Russia always sends little cards in Russian and even when I'm not expecting a letter, I'll find something from him in my mailbox, telling me about traditional Russian festivities and general life there.
Maria in Finland is rad, she has so much to say and I feel like we've known each other for ages, even though it's only been a little while.
Who else? Zael from Papua New Guinea is a new pal I met on Interpals and I can tell already we'll be great friends. Same with Mandy, Sam, Phoebe and Hippy in the USA, Tove in Finland, Amber in Montreal, Ilse in Belgium, Kama in Poland... you get the idea.
If I haven't mentioned your name, please don't think I've forgotten about you! I've met so many amazing people from around the world and I couldn't be luckier... unless if I win the lottery and can actually meet everybody! But all in all my penpals feel like very close friends.
Handwriting by yours truly.
5. What are your favorite topics to discuss in letters?
Anything and everything! Nothing is off limits... school, work, relationships... I like when letters get personal and you can actually open up about feelings or what you're thinking. To me that signals you're completely comfortable with that person and that ultimately builds trust. You know they'll be there for you through thick and thin and you'll be there for them.
6. What are you looking for in a penpal?
Creative and chatty are high on my list. I love getting long letters and writing long letters back. Penpals who you can trust and talk to about whatever is going on in your life is another thing I like. Writing definitely makes me stand back and reflect on events in my life... Also, a great sense of humour is definitely a MUST! :D
Making practical use of my huge belly at work. Now feed me!
OR... Super-pregnant, awesome show. Great job!
7. What do you like the most about penpalling?
What I like the most is that someone thousands of miles away considers me their friend and vice versa. Also I adore learning about other cultures, and what better way than to talk to someone from a different background? It's a fantastic hobby.
8. In what language(s) do you correspond?
Unfortunately I only know English. I can read some French, but as for conversing in it, good luck!
I'd love to learn Swedish one day though... and Cree, a Native tongue here. My grandfather is part Cree and I wish I could pass down his ancestor's language to my son.
Top: This was the view from my old apartment in downtown
Edmonton, facing north. It was stunning and I miss it so much!
Bottom: If you looked out the west of my old apartment, the
Legislature building was a hop, skip, and a jump. Gorgeous!
9. What are some of your habits in regards to letter writing?
I tend to like writing in the evenings, when the day is winding down. I can sit, relax (if Ben allows it!) and just let my thoughts flow onto paper.
When I first moved to Edmonton years ago I would actually wait until the weekends when I drove out to my grandparents to write my replies... There was something calming and nostalgic about it... Sit in the living room where I grew up, beside the window that looks out onto our garden, I loved it.
Lately it's taken me a bit longer to write replies as Ben's learned to crawl and gets into EVERYTHING, but I still try and make time to write a little here and there. It's something I never want to give up.
I'm pretty sure Ben is one of the most adorable babies EVER.
Not to brag or anything... ;)
When I go back to work I'd love to send out more parcels with Canadian-type souvenirs. I'm lacking in monetary funds at the moment to do that (Maternity Leave benefits are next to nothing, sigh...!)
10. Has anything strange/funny ever happened to you since you've been penpalling?
Hmmm... Well, actually recently on Interpals! I had a photo up of myself and my friend Monika, where she was pretending to pick my nose. I got an e-mail from some guy in Uganda demanding I marry him because I apparently looked "so pretty" in the photo (who knew nose picking would get someone so hot and bothered!). I said no, then he said he wanted to marry my friend and that I was allowed to be part of the family (Wow, my prayers have been answered...;)
My awesome lady friend and I.
Who knew nose picking would be a bonding moment?
One funny thing I've received was years ago when my British penpal sent me a letter... When I received it, it was ripped partially and had what looked like cake icing on the side of it. It was sealed in an official Royal Post plastic baggy with an apology letter. Weird! But other than that, nothing too strange or unusual.
I had a penpal from Malaysia I wrote to for a while, then the huge tsunami happened and I never heard from her again. It made me worried for a long time after that. Also, in 2001 I began writing to a girl in Jordan... Then 9/11 happened and she was another pal I never heard from again. I'm assuming with what had happened the post just stopped to the Middle East. Still, it was a pity never hearing from her again.
