- Sandbook Net

Transcription

- Sandbook Net

VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 3
JANUARY ‘11
SANDBOOK
PENPALS AND SWAPPERS
THE MAGAZINE
FEATURES :
• Hidden Treasures
• Write Around the World
• Creative Letters
• PenPalling & Letters
• Dia De Reyes
Lost Penpal
Goodie bags
BURN PATTERNS
AUTHORS
EDITORIAL
follow us on TWITTER
Guest Authors:
Erika Millares
Dia de Reyes,
Three Kings’ Day
Recipes
Interview with Julie
(www.lapapierre.com)
Interview with Isabelle
(www.sirpriz.com)
,
Hello and welcome to the January
issue of our digital penpal magazine.
We, the Sandbook.Net Team, hope
that you have had a really perfect
Christmas, a wonderful New Year’s
Eve and a successful start of the
new 2011 Year! We also hope that
we will continue meeting you on
the pages of our magazine!
The third issue of the magazine is the last from the three
month evaluation series. We have worked hard and
taken in account all the requests and suggestions that
you have sent us through the months. We are happy to
see that we have over 800 downloads on each of the
issues so far. We have the crew, the motivation and the
inspiration to continue making this magazine. So look
out for the new magazines that are going to be released
on the 11th of each month.
Raia and the Sandbook Net Team
Interview with Deirdre
(www.moonwell.nl)
www.sandbook.net
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c h e c k
Dear Sandbookers
So let’s sail into 2011!
t h e
l a t e s t
n e w s
a t
w w w . s a n d b o o k . n e t
Beatriz Floriano
Holidays in Spain
CONTACT US
Interview with Jess
(Snail Mail Aficionado)
(www.postaladdict.blogspot.
com)
Thank you for taking part in issue 3,
January 2011!
Make sure that you stay informed for the latest news:
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Sandbook
Add us as a friend on Facebook:
http://facebook.com/sandbooknet
And join our Facebook Group: http://on.fb.me/SBNgroup
And join our Facebook Page: http://on.fb.me/SBNpage
Read our blog at: sandbooknet.blogspot.com
Visit us on our website: www.SandBook.Net
IN THIS ISSUE
Authors:
Rach Gee
Write around the world
Goodie Bags
Birthday Twins
Gregory J. Lentz
Christmas
n e w s
a t
Teresa Wodehouse
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c h e c k
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Melanie Anzalone
PenPalling Experience
PenPal Ads: Tips and
Tricks
Raia Alexieva
Burn Patterns
Cover: GAYA DESIGNS
Editor: Raia Alexieva
Graphic Designer: Aspeia Alexieva / GAYA DESIGNS
IT administration: Jason Dimitrov
Photography: Manuela Balocco
Production Coordinator: Raia Alexieva
Junior Associate: Milen Mangarudov
Team Authors : Gregory J.Lentz / Samantha Stroy/
Raia Alexieva / Bea from PenPalling and Letters /
Rae from Glass Completely Empty Productions /
Teresa Wodehouse / Melanie Anzalone.
Information is correct at press time.
Prague: Hidden Treasures
CULTURAL EVENTS:
62 HOLIDAYS IN SPAIN
68 CHRISTMAS
72 PENPAL AND LETTERS: GIVEAWAY
74 NEW YEAR’S EVE AND DAY
76 NEW YEAR’S DAY
80 DIA DE REYES: THREE KINGS’ DAY
82 THREE KINGS DAY (PART 2)
84 SAMANTHA’S THOUGHTS
85 RECIPES
86 WORLD TRAVELLER: PRAGUE: HIDDEN TREASURES
94 NUMEROLOGY READINGS
96 BIRTHDAY TWINS
a t
Creative Letters
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Samantha’s Thoughts
WEBSITES PROMOTION:
52 LA PAPIERRE INTERVIEW WITH JULIE
55 PENPALLING CONNECTIONS
59 SIRPRIZ.COM INTERVIEW WITH ISABELLE
58 MOONWELL.NL INTERVIEW WITH DEIRDRE
60 SNAIL MAIL AFICIONADO INTERVIEW WITH JESS
l a t e s t
Samantha Stroy
t h e
New Year’s Eve and Day
c h e c k
Penpalling & Letters
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New Year’s Day
CORRESPONDENCE:
6 WRITE AROUND THE WORLD JANUARY 2011 UPDATE
10 LETTER INSIDER: BURN PATTERNS
14 LETTER INSIDER: CREATIVE LETTERS
16 PENPALLING EXPERIENCE
18 GOODIE BAGS
20 PENPAL ADS: TIPS AND TRICKS
22 GOOD AND BAD PENPAL
26 PENPAL OF THE MONTH
28 LOST PENPAL
30 PENPAL AND SWAPPERS ADS
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Good and Bad PenPal
2 EDITORIAL
3 TWITTER
4 CONTENTS
photo by Manuela Balocco
AUTHORS
98 RELATIONSHIP / PHOTO SHARE
99 SUBSCRIBE
100 NEXT ISSUE
5
WRITE AROUND THE WORLD - January 2011 Update
W
rite Around The World is one of those crazy ideas I had at about 2am.
You know how it goes; you’re asleep and, all of a sudden, an idea which
you think will change the world slams into your brain with the force of a
runaway train. Ideas were scribbled down in a notebook and, since then,
I’ve been planning and prepping (with the help of my small, but wonderful, team. You
know who you are – thank you very much!).
l i k e
I had the idea about 18 months ago but, at the time was working on another project. That
one has had to be moved to the back burner so I decided I’d give working on the penpalling film a shot. I began blogging about it back in September or October of 2010, and
postcards advertising it had been going out for a couple of months prior to that. With
others of interviews coming in very slowly, it was again transferred to “Pre-production”
rather than “Production” stage.
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Thankfully, several websites and blogs have picked up on the film and have been
very gracious in granting us space and time to speak about what we are doing and
drumming up support for us. Since they have become involved, interest has grown
but, unfortunately, not in the way we wanted it to. While we have a small (and slowly
growing) list of participants, we still need more. And we need YOU! Yes, you! The person
sitting there, reading this! If you are a pen-pal, or have ever been involved in pen-palling,
or run a store selling pen-pal supplies, then we want to hear from you! We want to take
your news and views and show them to the world.
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[email protected]
http://on.fb.me/WriteAroundTheWorld
http://glasscompletelyempty.blogspot.com/
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Contact:
Glass Completely Empty Productions:
a t
I know that a lot of people will be sceptical and that’s fine. Besides, whenever we turn on
the TV these days we are bombarded with dire and devastating news. We are told that
we must look a certain way, that we must eat a certain thing and buy a certain product
and that, if we don’t, we will never be “someone”. And that’s one of the points behind
my production company. We don’t want sensationalist stories. We don’t want the Z-list
and the hardly famous. We want to take the normal person on the street and create
a fantastic and uplifting story around them. We want to put some happiness, joy and
colour into this world. We want to, for a moment, get people to forget about the rat race
and their diet and the car they can ill afford. We want to make people SMILE! The mission
statement for Glass Completely Empty Productions reads as follows:
Our Mission Statement
We believe in a fair and just society where everyone, no matter what their race, gender,
sexuality or religion, is treated equally.
We believe in making people smile, because a happy person takes a better photograph.
We believe in the power of inspirational and heart warming speeches, music and art and
giving those people the platform from which to do it.
We believe in fair play and not following the journalistic route of twisting whatever is
put into our possession. We believe in working as a co-operative and allowing everyone
a say in the finished product.
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But I’m not a film-maker! I
don’t know what to do!
Don’t panic! You’re in good hands here!
What do I have to do?
And part of the project is to have user
Firstly, email us with your details generated content which is as diverse
(name, age, location and, obviously, as the people involved. How many
email address. We will not and never times have you watched something
will sell your details on.) and tell us on TV and it just looks clinical,
a little bit about yourself and your generic and mass produced? We
pen-palling life.
want something which is a little
Secondly, once we have enough rough around the edges and that
people involved, we will be sending looks a little different.
out a list of interview questions.
We’re asking you to either video your In short we are looking
responses or do an audio recording for:
(we’d much prefer video so we can 1. People who pen-pal, have been
see what you look like!).
pen-pals or run stores selling penThirdly... well that’s a secret at the palling supplies.
moment but it’s going to involve an 2. People who are willing to film a
exhibition. All will be revealed later short interview.
on!
3. People who are just like YOU!
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If you have any more questions, or
want more information, please feel
free to email me. You can contact me
at:
rae@glasscompletelyempty.
co.uk
or [email protected]
You can find a lot of questions and
answers at the Glass Completely
Empty Facebook page. Just search
c h e c k
c h e c k
But I don’t have a video
camera!
Do you have a webcam? If you do,
then that’s fine! Also, a lot of digital
cameras now have a video function.
Once we have enough people
involved, I’ll be releasing a video
to show you how to make yourself
look good. Trust me, it’s not nearly
But I don’t have a microphone!
Most laptops now come with them
built in but if you have a headset
that also works. I film all of my
videos with the headset around my
neck and the microphone angled
just below my chin. I’ll show you
how to do it!
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as hard as people think it is!
Unfortunately, due to the resolution
still not being perfect, we won’t be
accepting mobile phone footage.
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We believe in laughter, smiles, hugs
and the power of a good cup of tea,
a listening ear and a squeeze of the
cat when everything seems to be
going wrong. We also believe that,
no matter what anyone says, the cat
is always right.
We believe in making the world a
better place for everyone because
if we don’t try and change it, who
will?
So, do you fancy joining us?! If so,
you will be adding colour and glee
to this world.
Okay, I’ll answer the questions that I
know are going to be asked!
for “Glass Completely Empty” and look for the
pink glass.
Thank you to Sandbook.net, PenPalling&Letters
(www.penpallingandletters.blogspot.com)
and Penpal Magazine (http://penpalmagazine.
blogspot.com) for their ongoing support with
this project. If you would like to re-blog any of
the information for the film, please feel free to
send me an email as I have flyers, postcards and
information ready to go. Thank you so much
to all of you for your encouraging words and
support!
If you blog about the film or write something
about it, please let us know so that we can
include you on our thank you list. We wouldn’t
want to miss anyone out!
http://glasscompletelyempty.blogspot.com/
Author: Rach Gee
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LETTER INSIDER
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burn
patterns
Letters always brings a smile to my face. It’s
the excitement when I open the mailbox
and find some letters from my pen pals. It’s
also the trill to be able to share someone
else’s life and experience simply through
the words on a sheet of paper. The joy
that a letter brings can never be replaced
by the modern forms of communication:
tweeting, emailing, chatting or texting.
I am old fashioned. I love to be able to hold
the letter in my own hands and to know
that my penpal had held it too.
I enjoy every last word on the letter and I
get inspired to craft a really unique letter
every time that I receive a crafty letter
myself. It doesn’t matter if the letter is
written on cute stationery, or if it is written
on a blank sheet of paper and decorated
afterwards, printed or handwritten – those
are irrelevant to me when I know that my
penpal had put some thought and made
the letter feel personal. Just for my eyes
only! Such letters are a real motivation to
think out of the box and come up with a
unique letter reply.
Last month I wrote a letter to my dearest
and closest friend, Erika. Since she always
makes her letters so beautiful, vivid and
colorful, I was up for a challenge when I
started thinking about ways to decorate
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By Raia Alexieva
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her the letter reply. Before
I knew it I have already
typed two pages. Yes, we
have a lot of things to talk
about and I would have
gone on, if I didn’t want
to send the letter before
the Xmas holidays.
I printed the letter and
then I was ready to start
burning the edges of the
c h e c k
And I didn’t want to
accidentally burn off the
whole and only copy of
the letter. That is why I
started typing the letter. I
know that Erika wouldn’t
mind receiving a typed
letter from me, so I gave
it a go. My fingers started
moving through the
keyboard as I was writing
letter. I used
a
scented
candle but you can use
any type of candle at
all. I really wanted to
incorporate some of the
scent of the candle into
the paper (which later
on, I found that wasn’t
possible.). I started off
by burning the edges
of the paper. The basic
I placed the sheet of
paper over the candle,
but far enough so that
it wouldn’t catch flames
(that were needed while
burning down the edges
of the letter). Just holding
the paper over the flame
will give you brown dots
on the paper. If you move
the paper in circular
motion as you keep it
over the flame you will
get larger yellow-brown
spots on the paper. Since
my candle was a square
candle and it had burned
down a bit, I decided to
slide the paper over the
candle edge’s (not the
flame, but the candle
edges) and take some of
the wax into the sheet of
the paper. With a circular
motion I was able to
make some “oily” circles
on the sheet of paper.
And that was it. The letter
was complete and I only
had to fold it and send it
over to Erika.
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her letter. In the end,
I decided to use burn
patterns.
Writing the letter was
the easiest part of the
whole process. I firstly
decided to handwrite
the letter, but then
changed my mind, since
working with candles
to achieve the burn
patterns is unpredictable.
and then write the
letter. However be
aware that some
inks might not
write over that
paper.
While doing the
burn patterns on
the edge of the
paper, I realized
that it is a lot easier
if I tear off the edge
with my hands
and then use the
candle flame on
the torn side. The
flame will follow
the pattern you
in the best case near
made while tearing the
principle is that if you a sink to put out any
sheet of paper. It will also
let the frame touch the possible fire incidents.
save you a lot of time and
sheet of paper for longer As you can see, before I
effort to navigate the
it will burn off more from was able to get the hang
flame to burn a bigger
the sheet of paper than of it and complete the
chunk of the sheet of
if you quickly pull off the letter, I had a fire incident
paper.
sheet of paper.
and a page was severely
I burned off the edges
Caution: Using a candle burned. That’s why I was
of the paper and then
flame to burn away the glad that I had typed the
decided that I want
edges of the paper is letter. I printed it again
to give the letter the
dangerous. Make sure and restarted my work. A
brownish look that it
you do it far away from useful idea is to prepare
had around the edges.
flammable materials and the sheets of paper first
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LETTER INSIDER: BURN PATTERNS
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creative
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to your friends – one of your
an experiment
pals like to cook or bake –
that requires
you can include the pics
you to do a bit
of some interesting dishes
of shopping…
(even with short recipes), but not in a stationary shop,
but in a grocery store! Go to
the pasta section, they tend
to have those tiny picturepastas for kids. Just like
these flowers that I found in
our local one. Do not cook
these tiny flowers, but paint
them with some bright
colored acrylics paints. Then
let them dry and meanwhile
create some ornaments
on your letter paper. Then
stick these flowers (or
whatever shapes your store
another one likes animals, had) to complement the
another likes flowers or ornaments…and
you’re
butterflies…
creative
idea
Another
one of the
childhood
things that all of us have
done…hand
prints!
How easy, how fun,
how unique! For this, I
would recommend using
watercolors as they are done! Don’t forget to use
more transparent and light, good glue so that the pasta
so you can easily write over pieces won’t fall off. You can
the handprints, once they also use the acrylics paint to
get dry. Now, this is another stick them on and let them
spin on the same style: if dry. Now tell me – has any
you happen to have a child, of your penpals ever got a
or even your friend has one, letter like that?!
you can do small imprints of Enjoy yourselves and keep
the kid’s hand and feet. How writing letters in the 2011!
cute is that!? Your penpals Lots of love to all, Teresa
will definitely like a letter (to get in touch with the
written on such paper.
author, please contact
creative idea
teresa.wodehouse@gmail.
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And as a last one, here is com)
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children have done in their
art classes. And yet as adults
Have you noticed the we forget the playfulness
problem of getting decent of the art. Get some leaves
and nice writing papers for that fall off the trees or even
your letters in your local of your flowers at home.
stationary shop? I am sure Apply some paint over it (I
this is an issue that all of us recommend
acrylic
penpals are facing. Letter- pains for their full
papers are not a fashionable color) and simply
item to sell anymore. But stick it on the paper
still, we love to receive carefully without
letters that are written on smudges.
The
nicely decorated papers, stamp that the
not just plain ones. And leaves make on
although stickers are fun to a white piece of
put on your writing papers, paper is a beautiful and
what if they are hard to get unique image. Of course
or expensive in your local there is a huge variety in
shop? Or what if you just leave types and colors. Not
want to make something
a bit different for your
penpals?
Let’s see what creative
ways we can use to make
our letters a bit more
interesting and personal
for our dear penpals.
For they are not “only”
penpals, but real friends.
Creative
idea
one of your letters will look
This is something
the same.
that most of the
Creative
idea
You get plenty
of magazines
in the store
around you which you read
at home…but instead of
throwing them away, why
not browsing through them,
cutting nice pictures and
sticking them with glue onto
the white sheets? You can
create interesting writing
papers that are also relevant
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ByTeresaWodehouse
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LETTER INSIDER: CREATIVE LETTERS
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think it was because you
couldn’t really choose
much. Only the age, the
sex and the country or
continent. And when
you don’t have much
in common it’s hard to
keep in touch for a long
time.
When I was 15 years
old and into all those
boy-groups I started
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You had to pay them
and then they gave you
addresses. Those were
my first pen pals from
other countries. Well at
this time there was no
internet and that was
the only way for me to
get pen pals from other
countries. I wrote those
pen pals a few times, but
then they or I stopped. I
c h e c k
This time I want to write
about my experience
with pen palling. I’m a
28 years old girl from
Germany and I always
loved writing letters.
I think I wrote my first
letter when I was about 9
or 10 years old. I got the
address from a magazine
about horses for girls
(Wendy), because I wrote
them that I’m looking
for pen pals. But I can’t
really remember this pal
and how long we wrote
letters.
When I was a few
years older I got some
addresses from this
pen pal organization.
i t ?
by Melanie Anzalone
[email protected]
swapping FB’s. At this age I only signed in those fan FB’s and wrote other fans.
But I never wrote those people that long. New bands - new pen pals, well I was
young.
I met most of my pen pals I write now on Interpals. It’s a great website with
a lot of nice people. You have your profile there, you can write a lot about
yourself, upload pictures, you have a wall and people can send you messages.
I love this website.
I mean you can also make bad
experiences too. Who doesn’t?!
I don’t like those people who
write once and you never
hear from them again. Or the
ones who want your address
and you also never hear from
them again. I already wrote a
few first letters and never got
an answer. That’s sad and the
reason why I don’t write first
letters anymore.
Did you ever get a letter
from someone who saw your
address in a FB? Well I did
and I don’t understand why I
always get the same letters.
Usually they are pretty short.
Sometimes only a few lines
typed. Or a few lines with a
terrible handwriting you can’t
read. Do people really think they get an answer when they mail something
like that? When I got such a letter I never replied. I mean, when I write a first
letter I write about myself, use nice paper, decorate the letter and write much
more than a few lines.
So please, if you see an address in a FB and you want to write to that person,
make it a little nice and interesting. Think about what you would like and how
you would feel if you get such a letter.
I’m really happy with all my pen pals I have now. Such nice girls! Most of my pen pals come from other
countries. It’s so interesting to learn about other cultures and peoples life. For Christmas I also mailed some
pen pals Christmas presents and cards. It’s also so much fun to swap with pen pals or to send each other
little presents. I’m so excited when I can open a package from a pen pal or a swap partner. :D One of the
things I really like to make at the moment and swap with pen pals are ATC (Artist Trading Cards). Those are
little cards (2.5” x 3.5” or 64 mm x 89 mm) you decorate. For example you can decorate them like many Nice
and Neat FB’s are decorated, you can draw something... On the back you have to write your name, the title
of the ATC, the date and I always write my blog address on it too. It’s so much fun to make and swap them
and it’s easy and small to send to your pen pal. :D
I already met some of my pen pals in real life like including my husband. Oh I can tell so many nice stories.
What I can say is that I wouldn’t be that happy now without the letters and all my friends all over the
world.
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PENPALLING EXPERIENCE
GOODIE BAGS:
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Take out as many items as you want. Replace with
the same amount of items plus 2 extra. Also put in
one of your labels and sign on the back. Number
5 please send home or to any ICR.
The labels enable the owner to see how far it
has travelled and who has taken part. It also
gives them a chance to make “Thank You” FB’s
or bags. Of course, it doesn’t matter what kind
of instructions are on there, you can take them
and alter them as you see fit. You might have
a never ending bag, one which has no owner,
no number or no destination, one which keeps on going
around the world and, from time to time, sees the same
people. Or you might have a wishlist bag, an envelope
which has a list of wishes on the front which people cross
off as they place the items inside and pass it from person
to person.
4
5
Like FB’s, feel free to decorate the envelope
before you send it on its way. Stickers or stamps
on the outside of the envelope make it look great
and are guaranteed to make whoever receives
it smile. Use coloured envelopes; these can be
brought easily enough from most stationery and
craft shops or can be found on Ebay. Cutting out pictures
from magazines and decorating the envelope is good,
especially if you then cover it with sticky backed plastic
or sticky tape as it helps to strengthen it for its travels. Let
your imagination soar and have fun!
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As well as those, include the bag instructions on
the front as well. This might be “Place in 1 item and
pass on” or may be more in-depth instructions.
An example would be:
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Place the address of who it’s for on the front of
the envelope and add yours (the “By” address)
there as well.
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How do I make them?
Start by putting what type of bag it is at the top of the
envelope. It may be a normal, anything goes, goodie bag,
or it may be a postcard, memo sheet, confetti, sticker or
greeting card bag.
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probably shouldn’t go into that bag.
Do you swap goodie bags? And, if so, what
do you put in them? Feel free to email me
and tell me!
Rach Gee: [email protected]
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somewhere along the
line, your boring item
may be gold dust to
someone else! And,
as gross as it might
sound
to
another,
unused (obviously!) and
wrapped condoms are
bound to bring a laugh
to someone!
What shouldn’t
go into goodie
bags?
Well, live animals aren’t
really a good idea! And
neither is a full set of
encyclopedias! If an
item is bulky or heavy
then it’s probably not a
good idea to put it into
a goodie bag, unless,
of course, you’re the
person who is going to
send the bag home. If
you have an item you’re
debating whether or
not to put into a bag,
ask yourself if you would
like to receive that item.
If the answer is no then
don’t put it in! Dirty
or used items aren’t a
good idea either. I’m
not joking when I’ve
seen an empty condom
wrapper in a goodie
bag. Really now?! Did
someone take it out, use
the condom and decide
to pass on the empty
wrapper?! Would you
want to receive that?!