11. Have you met any of your penpals?
Ummm, sorta. Long story. Back in high school my good friend moved to a town about 2 hours away and ended up befriending a guy up there. Apparently him and I had a lot in common, and she swapped our address. We wrote for a while and after he moved to Edmonton we ended up dating... for over 4 years. In the beginning he was a cool guy but towards the end it went downhill swiftly. Needless to say it ended really badly. :(
I have yet to meet any penpals, but I would love to. I need a vacation! ;)
I lurve zebra print.
12. Are you currently looking for more penpals?
I have a lot of penpals at the moment, but I can never seem to say no to someone wanting to be friends! I'm currently helping my friend Vicky and my little half-sister Lacie (she's 16) get into penpalling so I mostly look for people they'd get along with.
However, I've always wanted a penpal from Scotland and anywhere in South America, so I do keep my eye out! Either way, if there's anyone interested in contacting me, I'd love to hear from you! Again, my Interpals page is http://www.interpals.net/Wander_Lust84.
I hope you enjoyed reading my interview, and long live the power of the pen!
Well, *I* certainly did enjoy learning more about you Erin, and I'm sure my readers will agree with me! :)
Julie xox
In the meantime, say hello to Erin from Canada!
1. Please tell us about you!
Hello world! My name is Erin. I'm 25 and I'm a born and raised country girl. I'm originally from a small farming community called Onoway. It's tiny, and I mean tiny... only about 1200 people live there. To describe it, I have to use the same old cliche, everyone knows everyone else. I moved away in 2004 for college but my grandparents and mom are still out there, so I try to visit at least once a week. I love the drives out to the country, the beautiful scenery, and damn, do I miss the fresh air!
I currently live in Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, with my boyfriend Nathan (he'll be 31 soon) and our 8 month old son Benjamin. We were actually co-workers to begin with, then started to date. We've been dating for a few years now and I remember in the beginning of our relationship Nathan kept saying how he wanted to be a dad soon, preferably in 2-3 years. I always kind of brushed it off, as I was told that I'd never be able to have kids naturally. Plus, the thought of labour scared me more than death itself. Well, one fateful day in September 2008 I discovered I was pregnant. (surprise!) It came as total shock and excitement. That same day actually I was hired by my current employer, so that was interesting. I guess the planets were aligned for good luck or something!
Nathan and I before parenthood (Aug. 2008) and after parenthood (Dec. 2009).Changed a lot but still going strong.
Benjamin came into the world on June 6 a huge 10 lbs 5 oz. He's a wonderful baby, and I wouldn't take him back for the world. He's good tempered and always flashing a gummy grin... I love figuring out what makes him ticklish and just playing with him. When he's older I want to begin travelling more and showing him the world. I'm looking forward to the future.
Love of my life right here.A bit about my job... I'm a video editor for a local TV station here in Edmonton. I studied Television Broadcasting in college and had the good fortune to work on music videos and TV series around town here (the latest series I worked on was "The Family Restaurant" shown in Canada). However, my passions lie in camerawork and editing. I was a camerawoman / editor for APTN National News for a while before I got offered to be a full time editor at my current station. I love my job. It's fast paced, exciting, and really cool to see your work on TV at the end of the day. I'm proud of my work, but it's not all glitz and glamour... it's high stress and tight deadlines. But would I change it for the world? Oh, hell no!
The control room at my work! So many hypnotic screens...Some things I absolutely love are letter writing, scrapbooking, photography, anything to do with punk and goth culture, learning (I have an insatiable thirst for knowledge and I'm currently taking astrology / parapsychology courses via correspondence), film making, thrift stores, the paranormal, piercings, tattoos, pin-up style from the '40s and '50s, summer storms, tea, classic cars, anything vintage, playing guitar, astrology (I'm a Scorpio), hair dyes (I'm an addict!), plus so much more. I love life and want to live it to the fullest.
If you want to know more or contact me, feel free to check out my Interpals page.
2. Describe your personality in 10 words!
Passionate. Humorous. Curious. Caring. Addictive. Open-minded. Cynical. Loyal. Loving. And ultimately, creative.
Creativity = Life.
3. How long have you been penpalling? How did you first start? Tell us about your first penpal!
I guess my first penpal was back in elementary school, now that I think about it. My class was paired up with another class in a town about 45 minutes away. We exchanged letters, but nothing ever became of it.
Welcome to Alberta. Your daytime high will be -30°C.Have fun with that!
I didn't get my first actual real penpal until I turned 13. My French teacher had received a brochure from IYS in Finland and encouraged us to order some addresses through them. I chose to have a penpal from Sweden... Her name was Evelina and we exchanged letters for a couple of years. We lost contact for a long time, then reconnected on Facebook for a while. We don't really talk much anymore, it's a pity.
I actually put penpalling on hold a few years ago. I was going through a tough time in my life, really down and out, and stopped doing the things I loved. It was really depressing. I finally got out of that rut though and with the encouragement of Nathan I picked it up again. I'm so glad I did! I absolutely love writing and receiving letters. I couldn't imagine my life without that hobby.
4. How many penpals do you have now and where are they from?
Oooh, to be honest I have no idea how many penpals I have! But what I do know is that I love writing to each and every one of them. I write to pals all over the world, either through snail mail or e-mail (I prefer snail mail though!).
Some of my letters, including a Beatles onesie for Ben. Nifty!There are a few that instantly come to mind (I'm not playing favourites, so if you don't see your name please don't get mad at me!!)...
Hanna from Sweden is like my sister, we've been writing for around 10 years now. It's incredible to think we've known each other since we were teenagers! I adore her though. She saw my address through a friendship book and decided to send me a letter, which I'm grateful she did!! She got me into my now 2 favourite bands, HIM and Turbonegro, when she sent me a mix CD years ago. I love hearing from her, and we keep in contact on Facebook as well.
Sabrina from Finland is another girl that comes to mind... Years ago we began writing, but lost contact (gotta love that "reliable" postal service here). I just so happened to start using my Interpals page again when she found me online. I was so excited to see her message in my inbox... "Is that YOU?!" She's awesome and I feel like if we met we'd be the types to stay up all night chatting away.
Palak from India is an amazing girl. We met on a Facebook penpal group and instantly clicked. Her writing is like poetry, so beautiful and wonderful to talk to.
Shivanee from Trinidad & Tobago is also fantastic to hear from, I love her writing style and wit about her.
Pavel from Russia always sends little cards in Russian and even when I'm not expecting a letter, I'll find something from him in my mailbox, telling me about traditional Russian festivities and general life there.
Maria in Finland is rad, she has so much to say and I feel like we've known each other for ages, even though it's only been a little while.
Who else? Zael from Papua New Guinea is a new pal I met on Interpals and I can tell already we'll be great friends. Same with Mandy, Sam, Phoebe and Hippy in the USA, Tove in Finland, Amber in Montreal, Ilse in Belgium, Kama in Poland... you get the idea.
If I haven't mentioned your name, please don't think I've forgotten about you! I've met so many amazing people from around the world and I couldn't be luckier... unless if I win the lottery and can actually meet everybody! But all in all my penpals feel like very close friends.
Handwriting by yours truly.5. What are your favorite topics to discuss in letters?
Anything and everything! Nothing is off limits... school, work, relationships... I like when letters get personal and you can actually open up about feelings or what you're thinking. To me that signals you're completely comfortable with that person and that ultimately builds trust. You know they'll be there for you through thick and thin and you'll be there for them.
6. What are you looking for in a penpal?
Creative and chatty are high on my list. I love getting long letters and writing long letters back. Penpals who you can trust and talk to about whatever is going on in your life is another thing I like. Writing definitely makes me stand back and reflect on events in my life... Also, a great sense of humour is definitely a MUST! :D
Making practical use of my huge belly at work. Now feed me!OR... Super-pregnant, awesome show. Great job!
7. What do you like the most about penpalling?
What I like the most is that someone thousands of miles away considers me their friend and vice versa. Also I adore learning about other cultures, and what better way than to talk to someone from a different background? It's a fantastic hobby.