If the word “NO!” is
screaming away in your
brain, then whatever
you hold in your hands
c h e c k
and sachets of coffee
work just as well. If
you’re planning on
sending stationery and
postcards, try and put
something nice in, even
if it’s an advertising
postcard for a local
shop. If it’s got a nice
image on the front then
it will go down just as
well as any postcard of
an exotic location and,
if you find yourself in
an exotic location, pick
up a couple of handfuls
of postcards just for
goodie bags. Small
erasers, pens, nice postit-notes and small bags
of glitter or confetti
also look nice in goodie
bags. I remember one
bag I received contained
a handful of
Christmas
postcards
from Finland.
I love those
Christmas
postcards
with a passion
as they’re an
item I’ve yet
to see here
in the UK so
I was more
than happy
to
swap
those cards
for some of
my own. You
may think it’s
a boring and
mundane
item
but,
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shouldn’t be put
into a goodie bag?
It’s a conundrum for
many people and one
which is easily solved.
The first thing you should
ask yourself, before you
place any items into
a bag, is whether you
would want to receive
any of the items you’re
going to pass on.
Flat items are always
good to put into bags.
Postcards, stationery,
memo sheets, greeting
cards, nice envelopes
and sheets of stickers
go down well. Flat,
wrapped candies are
an idea, for example
chewing gum or small
squares of chocolate.
Tea bags, sugar sachets
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Goodie bags – they’re
like label bags but with
a fun twist involved;
envelopes which are
packed with (hopefully)
interesting items from
around the globe. For
people who already pass
around goodie bags,
they’re fun to receive
and fun to pass on.
There are various types
of goodie bags, from
those which contain
anything from postcards
to teabags, chewing fun
and sachets of coffee
to those which contain
specific items such as
postcards or memo
sheets.
But what is best to
put into a goodie
bag? And what
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PenPal Ads:
l a t e s t
tips and tricks
c h e c k
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By Melanie Anzalone
[email protected]
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Do you also have the
problem
that
you
sometimes don’t really
know what you could
write in a pen pal ad
besides your country,
age, name and email
address? I want to give
you some ideas how to
make your pen pal ad
better so that you can
find the right pen pal.
1. First you should write
what kinds of letters you
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like. Snail mail or email.
If long letters, normal
letters, short letter or
maybe only postcards.
Some people like to
type their letters and
some really don’t like
that. Maybe it’s good
to mention if you write
your letters by hand or if
you prefer to type them.
When you like to use
cute paper and when
you’re obsessed with
stationary like I am, it’s
also not bad to mention
that.
2. It’s also really important
to tell about your
hobbies. What you like
or what you don’t like.
Well it always depends
on how long your ad
should be. If it doesn’t
matter, then I would try
to write as much about
you as you can. A special
job or hobby makes an
ad interesting too. If you
like to do something not
everyone does, write it.
3. And you should let
the others know what
you’re looking for. The
countries, the age, the
sex, the languages you
know and can speak
and anything else that
your new pen pal should
have.
If you give all those
information’s I’m pretty
sure you can find the
perfect pen pal for you.
Try it out and write a pen
pal ad right now. I hope
I could of helped you a
little bit with my ideas
how to write the perfect
pen pal ad. Good luck in
finding new pen pals.
Good and Bad PenPal
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on a letter which says
nothing. Pen-palling is
a hobby, not a chore,
and should never feel
like a chore. If you’re
busy, or have nothing
to write about at that
Patience Is A Virtue! moment, then don’t.
Not every pen-pal is Save it for later on. And
slow at replying, but if someone pesters you
not everyone is quick at to as why you haven’t
replying either. Unlike replied, then are they
e-mail, text messaging really your friend?
and Facebook, penpalling
the
old Pay Attention!
fashioned way requires It’s easy to tell if
time, dedication and, someone’s
paying
most
importantly, attention to you or
patience. There may be not, even through
a number of reasons letters. No one likes to
why it takes someone feel like they’re being
a while to reply. If they ignored, nor do they
live abroad, it may like to feel like they’re
take several weeks for being spoken to. Great
a letter to reach them pals take the time
and for them to reply. to get to know the
This was seen recently people they’re writing
here in the UK when to. They spend time
the snow caused a lot reading and re-reading
of services, including a letter before carefully
the post, to grind to a penning a reply. They
halt. Another case may don’t quickly rush out
be a person not having a note just so they can
anything to say. Which get something in the
would you prefer? A mail. A letter which
quickly dashed off reads:
letter saying that they Hi!
have nothing to say? I went to the shop and
Or one a few weeks, or brought these stickers.
months, later telling Aren’t they great?!
you all that’s going on in Write soon! Bye!
their lives? I have times Is going to get far less
where I have nothing to of a response than one
say so it seems stupid which has had time
to waste (ever more and effort put into it.
expensive)
postage If you want people to
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It’s All About The
Friendship!
There is nothing more
pleasurable
than
receiving a lovely, chatty
letter. Every pen-pal is
looking for something
and, most of the time,
it’s friendship. The
meaning of friendship
differs from person to
person with everyone
looking for something
different so a friendly
and
chatty
penfriend is an absolute
asset, someone to be
treasured and loved.
Are you friendly and
chatty? Do you want to
be friendly and chatty?
Read on and learn the
high and lows of being
a good pen-friend!
l i k e
By Rae Gee
Pen-palling is a hobby
which is enjoyed by
many. As the days and
months wear on, new
people discover this
endearing past time.
It may remind them of
days gone by or it may
give them a chance to
connect with people in
ways other than e-mail
and Facebook.
So what makes a good
pen-pal? And what
makes a bad penpal? These are the
questions asked by
many and, there are
as many answers as
there are questions.
This article will try
and answer some of
these questions. It may
succeed, it may not. It
may make you think, it
may not.
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SMILE!
Seriously, smile! It makes
the world a better place! A
good pen-pal knows how
to balance their letter.
They know when to moan
and when not to. They
know when to be a support
for someone and they know
when it is them who needs
the support. They know
when someone needs help
and they know when they
need help. It’s a talent but it’s
one that can be learned. As
mentioned before read and
re-read the letters you receive.
This is a person you’re writing
to, not just scraps of paper
from around the world, but a
real, living, breathing human
being. If they make you feel
good about yourself, return
the love and make
them feel good about
themselves.
It also takes less muscles
Pen-pal Collectors
to smile than it does to
Don’t, just don’t, okay? It’s frown!
l a t e s t
day after day. Not only
does it get dull but it gets
frustrating for the person
who is trying to be your
friend. I have bipolar, and
am heavily medicated
because of it, but I don’t
let it rule my life, nor
my letters. People don’t
want to hear about it and
repeated complaints (or
even letters that are just
complaining)
quickly
make you a thorn in
their side, dreading the
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reads “Member of the
Piss and Moan about
Everything
Club”!
Thanks to some of my
posts!) But, like blog
Bitch, Whine, Moan, posts, or any other
messaging service for
Complain, Repeat!
We all like to moan, it’s that matter, people
a part of being human. I don’t want to read letter
go through phases of it, after letter of the same
so much so that I have complaints. So what
the above title set as if you don’t have any
an avatar on my blog! money/a partner/new
(Someone also jokingly shoes? Don’t burden
sent me a t-shirt which your pen-pals with it
disappear. Pen-pals can
become like journals
you speak to. You just
need to learn to trust!
c h e c k
Learn To Trust!
As with taking time to
reply to letters, another
factor is opening up. If
someone trusts you with
a secret, trust them and
give them one of yours.
It helps to build that
relationship between
you. Out of the people I
write to (and it’s not that
many to begin with),
only 2 people know
my deepest secret and
that’s because we’ve
taken the time to get
to know each other. A
lot of people get into
pen-palling for the
excitement of receiving
something other than
bills through the post.
But if they remain behind
their barriers then those
they’re writing to soon
not cool, it’s not clever and
it really annoys people.
No-one wants to be used
and abused because of
who they are, what they
have or where they live
and neither would you. If
you want a pen-pal from
a certain country or who
does a certain job, then
post up an advert. Don’t
collect pals until you
find that certain person.
As before, people can
tell when they’re being
spoken to and ignored.
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hang around and be
your friend, then take
the time to get to know
them.
Kindness is Cool! So
pass it along!
A great pen-pal is kind,
considerate, loving, caring
and a whole lot more to
boot. Such a person will
know you upside down
and inside out. They will
know your dreams and
desires and they will be
there to help you up
should you stumble. I’m
very lucky to have such
a pen-pal, a friendship
which jumped from
paper to real life and a
bond which has become
unbreakable. I love her
and would never change
her and am thankful every
day for her.
Such pen-pals are out
there; they’re just hard
to find and, if you find
one, hold on! Love them
like you would your own
child and welcome them
into your life with open
arms. Care for them and
nurture them in the same
way as they do you and
you’re looking at a friend
for life. They are the kind
of person who is definitely
one in a million and loving
them is an absolute must!
Don’t Demand!
Because demanding gets
you nowhere. If you’re
posting up an advert,
don’t demand that your
pen-pals only write on
certain kinds of stationery.
How do you know that
someone who desperately
wants to be pals with
you can’t afford nice
stationery? Does it make
them any less of a person
because they don’t write
on nice stationery? Or
don’t send you things with
every letter? No, it doesn’t!
“What goes around comes
around” and I’m sure you
wouldn’t want to be at
the end of a letter saying
that, sorry, this person
can’t be friends with you
because you didn’t send
them a million dollars.
You may have loved that
person but, because of
something
superficial,
they didn’t want to know
you any more.
The same, unfortunately,
goes for swappers. If
someone has something,
they’ll send it but don’t
demand that they send
you an item. There’s
enough hostility and
negativity in the world
without it breeding
amongst pen-pals. And if
someone does demand,
it soon becomes fairly
common knowledge.
l i k e
day your letter arrives.
Negativity
breeds
negativity and a “You
don’t know what it’s like to
be me!!” attitude gets no
one anywhere, either in
the pen-palling world or
the real world.
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PENPAL OF THE MONTH CONTEST
Our PenPals of the Month December 2010
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wrote me a letter in a little note book with over
100 pages. She lives not that far away from
here. About a year after we met online she
asked me if we should meet because she was
in my town. I think she visited her other pen pals
too on that day. Well I was nervous. It’s always
exciting to meet new people and I was scared
what I should do if I don’t know what to talk or
l a t e s t
And one day.... You are a Winner!
about my last pen pal I met.
Her name is Christine and I met her on the
website Interpals about two and a half years
ago. It was funny, we started talking while she
was on holiday in the USA and I asked her to buy
me something. When she was back in Germany
we started writing really long letters. She writes
the longest letter of all my pen pals and already
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I already met a few pen pals now. When I was
younger I went to ski jumping events together
with my pen pals or met them there. Some of
them came from other parts of Germany, some
from Switzerland or Austria. We all knew each
other from ski jumping fan FB’s. But that was a
long time ago and I’m not really in touch with
those girls anymore. That’s why I want to tell
c h e c k
““Dear Sandbook, I want to nominate
my pen pal & best friend Christine (from
Germany) as the pen pal of the month.
We met about two and a half years ago
on a pen pal website. We both already
met each other a few times and she is
a great friend and pen pal. Once she
wrote me a really, really long letter in a
notebook (more than 100 pages) when I
went on holiday to the USA, so that I have
something to read on the 11 hours flight.
And one time when I didn’t feel good she
was there for me and came for a visit and
we had a great time. It’s always so much
fun when we meet and make some FB’s
together or talk about cute stationary.
She is like me, crazy about cute papers
and you can’t image how happy she is
when you give her some FB’s to pass on.
Her letters are always really long, funny
and so sweat. She is a great person with
a big heart and she deserves to be pen
pal of the month. Her letters always put a
smile on my face! Christine, I’m so happy
to have you as a friend and I hope we will
see each other again soone.” Meli A.
i t ?
It all starts with filling out an
application that’s available
on our website and your
nomination is done in no
time.
something like that. When we met
we decided to go to Starbucks and
have a coffee. It was really nice.
First we gave each other a pile of
stationary and FB’s because we
are both crazy about it. Then we
talked and time was flying and we
had a great day. It was so much fun.
About two or three months later (I
can’t remember) she visited me at
my new place with her boyfriend.
We had so much fun again. We
swapped FB’s and stationary and
ended up with talking about
cute paper and where to order...
Another 3 months later I visited her
and stayed the night at her place.
We started the day with buying
new stationary and stickers and we
decided to make FB’s. It was great.
The whole floor was covered with
craft supplies, paper, address labels
and other stuff. We couldn’t really
walk there anymore. I think that
was the first time I made the real
Nice and Neat FB’s. Even the next
day we made more FB’s before I
had to leave again. After that we
met a few times again and I hope
she will visit me soon because her
Christmas present is still waiting
under my Christmas tree. :D I’m so
happy that I met her and that she
doesn’t live that far away. She lives in the same
state and by car it only takes her a little bit over
an hour to drive to the town I live. Christine, if
you read this, I hope we will be friends forever.
Your the best friend someone can have and I
know you are always here for me. Hugs, your
friend Meli!
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Melanie Anzalone AND Christine Dreyer from Germany
LOST PENPAL
Have you lost a penpal? Yes?!
Then this is the section for
you. Place your story about
your Lost penpal and we will
try to help you reconnect!
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Tammy Albertson Dupont, USA (via Facebook)
I have been looking fofr a friend of mine who I lost contact with
along time ago and I really miss her. Her name is Kim Bear and
she lived in Texas. I would love to get back in touch with her. Her
maiden name was Heiliman.
Jules Muni (via Facebook)
My penpal of 15 years Jacqueline Mcinnus who last known lived
in Kingston, Jamaica.I hope that I will be able to get back in touch
with her.
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Katarina Långdahl, Sweden
[email protected]
I’m looking for my lost pen friend
Yvonne Bell in Miami, Florida. She’s
born 1973.
Marlene Miller, Ohio, USA
[email protected]
Hello, my name is Marlene Miller, 55 and I am in Ohio in United States, have
a favor to ask, am looking for friend I wrote to about 8 yr s or so ago, we
lost touch, when she divorced. Her name was Jennie Smith. She lived in
Australia, has son and daughter ,grown now, We wrote and taped letters
on regular bases. We were doing email then lost my computer( blewup)
and lost contact as well as her addy as never had it when she moved.
Anyone able to help, please email me at [email protected]
and put in message about her,thanks for any help you can give.
a t
SeongMi An, South Korea
[email protected]
Hello! It’s SeongMi An from South Korea I lost my
penpals for some reasons. I’d love to keep in touch
with you again. Please e-mail me, I miss you guys!
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Have you lost a penpal?
Tina Jacobs (Nieman) ,USA
[email protected]
I had a pen pal from Greece who
I wrote up to 5 years ago and we
just lost touch. Her name is Helene
Anastasopoulou. I have wrote her old
address a few times and no response.
I have searched her on the internet
and still no success. She is 39 and lived
in Patras as her last address I had. I’m
hoping we can reconnect.
l a t e s t
Beverly Kuttler Rampero, USA (via Facebook)
I’m trying to find a good friend of mine. Her name is Aimee
Plunkett. We have been writing for about 17 years. She use to live
in Tracy, California but then moved away to another state and I
lost her new address. I havent heard from her since.
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Nanda S. Gaikwad (born 24-02-1973)
26-A-Sarnath
Anushaktinagar
IND-Bombay (now Mumbai) 400094
India (address valid until 1993)
Additional information: her father
worked at Bhabha Atomic Research
Centre in Bombay (Mumbai).
c h e c k
Maria Nieves (or Maria Neus) Estébanez
Gutiérrez (born 29-03-1974)
Carrer Briquets 1, entlo primero
E-Barcelona 08033
Spain (address valid until 1991)
Samia Oumohand, France
[email protected]
Hi all! I’m looking for my former penpal Jerry Lynn Daniels. She
was a huge fan of French supermodel Laetitia Casta and is from
the USA (from Tennessee, if I’m not wrong). If you know her,
please let me know at: [email protected]
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Sonia Hardoin (born 08-08-1973)
461 Rue de la Trapinière
F-50000 Saint-Lô
France (address valid until 1993)
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Theda, Germany
[email protected]
Katharina Nöhring (was: Melter), Germany
[email protected]
Actually I am looking for a couple of former pals: Nike van Heeswijk
from the Netherlands, Josephine (Joyce) Camilleri from Malta (Gozo
island), Vivienne Hunter from England, Zenildo Rosa Jr. from Brasil.
We lost contact a LONG time ago, and I would love to get back in
touch. Does anyone know about them? Any help is appreciated!
PenPal & Swappers Ads
How to place an ad in the magazine?
Go to www.sandbook.net and click the Magazine
section. Then simply select “Place an Ad” and you
will have to fill out the form that loads on your
computer screen. Ads placed on pages/groups/
walls on Facebook will not be printed. Please
note that the ads on our website are ads for the
website itself. Unless you fill out the form under
Magazine --> Place an Ad, you won’t see your ad
here.
Who can post an Ad?
Anyone can post an ad in search for swappers or
penpals.
Our Ad Policy:
1) We are not a dating site/community - write
appropriate ads to have them published.
2) No inmates - we have kid members in our
community!
3) No money requests - such ad will result in your
permanent ban from our community.
4) Snail mail addresses - we are not going to
publish any snail mail addresses for security
reasons. So you are going to be in charge of
sending your home addresses to future penpals.
We will publish your email address.
5) Religious, racial or discriminative materials
would not be tolerated.
6) Any form of abusive or rude language is
forbidden and will result in your ban from our
community.
What is the policy on Commersial
Ads?
Commercial Ads are paid ads for products or
service that is not classified as a penpal or a
swapper ad or an add from a small business
that provides supplies for correspondence
(stationary, address labels). Such ads are going to
be negotiated with the respective companies. For
more information email magazine@sandbook.
net
SandBook.Net Team
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Carol McNatt
[email protected]
Collect postcards, windchimes, magnets and
stickers. Prefer pals near
my age. Love the paranorma, history, reading,
penpals, crafts. [email protected]
also
SwtBtrCup on Facebook.
Swap postcards, FBs, etc.
No inmates.
for years and i have been
penpalling long before
the facebook and the internet were ever heard of
i was 12 at the time and
i remember sitting in my
bedroom writing letters
on what would be at the
time the old typewritter
well would love to get
some new penpals love
lesley and thanks for all
you are doing.
Suleiman,
Kenya
sandy martin, UK Mwatajiris@yahoo.
[email protected] com
I am looking for high My hobbies are (sweemquality fb and deco ing, reading novel,footba
swappers worldwide. if ll,basketball,beachwalk)
interested email me. no
men! or time waisters Colleen, 45, USA,
[email protected]
please!
Hi everyone!! My name
Lesley Griffin, USA is Colleen. I am 45 and
l jg r i ff 3 4 @ from the USA. Love readgm a i l . c o m ing, 60s and 70s music,
I AM LESLEY I WAS BORN crafts, journals, mysterIN BUGBROOKE I WAS ies, cooking, old movies,
A NURSE AND MAR- hiking, stationary, anyRIED TO SAMUEL I EN- thing celtic, fairies, pixJOY WRITTING LETTERS es, writing, penpalling,
AND CHATTING ON swapping fb’s/stickers/
FACEBOOK AND HAVE stationary. Male/Female
MET SOME GOOD AND welcome from all over
WONDERFUL FRIENDS the world. Email:
ON HERE. I ALSO ENJOY
PHOTOGRAPHIC WORK Maria Stewart, UK
AS YOU WILL SEE BY MY s t e w a r t . c l a n @
PROFILE my hobbies are y a h o o . c o . u k
writing and computer FacebookID:Stewart
works driving and i am Clan
married -53 years of age My names Maria, I’m 46,
I am looking for some married and from the UK.
new penpals i have got I’m looking for female
some i have written to snail mail penpals, that
Lissa, 21, England
k awa i i 1989 @
hotmail.co.uk
I am 21 and female living in Brighton, England.
I am looking for penpals
who will stay in touch via
email. I would also like
penpals from Japan as
I am learning Japanese
and would like to make
friends with some Japa- Cathy W, 24, USA
nese women. I am not Cathydolphinlvr@
interested in penpalling gmail.com
with men.
Facebook
www.faceb o o k . c o m / c a t hy d o l k e r r y b e a r 7 @ phinlvr
yahoo.com
Kerry I’m 24 going on 25 in
Ellis-Ouimette, 34, april, Im looking for New
USA
penpals, No men, sorry
I am married to Jason guys, in a committed resince October 29th 2005 lationship.
Loves~ NKOTB~Jon &
Twilights ~”Jasper” aka Rose Valencia, USA
Jackson Rathbone
r o s e v 4 4 8 @ gm a i l .
Loves~ reading, writ- com
ing, pen pal letters, My interests, love to play
stories, poems, inter- on line game, I am a artnet, scrapbooking, card ist, love to write to my
making,
bookmark penpals love going on
making, I love to play my space/facebook,love
MPRPG~Runescape
to chat,i have a lot of
Collects~ stickers, sta- interests. Hobbies love
tionery, postcards, fair- walking, bakeing, love
the beach like alot lol
a t
Alison, 43, UK
malin@malin.
Sally, 59, Canada karoo.co.uk
j o d y s p a l @ I am Alison, mum to 4 from
xplornet.com
Hull UK. Hobbies: writing
My search is for specific letters travelling music
pals. I am looking for reading TV computer
women aged mid 60’s family, UK and abroad,
to mid 70’s. If you were from 26 upwords.
born on June 22, 1941, I
would love to hear from Leann, 30
you. I am a counted cross P e n Pa l l i n g F o o l @
stitch addict. I always aol.com
have two books on the Hello my name is Leann
ies, butterflies, dragonflies, dopey, tweety bird
, ty bean babies, wind
chimes. I also collect celebrity autographs!!
Swaps~ f.b.‘s, f.s.‘s, postcards, stickers, stationery.
Favorite Authors~ R.L.
Stine, Stephen King, Patricia Cornwell, Stephenie Meyer, Kim Harrison,
V.C. Andrews to name a
few. I also run a facebook
group for twilight fans
into pen palling called
“TwiPals”.
Looking for pen pals in~
Europe, South America,
Asia, & Hawaii. Will not
respond to anyone from
Africa.
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Heidi Weand, USA
hjweand1970@
yahoo.com Find me on
facebook.
http://public.fotki.com/
taggergurl/for-sale items/_
My google account:
_http://w w w.google.
com/profiles/OneNOnlyLeeLee_
My Tagged:
_http://www.tagged.
com/sweet_n_sassy_
babe_
l a t e s t
Lisa Oaks, Utah USA
yin_stressed_out@
yahoo.com
My name is Lisa Oaks. I
live in Utah USA. I would
love female pals from all
over the world between
ages of 18 and 30. I am
into: paranormal, haunting, hiking, camping,
writing, crafts. I am married with 3 boys and a
boy due February 13,
2011.
Francis and I am 30 and a
married mom of 2 boys. I
currently work part to full
time hours and am a full
time college student and
would like others to talk
to. I also make and sell
items such as stationary
address labels and more.
If interested in writing to
me or even in items I sell
or swap please email me
for my address at [email protected]
I make n sell address
labels stationary and
more..
WANT new Pals: I have
a new pen pal news letter contact me for more
info...
My new pen pal website:
http://penpalsforeverandalways.wetpaint.com/?utm_
source=Wetpaint&utm_
medium=Email&utm_
term=Alerts&utm_
campaign=Social)
Join my groups:
http://groups.yahoo.
com/group/FunSwapsN-Palz_
http://groups.yahoo.
com/group/TaggerGurlsAlwaysList_
be sure you mention
that you saw it on my
email when joining hugs
Leann
My myspace:
http://myspace.com/angelbabyann23
http://public.fotki.com/
angelbabyann23_
For sale items:
t h e
l i k e
Tracey,
Scotland
t r ac e _ wat t 1 @
hotmail.com
Hi Im looking for people
who enjoy writing long
letters and enjoy writing regular. My name is
Tracey and I am 26 from
Aberdeen, Scotland. I am
willing to write to people
from all over theworld.
go and my favorite authors are Archer Mayor
and Jodi Picoulet.I have
been a school bus driver
for 32 years, but after this
school year I am being
forced to retire because
of my age. I am involved
with the school as an in
school mentor with Big
Brothers and Big Sisters. I
am a divorced Mother to
three brilliant children, all
in their 40’s, and I have 4
awesome grandchildren.
If I interest you, then
drop me a line. My e-mail
address is [email protected] Thank you all
for reading this
Naoko Oishi, Japan
[email protected]
Hobbies and interests:
Music, movies, dogs, FB
swapping, foreign languages, Spain and South
Korea. New Pen Pals
Wanted, especially from
Europe and Englishspeaking countries. Write
real soon!
c h e c k
Norma Trevino, USA
normababy.trevino1@
gmail.com
Hi I am Norma Trevino
from Wheeling WV. I am
43 married and mom to
3 spoiled cats and god
mom to a little month
and a half little boy. I
enjoy reading, crafts,
music, movies, thrift
stores, animals, volunteer
work, making labels and
stationery, the outdoors,
cooking, baking, the
holidays, being creative,
friendship, my family
and just tons more. I am
looking for sincere pen
pals and swappers of
stationery and stickers.
Email me at: normababy.
t re v i n o 1 @ g m a i l. c o m
i t ?
Donna Walk, 33, USA
[email protected]
I’m looking for fun long
letter pals who love to
swap sparkly and cute
decos. I’m a 33 year old
female who loves spending time with my boyfriend, my family, my job
at the daycare, photography, scrapbooking, halloween, bats, owls, hair
dye, hello kitty, badtz
maru, japan, kawaii, gliitter, stars, the 80’s, all 80’s
cartoons, horror movies, plastik/pvc, cherries,
babies, facebook, domo
kun, cpk, vintage, flea
markets, pinkness, polkadots, festivals,concerts,
and loads more. I answer
most.
l i k e
PenPal and Swappers Ads
a t
n e w s
l a t e s t
t h e
c h e c k
i t ?
l i k e
the feeling of opening
you mail box to find a letter from a friend
Tionna Mosley, 27,
USA, mzangelkiss@
y a h o o . c o m
Hello everyone, I’m Tionna. I’m looking for penpals between the ages
of 25-55.I am not married, no kids yet.(not expecting) I want to write
someone who has things
in common with me. My
hobbies are writing letters, sending small gifts,
swapping, reading urban
fiction, video games (the
sims2,and xbox), bowling, movies (Disney and
any others), collecting
DVDS, making address
labels on my home PC,
texting, facebook, cooking, shopping, dancing,
and anything fun. I am
open minded and sincere. I prefer to hand
write my letters but
sometimes I type too. I
love nature, animals, art,
poetry, candles, body lotions, purses/bags, and
decorating my apartment. I’ll tell you more if
we become friends, hope
to hear from you.
Amanda
Ogutu,
Australia,
37
[email protected]
I’m a happily married
Christian Mama with 4
precious children aged
18mths, 32mths, 14yrs
and 18yrs. My interests
include baking and cooking, creating pixel graphics, reading, music (anything other than heavy
metal, and I’m not into 50
cent, 2pac, etc.), gardening, spending time with
my family (they are my
world), paper crafts, and
writing to my penpals.
I’m looking for female
friends only, (no offence),
someone who would like Sandra,
48,
to swap recipes with me S c o t l a n d
would be great :) but it’s s cot l a n d f o r m e @
not a requirement. I’m y a h o o . c o . u k
really looking forward Hello. scotlandforme@yato making some new hoo.co.uk I’m in Scotland,
friends, nothing beats 48 years old and like all
Viv, 38, USA
[email protected]
Hello. My name is Viv
and I’m a 38 year old lady
living near Florida, USA.
My email address is: viv_
[email protected] I love
Joy wreede, 38, USA,
j o y ly n n w r e e d e @
aol.com
I am a 38 yr old mom/wife
of over 20 years. i have
a great husband, 3 kids
and 3 dogs. i am fully
disabled and bed ridden
and on oxygen most of
the time. i am not one to
want sympathy just epals
to help pass the time. i
Amy, 41y.o., USA,
s t e f a n i k . a my @
comcast.net
My name is Amy Stefanik
and I am 41 years old. my
hobbies include : walking, pen palling, reading,
scrapbooking, shopping,
surfing the net, listening
to music, writing poetry,
watching tv and dvd’s,
traveling, hanging out
with friends and so much
more. I love to collect :
unicorns, fairies, angels,
teddy bears, webkinz,
pens, bookmarks, postcards, mangets, keychains and whatever else
I find interesting. Feel free
to ask me anything. :)
jeanie schade, 31,
usa, jeanieschade@
y a h o o . c o m
Hobbies: music, sports,
movies, concerts, scrapbooking, penpalling, internet, computers, swapping, tv, traveling, tattoos,
outdoors, tanning, and
lots more. Swaps: fbs,
crams, slams, stationary,
stickers, postcards, sticker bags, and label bags.
Collects: frogs, candles
and beanie babies Penpals: ages 20-40 usa and
canada only, no prisoners
a t
Karina, 31, Canada
karinafioremarcil@
hotmail.com
My name is Karina, i
am from Canada. IM 31
years old married with
3 kids from 9 years to
2 months. I would like
to have penpal from
all over the world. I like
cooking, photography,
penpalling, horse riding,
dolphing, twilight and
many more. If you are interested drop me some
line in my email karinafioremarcil@hotmail.
com
Stefania / 30 / Italy /
[email protected]
My hobbies are penpalling, reading, listening to
music, collecting (postcards, fridge-magnets,
coins, banknotes, stamps,
phonecards.), travelling,
taking photos. I love stationery, stickers, gelpens,
decotapes, etc. and I like
swapping with my pals.
I’m looking for some sincere regular snail mail
pals or swappers just
around my age, no men
or prisoners.
love to read, listening
to country music, being
online, alot of tv shows in
the evening, and much
more. I collect several
things which include:
angels,
bookmarks,
candles, dolphins, teddy
bears, white tigers and
wolves. I am not one
to talk about politics or
religion. I would prefer
female epals only who
are possibly married
or has kids so we have
something in common.
I am really laid back and
rather easy to get along
with as most say. Feel
free to ask me anything
which you would like I
am rather open about my
health and many other
issues.
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Estela Edo, Spain
jj r o d a @ t e r r a . e s
I swap labelbags and FBs.
I am always searching for
new swappers. I collect
viewcards (postcards).
You can contact me on
my facebook (search for
my name or email there)
Sandy,
Age
35
sandyxrs@talktalk.
net
Looking for penpals to
snail mail and swap with,
I enjoy gardening, Writing and Getting letters.
I enjoy card making and
Book mark making I am
into crafts. I am disabled
as I am half Blind. But I
write with pen except
for the bad days when
I used computer. I am
willing to write first letter. My email address is
[email protected]
music, travel, art, fashion,
writing, movies, gardening, cooking, magazines,
animals, and more. I swap
postcards, regular and
nice and neat friendship
books, and occassionally stamps, stationery or
stickers. I’m seeking sincere ladies to write to in
postal mail who are also
looking for friendship.
I am a loyal friend and
honest swapper. I hope
to hear from you. :)
l a t e s t
Maddy
Ray,
UK
m a d dya n d j ay57@
hotmail.com
My hobbies and intrest
are writting letters . cooking ,swapping fbs and
recipes . listing to music.
email maddyandjay57@
Heidi, 41, Australia
heidima@optusnet.
com.au
Heidi Maier
14 Westcombe Place
Rooty Hill NSW 2766
AUSTRALIA
Have been palling for
over 15 years now. I am
41 years of age. Hobbies
include travelling, writing to pals, swapping
FBS and Slams, collecting
souvinor spoons, reading, listening to music,
watching TV and Movies and lots more. Would
love more pals from any
state in the USA, Japan,
Hong Kong, Ireland,
Scotland and Moscow.
Will answer all who write.
Prefer snail mail.
as well as via email.
t h e
Heather Carrabis
/27/
MA,
USA
heather.carrabis@
gmail.com
Hello, my name is Heather
Carrabis. I’m 27 from
Worcester, MA (USA). I
enjoy reading, writing,
watching TV & movies,
walking and many more.
I enjoy swapping, FB’s,
slams, deco’s, label bags
etc. E-mail is heather.
[email protected]
Hope to hear from you.
hotmail.com
Sara,
31,
Italy
s a r i u x @ l i b e r o. i t
My name is Sara, I’ m 31,
married, no children. I’ve
3 cats and 1 dog. I’m from
Italy and I speak English,
french, spanish and a
little bit of german. I’d
like new pen pals from
all over the world near
my age!
c h e c k
Dave Stewart UK
s t e w a r t. c l a n @
ya h o o.co.u k
Facebook ID: Stewart Clan
My names Dave, I’m 46,
married and from the UK.
I’m looking for male snail
mail penpals, that aren’t
going to disappear after
the first couple of letters.
I should mention I have
to type my correspondence, due to arthritis ~
I hope this wouldn’t be a
problem :o) Some of my
interests include football,
miliataria, rugby, travel
and loads more :o) If you
feel you’d like to embark
on a life long friendship,
please feel free to drop
me an email and/or send
me a message and add
me as a friend on Facebook :o)
Kassy Davis, 25, USA
[email protected]
Wanted: Penpals and
Stamp Collectors.
My name is Kassy Davis.
Just turned 25. Single.
Look me up on Facebook. You’ll know me
when you see my weird
toes. I started collecting
stamps a few months
ago, just started making FB’s, I trade stickers
and travel brochures
for stamps. Looking for
penpals and stamps collectors from all over the
world. You may contact
me through Facebook or
email me at: [email protected]
i t ?
aren’t going to disappear after the first couple of letters. I should
mention I have to type
my correspondence, due
to arthritis ~ I hope this
wouldn’t be a problem
:o)
Some of my interests
include animals, arts &
crafts, reading, travel
and loads more :o)If you
feel you’d like to embark
on a life long friendship,
please feel free to drop
me an email and/or send
me a message and add
me as a friend on Facebook :o)
l i k e
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l a t e s t
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Mirjan Dekker, 31 (32
on november, 3 rd)
The Netherlands
[email protected]
Hello long-letter pals! I
am a 31 years old Dutch
woman looking for a few
new female (snailmail)
penpals around my age
(from 20-35 years old)
from all over the world.
I love to write on cute
stationery as it’s great to
receive cute and fat mail:-)
And because I have loads
of cute stationery lying
here that I think I will use
this collection for many
Josh,
30,
USA, years from now on.
jcowan1023@gmail. I am looking for
com
someone who will try to
Hello, my name is Josh write on a regular basis
Cowan. I am 30 years old (around once a month
Jessica L. Helms,
23,
Idaho,
USA,
helmzie21@gmail.
com
Hi everyone! I am looking
for pals from everywhere!
I love writing and have
been doing it for many
years, and one to always
write back. I want a pal
who is looking for a long
term pal. I love postcards,
so if you are interested in
postcards. I have been
trying to get one from every country! I have many,
but I am very interested
in the adventure I find
ahead with getting as
many cards as possible. I
also enjoy movies. I have
many so always looking
for a movie fanatic to
discuss movies. Reading.
I pretty much just read
Nicholas Sparks. I collect
coins, and bank notes, so
if you are one of those I
would love to help that
way as well. I am getting
so many countries, and I
guess by writing brought
the love of collecting
cards and currency to
my attention. I do swap
friendship books. I don’t
like tons at a time but
enough to swap. I am a
pen pal that works hard
to stay in touch, and looking for people who have
the same interest. I am
open minded! I am just
looking for fun, and learn
about countries and other part of the world! I am
a t
c h e c k
Laura, 24, UK
My name is laura lou,
im 24, from the uk
and my email addy is
[email protected]. I love writing,
drawing, reading, listening to music, penpalling,
Harry Potter and many
more.
for example) and your
letters have to contain at
least 5-6 (both sides) A5
pages and up. They have
to be written from the
heart! I have been into
penpalling for a very long
time now and it is really
fun to do. I might be a
bit picky but I have met
different kinds of pals in
the penpalling world.
I have got such nice
friends now even there’s
a distance between us.
I also love to exchange
cute stuff like stationery
or stickers and it would
be great if you loved
it too! But that is not a
must as long your letters
are long and personal.
Besides penpalling, I also
like travelling, going out,
reading books, making
cards, shopping, cute
stationery, watching TV,
doing fun stuff with my
dear friends, listening to
some great music and
much more. I love my
cats! I am a real cat woman, I always talk to them,
hehe;) I see them as my
kids.
If you are a female around
my age from all over the
world that likes cute stationery and willing to
write on a regular basis,
please write me an e-mail
with a long introduction
of yourself! Dutchies are
welcome as well :-) Can’t
wait to find some new
sincere penpals and start
writing! Hugs Mir
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Elena,
Romania,
31, tilli_trotter@
hotmail.com
...a friend ... half of your
heart, The half who is
laughing with you, who
is taking you in its arms
when you cry, who supports you when have
problems, who is fighting with you when you’re
wrong or you’re about to
make a mistake. The half
who is crying with you
when you are in trouble
,who sais huray when
you are successful. The
half who is doing anything it can for you to
see the right path in life.
The half that although is
in another body, is beating in the same rhythm
with your heart! This is a
friend to me!
More about me ... I love
writing letters , I am doing this for more than
17 years now , and even
if i found over the years
many types of people, I
still believe in humans,
and still want to know
countries, customs, lives...
friends! Friends have
been for me like the air
I breath ... and all I want
from them is respect!
and I have a good since
of humor. I like snail mail
better then email because you can send little
gifts with your letters.
I am looking for male
or female Penpals age
18- 41 who can make
me laugh or smile. My
hobbies include making
my own greeting cards.
[email protected]
l a t e s t
Magalie (france), 26,
miouzic_addict@
hotmail.fr
I have tons of celeb/band
stuff such as posters,
magazine articles and
even cds for some that I
want to get rid of. I have
stuff on Boyzone, a lot
on Britney Spears, tons
of stuff on Hanson (more
than 100 posters, cds,
video tapes, real pictures
and tons other, as I used
to be a huge fan of them)
also on 30 Seconds to
Mars, Spice Girls, Madonna and a lot of others... If you are interested,
send me a message and I
will tell you if I have stuff
on your fave celebrity/
bands.
I would like to have in
exchange stuff on Nine
Inch Nails, on some tennis players (especially
on Richard Gasquet),
Killing Joke and other
post-punk bands, Emilie
Autumn etc. If you have
nothing on them, you
can send me stationery
instead. I am also willing
to sell them, especially
on Hanson as I have really a lot on them, including cds, real photos and
tapes. Ok, I hope some
people are interested
and that we can do some
nice swaps. :)
t h e
i t ?
the computer; reading
listing to music; doing
search a words, penpaling scrapbooking and TV.
I have a pet called Lou.
c h e c k
Anna, 26, Sweden
v e g e ta r i a n n a83@
hotmail.com.
Hi! My name is Anna and
I’m from a city named
Malmö in Sweden. I’m
26 years old and I’m
still studying. My interests are: theatre, travelling, reading book,
writing letters, sing and
sew. As for my education, I’ve been studying
a long while know and
also been working. For 3
years when I was around
19 years old I started to
study theatre and it has
been my favorite thing
for a long time and it
still is, but I haven’t got
enough time for it now.
At the moment I’m writing my thesis in library
and information science.
I really enjoy travelling,
I’ve been to India, Japan,
Egypt, Russia and almost
every country in Europe.
I’ve been working at libraries, cafés and with
mentally dysfunction/
disorder. I like making
dresses on my sewing
machine too :) I’m looking for pen pals in USA,
Canada and Europe. I’m
happy to receive letters
Lisa Overduin, 40,
from all the world, so Canada, lisaoverdon’t hesitate to write. If [email protected]
you’re an interesting per- 5PrickedFinger5.etsy.
son I’ll answer!
com
I am looking for swapGalina from Russia pers from all over the
g a l p i k a - 2 0 0 7 @ world. I mostly swap cerambler.ru
lebrity clippings. I have
I’m searching for friends A-Z files on many of your
around the world. My favourite stars. My maghobbies are collecting azine collection goes as
postcards stamps and far back as 1983. Here is
little souvenirs like nice a list of things I collect:
greeting from friends. I 1- Stickers
enjoy writing letters and 2- Stationery and Greetdoing swapping. I’m in- ing Cards
terested in traditions 3- Madonna
very much and I like trav- 4- Gerard Butler
elling. I could write you 5- Matt Passmore (actor
a lot of interesting infor- from the tv show “The
mation about Russian Glades”)
lifestyle and will be wait- 6- Buttons
ing for your ideas about 7- Seed beads
great post-crossing. Best 8- Cross-stitch patterns,
wishes Galina
magazines, books
9- “The Outsiders” (movLisa Porche, 40, USA ie from 1983 starring
p i n k s t i t c h i n g s @ C.Thomas Howell, Matt
y a h o o . c o m . Dillon and Ralph MacHi, my name is Lisa. I chio)
am 40yrs. old & a SAHM 10-Jigsaw puzzles (100of 3 kids (‘90,’92,’99). I 300 pieces)
have been married for 11-Pink
11 1/2 yrs. I enjoy swap- 12-Carey Mulligan
ping Friendship Books, 13-Ginnifer Goodwin
Label bags, postcards 14-Halle Berry
(from my home state Please send me an E-mail
& city), ATCs & sticker with your list and we can
bags. I started swap- start swapping!
ping about 2 yrs. ago but
stopped last year & then Kathy Moss, 59, USA
started up again about g k at hym o s s @ at t.
4 months ago. NSW, net
NPW, A/M, USA Only, I am 59 and I live in USA.
NO inmates/ No Men. My hobbies are of course
i t ?
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sorts of things from reading to travelling when I
can. I’d love to hear from
some female email or
snailmail friends from all
over the world - particularly Iceland, India, Poland and Nepal.
l i k e
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Paula, 37, England,
pinklioness@
googlemail.com
I’m Paula Milburn, 37
years old. I live with my
husband in the North
East of England. I like
collecting
postcards
and thimbles. Can write
in English, German or
French, read lots of
other languages. I’m
learning Afrikaans at
the moment. If you’d
like to be penpals email
me first on pinklioness@
googlemail.com
for
more information!
Danny, 25, India
dany_kallery@
yahoo.co.in
Hi, I am Dany from India.
Male 25yrs, searching
for some Long time Penpals from all over the
world. I don’t have any
preference for your language, country, color,
or age. If you interested
then please give me an
email. I am working as
Linux Engineer at the
same time student of
Computer Applications,
living with parents and
Sister in one of the most
beautiful place in India
called Kerala. in map,
Southern end of India
covered with Arabian
Sea. Kerala is one of the
famous Tourist places in
India Called God’s own
Country because of its
natural Beauty.
Hobbies: Most of my
free times I will watch
TV or Movies. I really
love Animals and I have
a Dog, Cat and some
birds. I like to read IT related Subjects because
it’s a part of my life and
profession. Other topics
are History, Travelogues,
Historical Incidents or
about Legends. I like to
watch sports in TV, especially Cricket and Soccer.
I would like to be a Wildlife or nature Photographer. I love photography
very much. I like to hear
about other countries,
culture, nature, festivals
or celebrations, people
and life. I would love to
meet people from other countries. That will
help me to learn lots of
things about them or
that country. Penpal
Requests: Looking for
only longtime friendship. I prefer Snail Mails
because it gives us a real
feeling of that friendship and also it would
be more sincere than
Emails, will be a great
remembrance for us
till the end of life. I am
not a Penpal Collector
or I don’t need many
people but I only need
Heidi Karin
Søvik 33, Norway
o-rensoe@online.
no
I’m looking for sincere
female penpals worldwide from 30 years old
and up to 100, who can
write often and regularly. I am happily married,
no kids, but we have
two small dogs. I love
our dogs, scrapbooking,
a little gardening, camping in our caravan, Facebook, internet etc.
J a i m i e / 2 5 / USA / I also love collecting and
pyari1985@gmail. swapping
postcards,
com
stationary, stickers and
Hello! My name is also lot of other things.