8. In what language(s) do you correspond?
Unfortunately I only know English. I can read some French, but as for conversing in it, good luck!
I'd love to learn Swedish one day though... and Cree, a Native tongue here. My grandfather is part Cree and I wish I could pass down his ancestor's language to my son.
Top: This was the view from my old apartment in downtownEdmonton, facing north. It was stunning and I miss it so much!
Bottom: If you looked out the west of my old apartment, the
Legislature building was a hop, skip, and a jump. Gorgeous!
9. What are some of your habits in regards to letter writing?
I tend to like writing in the evenings, when the day is winding down. I can sit, relax (if Ben allows it!) and just let my thoughts flow onto paper.
When I first moved to Edmonton years ago I would actually wait until the weekends when I drove out to my grandparents to write my replies... There was something calming and nostalgic about it... Sit in the living room where I grew up, beside the window that looks out onto our garden, I loved it.
Lately it's taken me a bit longer to write replies as Ben's learned to crawl and gets into EVERYTHING, but I still try and make time to write a little here and there. It's something I never want to give up.
I'm pretty sure Ben is one of the most adorable babies EVER.Not to brag or anything... ;)
When I go back to work I'd love to send out more parcels with Canadian-type souvenirs. I'm lacking in monetary funds at the moment to do that (Maternity Leave benefits are next to nothing, sigh...!)
10. Has anything strange/funny ever happened to you since you've been penpalling?
Hmmm... Well, actually recently on Interpals! I had a photo up of myself and my friend Monika, where she was pretending to pick my nose. I got an e-mail from some guy in Uganda demanding I marry him because I apparently looked "so pretty" in the photo (who knew nose picking would get someone so hot and bothered!). I said no, then he said he wanted to marry my friend and that I was allowed to be part of the family (Wow, my prayers have been answered...;)
My awesome lady friend and I.Who knew nose picking would be a bonding moment?
One funny thing I've received was years ago when my British penpal sent me a letter... When I received it, it was ripped partially and had what looked like cake icing on the side of it. It was sealed in an official Royal Post plastic baggy with an apology letter. Weird! But other than that, nothing too strange or unusual.
I had a penpal from Malaysia I wrote to for a while, then the huge tsunami happened and I never heard from her again. It made me worried for a long time after that. Also, in 2001 I began writing to a girl in Jordan... Then 9/11 happened and she was another pal I never heard from again. I'm assuming with what had happened the post just stopped to the Middle East. Still, it was a pity never hearing from her again.
11. Have you met any of your penpals?
Ummm, sorta. Long story. Back in high school my good friend moved to a town about 2 hours away and ended up befriending a guy up there. Apparently him and I had a lot in common, and she swapped our address. We wrote for a while and after he moved to Edmonton we ended up dating... for over 4 years. In the beginning he was a cool guy but towards the end it went downhill swiftly. Needless to say it ended really badly. :(
I have yet to meet any penpals, but I would love to. I need a vacation! ;)
I lurve zebra print.12. Are you currently looking for more penpals?
I have a lot of penpals at the moment, but I can never seem to say no to someone wanting to be friends! I'm currently helping my friend Vicky and my little half-sister Lacie (she's 16) get into penpalling so I mostly look for people they'd get along with.
However, I've always wanted a penpal from Scotland and anywhere in South America, so I do keep my eye out! Either way, if there's anyone interested in contacting me, I'd love to hear from you! Again, my Interpals page is http://www.interpals.net/Wander_Lust84.
I hope you enjoyed reading my interview, and long live the power of the pen!
Well, *I* certainly did enjoy learning more about you Erin, and I'm sure my readers will agree with me! :)
Julie xox
Friday, February 5, 2010
Mini Disco Octopus
Another new mini letter set in my store, are you surprised?!
Includes 16 sheets of paper +
4 matching envelopes (2 beet + 2 sage)
4 matching envelopes (2 beet + 2 sage)
$6 for a set, only a few available...
See the full listing here!
In other news, my son's dad turned 36 yesterday so we had a little celebration and I'm getting excited about my upcoming trip to Las Vegas with my mom! We're leaving on Monday morning and coming back on Thursday night, so you won't hear from me for a few days.