Jaimie, I am a girl, and New female regular
I live in Florida, USA. I swappers
worldwide
am looking for some are also welcome, but
International snail mail no men, i can also send
pen-pals. It does not stamps back, just ask
matter where you are about any kind of swapfrom. I am looking for ping. My nickname on
someone around my swapbot is hkso and I
age. I also like to swap use the same nick name
post cards and currency for postcrossing. Email
(bank notes and coins). pals and Facebook pals
My hobbies besides are also welcome.
pen-paling
include:
photography, shopping, Elizabeth Thomas,
music, movies, the 31, Trinidad And
beach, traveling, and Tobago, lizzyt55@
hanging out with friends. yahoo.com
I am currently a student. Extroverted
introvert
I’m going to school who is addicted to
to become a cultural cheesy romance novels
anthropologist. I also and country music, with
work in manufacturing. a witty sense of humour
If you would like to be and a tad bit sassy. I am
my pen-pal, then send looking for like-minded
me an email. Hope to penpals. All are wel-
comed whether snail or
email pals. Trades FB’s,
recipes, romance novels
in e-books format, music in mp3 format, stickers, poems, short stories
and coins.
a t
c h e c k
hear from you soon!
n e w s
i t ?
some long letter pals
who enjoy writing. I have
2 children and a bunch
of pets. I love animals,
travelling, swimming,
soap operas, country
music, going for walks,
spending time with my
family and just having
fun. I’m hoping to meet
some chatty pals who
always have something
to write about. I don’t
mind signing Fbs but
please no slams. Look
forward to hearing from
you soon. Hugs
l a t e s t
year-old female from
Japan. I’m looking for
female snail pal from
all over the world to
talk about many things
through letters! I like
travelling, playing with
cats, laughing, sleeping...
I also like exchanging
postcards, so please tell
me if you want to talk
over the cards! It would
be nice if you are learning Japanese, having
interests in Japan! But
it’s OK if you don’t know
about Japan well, you’ll
Amber Hayes /19/ know about it talking
USA amber1991_13@ with me!!! I’m waiting for
yahoo.com
your message!
Hey there!! I am Amber
(also know as) Kiva. I am Lisa, USA
19 years old and I would i mm o r m i n o @ at t.
like to make friends with net
anyone!!! I like boys, I am a married mother
shopping, TV. , track, bas- to a 5 yr old daughter. I
ketball, reading, com- like penpaling, reading
puter , friends and fam- books, being on the
ily. I live in the USA and internet. It will take me
I can speak English but awhile to write back to
I am learning Japanese. you but I will write you.
But I will talk to anyone I am really busy with my
because I love to make daughter and work. I love
new friends and learn camping, scrapbooking,
about new things . If you Harry Potter, Twilight
want to talk to me just collecting postcards and
say hi or something. I keychains.
like to SWAP so if you are
into that I can swap too!! Crystal, 33, Canada
I also like to write poems, s m o k e y s l o v e @
stories, and things.
sympatico.ca
Calling all snail mail
Chiaki, Japan
28, penpals. Hello there.
c_crystals@yahoo. I’m a 33 year old female
co.jp
from Brockville Ontario
Hello! I’m Chiaki, a 28- Canada. I’m looking for
t h e
Sunny
Chauncey,
25, Florida, USA
[email protected]
Hello. I’m a Pisces. I’m
married! I’m in my area’s
orchestra, playing clarinet. I also played tenor
sax. I crochet. I am learning knitting and how
to spin (fiber into yarn).
I got into ATCs (artist trading cards) and
I ADORE making (and
receiving!) them :). I am
doing my first altered/
chunky book. I love animals and have owned
many over the course
of my life. I have a little
boy, who is currently 3
and SO much fun. I love
everything to do with
Ireland. I love history. I
love horror and comedy
movies. I watch quite
a bit of TV... too many
shows I follow to name,
but here’s a few: The Big
Bang Theory, Mad Men,
Family Guy, Futurama,
White Collar, Psych, Burn
Notice, Modern Family, The Office, and many
more lol. I play games
on my Playstation 3 and
on the computer. I love
playing games -it is just
a fun thing to do. I am a
book fanatic. I like Anne
Rice, Phillipa Gregory,
Laurell K Hamilton, Angie Sage, Rick Riordan,
and Sherrilyn Kenyon....
to name a few. I am obsessed with Superman. I
collect anything and everything on Superman!
I love old movies. Gene
Kelly, Tony Curtis, and
Cary Grant would have
been all over my walls.
I love vintage- vintage
ads, pictures, postcards,
books, etc. Email me at:
[email protected]
c h e c k
Karen MacDonald,
41,
Canada,
[email protected]
Hi everyone! My name
is Karen and I am from
Canada. I have been
pen-palling for many
years and enjoy it very
much. I am 41 years old
and live on my own with
my son who is 15.
I am looking for somewhat long letter pals
who have similar interests to mine. Some of
mine include: reading,
fishing, gardening, bird
watching, animals, the
outdoors, going shopping, crafting, (rubber
stamping, scrapbooking, latch hook, plastic
canvas, stamped cross
stitch) to name some. I
have some collections.
They include postcards,
rubber stamps, decorative hole punches, magazines, books, bookmarks,
jewelry, and country
decorating items. I am
only looking to write to
people in Canada and
the U.S.A. due to high
postage rates. Also ladies between the ages
of 30 to 50. If I sound like
someone you would enjoy writing...please drop
me a line and start a
friendship. Hope to hear
from some of you soon.
i t ?
l i k e
also looking for scouting
patches from all over.
Scouting Patches from
the Boy Scouts of American and similar groups
from all over the world. I
willing to swap anything
of your interest. If you
can help out I would really appreciate! Ciao!
l i k e
a t
n e w s
l a t e s t
t h e
c h e c k
hotmail.com
I am a mommy of a 6 yr
old little girl, living on the
island of Newfoundand.
I am a big animal lover,
especially pet rats and
dogs. I currently have
11 pet rats and am an
advocate for them. I
promote them as the
great pets they are,
educate on proper care
and dispel the myths. I
also do rescue and foster
rats in need.It is my
passion. I am bisexual,
vegetarian and very
open minded. I have 7
tattoos & 7 piercings. I
have many interests, but
will save them for snail
mail.
I am looking for open
minded and sincere
penpals who won’t stop
writing after 1-2 letters
and who are up for
discussing everything
and
anything...
preferably with similar
interests as me, but will
give anyone a chance.
At this point I am only
looking for pals in the
USA and Canada due to
postage. Hope to hear
from great people soon!
Christine
Hall,
45,
Hampton,
New
Hampshire
c a b h a l l @
hotmail.com
I am a unemployed,
divorced empty nester.
I have cyclothymia...
which is a mild type
Valentina Pireddu
(aka Tinetta) Italy
- b.d. 03.03.86, age
24 turn on25!!!
tinettadesign@
tiscali.it
I love swapping and
penpalling, especially
with people that comes
from outside Italy! I love
foreign languages and
cultures, in fact this is
my 1st year at university, foreign languages
(English and German!!!),
so I’d like to have more
friends from UK/Ireland
and Germany, to improve my language I’m
totally crazy for cats,
manga,anime,
Asia,
drawing,
decoupage,
dancing, painting on
stones. I swap fbs (of any
I love to write. I still practice the art of snail mailing and I love to create
my own stationary and
small cards using rubber
stamps. I journal on a
regular basis...have never gotten into blogging
though...I prefer paper.
Poetry has always been
a love of mine and occasionally I will write for
others but usually it is
just a part of my journal.
I believe that the world
lacks color and joy without friends to share life
with...My husband and
my son are my best
friends but I have room
Marci,
56,
USA, for friends that want to
d r e s d e n d o l l 54 @ maintain long-term relationships and are willing
yahoo.com
My name is Marci Skin- to listen to my ups and
ner. I am 56 years old downs without judgwith the mind of a 30 ment.
something. I live in Looking forward to
Iowa, USA...the Mid- meeting a lot of terrific
west. My email address people through this
is dresdendoll54@ya- venture.
hoo.com . I am Mom to
a 22 y.o son...stepmom Alison Hepworth,
to three adult children... UK malin@malin.
and fur Mom to 2 cats karoo.co.uk
and a Siberian Husky. I Mum to 4 from hull uk.
love animals, real and Hobbies are palling
ficticious...I love dragons travelling music tv comas well as tigers and po- puter family, collecting
lar bears---buffalo and postcards, reading, going out for meal, drinks
most wildlife.
I love to read. My greatest and cinema. I am lookproblem is that I never ing for snail mail pals uk
want to get rid of a good and abroad from 26.
book. I am a frequent
Sabo,
26,
visitor at our local library Lisa
so that I have to return Canada,
lisa_sabo_2005@
the books.
a t
i t ?
Wilson Kisanga
kisanga9@gmail.
com, 30, Zambia
I am Wilson, aged 30
from Zambia(Southern
Africa). I am looking for
female penpals(E-pals)
of any age from anywhere across the globe.
I like reading, writing,
listening to music and
swimming. Anybody interested can contact me
via email.
kind), labelbags, slams,
bags, postcards, stationery & sugar packets.
I’m also a address labels
maker. I collect full sugar
packets from all over the
world, postcards and
stationery (letter sets,
letter paper, memopads,
notepads, loose sheets).I
like reading books! My
fave writers are Nicholas Sparks and Sophie
Kinsella!I ‘ve started to
read their books in English and German :-S I’m
also a volounterr in a
colony of stray cats in
Cagliari. :)=^_^=
n e w s
l i k e
wanna learn about the
world and the humans
living in it. I am hoping
to have, or had, a penpal
in every country of the
world! Take Care everybody!
l a t e s t
talk about anything with.
I’m interested in music,
Tracey Lewis, 44, books, writing/receiving
Indiana USA
postcards and letters,
alwaysmessinup2001@ science (though I’m not
yahoo.com
good at it if we’re speakMy hobbies and inter- ing about school :P),
ests are snail mail scrap- psychological movies,
booking and journaling middle ages, paranoras well as making hand- mal stuff, dreams, LOTS
made crafts. I’ve been OF RANDOM STUFF. I’m
penpaling since I was 12 this girl who’s interested
and for the past 19 years in everything. XD I play
it was also a way for me basketball,
volleyball
to tell of how I dealt with and table tennis, I write
the abduction of my stories. I want a friend
son who I only knew the and I don’t really care
first 6 months of his life. where you are from. Also
Through my journey and I think I’m quite good at
writings we have now English, but it still fails
found each other and sometimes, so I’m sorry
he will also become one for the mistakes!
whom I will write to because he’s 14 hours from Marion Norrgård,
me. We haven’t met face 22years, Finland,
to face yet but we are silvermarion@
working at when we hotmail.com
both can. Not only can I’m born and raised in
penpaling bring us close the forests of Finland.
to others we don’t know My mother tongue is
in person, it helps to let Swedish but I can also
others know that we are speak Finnish, English
all friends/family and and German. I enjoy
may have what another dancing, acting, singing,
may be needing. It led reading (mythology, reme to my son and even ligions, fantasy, folklore,
though it took 19 years it psychology, true stories,
was also the prayers and horror), writing, clubhelp of pals who kept bing, nature, animals.
me from giving up.
Love writing letters and
exchanging postcards. I
Aurelija, Lithuania, listen to all kind of mua d a m a n t i n e. g d @ sic from techno to death
gmail.com
metal to classical to hip
I am 15y.o and quite hop. It just need a good
friendly but shy. I’d like to rhythm or good lyrics.
have a friend who I could I’m open-minded and
t h e
Donna Lueken, 49,
Canada,
donna.lueken@
yahoo.ca
MY NAME IS DONNA,
I AM 49 YEARS OLD. I
WORK AT THE HOSPITAL AS an ENVIROMENTAL SERVICE WORKER,
I BEEN THERE FOR 5
YEARS NOW. I HAVE ONE
DAUGHTER SHE IS 29
YEARS OLD. I ALSO HAVE
ONE GRANDDAUGHTER
SHE IS 7 YEARS OLD AND
IS IN GRADE 2. SOME OF
MY INTERESTS ARE WRITING LETTERS, COOKING,
WALKING, WATCHING
TV,LISTENING TO MUSIC.
MY HOBBIES ARE DOING
CRAFTS .
c h e c k
Noelle, 30, SPain
sanz_noelia@
hotmail.com
My name is Noelle, I’m
thirty years old. I’m
Spanish and I want
Practise with you. I
can write in English for
my practice and after
translate to Spanish for
you.
I’d like to meet people
from around the world
and all cultures and
customs. They tell me
their experiences, and
I mine it. I love reading,
cross stitch, music,
hanging out with friends
and if not, stay home
with my boyfriend
watching a good movie.
I also love to spend time
learning English and
share with the world
through my blog. If you
want to know, write me.
I hope read you soon.
You can practice the
exchange of English /
Spanish with me at:
My blog:
http://noelia-aprendiendoingles.blogspot.com/
Windows Live Group:
http://blogaprendiendoingles.groups.live.
com/
Page Facebook:
http://www.facebook.
com/AprendENGLISH
Twitter:
h t t p : / / t w i t t e r. c o m /
aprendENGLISH
i t ?
that person who is having the same thinking or
opinions of mine in Penpalling, like Longtime
and Sincere Friendships.
Anybody who loves to
know about India or
anything related to India
can mail me. I will help
you by giving my best.
I don’t expect anything
like money, marriage
or any relationships so
I can offer sincere longtime friendship from my
side.
If you found anything
common in me or if you
think that I will become
a good friend of yours
then don’t hesitate to
mail me. Please add “Penpals” as Subject to your
mail. I can easily find all
my Personal (important)
mails from SPAMS or Advertisements.
l i k e
a t
n e w s
l a t e s t
t h e
c h e c k
collect postcards, salt
and pepper shakers, and
teddy bears. Also have a
collection of frogs,some
that go outside. Would
love to write women
of all ages all over the
world.
Samantha Stroy 26
California,
USA
xoxoxowithlove@
yahoo.com
I’m looking for long
Cherry,
33,
UK letter pals, who won’t
Silverc atbabies@ stop writing after one
letter. Someone easy
aol.com
I am a married mum to to talkk to and share
6 Children, I love Soap our daily lives with. I
Operas, Witting letters love writing, drawing,
by hand, Swapping stuff vampire novels, texting,
including Fb’s and Label etc. I’m a marries stay at
Bags. I am looking for home mom of three. I am
Snailmail Penpals from open-minded and I love
UK only, Females over a good conversation.
18yrs old please. Write LOVES: Starbucks and
tea.
to me if interested.
I swap anything and
EVERYTHING that fits
Nancy Lawson,
in an evelope. I swap
61, USA,
books, stationary, FBs,
crapbookmom07@
Slams, stickers, etc. I
hotmail.com
Hi I am a grandmother am always looking for
of 5 and have 3 adult clippings of celeberties,
children, happily married words, quotes, etc. Hope
( no men to respond to meet some great
Please) I am not working friends that will last for a
right now. Do also have lifetime.
3 step-children. Like to
Joyner,
do scrapbook, crafts of Wendy
all kinds, enjoy pen-pals 35, United states
. Have done genealogy, c h a k l i u k @ gm a i l .
like to read, listen to com
music, also garden a Interests: cats, 80’s music,
bit. Love animals and foreign movies, city of
nature. Enjoy watching Paris, weird and unique
movies and some T.V. I art, stickers, stationary,
Samia Oumohand,
32,
France
samgunsjovirow@
yahoo.com.
I’m a 32 y.o French
woman looking for
penpals and swappers
worldwide! I like longletter pals, am very
curious about other way
of life, open-minded and
I’m into music, movies,
fashion, crafts, travels. I
swap Fbs, decos, slams
and lyrics mainly. I’m also
looking for people to
swap celebrity stuff with
(send me your wish list
Alisa, 29, The
and I’ll send mine back).
Netherlands
[email protected] If you’re interested,
My name is Alisa feel free to email me
samgunsjovirow@
and Iam looking for at:
penpals all over the yahoo.com.
world. Let me introduce
myself to you all. I am Lisa, 37, USA
a 29 years old women l i s a v a n t r e s s @
and I live in village gmail.com
Annerveenschekanaal, Hello my name is Lisa Van
that’s in The north of The Tress, i am 37 years old
from Holland Michigan.
Netherlands.
I’m
married
with I have two children and
married. I am seeking
penpals from all over the
world. I just started to
penpal couple of weeks
ago. No males please as
I am married.
I like to swap postcards,
stickers, and friendship
books. I am going to
make one of my own to
soon. I enjoy reading,
bike riding, going to the
lake etc.:)
a t
Moses
Olinga
/32/
Uganda
[email protected]
Hi there my name is
Moses Olinga, 32 yrs of
age, thanks for stopping
by. I am interested in
finding and keeping
real Pen pals / friends. I
enjoy bringing a smile
to peoples faces, even in
this place, life can be such
a rat race. I love to learn
and explore and to teach.
I’m a practical man and
enjoy fixing things and
making improvements
myself. I can openly &
comfortably carry on an
intelligent conversation.
I reside in Kampala,
Uganda in the east Of
Africa (Pearl of Africa).
I
enjoy
Basketball,
Swimming,Singing,
D a n c i n g , Tr a v e l l i n g ,
Cooking,Camping,
R e a d i n g, Co m p u t e r s,
movies etc. Email me:
[email protected]
Richard and mother of
2 children. My hobbies
are: writing letters,
swap FB’s, playing the
clarinet, music, animals,
collecting
everything
from the animal giraffe,
making jewellery’s. And
much more.
I’m
working
with
mantally
handicapt
people. If you would like
to know me better feel
free to sent me a e-mail
[email protected].
n e w s
i t ?
Virginia.USA.com
l a t e s t
prison mail either would
love penpals in any
countries
especially
Canada, Japan, Spain.
Louise
Mcevoy, I hope too hear from you
38, Scotland, Uk soon.
duranduranfan1980@
hotmail.com
Margo V. , 11-08-71
I would love epal or 39, United states
snail pal very much. margosug@yahoo.
My email address is com
duranduranfan1980@ Hi everyone my name
hotmail.com My hobbies is Margo I am 38 and
are penpalling,i have looking for pen pals I
penpalled for over 20 love snail mailing. I have
odd years and still write 3 girls lots of interests. I
too my very 1st penpal love shopping, Writing,
who I havve know for making and collecting
7 years now she a very jewelry and much more
dear friend too me.i love hope to hear from you.
reading esp the twilight Margo In New York.
novels I am a huge Disthedistance.com and
twilight fan(GO TEAM blog.disthedistance.com
EDWARD) lol. Music iam
a big fans of the 80s esp Jennifer, 31, USA
duran duran,i also am a e s 0 3 2 3 0 9 @
huge boyzone fan have V i r g i n i a . USA . co m
seen them live about 8 Hello my name is
times over the years and Jennifer, I will be 31 this
have also met them few Nov 9th . I am happy
times,take that,kings of married, and have four
leon,alexander burke,lot children. I live in Virginia,
of others i like any kind USA. I love to write and
of music really,I also email. Facebook, cafe
love travelling,cinema,s mom, I love true blood,
hopping,collecting and twilight, soap operas.
swapping stationary and I love mail that isn’t
stickers.chatting on msn/ junk or bills lol. I love
texting. I am engaged too postcards, I am willing to
fantastic man who ive send some myself since
know for nearly 2 years. I live real close to DC.
were getting married We just recently moved
next
may(2011)really from Va beach, I love the
exciting. I will reply too ocean and shells. If your
any penpals worldwide. interested in emailing or
Sorry no male pals or even snail mail pals send
pals in Africian counties, me a email at es032309@
t h e
l i k e
looking for pepals! I do
speak/write in English
and Spanish.
c h e c k
But on the contrary, I hate
lies and delays as they
are both procrastinating,
and as such, could not in
any way help build up a
good friendship. I also
hate people who pose
or pretend to be whom
they’re not. I simply like
simple people.
Personally, I think true
friends are the embodiment of our souls that
Debra Tatnell, 46, gives us security, warmth
UK
now_what@ & comfort when we seem
btinternet.com
to be scared, lonely, jiltHobbies
writing and ed and even Battered!
receiving long letters, That we can say what
reading, collecting items, we think, write what we
animals, cats, spending know, but can’t do withtime with family and out real friends (even
friends, old buildings, though we might have
countryside, seaside, etc. some, but most seems to
I live in England near the fade away.
sea with my husband and
two cats. I love writing to gertrude
lillian
people. Females only.
g e r t r u d e ggg @
gmail.com, South
Leo Probyns, 28, Africa
Sierra
Leone Hi im looking for female
l e o p r o b y n s @ friends around the world
a c c o u n ta n t. c o m my name is Gertrude i live
I’m Leo Probyns, 28. I in South africa searching
came from a small family for friends between age
of two. I am a friendly guy 32 to 40. Write soon!
who believes that true
and real friendship has Rocio /29/ Argentina
got a modest role to play d a v i d . s h a w .
in our personal lives. Re- i n t e n s e . w o r l d @
ally, I must let you know gmail.com
that my interests are bur- I’m Rocio, female. My
ied deep down in snail hobbies are: cine, read,
mailing, friendship, fam- music, origami 3d, paint
ily, traveling, camping, shop pro, pepals. I love
swimming, watching soc- to collect dvds, postcards
cer and basketball, mov- and bookmarks. Also
ies, reading and cooking. love to swap fbs. Always
i t ?
of bipolar. I would like
penpals and postcard
swappers. I also swap
stickers and friendship
books. I like movies,
writing,photography,
animals, walking, hiking,
geocashing, facebook,
crafts,nature, postcard,
stickers, crafting supplies,
day trips, traveling,
friends, etc.
l i k e
a t
n e w s
l a t e s t
t h e
c h e c k
i t ?
Glenys Dunne / 37 /
Australia
m a v i k i h a @
southernphone.
com.au
I am interested in lots
of crafts, writing letters,
reading, and improving
my education plus there
is lots more to tell you
about in my letters.
Carol Johnston, 55,
New Zealand
mainlandlady55@
kinect.co.nz
I love reading, listening
to music, card making,
some
scrapbooking,
making journals and
journal writing, getting
back into letter writing,
like writing about topical things kind of like the
prompts used in journal
writing rather than the
every day stuff as my life
seems to be the same
old same old.
I am a type 1 Diabetic, I
do volunteer work for
Red Cross and I also do
respite care work for
the elderly.I have a partner Murray and his 19
year old son who live
with me. I live in the
central South Island of
New Zealand down the
road from earthquake
country(Christchurch).
Look forward to meet-
l i k e
to two and I am looking
for long letter or cassette
tape pals.
a t
Jamie,
30,
USA
k i t t yg l i t t e r p i x @
yahoo.com
Hey I’m Jamie, 30 yrs
old & I live in MO. I am
a photographer and
would luv to hear from
other artistic pals. I am
obsessed with Hello
Kitty too. I enjoy snail
mail with Overseas pals
Grandma was pen pals
with my Grandpa’s sister
and somehow they met
and the rest is history.
I currently have over
30+ pen pals and am
always looking for more
LONG LETTER PEN PALS.
My hobbies/ interests
are: writing letters,80’s
music, dancing, thrift
stores/garage sales, ref u n d i n g / c o u p o n i n g,
ivy marie abrogena sweepstakes/contests,
/31/ saudi arabia/
shopping, cake decorath e a r t b e a t i vy @ ing, making Cake Pops,
yahoo.com
being creative, cookI am looking for new ing (and eating), and so
stamps and postcards much more.
swappers...
I have a pre-teen aged
daughter and I am the
Girl Scout Leader for her
Gail Cleaver, 36, UK, troop and Ienjoy doing
g a i l c l e a v e r @ that. I would love to
hotmail.com
hear from other mom’s
My
interests/hobbies who are Girl Scout Leadare penpalling, creative ers as well so we can
writing, listening to mu- exchange some ideas. I
sic, watching sci-fi. I have prefer to write to women
two children, both girls, only who are somewhat
who special needs. I’m close to my age and
currently on a childcare have similar hobbies. To
course.
contact me you can send
an email to: Sweet_CharVanessa Wong, 34, [email protected].
USA,
Sweet_Charity25@ S h i r l e y
yahoo.com
Anderson,
44,
My name is Vanessa and MartyAnderson@
I have been doing this windstream.net
hobby off and on since I am Shirley Anderson
I was 5 years old. Pen age 44 born 9]28]66 marpalling runs in my family ried to Marty w.a.12\5\87
as my paternal Grand- my email address is
ma and Grandpa met MartyAnderson@windthrough this hobby. My stream.net oh I am mom
n e w s
Ayshash, 25, Kenya,
s w e e t. l i t t l e 5 5 @
yahoo.com
Kate Haven, 22, USA
katiehaven87@aol.
com
I’m katie 22 loe to text,
be on facebook and be a
mom. My son loves to receive mail as well as me.
He is 3 1/2. I love meeting
new people and writing
letters. If your interested
write me!!
only, but will exchange
emails with people from
the States. Any questions
feel free to ask me. I
also luv writing, music,
reading, music and
movies. contact me via:
email, kittyglitterpix@
yahoo.com
or
@
kittyglitter98(TWITTER)
I cant wait to here from
you all♥
l a t e s t
Makas,
Alex Hügel / 39/
Germany
sandbook@arcor.
de
My name is Alex and
i´m an almost 39 years
old male from germany.
My Email is: sandbook@
arcor.de I´m still looking
for one or more penpals
keep up and maybe improve my English and
also get in contact with
new people from all over
the world. I´m married to
my wife for 4 years now
and we have little son
and our little daughter
should come on earth
during the next two
weeks.
Because of the coming
birth of my daughter
i have to keep this ad
short. I would be really
happy to hear from you.
Natürlich bin ich auch an
Brieffreundschaften in
deutsch interessiert.
My name is Ayshah and
am from Kenya. Am 25
years year old young
married lady with no kids
at the moment but in future yes to the man of my
life. My hobbies include
chatting (So if you believe you can chat all thro
am here), I love making
and meeting new friends
reason because I will be
learning and exchanging so much with them
from culture, language
and many other things,
traveling anywhere any
place lol and sleeping lol
and would really love to
have new friends all over
the world between the
age of 23-35 year old.
t h e
Snjezana
26,
Bosnia and
Herzegovina
snjezana_makas@
yahoo.com
I love penpalling, photography,
scrapbooking, cooking,travelling,
couch-surfing, camping,
trying new things.... always looking for new
penpals from around the
world.
c h e c k
Someone who will prove
to me that there’s friendship and honesty in the
world. Someone who is
sincere and honest and
would make my faith in
the future of humankind
grow. I am a graduate
engineer, am cool, very
social, outgoing…I will
tell you more if you show
interest. My hobbies include making friends,
going places, playing
basketball, music, movies etc I don’t mind letters (snail mail) my address is on the address
bar above BUT I prefer
email: mike_maloba@
yahoo.com
It would be great being your pal and being able to see a mix of
serenity and hope! For
me, friendship is something I consider sacred.
It makes me have faith
in some simple but fundamental human values,
which, sometimes, for
the lack of practice, we
swipe under the carpets
of our memories and
of our hearts… For me,
friendship is precious
and that’s why I intend
to keep it.. Always bear
in mind that my affection and true friendship
will be yours forever!
With best regards and I
hope to hear from you
soon!
i t ?
Please no tatty and
sloppy FBs and sheets. I
also have a lot of normal
FBs and Sheets to pass
v e r o n i c a on. In return I would cute
mattlin, 42, USA stationary, Hello Kitty
veronica.mattlin@ Items and DecoTapes.
gmail.com
A big „Thank You“ in
I am a 42 year old female advance.
looking for pen pals Please
e-mail
me
from all over the world. first:
VroeScraps@
I enjoy writting long googlemail.com
letters, collecting on
my favorite celebrites, Malisa Karn /35/
cross stitching, cats/ USA
animals, collecting stuff m a l i s a . k a r n @
on: cats, crosses, winnie gm a i l . c o m
the pooh, beanie babies, I am a home health aide.I
scapbooking, stickers, am going to school to
stationary,etc. I also get my Associate Degree
enjoy swapping/trading in Medical Billing and
from all over the world. Coding. My hobbies are
send me your complete pen
palling,chatting
want/collection lists and online, reading, camping
I’ll send you mine. Would and bowling.
perfer long letters and
long term friendship Sonali,19, Sri Lanka
worldwide! No men sonalisulakshini@
please, only females gmail.com
as I’m happily married. My name is w.k.sonali
looking
foward
to 4m sri lanka.i m 19years
hearing from you soon... old.still studing. My
hobbies r chatting with
Veronika, Germany friends,reading,playing
V r o e S c r a p s @ games.etc. I am looking
googlemail.com
4 a penpal 4m england.
I am Veronika from same age or elder one.
Germany, I´m looking
for new PenPals from all Mike Maloba, 26,
over the world esp. from Kenya
Sweden and Germany.
mike_maloba@
I take any excess of n&n/ yahoo.com
HQ FBs only and Slams. Hi everyone! Am myk a
I´m in need of n&n/HQ man frm Kenya searchFBs, Slams and all kind of ing for serious penpals
bags!
from all over the world.
l i k e
fairy tales, folk tales,
anything supernatural.
Write soon!
a t
n e w s
l a t e s t
t h e
c h e c k
ask is for friendship, I will
be single until the good
Lord takes me home. I
will be a faithful letter
writer and if you would
like me to give you some
names of my penpals to
message and ask for a
reference that is fine. you
Your name : Eliska
can message them. I also
Email : elda999@
enjoy reading, watching
seznam.cz
a good movie, Military
Your age : 26
History, camping and
country : Czech
spending time with a
Republic
good friend. I write back
Ad : Hello everyone, as soon as I can after
my name is ELiska I your letter arrives. I look
am 26 years old, I am forward to hearing from
looking for penpals, as you.
I like writting (and also
receiving letters :-) ) so Your name : sheri
much. I am taking care shrader
of my little girl at home. Your age : 39
I will be glad to find new Your country : USA
penpals! See you!
Ad : Hi my name is sheri
and i am 39 yrs old,And i
Rory Latimer
am Happily married and
latimerj@
between us we have 7
telkomsa.net
children and 1 grandson,I
Your age : 39
love to write and meet
country : South
new
people.looking
Africa
forward to meeting new
Ad : Hello Everyone I am people.
a 39 year old Caucasian
Male in Cape Town Your name : Anita
South Africa. I am hard of s c h u t z e n g e l .
hearing but that doesnt [email protected]
get me down. I love to Your age : 34
write snail mail letters. Your country :
That is a hobby of mine Austria
now after 9 years. I do Ad : Hello my name is
have some wonderful Anita and im searching
pen pals who have for nice female Penpals,
become great friends. Yes Epals and Swapper from
I am single however all I all over the world. My
Gregory Lentz
Email: gj.lentz76@
gmail.com
Your age : 34
Your country : USA
Ad : Hello! I’d be interested
in trying out some E-Pal
correspondences with
folks from all over the
world and all walks of
life! I like to learn about
other cultures, a little bit
of a history buff, foodie,
self taught artist and
aspiring writer of many
genres. I like to swap
postcards, nothing in
particular as long as they
are stamped and written,
as I relish the personal
connections as much as
the beauty of the cards. I
enjoy all kinds of movies,
tv shows I keep up with
are: any Law & Order, CSI,
Fringe, The Event, House,
Lie To Me, Castle...I’m a
huge Bon Jovi fan, I like to
read Stephen King, Dean
Koontz, and I’m hooked
on George R.R. Martin’s A
Game of Thrones.
a t
name : Elizabeth
Rahuba
Your age : 56
Your country : USA
Ad : My name is Liz and I
am 56 years young(Aug.
15, 1954), originally from
New Jersey, now living in
Chicago, Illinois. Before
moving here, I lived in
Salt Lake City, Utah(4/862/87), then Houston,
Texas(3/87-7/99). I have
one brother, aged 44, still
living in New Jersey. I am
divorced and never had
children/grandchildren. I
consider myself a positive,
straightforward person,
with a good sense of
humor. I am honest and
non-judgemental and
am patient, plus I will
usually give a person the
benefit of the doubt. I
am disabled with Bipolar
Disorder,
Depression
and
Degenerative
Arthritis(back), as well as
Arthritis in other joints,
requiring me to use a
walking cane. I have
been on disability (SSDI),
since the year 2000.
My
hobbies/interests
include Pen Pals, Acting,
Digital
photography,
the Internet, chatting
on
YIM/AIM,
trivia,
crossword, acrostic and
word puzzles, Traveling,
documentaries
and
current events(news). I
am also what you would
call a railfan, as I love
trains and train travel.
I am also into Star Trek
RPGs/Simms, as I am a
fan of Star Trek. I collect
stickers,
especially
transparent ones, fridge
magnets,
postcards,
keychains and coffee
mugs. I also swap FBs
Slams, SS’s, etc. I am
looking for lon-term,
long letter wrters, who
will not stop after just a
few letters.
n e w s
Jamie, 30, USA,
kit t yglit terpix@
yahoo.com
Anke, 25, Canada,
Hey I’m Jamie, 30 yrs old
p a r a g u aya _ 8 5 @
& I live in MO. I am a phohotmail.com
tographer and would luv
hi there, my name is
to hear from other artisAnke, I am turning 25
tic pals. I am obsessed
this week and I live in
with Hello Kitty too. I
Ontario-Canada.
I’m
enjoy snail mail with
born and raised in ParOverseas pals only,but
aguay-South America
will exchange emails
and moved to Canada
with people from the
a bit over 3 years ago
States. Any questions
together with my handfeel free to ask me. I also
some husband Jeff. I do
luv writing, music, readreally like it here even
ing, music and movies.
though its hard to concontact me via: email,
nect to people and the
kittyglitterpix@yahoo.
Canadian culture - ev- Laura Flad /31/ Rita, 36, Lithuania, com or follow me on @
erything is still a bit new USA,
earthen_ [email protected]
kittyglitter98 (TWITTER)
and sometimes I feel a vessels24@yahoo. I’m Rita from Vilnius, Lith- I cant wait to here from
bit lost :) I want to take com
uania. I’m 36 y.o. married you all.
this opportunity to meet Ad: Hi, my name is Lau- woman of 3 children.
new people around the ra, I am single, have no I’m looking for snail mail name : Mandi
world and also Cana- kids and from Louisiana, pals around my age Moore
da. I’m raised bilingual USA. I am looking for worldwide
especially moore87@yahoo.
(Spanish and German) new pen pals as I have in Asia, South America, com
and also (obviously) started writing again. I any islands, Canada, Your age : 23
speak English. I do have would like pals from all New Zealand, Austra- Your country : USA
a cute little dog I like to over especially Ireland, lia ect.. My hobbies are Ad : Seeing long letgo for walks with, I LOVE Scotland,
Germany, penpalling, postcards/ ter pals worldwide,
the outdoors, meeting England, and Japan. My viewcards
swapping, ladies only. Hobbies:
new people around the interests include Bible travelling, photography, Reading, TV & movies,
globus :) , chatting on studies, writing letters, dogs, theatre, movies, music,
photography,
the internet, go out with making crafts, collect- TV, reading, basketball, scrapbooking, playing
friends, cycling, swim- ing stickers and statio- music, drawing... I love computer games, etc. I
have one son, 17 months
old. Swaps: FBs, Mommy
FBs, slams. Please email
me for address! mandi.
[email protected]
l a t e s t
i t ?
nature, the sea, animals,
castles, souvenirs and
much more. I’m interested in foreign countries,
lifestyle, culture, history also in psychology,
parapsychology and all
mysterious things;)
t h e
nery, Hello Kitty, Diddl,
Lisa Frank, Sanrio, San-X,
Anime, walking/exercising, and lots more. My
hobbies include making crafts from plastic
canvas. You can view
my blog at http://moondustdesigns.blogspot.
com/ to see pics of my
crafts and/or to buy
them or you can email
for more info. Hope to
Christine Hall, 45, hear from you soon!
New
Hampshire,
USA,
cabhall@ Tracy Bishop, 33, UK
hotmail.com
tracydawnbishop@
Single, mom of one hotmail.co.uk
adult son, in between I like writeing and reemployment,
enjoys cieveing letters reading
writing,postcrossing, watching tv and films
swapping,
ani- cardmaking. I collect
mals, facebook, mu- pocket dragons just the
sic,
movies,
thrift right shoe postcards
shopping,photography, china dolls and keyblogging,
children, rings. I’m married with 2
walking, hiking, etc...
daughters.
c h e c k
l i k e
ming, reading, crafting,
travelling and exercising. I also love to have
visitors in my house and
I also started surfing last
year. Already had some
people over and I really
enjoyed it!! Feel free to
write me wherever you
live :) my email address
is: [email protected]
i t ?
ing and writing to some
new friends please.
http://carolsstampingblog.blogspot.com/
http://www.spiritsparkplugs.com
(editor’s note: to access
the links remove the
dashes that our program makes when the
address is too long)
l i k e
a t
n e w s
l a t e s t
t h e
c h e c k
i t ?
and geeky things like
dinosaurs, sci-fi, hacking
(Though I don’t know
how, argh! I just think
it’s great.), studying
voluntarily and video/
computer games.
If you’re interested in my
attempt at an appealing
pen pal ad, don’t be
afraid to send me an
e-mail! Though, I will get
a tad grumpy if I receive
requests for romance or
money. I have a boyfriend,
and I’m a poor university
student. :D
Your name : Gina
Email :
powerofthesun89@
hotmail.com
age : 21 (close to 22)
country : Greece
Ad : Hi! My name’s Gina,
I’m 21, Greek, rather
humorous and a senioryear student of Ancient
Greek & Latin Literature.
I’m looking for fellow
female penpals from
any countries that speak
English or French. Apart
from penpalling, I love
heavy metal, collecting
postcards and vinyls,
reading
international
literature, writing poetry
and crime novels! Looking
forward to hearing from
you!
name : Katarina
Email : kat.sweden@
gmail.com
Name: Radhia
Age :42 (soon to be
43) in february
Country: Tunisia
e-mail akrimi.0208@
live.fr
A warm hello to you all!
Is there anyone who is
interested in snail mail
penpalling?
I am a Tunisian woman,
happily married, have
only one daughter; I
am stay at home mom,
looking for FEMALE snail
mail pals from all over
the world. I like movies,
reading;
crocheting,
cooking, listening to
name : Natalie
music, postcards, stickers,
Email:
Kawaii things, writing
natkenfloppy@
letters and swapping; I
hotmail.com
like sending and receiving
Your age : 37
little surprises in the
Your country :
letters. There’s nothing
Canada
more joyful than getting
Ad : Hi my name is Natalie a letter from a friend
and I’ve been paling for ;Enough of bills in
about 25 years (started mailbox! So! Let’s start
when I was in grade 6) penpalling!..,
I like snail letters (I do
still swap Fbs from time Name: Kimi
to time) and emails so Age: 19
either way is perfect for Country: Australia
me. I love hearing from E-mail: kimberley.
new people. I am married jensen91@gmail.
and have a 3.5 year old com
daughter who is the apple Hello, potential future
of my eye. Please email penpals!
me at natkenfloppy@ I’m Kim from Australia.
I’ve been pen palling
since I was 9-yearsold, and I’m looking for
serious pen pals of any
age, sex, race, religion
and species (I welcome
you,
extra-terrestrial
friends!). Ones who won’t
stop writing but who
aren’t overly demanding,
either - life does get
in the way of things,
sometimes. Intelligence
and/or open-mindedness
is always a plus in my pen
pal searches, too! ^__^
Here’s a little bit about
me. I am a female (I had
to specify because I once
had a penpal when I was
younger, and her mother
said we couldn’t write
anymore because she
thought I was a male
due to my uni-sex name)
and I’m 19-years-old. I
major in Linguistics and
the Indonesian language
at university. I love
languages. Biiiig fan.
My hobbies and interests
are: crafting, sewing,
listening
to
music
(indie rock, indie pop,
alternative, classic rock,
etc.), watching films,
thrifting, kawaii, going to
alternative music festivals,
politics, designing my
own clothing, cooking,
vintage, anime, culture,
travel, languages, history,
science, religion (I’m an
atheist,
however),
philosophy,
kitsch
a t
l i k e
hotmail.com and we
will go from there. Hope
to hear from you soon.
Please no prisoners.
n e w s
name : Jolene
Email :
Whiterose232006@
yahoo.com
Your age : 28
Your country : USA
Ad: Hello Everyone, I’m
looking for new pals
& swappers. I swap
anything from FBs to
Stickers. I’m not accepting
any new penpals from
overseas at this time
but I take any amount
of pals & swappers. I’m
always taking new pals
from Canada & USA. So
feel free to drop me a
line & I’ll get back to as
soon as I can. My email
is:
Whiterose232006@
yahoo.com
Thanks,
Jolene
l a t e s t
the age of 12 my hobbies
are
computer
and
internet and driving and
eating out photography
i live in england message
Your name : Cécile
me and i will write that
Email: ciloune@
is 100 per cent i answer
gmail.com
all letters am married
Your age : 27
for 30 years put images
country : France
or photos on all letters
Ad : Hello everybody, I’m write soon and we can
looking for new penpals be come good and fond
from all over the world, friends. Love, Lesley
no matter where you
come from :) I can write in name : Martina
french, english, spanish Email : Martina_J_@
or romanian so feel free gmx.at
to contact me in your Your age : 25
own language if it’s one country : Austria
of above. I love writing Ad : Hello! I love it to find
and
receiving
long nice and long letters in
letters. I love swapping my mailbox... you too? things (stamps, stickers, Then we should become
magnets,
stationery), penpals. My name is
sending small gifts from Martina and I am from
time to time ... I’m a Austria. I am looking for
school teacher, mum to penpals around my age
be (in january) and I’d from anywhere in the
love to know you, you world (female penpals
who are reading this ad only!). My hobbies/
:) Just contact me by mail interests
include:
at : [email protected] writing/reading letters
and I’ll send you my snail (of course), shopping,
mail address.
surfing the internet,
traveling (I LOVE it),
Name: lesley
reading, movies, PS3, Wii,
griffin
Nintendo DS, spending
Your age : 53
time with my boyfriend,
country : england
going out and lots of
Ad: place your ad, include other things... Interested?
hobbies and interests - Please contact me at
looking for penfriends [email protected] I am
any country and any age looking forward to hear
have been penpalling for from you!
41 years and started at
t h e
name : Tina Bryan
tinabryan23@
yahoo.com
Your age : 36
Your country:
usa, San Diego,
cailfornia
Ad : hello all,my name
is Tina looking for pen
pals that will write to
me more then once.my
hobbies are making hats
and scarfs and sell them.
my
intesterest,writing
to pen pals,talking on
the phone with pals
and texting.e-mail if you
want a pal tinabryan23@
yahoo.com
c h e c k
Your name : Josh
Cowan
jcowan1023@gmail.
com
Your age : 30
Your country : USA
Ad : Hello, my name is
Josh Cowan. I am 30
years old and I have a
good since of humor. I
like snail mail better then
email because you can
send little gifts with your
letters. I am looking for
male or female Penpals
age 18- 41 who can make
me laugh or smile. My
hobbies include making
my own greeting cards.
[email protected]
Your name : Irene
Your age : 23
Your country :
Italy
Ad : Hey Everyone my
name’s Irene 23 y o living in Milano, Italy. I love
penpalling and meeting new friends around
the world. I’m studying
veterinary medicine. I
love animals. I’m vegetarian. My interests are
long distance running
(marathons and getting
statted with ultramarathons) hiking and climbing mountains, penpalling, collecting postcards
(I’m also looking for postcard penpals), surfing
the internet, decoupage,
watching tv, traveling. I
like writing to both male
and female but no dating
please, I have on bf and I
find that enough! I hope I
can find many good and
long lasting friendships.
i t ?
name is Anita, my Nickname “Angel” im married and my sign is libra.
I live with my husband
in Austria. My hobbies
are: reading, writting letters and emails, skype,
Facebook, Internet, Photography, playing saxophone, cooking, Music,
Concerts, Formula 1, Soccer, Esoterism, Religion,
Gothic, Middle Age, history and more. Im a very
funny and helpful person. My job is nurse for
elderly and I work with
Alzheimer Patients. Hope
to find nice female pals
between 20 to ? years.
Nice to meet you send
a email to schutzengel.
[email protected]
l i k e
a t
n e w s
l a t e s t
t h e
Ad : Hello! Hobbies;
reading,
writing,
penpalling,
letters,
music, films, walking,
socializing, drawing. I
am looking for email or
snail mail. I’m looking
for a penpal that will
write for a long time as
name : Meli
i’m hoping to form a
Email :
long-lasting friendship.
manzalone@
I’ve never swapped or
hotmail.de
collected anything but
Your age : 28
if you want to send me
country : Germany something then feel free.
Ad : Hey everyone, I’m Anyways, email me and
looking for pen pals from we can chat some more
New York, Las Vegas and :) Everything isn’t going
the Bay Area - California. to fit in here. Louise x
I love long handwritten
letters, swapping, horses, name : Colleen
traveling,
stationary, Email : contact me
crafts and the USA. Feel at: Colleen Penpal
free to email me.
on Facebook. Add
me!