The Penpal of the Week interview will probably be posted on Sunday.
Have a great weekend!
Julie xox
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Mini Sushi Splash
New letter set in my shop, just listed on Etsy!
Includes 16 sheets of note paper +
4 matching envelopes (2 black + 2 poppy).
4 matching envelopes (2 black + 2 poppy).
$6 for a set, only a few available!
Click here for the complete listing.
Julie xox
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Mini Glittery Cherry
New letter set in my shop, just listed on Etsy!
Includes 16 sheets of note paper +
4 matching eggplant metallic envelopes.
4 matching eggplant metallic envelopes.
$6 for a set, only a few available!
Click here for the complete listing.
Have a great day!
Julie xox
Monday, February 1, 2010
Penpal of the Week #33
This time, let's welcome Megan from Australia.
1. Please tell us about you!
Hi, I'm Megan a 22 year old law student from Canberra, Australia. I currently work as a legal clerk while I am studying. I love the things that most people do, movies, reading, hanging with my friends, eating out and of course sending and receiving mail.
I started my own blog in October last year and am loving having my own creative outlet. If you would like to check it out the address is Time After Tea. I am constantly amazed by all the wonderful and talented people that I meet through my blog.
I live with my boyfriend who I have been with for three years, and our friend Maddy. As well as our little Guinea Pig Chuckie, who is super cute for a guinea pig.
Brendan and I.
I love traveling. I was lucky enough to travel around Europe with one of my friends for five weeks last year and had the time of my life. I have also been to Japan when I was 17. The next place on my travel list is Thailand and Vietnam.
I have an amazing family, that are very supportive and loving. My sister is 19 and is studying pharmacy.
My sister and I.
I love to get out and try new things and am willing to give anything a go once. Having said that I also love sleeping and need at least 8 hours a night to function.
2. Describe your personality in 10 words!
Energetic, happy, loving, thinker, listener, impatient, laidback, talkative, dreamer, organised.
Me with Johnny Depp (Madame Tussards London).
3. How long have you been penpalling? How did you first start? Tell us about your first penpal!
I first started to pen pal when I was seven when one of my best friends moved 6 hours away. We managed to write letters for a couple of years but slowly moved apart, we're still friends on Facebook.
I then penpalled with my Japanese exchange student but the language barrier made it tough.
It is only in the last 6 months that I have started to penpal with people I haven't meet in real life. Most of my pen pals I have meet through their blog or mine.
4. How many penpals do you have now and where are they from?
At the moment I have about three serious penpals then a few that I write to on and off.
I meet Stephanie through her blog and we just instantly clicked. We have alot in common so it makes it easy to write to her. At the moment we're both trying to lose weight so we give each other constant support through our letters and blog.
A letter I recently sent out.
Lauren is a new penpal and I only sent her my first letter a few weeks ago and am eagerly waiting a reply.
I also am part of projects such as postcrossing and sendsomething.net.
5. What are your favorite topics to discuss in letters?
I am happy to talk about pretty much anything. Be that politics and religion to love and everyday life. I think if you limit your topics too much you don't get to know your penpal as well. I love people who can recommend great books, movies and places to visit.
Me on top of the Eiffel tower.
6. What are you looking for in a penpal?
Of course someone that I have things in common with but I think it is also important to have differences. I like penpalling with people who can teach me something or express a different point of view. I like people who are constant in their letter writing so that you can develop your relationship rather that hearing from them once every 6 months.
7. What do you like the most about penpalling?
It allows me to meet and speak with people that I wouldn't otherwise get to in my everyday life.
It allows me to be creative. I like to put effort into my letters and make them about more than just the words on the paper.
I also enjoy the friendships that are formed through letter writing.
Me (stripped singlet) and friends from high school.
8. In what language(s) do you correspond?
Unfortunately only English at the moment.
9. What are some of your habits in regards to letter writing?
When I get a letter I usually write back within a couple of days. When I send it though depends on when I have money for postage, being a poor uni student definitely has its disadvantages.
I usually either sit at the kitchen table or in our office when I write my letters. If work is quiet I will sometimes write there too.
Where I sit and do my letter writing.