Your name : John
Your age : 45
Ferguson
Your country : USA
Email :
Ad : Hello Friends...
jferguson92200@
Colleen from the USA
yahoo.com
saying hi to everyone!!
Your age : 26
Love this magazine!!
country : USA
I am 45 and am from
Ad : I like snail pen pal Wisconsin in the USA. I
only in the USA, & e-mail have been penpalling
pen pal from all over. My on and off since 1989.
hobbies are collecting It’s an awesome hobby.
postcards,
collecting I love reading, 70s
wrestling cards, & many and 80s rock music,
more. Especially writing crafts,
scrapbooking,
to people.
journals, history, thrift
stores, travelling, the
name : Louise
paranormal, penpalling,
Email :
and swapping fb’s/
louisexmarie@
stickers/stationary. I also
gmail.com
swap postcards. Short or
Your age : 21
long letter pals welcome.
Your country : UK
Hope we can meet....
c h e c k
theater, like to listen to
music, socializing with
family and friends. Quite
a normal person I would
think *grin*. If it did get
you interested, I would
love to hear from you!
Have a great day!
a t
name : Victoria G
Email :
nekrobows@
yahoo.com
Your age : 18
Your country :
California USA
Ad : Hello im from
name : Yvonne
Email :
inkytrailers@
yahoo.com
Your age : 37
Your country :
Netherlands
Ad : Hiya! Thought I
would give this a try as I
am looking for a few new
pals :). I am specifically
looking for long letter
and somewhat regular
pals from Italy, Portugal,
the Middle East (Iran
in particular) and Asia,
Japan in particular but
all countries are fine :) as
long as have something
in common. My only
request being you can
express
yourself
in
English or Dutch well
enough to have a decent
conversation. I don’t
want to get stuck in sole
conversations
about
the weather. As for the
meaning of regular, I
don’t expect you to write
every month but I do like
to receive (at least) 3 to 4
letters a year so I guess
I’d like you to write - and
I will do the same :) once every two to three
months. If you are more
regular, then so am I :).
Also I like you to ask and
answer questions and I
can tell you upfront I tend
to ask many questions you’d better be prepared
*LOL*.
A quick word about
me, I am in my late 30s,
married without kids and
work fulltime. When I am
not working I have plenty
to keep myself busy with
*laugh*. I love books and
would not be able to live
without them. They are
great way to relax as well
as to learn from! I enjoy
watching movies though
I find that at this stage of
life, I need to see them in
the cinema as I am not
having peace of mind
watching them at home
:(. Also I love cooking and
like to experiment with
different
ingredients,
I love walking, taking
photos,
travelling,
keeping up to date
with (and form an
opinion about!) what is
happening in this world,
I enjoy going to the
n e w s
Your name : Petra
Schmied
Email :
p.schmied02@gmx.
at
Your age : 40
country : Austria
Ad : Hi, I am a 40-yearold Austrian with an
8-year-old daughter. I
love snail mailing and
have various interests
including
travelling,
reading,
dancing,
languages
(German,
English, French and
some Spanish), sports
etc. Please send me
an email if you are
interested and I will
send you my address.
socal! I love all kinds of
music im looking for all
postcards and basically
to
start
swapping
picture clippings stickers
surprise donated books
anything
really
for
my penpal swapper
scrapbook to remember
my youth when i age.
Here’s my main interest:
Hannah Montana/Miley
Cyrus Punk bands John
Waters! Courtney Love
Kurt Cobain & Nirvana
Seria
Killer(anything
works)
Bette
Davis
Ariel(the little mermaid)
anything
1950s
anything is welcome and
appreciated email me:
[email protected]
l a t e s t
i t ?
sincere and personal. I
can play stamps back,
if you ask me. If you
like, we can exchange
postcards, photos, fbs
and other small things.
I would prefer, if you
speak fluent English or
German and won’t have
troubles
expressing
your thoughts and
feelings. So, this was my
introduction and now
I’m waiting for a letter
from you
t h e
name : Anastasia
Email : aja23@
yandex.ru
Your age : 29
name : Angela
country : Russia
Benton
Ad : Hello people! I’m
Email : nkotbfan@
an active penpaller for
live.com
many years already
Your age : 29
and used to have many
Your country :
penpals but recently
United States
most of them stopped
Ad : I am 29 years old. writing me or writing
Married and have 3 kids. too seldom because
I love nkotb. Facebook. they are too busy and I
Making new friends. understood that I have
Hot summer days, only a few left. Thought
swimming, and birds these ones are very
chirping. I have 2 cats. important for me, I still
I enjoy taking pictures. want to find some new
I enjoy concerts. I love friends About me: My
music videos.
name is Anastasia, I’m
29y.o. and I come from
Your name : Bev
Saint-Petersburg, Russia
Email :
but I’d love to move to
BlondieBear75@
Europe at least for some
hotmail.com
time soon. For sure, I
Your age : 35
like my country but it
country :
would be exciting to
Australia
live in other places of
Ad : Hi All.....I am a stay the world to see how
at home mom of 4 people live there. At the
from sunny Qld who moment I’m working as
would love to write a secretary. I have lots
to other Aussie’s. I of hobbies, just a few to
have a wide range of mention: watch movies,
tv, read books, write
letters, meet my friends
or chat with them online,
paranormal things, etc.
I’m quite open-minded
and chatty girl, so I
can talk about almost
anything. Just give me
a subject^) I’m not very
much into clubbing and
prefer an evening with a
good book or movie but
sometimes it’s a real fun
to go out I’m looking
for: I am looking for
female penpals at any
age from everywhere,
with absolutely different
hobbies, who write long
letters (e.g 2 pages of A4
papers or 2-4 pages of B5
papers, well it depends
on how your life is) at
least once in 2 months
and I won’t stop writing
after a few letters. The
way of a letter may be
quite long but there’s
nothing we can do With
my future penpal I’d love
to discuss not only life
events, but also share
our ideas, thoughts,
dreams, feelings and
everything. With whom
we’d share our attitude
to events, happening
in the world around us.
There are no forbidden
topics for me and I love
ask and answer tons
of different questions.
I love letters in a form
of
a
conversation.
I don’t mind typed
letters, if they stay
c h e c k
l i k e
interests and hobbies
including reading, scrap
booking, card making,
pen palling, spending
time with my hubby
and children and heaps
more. I am willing to
write to both men and
women. Look forward
to hearing from you.
i t ?
Your age : 41
country : Sweden
Ad : I’m looking for
pen pals aged 25-55,
esp. from USA, New
Zealand or the Latin
American countries. I
love cats, writing letters
and swapping. I enjoy
to go shopping, watch
TV, search for ancestors,
read books & cartoon
magazines and just
have a nice time.
l i k e
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c h e c k
i t ?
You are giving a special
discount to our readers.
Tell us where they should
input the code?
That’s right, I’m happy to give
everyone a 10% discount when
shopping at La Papierre from
now on until January 31, 2011.
It’s pretty easy: just go to www.
LaPapierre.com and add some
items to your shopping cart.
Then, when checking out,
you will see a little box under
“Shop Coupon Code” and
that’s where you need to type
SANDBOOK10PERCENTOFF (no
spaces, all caps). Then just click
on “apply” and ta-da, enjoy your
10% discount!
You are also making a giveaway. Tell us more about how
to participate in it, when is the
How often do you update/
work on your e-shop?
As most people who start a
business, I work every single day!
I sometimes force myself to take
a day off, but I love what I do, so
I enjoy working. So far I have 15
letter sets and a few postcard
packs for sale, but over the next
few months I’ll have more items
for my customers. Soon I’ll be
listing sticker packs / envelope
seals, mini letter sets, notecard
sets, mail tags, envelopes packs,
etc.
a t
just not my cup of tea. Since I like
unusual / strange / sophisticated
/ vintage themes but can’t
find that type of stationery
anywhere, I decided to make my
own! And so far the response has
been great - a lot of people tell
me that they’re happy to find
alternatives to kawaii and kids
stationery. But I do have a couple
of cute letter sets in my shop as
well, because even I can’t resist a
little cuteness!
n e w s
When did you start with
your website and why?
In 2007, I tried making some
letter sets and even though my
first ones were terrible (yes, it’s
true!), I decided to stick with it
and keep trying. A few months
later, We’ve Got Paper was
born. I sold stationery on my
own website for a while, until I
moved everything over to Etsy
(a huge virtual shopping mall
full of handmade items). At first
I was mostly selling grocery
lists and address labels, but in
2009 I started designing new
letter sets. Most of them were
cute & colorful and my business
was getting more and more
successful... But after a year or so
I felt like I needed a change, so I
started planning the opening of
my current store, La Papierre.
I wanted to make different,
unique letter sets. Not everyone
is a fan of Hello Kitty! I don’t have
anything against Sanrio, but it’s
l a t e s t
l i k e
Envelopes are also easy to make.
You can use sturdy magazine
pages, old calendars and atlases
or vintage children’s books and
turn them into pretty packages.
Boring, white envelopes can be
transformed into works of art
with a few additions: drawings,
stickers, labels, cutouts, old
tickets or receipts, wax seals,
rubber stamps, deco tape,
cancelled postal stamps, tags,
glitter, photos, quotes, airmail
labels from foreign countries,
playing cards, etc.
t h e
Could you give our
readers a couple
of tips for making
their letters/mail
more creative and
crafty?
Make your penpals feel
special! Your friends
all
have
different
personalities
and
interests... And I’m sure
they’d be delighted to
receive a letter from you
written on beautiful,
personalized stationery!
For our penpals who
love all things cute and
kawaii, the options are
literally endless... But
what about those of
us who prefer pretty,
sophisticated, vintage
or darker stationery? I
suggest checking out
Dark Horse Comics and
La Papierre! :)
But what if you don’t
have a lot of money to
spend on stationery?
Not a problem - you can
easily make your own,
even if you’re not that
creative! You can draw on
colorful sheets of paper,
decorate plain paper
with rubber stamps or
stickers, write on the
back of scrapbooking
paper...
My wonderful penpal
Shivanee from Trinidad
&
Tobago
recently
wrote me another one
of her lovely letters
on stationery that she
designed herself and it
made my day. She knows
how much I love sushi, so
she carefully decorated
her letter in that theme.
Why don’t you do the
same and send themed
letters to your penpals?
c h e c k
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Have you ever done
penpalling/letterwriting?
Oh yes! That was actually
how I became addicted
to stationery in the first
place! I started writing
letters at 7 years old and
became quite serious
about it around 9 or 10.
I can’t believe that I’ve
been into penpalling for
over 2 decades! At first
I only wrote letters in
French, but I eventually
learned English at school
and started practicing
with English speaking
penpals. Now I only have
a few pals who speak
French, so I write most of
my letters in English.
At the moment, I have
about
14
penpals,
though not all of them
write regularly. I used
to have a lot more than
that, but it was too much
to handle after I had my
son, went back to school
and started working
from home. My pals are
very dear to me and I’m
grateful to have them in
my life!
i t ?
Tell us a bit about
yourself.
Hello! My name is Julie
Trévily-Pigeon and I’m
a 31 year old French
Canadian girl living in
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu,
the city of hot air balloons.
I have a 6 year old son
who’s often mistaken for
a girl because of his long
blond hair (his choice!)
and who likes his acting
classes almost as much
as he loves going to
Mexico.
I also have 3 female cats.
One of them makes a
mess when she eats,
another one loves to
steal meat and cheese
from our plates and the
older, fatter one is pretty
but very lazy.
I’m engaged to a
wonderful man who
moved more than
135 kilometers away
from home (85 miles)
to be with me. We’re
happy and very much
in love!
When I was young, I
wanted to become
a teacher. I did work
as an intern with first
graders for a month
in 1999, does that
count?!
My dreams eventually
changed and so did
my plans. A career
in teaching would
have been rewarding
I’m sure, but my love for
paper (and freedom!)
was apparently stronger
than my desire to spend
hours with a bunch of
noisy kids 5 days a week.
(I admire teachers a lot,
though!)
So here I am, years later,
working as a stationery
designer at La Papierre,
my own business, my
new baby. I adore paper
products and it makes
me smile to look at my
new bright red bookshelf
from IKEA filled with
hundreds of my own
letter sets, waiting to be
sold. (Check them out at
www.LaPapierre.com!)
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Interview with Julie from www.LaPapierre.com
53
PenPalling Connections:
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54
n e w s
Yahoo Groups that you might want to join:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/strictlysnail
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crazy_pen_pals
l a t e s t
PenPal Directory and Newsletter
Hi! I am Tracy. I sell stationery address and stickers. I
also have a penpal Directory and a newsletter. Take
a look at my links if interestered. My new thing is
making a catalog of all my designs:
http://tracyscreationsstationary.shutterfly.com/
http://addresslabels4sale.shutterfly.com/
For more information contact:
Tracy Sanders, [email protected]
My name is Maxine. I’m the owner of
www.penpalmagazine.blogspot.com
and
www.friendshipbooks.blogspot.
com
As the names suggest, the former
focuses its attention on penpal
newsletters and magazines, and the
later - on FB’s - what are they, how to
make them, how to swap them, etc.
Follow the blogs to learn all the cool
stuff that I have prepared for you!
t h e
Penpals ‘nd Swappers magazine
Penpals `nd Swappers is a new magazine for people who like to write letters and swapping, also
for people who are looking for new penpals and
swappers. In this magazine there are PenpalAdds
and SwapperAdds, all around writing letters and
swapping and many many more. How can I order
it? Just send an e-mail to penpalsandswappers@
googlemail.com with your name and e-mail address. You get your magazine by e-mail. How to
get my PenpalAdd/SwapperAdd in the magazine?
Please, send your PenpalAdd or SwapperAdd via
e-mail to:
[email protected].
Please do not forget your address or e-mail address.
c h e c k
Would you like to share with us
something else?
Just that I’m so happy to have penpals, write and
receive letters from great people through the
post and share this wonderful hobby with such a
fantastic community... Let’s keep snail mail alive!
Pen Pal Book
C/O Kimberly Garigin
3726 Green Pond Rd
Gray Court, SC 29645
One issue is $12 black or $18 color. Subscription for 4 issues is $20 black or $25
color. Its like buying two and getting two
FREE. Comes out Jan. Apr. Jul. & Oct. I take
Cash, checks & Money orders in my name.
It is non-profit!! Pen Pal ads to be put in is
FREE starting with Jan 2011. Business ads
r 5 cents per word/symbols & count your
name & address. Add $2 more for Canada
or $4 more for Over seas. I use quick print
to see the darker print its $4 per issue or
$16 for 4 issues. No Inmates!!!
For more information contact:
Kimberly at [email protected]
i t ?
n e w s
already a subscriber, you still have a chance to
win!
Third, add Sandbook Net as a friend on Facebook.
That’s where I’ll pick the third winner!
You have until January 23 to participate. The
winners will be announced on the 24th on
Facebook. Just keep an eye on La Papierre!
l i k e
deadline, what are the awards going to be?
I’ll be giving away a letterset to 3 lucky winners.
For a chance to win, there are 3 things you can
do:
First, become a fan of La Papierre on Facebook!
Just search for La Papierre (with a space between
the words), click on “like” and then write a quick
message on the wall, telling me about your
favorite letter set. If you win, I’ll send it to you!
Second, join my mailing list for another chance to
win a letter set. Enter your info here --->
http://eepurl.com/blKD (the B and L are lower
cases but the K and D are upper cases - very
important!) and click on “subscribe”. If you’re
Interview with Isabelle from www.Sirpriz.com
www.sirpriz.com
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l a t e s t
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t h e
n e w s
c h e c k
l a t e s t
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t h e
l i k e
c h e c k
What to expect from
Sirpriz?
After registering on Sirpriz,
you can present yourself on
the forum. Then, you can join
virtual or real swaps to start
sending and receiving gifts
and letters. By participating in
those, your reputation points
will increase (check your
profile to track your progress).
As the points increase, you
will be able to enter Sirpriz
lottery game: each Saturday,
a winner is picked and he/
she will win lots of cool gifts.
The best thing of it all, is that
all of the games are for free!
So go on our website and
start playing. The variety of
games is big – from random
games (you will send a letter
to a random member of
our community) to games
specifically for handmade
items.
What is your most
memorable moment
(regarding your hobby
and/or website)?
It’s pretty much into our
company’s philosophy. We
want to bring a gift or a
letter to every mailbox of our
members (Sirprizians). We
enjoy getting to know stories
of Sirprizians who meet in
person and exchange gifts.
What better way to bring a
smile to someone face, but to
exchange gifts? It makes the
world filled with a lot more
happiness! The most amazing
gift that we have monitored
was a live (real) bird given from
one Sirprizians to another.
Surprising gift, right? And it
is so out of the box thinking!
We have those surprise
gift games too – sending
a surprise gift to another
person and just like any
surprise – you have to keep
it a secret until the surprise
gift arrives! I am especially
happy, when members of
our community become real
friends after sending and
receiving letters.
i t ?
56
How often do you
update/work on your
website?
We stay 2 or 3 hours per day
on Sirpriz to reply to private
messages and to keep games
working (technical support).
start. Currently there are eight
people managing the site, six
of which are moderators that
keep working to maintain
Sirpriz.
l i k e
Tell us a bit about you?
We are Isabelle and Anthony, from France. We Could you give our readers a couple
have created Sirpriz because we wanted to create of tips for making their letters/mail
a community of generosity, fun, and surprises. more creative and crafty?
Sirpriz allows a person to find other person to Buy stickers, add colors and don’t forget to wrap
send a real gift and / or a letter to and to receive your gift to make your penpal happy.
one in exchange! It makes you happy to unwrap
When did you started with your
a gift just like it did, when you were a kid!
website and why?
Have you ever done penpalling/letter- Sirpriz was created in 2005. The idea started as
writing? If yes, how did you discover it we made a trip to the Seychelles islands. We both
love to travel and discover new cultures. When
and how long have you been into it?
When we were kids, we had penpals. It was very we landed on the islands, we discovered
happy to open a letter from other country or from how wonderful and generous people
our own country and read it through. But, when can truly be, and we decided to share
we grew up a bit, we started receiving only that generosity on Internet.
bills but no letters. The happiness On our website,
can
was gone, so that’s why you
we created Sirpriz.
With Sirpriz, it
is Christmas
every day!
join the forum (French and
English) and more than 5200
members, in 114 countries,
and 5 games. You can join
games to send real or virtual
gifts and letters as well as to
receive some.
Would you like
to share with us
something else?
Do you do your website
Join us on http://www.
all by yourself?
sirpriz.com to have fun! It’s
We have been a team from the free!
57
www.moonwell.nl
Who is Deirdre Langelaar?
n e w s
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l a t e s t
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Could you give our readers
a couple of tips for making
Can you tell us more about
their letters/mail more
your Website? What can we
creative and crafty?
expect to find on it?
You’ll find anything what you could There’s one thing I’m always
need on writing. I’ll be interviewing struggling with and that’s being
and introducing other great creative. But I’ve learned that you do
websites, reviewing web-shops and what you want. Don’t think “He/she
will not like it”, it’s your letter and it
organizing contests!
People can learn how to start writing represents YOU! So don’t be afraid
but others who’ve been penpalling and show yourself! Everybody is
for years are very welcome. unique :)
Everybody will learn new things!
Would you like to share
with us something else?
How can one be featured
Come over and have a look!!
in the sections of your
http://www.moonwell.nl/
website?
t h e
c h e c k
c h e c k
i t ?
Please feel free to contact me for
new ideas, questions and comments.
I’m always searching for enthusiastic
people and websites/webshops to
interview/review/introduce.
But
please note, I will not be placing
penpal adds, I’ll leave that to other
websites. My e-mail address is info@
moonwell.nl
i t ?
When is the website going to
be released? How long have
you been working on the
idea for it?
Tell us more about
The website is being release on
yourself
My name is Deirdre, I’m 23 years old 01.01.2011 a great way to start the
and from Holland. My biggest hobby new year! :) I’ve been busy for a good
is Postcrossing. When I read an article 2 full weeks.
about postcrossing in the “Flow”
(a Dutch magazine), I was curious. How did the idea for your
Immediately I visited the postcrossing website come to be?
website and signed up. That was I own the domain for 3 or 4 year now,
over a year ago and in 1 year I’ve I used it in the past as my personal
sent 133 official postcards. I’ve met weblog but I have changed domains
great new friends and participated for that. Moonwell.nl was empty
for over a year and I wanted to do
something with it but I didn’t know
what to do. When I started penpalling
I spent hours searching on the
internet for good websites. Until
now I only know 2 (Sandbook and
Penpalling&Letters) but I still miss
something. And so it came with the
idea to start a website which shows
you all kinds of other websites.
l i k e
Maybe you remember her from the
PenPalling and Letters Blog, where
she was talking about the customs
in the Netherlands. Maybe you
don’t! But you should be aware
of her name as her website www.
moonwell.nl was just released on
January 1st, 2011 and that’s a must
see site in terms of finding all the
goodies that you will need to know
and have in mind when you are into
Penpalling and correspondence.
in a meeting in Rotterdam. But I
missed the friendship with foreign
postcrossers. When I stumbled
upon Beatriz’s website http://
penpallingandletters.blogspot.
com I read all night about penpalling
and found great websites which
helped me to start with writing. I
started penpalling two months ago.
I don’t have many experience or
penpals yet but I already love it.
l i k e
GiVEAWAY BY WWW.MOONWELL.NL
What do you have to do?
Go to www.moonwell.nl and leave a comment on the giveaway post.
Become fan on their Facebook page, follow them on Twitter and
subscribe to the mailing list. Yip, it’s that easy!
What can you win?
A cute stationary set sponsored by Mostcutest!
59
58
Snail mail AFICIONADO
a t
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l a t e s t
t h e
c h e c k
i t ?
Would you like
to share with us
something else?
Pleeeease write legibly
and on paper your
penpals can read the
writing on! It makes a
huge difference to the
receiver of the letter
and you’ll likely get a
response quicker. This
has been a public service
announcement.
a t
l i k e
n e w s
geeky 8 bit artwork,
playing video games,
and general craftiness.
My interests are pretty
broad - I like everything
from being a tea snob to
playing dungeons and
dragons (I really am just
a complete geek - haha!)
How long have
l a t e s t
hubby and I are both
very geeky, though we
geek out with different
things. He likes first
person shooters and
I love sending people
mail! I enjoy making my
own envelopes, making
soap, working with
Perler beads to make
Could you give our
readers a couple
of tips for making
their letters/mail
more creative and
crafty?
Make
your
own
envelopes. Honestly - it’s
the easiest thing in the
world to do - you can make
a bunch of them in advance
andsortofpairthemupwith
your pen pals personalities.
If you do nothing else
to the envelope due to
time - then you’ve already
done something creative
and crafty. I store mine
in red cardboard boxes I
get from Ikea (the ones
you put DVD’s in). You
can make them out of
anything - old calendars,
books, even scrapbook
paper. I have a how-to
on my blog for making
your own templates, but
basically - find an envelope
with a shape and size
you like, carefully open
it and flatten it, glue it to
some cereal box card, cut
away the edges and all
you have to do is trace
around it onto the paper
you want, cut, fold, glue
- you’re done. It goes by
fast and your pen pals
will love you for it.
Aside from that - just let
your imaginations go
wild! Cut and paste isn’t
just for elementary school
students. Get a catalogue in
the mail? Cut some stuff out
and paste it down on your
envelope. My husband and
I go to a lot of conventions
and end up with *A LOT* of
extra paper at the end - it’s
all great for making mail art
- words, pictures - all of it.
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60
us more about
yourself?
My name is Jess and I’m
from Ontario, Canada
and I’m addicted to snail
mail! I’m married to my
best friend and we have
four furry children (two
dogs and two cats) and
live in the subburbs. My
Do you design the
stationery on your
blog?
Yes, I design it all myself.
How did the idea
Mostly with graphics
for the blog come
I scrounged from the
to be?
Graphics Fairy or have
I had seen a couple other uploaded myself via my
mail art related blogs out other blog Arachneas
and about on the internet Attic. I then import various
and sort of said “Hey...I can things into an old clunky
do that” and just sort of version of Photoshop I
took the basic idea and have, play with the images
went my own way with until I like them, and then
it.
usually post the set that
day or the next.
Can you tell us
more about your
How long have you
blog? How do you
been Penpalling?
choose to do one
I’ve been penpalling on and
blog entry or the
off since I was 10 or 11.
other?
My blog is sort of a mix How did you start
of everything. I post Penpalling?
some of my own mail I started penpalling
art, mail art I’ve received, because as a kid I was
stationery I’ve made for obsessed with horses.
my readers, random Etsy There used to be a
finds, etc. I’m trying right magazine about horses
now to get something for kids and youth called
going called New Penpal “Horse Power magazine”
Mondays - it’s slow going which I dutifully bought
getting people to respond, every issue. There was
but hopefully next year it’ll a little section in each
be in full swing.
issue for finding penpals
To be honest, it’s almost who also loved horses,
completely random (what and I placed several ads
I post). It depends on through the years and
whether or not I’m in the wrote to several other
mood to make stationery girls in North America
or not or if I’ve found who liked horses. I
something nifty on Etsy stopped for a long while,
I feel I should share. As I through high school - but
notice things online, I post I started up again in my
early 20’s as a friend of
mine told me she wrote
to people worldwide. It
was something in me
that just sort of clicked
and I was like “Oh, yeah penpalling - I remember
that. It was an awesome,
I think I’ll go at that
again”. Of course, now
my husband wishes I
hadn’t because the living
room is full of letters and
craft supplies - but it’s
only fair - he keeps Lego
everywhere!
c h e c k
Hi,
Jess
and
welcome to the
SandbookNet
Community. I am
so glad that you
agreed to give us
and all our readers
this
exclusive
interview. First of
all, will you tell
about them.
i t ?
Ever since, we decided to dedicate this January edition of our magazine to correspondence and of course
customs from around the world, I have been anxiously trying to find new creative ways to jazz up the letter
insider sections. Just like I was “cruising” on the internet and looking through some blogs, I finally landed
on the “PenPal Aficionado”. It immediately caught my attention with its creativity and I contacted the owner
of it, Jess from Canada, right away! I couldn’t pass an opportunity like this to share with you some creative
ways to come up with a letter-shape-sampler and lots of other cool things that you can find on the blog.
Jess was really friendly and agreed to give us this exclusive interview. I do hope that you will enjoy meeting
Jess and visit her blog at: http://postaladdict.blogspot.com
you been writing
in your blog (Snail
Mail Aficionado)?
I think I started the blog
last year.
l i k e
www.postaladdict.blogspot.com
Thank you, Jess for this
Interview. Visit:
http://postaladdict.
blogspot.com to read
more about Jess and of
course to learn all the
creative ideas that she
had posted.
61
l i k e
THE HOLIDAYS IN SPAIN
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by Beatriz Floriano
l i k e
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happiness of these special times and to celebrate
the birth of Jesus. However, there are traditions and
At the end of the month of November you start to customs in Spain which only happen to be here and
feel that the Christmas Season is approaching in reflect the personality of the country during the
Spain. It is then when streets are decorated with season.
typical ornaments, motifs and Christmas lights. In
some cities a beautiful Christmas Tree is put in the Some special elements of Christmas in
main square, next to the town hall or in some mall. Spain are:
Also, recently, in bigger cities, an ice-ring is set up
in a square or in a large area of the city during the The Nativity Scene
season. Shops put decorations, too, and the shop It consists of a mini representation of the birth of
windows get full of gifts and toys as well.
Jesus Child. It is a strong tradition to put the Scene in
all houses. Some Nativities are important and large
Christmas is celebrated in many countries all around (they are set up at institutions, worship places...).
the world and Spain shares many traditions with They are very carefully decorated, plenty of details
all these places. Families meet to share the joy and and very artistic! You even can find the river with
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real water and a waterwheel, shepherds taking care
of the flock and herd, representations of manual jobs
(potter,washerwomen...) and the Three Kings following
the Star to Bethlehem... In some cities and villages, on
the night of the 24th December, a live exhibit of the
Nativity takes place, with animals, real people and of
course, a baby! There are also contests to award the
best Nativity Scene in many cities and villages.
real warm feeling and meaning of Christmas as well as
the Nativity does.
Christmas Carols (“villancicos”)
These typical songs in this time of the year are sung
everywhere. Nowadays you can hear them through
the loudspeakers in the street or in malls, but there
was a time in which the children, with a “zambomba”
(traditional drum-like instrument) and a “pandereta”
(tambourine) were singing these traditional songs
The Christmas Tree:
As in many other countries, the Tree has become a (which are about Bethlehem, the Jesus Child or what
typical element of Christmas in Spain as well. People is happening to Jesus family) along the streets asking
gets an evergreen coniferous tree into their homes for the “aguinaldo” (Christmas box). The “aguinaldo”
and decorate it with all kind of ornaments, Christmas consisted of a few coins or some typical sweets of this
lights, garland, tinsel, glitter... Under the Tree gifts will season.
be placed later so it is really important, but also gives a
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added to the log altering
the more traditional and
natural appearance of
a dead piece of wood:
it stands up on two or
four little stick legs, has a
broad smiling face which
is painted on the higher
of the two log ends, a
little nose, and, on top,
the typical Catalan hat
called“barretina”. Around
the Festivity of the
Immaculate Conception
(December, 8th) the
Tió starts to be feeded
every night and it is also
covered with a blanket so
he won’t be cold during
the night. On Christmas
Eve or on Christmas Day
(depending on each
family), the Tió is put
partly into the fireplace
and it is ordered to
“poop”. To make the Tió
poop, it has to be beaten
with sticks, while singing
various songs of “Tió de
Nadal”. The Tió does not
poop large presents, but
Christmas sweets, candy,
little gifts...
Finally, the “Apalpador”
or
“Pandigueiro”
is
the mythical figure
of a coal merchant,
that, according to the
tradition, lives in the
mountains of O Courel
and Os Ancares, in
eastern Galicia. He goes
t h e
world, presents aren’t
exchanged on Christmas
Eve (or in Christmas Day).
In the latest years Santa is
more present than ever,
though, and still many
children get a “little”
gift or sweets, either
on December, 24th or
25th. However, there are
three Spanish regions
which have their own
Santa Claus, so to say. In
the Basque Country it is
called “Olentzero”, “Tió
de Nadal” in Catalonia
and “Apalpador” or
“Pandigueiro” in Galicia.
The “Olentzero” is a
mythological character
of the Basque Christmas
tradition, a chubby coal
merchant, good-natured
and kind, who goes
down the mountains to
the cities and villages on
Christmas Eve and brings
the children presents
and sweets.
“Tió
de
Nadal”
(“Christmas Log”) is a
Catalonian mythological
character also known
as “Tió” or “Tronca” and
popularly called “Caga
Tió” (pooping or giving
log in English). In many
Catalan homes you can
find the “Tió” as a thirty
centimetres long hollow
log. In recent times some
accesories have been
c h e c k
lottery Christmas Eve has a family
feel and it is a time to be
spent at home. Dinner
is organized with care.
Dishes prepared depend
on each family and each
Spanish region. Let’s say
that in coastal areas one
or several of the dishes
consist of seafood: fish
and shellfish (cod, hake,
red bream, gilthead
bream, sea bass, crayfish,
different kinds of crabs,
scallop shell, lobster,
barnacles...) while in
the rest, dishes consist
mostly of meat: roasted
beef, capon, turkey, lamb,
suckling pig... Typical
drinks are wine, cider,
cava... and the typical
worldwide. Pupils of the Christmas desserts are
San Ildefonso School sweets like “turrón” (a
draw the numbers and kind of nougat candy),
corresponding prizes, “polvorones” (I heard it is
singing the results aloud similar to “shortbread” in
in front of the public in a New Zealand but cannot
really particular way of confirm it), “marzipan”
singing. December, 22th (marzipan), nuts and
is the last day of school dried fruit... After the
for children before the dinner, there was a time
festive season starts. in which many people
They will be back right were attending the
after the “Three Kings “Midnight Mass” or “Misa
del Gallo” in Spanish.
Day”, on 6th January.
On the 24th December, This tradition has been
Christmas Eve, families forgotten little by little
have dinner together and less people attend
to celebrate the birth of this mass nowadays.
Jesus (which will take On the contrary to
place in a few hours). many countries in the
i t ?
“Aguinaldo”
(Christmas box)
Besides the children
asking for “aguinaldo”
while singing carols, it is
also called “aguinaldo”
a bonus or special
payment
received
by workers (Year End
Bonus). To some other
workers, people give
“aguinaldo” when they
Navidad”
and it is
the most
popular
draw in the
whole year.
The first ever
Christmas
Lottery draw
took place in
1812
and it is
consider
organized every
they did a good
day
22nd December
job all year-round. It
when the
ever
since. The
can be monetary or
kick-off of Christmas name “Sorteo de
in kind. Some workers
takes place in Spain Navidad” was used for
who receive it are
that is the Christmas the first time in 1892,
postmen, caretakers...
Lottery
on
22nd though. As measured
Despite the festive
December! In Spanish by the total prize
atmosphere
might
it is called “Sorteo de payout, the Christmas
be felt much earlier, if
Navidad” or “Lotería de Lottery is considered
one has to choose a
biggest
l i k e
the
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the second ones might get
coal (nowadays it is candy
coal) so they know that the
Three Kings are not joking
when it comes to reward (or
not) them! On January, 5th
around 18:00h the Cavalcade
of Magi starts in all Spanish
cities, so the children can
go and see the Three Kings,
who later in the night will
be carrying presents to
With the arrival of the New
Year, all Spaniards know that
there is only one celebration
(especially dedicated to
children) left: “Día de Reyes”
or “Three Kings Day”. Before
January, 5th comes, children
have to write a letter to the
Three Kings, also known
as the “Three Wise Men”
or “The Magi”. In this letter
they have to write about
6th. On “Día de Reyes” it is
typical to eat “Roscón de
Reyes” (Three Kings Bread)
for breakfast and even
after lunch. The Roscón is a
mixture bread roll, decorated
with glaced fruits (which
symbolize the rubies and the
emeralds of the Three Kings
robes) and sugar on top.
Within the dough there are
two small trinkets hidden: a
bean and a figurine. The one
who finds the figurine will
have good luck all the year
long, while the one who finds
the bean will have to pay the
“roscón”.
“Día de Reyes” is the last
celebration of the Christmas
Season in Spain. Children
usually don’t come back to
school until January, 8th as
the day after “Three Kings
Day” is always a holiday for
them (guess to play as
much as possible!). Once
“Día de Reyes” is over
it appears the feeling
that the festive season is
gone until the next year.
In the following days all
decorations, the Christmas
Tree, the Nativity Scene...
will be removed in all
houses until nearly one
year later when the next
Christmas season comes
and the same traditions
and customs will be
present in the lives of
Spaniards one more year!
a t
fried in
olive oil
and often dusted with
sugar).
New Year’s is a peaceful
daywherethereisafamily
lunch and a long afterlunch conversation, too,
although some people
will be sleeping for a
long time after partying
the whole night. Every
their homes. While riding
on the streets, the Magi
throw sweet and candy to
all the children who crow
together to see them.
When the night comes,
children have to go to bed
early, so the Three Kings
can visit them. In fact, the
Magi will only visit when
they know that children are
sleeping, this is why they are
never seen while delivering
presents! It is a magical
and special night during
which many children are
so nervous and excited
that sleeping is difficult
for them! Before going to
bed, some people have
the following traditions:
some leave their cleaned
shoes next to a window or
under the Christmas Tree so
the Magi know how many
children live in that house.
Other people also leave
food for the Magi: milk and
biscuits or some Christmas
sweets as well as water for
the camels! On the morning
of January, 6th children get
up really excited and run to
the Christmas Tree to see if
the Three Kings left them
some presents. It is a thrilling
morning for the little ones
who are very happy because
they got wonderful toys and
gifts from the Three Kings!
Also adults exchange gifts
on the morning of January,
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their behaviour during the
last year and which toys
they would like to receive
as a present. The Three
Wise Men know very well
which children are good
and those who aren’t that
much... so the first ones
will surely get presents but
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January, 1st you can watch
the New Year’s Concerto
from vienna and the New
Year’s Ski Jump in GarmischPartenkirchen broadcasted
in TV, characteristical features
of the first day of the year for
many people all around the
world.
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to the tradition. The
twelve grapes are
related to the famous
“Puerta del Sol Tower
Clock” in Madrid, where
the goodbye to the old
year and the welcome
to the new one is always
broadcasted on TV.
Already in the New Year,
people go out to party
until the early hours of
the morning. Just before
coming back home, it is
typical to have breakfast:
“chocolate con churros”
(thick hot drinking
chocolate with a thin
cylinder of dough, deep-
c h e c k
tricks are played on this
day on friends and
family. Also the media
plays tricks, jokes and
absurd news which,
sometimes, it is not
so easy to realize!
On the 31st December
family have dinner
together to celebrate
the New Year’s Eve
(again dishes are
some of the explained
above). The special
tradition taking place
in Spain is that when
the clock strikes the
midnight, one grape
for each ring of the bell
has to be eaten. If you
are able to eat all the
grapes, it guarantees
a new year full of
prosperity, according
i t ?
with the leftovers of
Christmas Day.
Spain has its particular
“April
Fool’s”
on
December, 28th, called
“Día de los Inocentes”
(Innocent Saints). It has
its origin in the massacre
of children that King
Herodes committed in
Judea to avoid the loss
of his throne to the
new-born Jesus Child.
Nowadays, pranks and
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down the mountains
to cities, towns and
villages to touch the
children’s belly and
check if they have
eaten well during the
last year. He gives to
the children a lot of
chestnuts, some gifts,
and wishes for a new
year full of happiness
and food.
On
the
25th
December, Christmas
Day, families gather
together to have
lunch. Typical dishes
are among the ones
I named above, as
well as for drinks and
desserts. Usually there
is a long after-lunch
conversation
while
children enjoy their gifts
and sweets. Otherwise it
is a calm day to be spent
with the family.
The 26th December is
festiveinmanycountries,
but not in Spain,
except for one region:
Catalonia. Catalonia’s
“Boxing Day” is called
“Sant Esteve” (Saint
Stephen). Catalonians
spend this day with
the other relatives they
could not have lunch
with at Christmas Day
or relaxing. The typical
food eaten on this day
are canneloni, made
66
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Christmas eve and day
CHRISTMAS
Deirdre in the Netherlands
Most people have family dinners on 25th, and
26th family dinners, too, or just a lazy day. The
24th is nothing, people have to work. The 25th
and 26th we have the day off work.
Mirjan in the Netherlands: I have to work until
69
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PenPalling and Letters is a blog dedicated
to correspondence.
You can find many interesting articles
there together with polls, so feel free to
voice out your opinion.
There is also a section with interesting
links that you can follow and learn
more about the wonderful hobby of
penpalling!
a t
Teresa in Czech
Republic
Hi all from Prague, Czech
Republic! Over here we
typically gather with the
family for a dinner on
24th. We eat a fish soup
(carp fish) followed by a
fish (the same carp :)) and
potatoe salad. Then go
to the Xmas tree (which
Find PenPalling & Letters on Facebook:
http://on.fb.me/penpallingandletters
n e w s
Penpalling & Letters,
many people wanted
to tell how they are
celebrating this time of
the year, and I decided
to put all words together
here.
Renpalling & Letters:
www.penpallingandletters.blogspot.com
l a t e s t
68
first letter of Christ, and
it, or the similar Roman
letter X, have been used
as an abbreviation for
Christ since the mid16th century. Hence,
“Xmas” is sometimes
used as an abbreviation
for Christmas.
Christmas are celebrated
in many lands all
over the world, and
the celebrations and
traditions which take
place are different from
one place to another
despite its original
meaning.
Through
our Facebook group:
t h e
start to be sung, cards
are exchanged and
As many of you know, Nativity scenes are set
Christmas is a holiday up in houses, churches,
or
festival
which institutional buildings...
commemorates the birth The word Christmas
as
a
of Jesus. Preparations originated
meaning
start several days in compound
advance, and the special “Christ’s Mass”. It is
environment you can derived from the Middle
feel in the air might English: “Christemasse”
start several weeks in and Old English: “Cristes
advance, too! In late mæsse”, a phrase first
in
1038.
November streets and recorded
houses get decorated, “Cristes” is from Greek
Christmas trees are also “Christos” and “mæsse”
decorated with lights, is from Latin “missa” (the
garland, tinsel, different holy mass). In Greek,
ornaments...
carols the letter Χ (chi), is the
c h e c k
by Penpalling & letters
Erika in Mexico
Here, in Mexico, we have a family dinner on
December, 24th. The time depends of every
person as for my family we have lunch with all
my relatives (around fifty people... hehe! I have
a BIG family!) around 3pm; and at night, a small
dinner with my parents. Traditional dishes? In
my family we will have: “Cod fish with olives and
potatoes” (“Bacalao a la Vizcaína”), “Rosemary
with some mole” (“mole” is a Mexican dish,
which is a mix of about thirty ingredients
and spices: chili, cinnamon, chocolate, bread,
pepper, onion... etc.), sweet apple salad, some
fruity salad, too, and turkey.
i t ?
Angie in Germany
Here we give out presents already on Christmas
Eve, in the evening, after having a dinner
together. We do sing carols, pray in front of the
tree and afterwards we do hand out presents to
each other. Typical food for this day is fish, but
since we don’t like fish that much in our family
we usually make something different. I chose
“Cordon bleu” this year. On Christmas Day we
usually do gather around and often do have
goose with dumplings for food. And on Boxing
day we usually don’t do much so we do play
games and such things. :)
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is, meanwhile, lit up and the presents are already
placed underneath) and unwrap the presents,
talk, watch Xmas movies, eat small snacks and
sometimes people go to the midnight mass at
the church... not so much for religious reasons,
more as a tradition. :) 25th is a relatively calm
day and if you have a bigger family (aunts, etc.)
you visit them then for more gifts and food. :)
Merry Xmas to everyone!
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Marie in Florida,
USA
We eat sausage on
Christmas Eve and on
Christmas Day, we eat
antipasto, lasagna and
cannolis.
on
every
Spanish
region. Here, in Galicia,
northwestern Spain, the
most traditional meal is
cod with cauliflower and
boiled potatoes as well
as shellfish (crayfish,
Shiloh in Hawaii, USA
different kinds of crabs,
My Christmas celebration Snjezana in Bosnia- scallop shell, lobster,
starts on the 24th of Herzegovina
barnacles...). However,
December. When I was We celebrate Christmas some people prepare
living with my foster- on the 7th January - for roasted beef, capon,
family we celebrated Orthodox people - We turkey, lamb, suckling
Christmas on Christmas roast a pig on a stick pig, hake or octopus...
Eve. My foster family did above the fire and we On Christmas Day we
that so we could spend cook wheat with nuts have a family lunch, and
Christmas with our and sugar. We also eat some of the dishes you
own families. I still carry baked mash beans, can eat are among the
that tradition today. On sarma (sauerkrat leaves ones I named before.
Christmas Eve, we go filled with rice and After
dinner/lunch
to my in-law, or other meat, or wine leaves), typical Christmas sweets
family houses, but on Greek baklava and we are eaten like “turrón” (a
Christmas Day we spend drink red wine, say our kind of nougat candy
it at home for some prayers and spend time typical in Spain in
great quality time.
with family and relatives Xmas),
“polvorones”
on the 1st day. There are (I heard it is similar to
Aga in PolanD
sweets for children in “shortbread” in New
Christmas in Poland in hay under the table or Zealand), “marzipan”,
some points probably in the villages they go “pasteles yema/gloria”...
looks like in other outside to haunt the On the contrary to most
countries, in others it treasure that adults hid countries in the world,
differs. We decorate around...
we don’t exchange
Christmas tree, buy
gifts on Christmas Eve
gifts… *cough*… Santa Beatriz in Spain
or Christmas Day, but
brings gifts and we On the 24th December on the 6th January, the
fest on Christmas Eve we are preparing for Epiphany or the “Three
together with the whole a family dinner in the Kings Day”. However, in
family. But of course, we evening. Before, we the latest years, Santa is
can’t start eating before already have ready more present than ever,
the first star shines! And Christmas ornaments, and still many children
even before we sit by the Christmas tree and get something “little”
the table, we share an the Nativity scene and either on the 24th or
“opłatek” between us, might sing/listen to the 25th. ¡Feliz Navidad
wishing each person all Christmas carols. The a todos!
the best in the coming typical dishes depend
t h e
70
Laurie in Illinois,
USA
Christmas Eve we go
up to my family in Lake
Geneva, Wisconsin. Then,
Christmas morning we
open our gifts to one
another and the day
we go to a sister in law’s
home. We usually have
a ham, different salads,
shrimp, cheese and
crackers...
year... Go on reading
more about Christmas in
Poland by visiting Aga’s
Blog: “Got that Swing”
where she explains
about
Christmas
Traditions in Poland.
c h e c k
Mitzi in Arkansas,
USA
When I was younger
we would open one
present on Christmas
Eve and then wait til
Christmas Day to open
the rest... but with all
the hype of PRESENTS
my family opens them
all at Christmas eve,
Samantha in
California, USA
At Christmas Eve we all
get to open the smallest
present before bed and
drink hot chocolate. We
also watch Christmas
movies and wake up the
next morning and open
presents together. Right
now my 6 year old and
4 year old are making
Christmas ornaments
out of paper for our tree.