10. Has anything strange/funny ever happened to you since you've been penpalling?
Haha not as yet but I will have to keep an eye out.
11. Have you met any of your penpals?
No, I haven't but am definitely not against the idea.
12. Are you currently looking for more penpals?
A big YES! If you are interested in penpalling with me please email me at m_sparke@hotmail.com
Thank you Megan, I hope this interview allows you to find new penpals! :)
Julie xox
1. Please tell us about you!
Hi, I'm Megan a 22 year old law student from Canberra, Australia. I currently work as a legal clerk while I am studying. I love the things that most people do, movies, reading, hanging with my friends, eating out and of course sending and receiving mail.
I started my own blog in October last year and am loving having my own creative outlet. If you would like to check it out the address is Time After Tea. I am constantly amazed by all the wonderful and talented people that I meet through my blog.
I live with my boyfriend who I have been with for three years, and our friend Maddy. As well as our little Guinea Pig Chuckie, who is super cute for a guinea pig.
Brendan and I.I love traveling. I was lucky enough to travel around Europe with one of my friends for five weeks last year and had the time of my life. I have also been to Japan when I was 17. The next place on my travel list is Thailand and Vietnam.
I have an amazing family, that are very supportive and loving. My sister is 19 and is studying pharmacy.
My sister and I.I love to get out and try new things and am willing to give anything a go once. Having said that I also love sleeping and need at least 8 hours a night to function.
2. Describe your personality in 10 words!
Energetic, happy, loving, thinker, listener, impatient, laidback, talkative, dreamer, organised.
Me with Johnny Depp (Madame Tussards London).3. How long have you been penpalling? How did you first start? Tell us about your first penpal!
I first started to pen pal when I was seven when one of my best friends moved 6 hours away. We managed to write letters for a couple of years but slowly moved apart, we're still friends on Facebook.
I then penpalled with my Japanese exchange student but the language barrier made it tough.
It is only in the last 6 months that I have started to penpal with people I haven't meet in real life. Most of my pen pals I have meet through their blog or mine.
4. How many penpals do you have now and where are they from?
At the moment I have about three serious penpals then a few that I write to on and off.
I meet Stephanie through her blog and we just instantly clicked. We have alot in common so it makes it easy to write to her. At the moment we're both trying to lose weight so we give each other constant support through our letters and blog.
A letter I recently sent out.Lauren is a new penpal and I only sent her my first letter a few weeks ago and am eagerly waiting a reply.
I also am part of projects such as postcrossing and sendsomething.net.
5. What are your favorite topics to discuss in letters?
I am happy to talk about pretty much anything. Be that politics and religion to love and everyday life. I think if you limit your topics too much you don't get to know your penpal as well. I love people who can recommend great books, movies and places to visit.
Me on top of the Eiffel tower.6. What are you looking for in a penpal?
Of course someone that I have things in common with but I think it is also important to have differences. I like penpalling with people who can teach me something or express a different point of view. I like people who are constant in their letter writing so that you can develop your relationship rather that hearing from them once every 6 months.
7. What do you like the most about penpalling?
It allows me to meet and speak with people that I wouldn't otherwise get to in my everyday life.
It allows me to be creative. I like to put effort into my letters and make them about more than just the words on the paper.
I also enjoy the friendships that are formed through letter writing.
Me (stripped singlet) and friends from high school.8. In what language(s) do you correspond?
Unfortunately only English at the moment.
9. What are some of your habits in regards to letter writing?
When I get a letter I usually write back within a couple of days. When I send it though depends on when I have money for postage, being a poor uni student definitely has its disadvantages.
I usually either sit at the kitchen table or in our office when I write my letters. If work is quiet I will sometimes write there too.
Where I sit and do my letter writing.10. Has anything strange/funny ever happened to you since you've been penpalling?
Haha not as yet but I will have to keep an eye out.
11. Have you met any of your penpals?
No, I haven't but am definitely not against the idea.
12. Are you currently looking for more penpals?
A big YES! If you are interested in penpalling with me please email me at m_sparke@hotmail.com
Thank you Megan, I hope this interview allows you to find new penpals! :)
Julie xox
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