It is so cute!
Patti in Washington,
USA
We prepare white nut
fudge (divinity) each
year. Hard to make but
worth it!
i t ?
Heather in
Massachusetts,
USA
I usually end up
wrapping all my gifts
on the 24th. At night I
go to a family member’s
house and hang out.
Typical Christmas dish
here (all depends on
the person): usually
ham, lamb or roast beef
is served for Christmas.
People here tend to eat
at around 1pm or 2pm.
Then, have desserts
about
4ish.
Then,
open gifts and all that
happy Christmas stuff.
My father’s side of the
family have a cake for
Jesus, so they have cake
along with everything
else. Then, if you are
hungry later there are a
bunch of leftovers.
although I would rather
open them in the aim
of Christmas day, enjoy
the day with family and
friends and have a feast
that day.
l i k e
2 pm... Xmas eve some
people are going to
the church. We are
celebrating Xmas on
December, 25th and
26th. Our typical dish is
turkey, beef.
71
PenPal and Letters GIVE AWAY
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The non-profit organization Bear for an Angel was set up by
Michelle Dayson, mother of two angel babies lost to miscarriage.
She wants everyone to have a nice memory of their babies, sadly
gone too soon.
Contact us:
Check our website www.bearforanangel.weebly.com
You can find us also on our Facebook page:
http://on.fb.me/bearforangel
Our email address: [email protected]
w w w .
prize are the same to
everyone.
Taking part in this first
anniversary giveaway is
very easy! Everybody is
welcome to enter and if
you feel like it, tell your
pals and friends as well.
It is a good chance to get
some cute papers from
P&L! Deadline will be the
1st February, 2011. I will
announce the winner a
few days later. Good luck
to all participants and let
me use this first post of
2011 to wish everyone a
wonderful New Year!!!
a t
Penpalling & Letters?
- What do you like
most in Penpalling &
Letters?
Please, notice that
if you would like to
participate in this
contest, your reply
has to be written
here, in this same post
(under
comments).
Comments in Facebook
or any other place
around Internet won’t
be taken into account.
Also, only one entry
per person is allowed,
so chances to get the
Hi there!
This is the non-profit organization Bear for an Angel!
We fund personalized teddy bears for families who have had a
miscarriage, still birth, neonatal death or cot death, we rely on
fund raising & donations to do this.
We also sell memorial items including, birth scrolls, bracelets &
lots more. Bear for an Angel can also do personalized memorial
bears for funeral’s or any other loss available to purchase.
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72
find you anywhere,
I am very sorry but
cannot take you in. I
don’t think I am asking
too much. I simply
don’t want to send a
prize to a “ghost”. And
this is what you have
to do to participate:
1. Leave a comment
in this post and
tell me (remember
to leave a way to
contact you):
- How did you discover
Penpalling & Letters?
- What keeps you
coming
back
to
li ta ?t ec shte cn ke wt sh ea tl a t e s t
How to enter this
giveaway?
It is very easy! Just
go on reading... The
only imposition on
my side is that any
“anonymous” won’t be
taken into account. If
possible “I would like to
know you”. How? Just
sign with a Blogger,
Twitter,
Facebook...
profile. Or at least,
leave your name
and tell me you are
in Facebook, Twitter,
any social network,
website... If I cannot
k ee
c h e c k l ti h
l a t e s t
all the encouraging messages
received in the last year, and
to many lovely people I had
the chance to meet through
P&L!
And just to celebrate
Penpalling & Letters first
anniversary I am giving away
up to 500 grams of stationery
(in the pic you can see some of
it) to a lucky P&L reader!
i t ?
interested in letter-writing...);
however, I am still surprised
that P&L got visits from some
unexpected places as Guam,
Kiribati, Maldives, Mauritius,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines...
All places and all readers
mean the same to me, even
if I might get more surprised
to receive a visit from Bolivia
rather than one from
the USA. Why? I guess
this is a story for a future
post... But coming back
to the heart of this post,
I just want to thank all
the readers that visited,
whenever you kept
visiting once and again
or you just passed by, to
l i k e
Penpalling & Letters
is one year-old!
Giveaway!
It is exactly one year today
that I decided to start this Blog
about penpalling. Penpalling
& Letters is my first incursion
in the Blogger-world and,
after 365 days, the experience
is highly positive! I could
not imagine that a year later
Penpalling & Letters would
have received so many visits
from so many different places
all over the world! Even if I
always think that you cannot
take anything for granted,
you expect visits from certain
countries (large countries
with a large population, lands
where there are many people
bear for angel
73
73
NEw Year’s EVE and DAY
by Penpalling & Letters
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Find PenPalling & Letters on Facebook:
74http://on.fb.me/penpallingandletters
PenPalling and Letters is a blog dedicated to correspondence.
You can find many interesting articles there together with polls, so feel free to voice
out your opinion.
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There is also a section with interesting links that you can follow and learn more
75
about the wonderful hobby of penpalling!
t h e
Renpalling & Letters:
www.penpallingandletters.blogspot.com
c h e c k
Angie in Germany
Here, in Germany (although
the many drunk drivers. We
just have a quiet evening at
home.
i t ?
Deirdre in the
Netherlands
On the 31st most people
work but if you have a
nice boss you’ll quit work
early in the afternoon.
In the afternoon we
make “oliebollen” and
“appelbeignets” and eat
them! :) In the evening we
watch TV (loads of standup
comedians and special
NewYear’s Eve programs on
TV) and wait till it’s almost
00:00. Then, we toast with
champagne and run out
to light fireworks and chat
with the neighbors.
At home safe and warm Netherlands
with my daughter! Boy, am I will go to my sister-inI getting old! LOL!
law and have dinner with
her and her son while my
Erika in Mexico
Mary in Illinois, USA
Teresa in Czech
boyfriend has to work till
Here, in Mexico, it’s maybe We eat ham, beans, corn Republic
23:00. :( After dinner we
a bit different than in other bread, fried potatoes, This year, me and my will go to a party of my
countries since New Year cabbage... Me and my husband will go to our boyfriends’uncle where a
is similar to Christmas. We hubby are going to watch friends’ place and celebrate lot of other family members
have lunch with family and the“Ball drop”at home.
- a bunch of people at a are coming, too. :D And
by night, in many clubs and
home-party. Nothing too as for New Year’s Day I just
bars, there are parties to say Louise in Australia
wild. :) We will also watch don’t know.
HELLO to the New Year. As My hubby is working at New fireworks at midnight over
for my family, we have lunch Year’s Eve so I will be home Prague!
Aya in Japan:
and by night we just have a alone. :(
I celebrate it by eating
small dinner and watch TV
Kris in Michigan, USA
noodles on New Year’s Eve
while we wait for midnight Karen in UK
At home relaxing!
to wish for a long lasting
to make our twelve wishes I was going to go to a party
healthy New Year (it’s a
by having twelve grapes but we are all ill, so we are
Heather in Arizona,
Japanese tradition) and
:) This year I’m planning going to stay in. Usually,
USA
spend the New Year’s Day
to make some Asian style people celebrate here
Drunk at a house party with with my family. :)
noodles for New Year’s eve partying and really drinking my boyfriend and other
:) hehe I think New Year’s too much!
friends! :)
Darja in Germany/
dinner is more casual and
from Russia:
there are not very specific Ami in Thailand
Misae in Japan
It seems that in Germany
meals, but the MUST have I usually celebrate it in the About New Year’s Eve... In people like to spend New
are the GRAPES :) and some “Gurudwara” (Sikh Temple). Japan we are pounding Year’s Eve quietly at home
apple cider for the toast.
This year I’m travelling to steamed rice into the dough or go out to a big and
Mae Sot (a town in western used for rice cakes (haha!). loud party, but the most
Kristi in Washington, Thailand that shares a It’s a traditional custom... It important thing is that
USA
border with Myanmar to sounds funny, right!? Have a around 12:00 pm people will
Here in Seattle there are the west).
good New Year everyone!
go out and make fireworks!
many celebrations. There
Russians also got to love
is a very large one at the Thanaphon
Ramona in the
this activity... Go on reading
“Space Needle” where they Bamrungkarn in
Netherlands
more about it by visiting
have traditional New Year’s Thailand
We spend it at home... Some Darja’s Blog:“Starshine whirls
Eve fireworks. Thousands of I will be watching the food on the table and blow make my head spin”(http://
people gather to watch the fireworks in the sky!
some fireworks in the air!
puchipfote.blogspot.com/)
fireworks. In my family we
where she explains about
stay off the streets due to Lisa in Florida, USA
Anita in the
New Year’s Traditions.
fun. :)Well, this was a brief
overview about how we
celebrate here.
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January the 1st represents
the fresh start of a New Year.
This day was, traditionally,
a religious feast, but since
the 1900s has become an
occasion to celebrate the
night of December 31,
called New Year’s Eve. There
are fireworks at midnight at
the moment the New Year
arrives in many countries
of the world, but there are
some other traditions. Let’s
see how some people are
celebrating the arrival of
the New Year:
I can talk only for my family,
of course), we do celebrate
usually with family or
friends. Usually we prepare
“Fondue or Raclette” for
food, but this year I do
something which doesn’t
need so much time to get
prepared at all. ;) We do
play games until midnight
arrives and when it is 00:00
we are going to wish each
other a Happy New Year.
Most people do drink
champagne and also we
do watch the firework we
bought some days before.
Usually, after being stiff
and frozen we eat “Goulash
soup” and do lead pouring
afterwards, to see what the
New Year brings. :) “Lead
pouring” (das Bleigießen)
is an old practice using
molten lead like tea leaves.
A small amount of lead is
melted in a tablespoon (by
holding a flame under the
spoon) and then poured
into a bowl or bucket of
water. The resulting pattern
is interpreted to predict the
coming year. For instance,
if the lead forms a ball (der
Ball), that means luck will
roll your way. The shape
of an anchor (der Anker)
means help in need. There
are of course even more
meanings. It is a lot of
NEw Year’s DAY
By Gregory Lentz
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many use both calendars,
one as a “civic” or peoples
calendar for use of th
general public, and
Gregorian and Julian the other as a more
calendars:
Gregorian formal chronicle for the
or Western or Christian observation of important
Calendar
has
been days of worship.
adopted
by
most
countries, but not all In the Eastern Orthodox
nations and cultures Church the civil, or
use the same calendar “peoples” holiday of
system. It was introduced the New Year is on the
by Pope Gregory XIII Gregorian calendar of
for whom it is named. January 14th, while a more
The
Gregorian
was religous celebration of the
adopted because of an New Year is celebrated
accumulated difference on the 1st of January.
in the seasons, by which Orthodox churches and
many Roman Catholic their
congregations
observations or holidays that still use the Julian
(Holy Days) were not Calendar include Georgia,
being met consistantly in Jerusalem,
Russia,
the older Julian/Roman Macedonia, Serbia, and
calendars. There was a the Ukraine.
time when Christianity
was faltering, splintering, One of the great joys
and
many
peoples I have with swapping
were reverting back to postcards is to learn
their pagan beliefs. The about different cultures,
Church wanted to save not just different places.
Christianity and bring I like to try and honor
back people to the faith, differing holidays with
many facets of these those I know in diferent
different beliefs were parts if the world, though
very similar and falling on I might not follow their
similar times of the year, belief and ways of life, I
so the revision of the respect them and like to
calendar was very much share with them all that
about belief and not just a I may, even if only in a
uniformed chronicling of small way. Here are a few
time.The Julian Calendar international new years
before todays Gregorian observations I have come
is still used by a number to know this past year:
of nations and peoples
who are predominantly Tamil Nadu lies in the
of the Orthodox Church, southernmost part of the
i t ?
Across the world the New
Year may be celebrated at
different times in the year,
as we do not all follow
the same method for the
I like many of the Western calendar of months and
world observe the New days. The “calendar” for
YearstartingonDecember many of us is just a way
31st, New Years Eve, and of organizing the months
celebrate the coming of a and day of our year, but
new year with the striking it began as a way to set
of midnight and the start out the observations of
of January 1st, the very the seasons as agriculture
first Day of the New Year. was once the most
It is pretty common for important means of
families to come together commerce in the “old
for a meal and a late world” compared to the
evening of drinks to international markets of
reflect on the past year business today, as well as
and be together for the a means for laying out the
1st of the year. For many observations of Holidays
years here in the States for religious purposes. I
the holiday is met n most will explain a little bit of
that, as well as some of
the differing and similar
ways of celebration...
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It is a brand new New
Year! Maybe the last
according to the Mayan
Calendar, as the world
“might” end in 2012! But
“end” is relative, I hope! I
make this reference not
because I am a believer
of such superstition,
but because I have
come to know that the
celebration of a new year
from the old is observed
in many different ways
and has been carried
on throughout the ages
and at different times in
the year. Being a person
with an interest in world
cultures, I have this past
year come to know of
some of these different
days and origins through
correspondences
in
my world of postcard
swapping.
towns and cities with
fireworks and parties.
My personal favorite is
the huge and glorious
fireworks displays at
midnight! Many people
meet the New Year with
Resolutions for change
in their lives, change
for the better such as
dieting, quitting bad
habits, starting a new
hobby or adopting better
principals. Though the
world is vast with differing
political,
theological
and cultural beliefs, the
coming of the New Year
across the world has a
common element of
reflecting on the past for
hopes and dedication for
a better new year.
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Because of the division
of the world into time
zones, the new year
moves
progressively
around the globe as the
start of the day ushers
in the New Year. The first
time zone to usher in the
New Year is just west of
the International Date
Line. At that time the
time zone to the east
of the Date Line is 23
hours behind, still in the
previous day. So all over
the world come the stroke
of midnight the New
Year is met “all day”, and
according to nationality
and custom, or religous
belief, it is celebrated
on many different days
throughout the year, but
with a commonality of
reflection and hopes for
a better year.
l a t e s t
The Twelve Grapes: Las
doce uvas de la suerte,
“the Twelve Grapes of
Luck”is a Spanish tradition
Rosh Hashanah, Hebrew since 1909 created by
for “head of the year” is a vineyard owners to better
Jewish “new year” holiday sell huge amounts of
commemorating
the grapes from an exellent
culmination of the seven harvest. One eats a grape
days of Creation, and with each of the 12 bell
marking God’s renewal strikes at midnight on
and the reflection of the the 31st f December
world he created.
for hopes of prosperity.
It wa sstarted with the
Nowruz or New Day is the bell tower of Puerta
traditional celebration del Sol and is shared
of the ancient Iranian across the world in the
New Year, from the time Hispanic communities
of Great Persia, and has of the Americas and
spread to be observed even adopted in the
in other parts of the Philippines.
world, principally in
Afghanistan,
Albania, January 1st as the most
Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, common and generally
Azerbaijan,
Georgia, accepted 1st day of the
Kurdistan, Turkmenistan, year has taken hundreds
Kosovo, Kyrgystan, and of years to be adopted
parts of Central, South all over the world. Venice
Asia, and Northwestern adopted and accepted
China. It marks the first January 1st, the first day
day of spring, which of the new year in 1522,
is the first day of the Sweden in 1529, the Holy
Iranian Calendar. The Roman Empire (including
UN General Assembly of Germany) in 1544, Spain,
2010 recognizes Nowruz Portugal, Poland in
as the Intrnational Day 1556, Prussia, Denmark,
of Nowruz, and UNESCO Norway in 1559, Scotland
(the United Nations in 1600 the British Empire
Educational,Scientificand in 1752, and Thailand in
1941!
1st of March was the first
day of the “numbered
years” in the Republic
of Venice until it’s
destruction in 1797.
September 1st was used
by Russia from 1492
until the adoption of the
Christian Era in 1700 by
Tsar Peter I. Autumnal
equinox day (commonly
September 22nd) was
“New Years Day” in the
French
Republican
Calendar used from 1793
to 1805.
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Some neo-pagans still
celebrate
Samhain,
November 1st, as a New
Year observation of the
new cycle in their Wheel
of the Year. Those of
Wiccan worship from
the Celtic cultures of
ancient Europe observe
Samhain, and Wicca has
increasingly grown in
popularity here in the
States in recent years.
Cultural Organization)
was officialy registered
within the List of the
Intangible
Cultural
Heritage of Humanity.
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The Vietnamese New
Year is the Tet Nguyen
Dan which is for the
most part the same day
as the Chinese New Year.
More commonly known
as Tet, the celebration is
of the start of Spring,
which is a very common
start of the “new year” in
many cultures, as spring
brings life and the end
of winter. Celebrating
The Balinese New Year,
based on the Saka
Calendar is called Nyepi,
and falls on Bali’s Lunar
New Year of March 26th,
it is a day of silence,
fasting, and meditation;
it’s observed from 6am
to to 6am the following
morning.
The Islamic New Year
occurs on the 1st of
Muharram, their calendar
is based on 12 lunar
months, the New Year
ocurs about eleven
days earlier each year in
relation the Gregorian
Calendar.
i t ?
The Chinese New Year,
also known as the
Lunar New Year, occurs
every year on the “new
moon” of the first lunar
month, about four to
eight weeks before
Spring. The
exact
date can fall anytime
between January 21st
and February 21st.
Traditionally,
years
were marked by one
of the twelve Earthly
Branches, represented
by an animal, and one
of ten Heavenly Stems,
which correspond to
the “five elements”. This
combination
cycles
every 60 years and it is a
very important Chinese
celebration for the year.
for Tet is met with
special dishes of food
and cleaning the house
(here in America we have
“spring cleaning” not an
observed day but part of
our pop-culture). There
are varying customs in
the celebration of Tet like
visiting a persons house
on the first day of the new
year, ancestral worship,
wishing of greetings luck,
money tochildren and
elderly to start the seds
of hopeful prosperity,
and opening a business
is thought very lucky and
fruitful upon the first day
of the new year.
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Indian Peninsula and
the region has been
the home of the Tamil
people since at least 500
BC, and they celebrate
the start of the new year
on the 14th of January.
DIA DE ReYES, THree Kings’ Day
by Erika Millares, [email protected]
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Hi from Mexico! I think winter holidays are
the most popular among people, and usually
after Christmas, it seems that holiday’s season
is over. But in some countries, just like Mexico
for example, we have other celebrations - we
have the “Día de Reyes” or in English “The
Three Kings day”. This celebration started in
Spain and from there it got extended to Latin
America during the Spanish colonization.
The origin of this tradition comes from the
Bible. According to the New Testament, The
Magi or Three Kings (they can be also known
as the Three wise men): Melchior, Gaspar
and Balthazar, were a group of kings who
came from the East, following the star of
Bethlehem to bring gifts to Jesus after his
birth.
Día de Reyes is celebrated every year in
countries like Mexico, Spain and all Latin
America, on January 6th and this is the day
when children receive some toys, gifts, sweets
and treats coming from the Three Kings.
Everything starts on January 5th, when
children in Mexico write a letter to the Three
Kings asking for some toys or some goodies,
and they attach the small letter with a string
to a nice and colorful balloon filled up with
helium. By the afternoon, children let the
balloons fly up to the sky, so the Kings will
catch them and know what presents the kids
want to get the next day. If they have been
good children during the year, they will find
their presents on January 6th morning under
the Christmas tree.
If kids couldn’t fly a balloon, it’s also common
that they put their shoes by the window
before they go to sleep. On the following
morning they will find their presents inside
their shoes or if the presents are bigger
than the shoes, they will be placed next to
them.
On January 6th, we eat “Rosca de Reyes”
–“Three Kings Bread” in English- which is a
ring shaped bread, made out of egg bread,
decorated with dry fruits and sprinkled with
sugar on top, and inside there are 2 or 3
small plastic dolls that represent baby Jesus.
We serve some hot chocolate and a slice of
this bread around 6pm in our “Merienda”
which is something similar to Tea time. The
fun starts here, since everyone has to cut
by himself/herself a slice of this ring. The
ones who find a doll inside the slice of bread
will be the Godparents of baby Jesus for Día
de la Candelaria (Day of the Purification) on
February 2nd, and they will have to make
some tamales for everybody as well (Tamales
are corn bread filled with chicken or pork in
a sauce or they can be sweet, with raisins or
pineapple pieces, wrapped in corn husks).
So, as you can see, here in Mexico holiday
season is bit more longer, that’s why is
common to see the Christmas tree still up
in the living or dining room by mid January
or even the first week of February.
I truly believe that no matter what country
we are from, we should keep our traditions
and don’t let them to be forgotten through
the years. They are part of who we are and
what makes the world even richer when it
comes to culture and traditions.
81
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each year is magical. The
children don’t sleep a
wink in the whole night
because they are very
excited and adults feel
the special atmosphere
because of the children’s
thrill!
In some homes there
are some traditions
previously to the visit of
the Three Kings. Children
leave their cleaned shoes
in a visible place (usually
next to the Christmas tree
or next to the windows)
so the Magi can leave
them the gifts. Some
food is prepared for the
l a t e s t
also
can
b e
seen in the parade. When
the parade finishes,
the Magi speak to all
the children and their
parents. Those children
who
behaved
well
during the last year will
get presents, while those
who behaved badly are
in risk to received coal
(candy!) so they learn the
lesson for the next year!
When the night comes,
children have to go to
bed very early, otherwise,
the Magi won’t visit
them! The night from the
5th to the 6th of January
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to gift to each child.
They are getting old
year after year but they
know very well which
presents
correspond
to every child! In the
evening of January, 5th
the Cavalcade of Magi
takes place in every
Spanish city. The Magi
ride through the streets
and together with their
pages throw sweets and
candy to all the children
who are attending.
In the Cavalcade the
most wonderful coaches
and creatures can be
seen. The Magi are
accompanied always by
their three camels, which
her mouth something a
little bit hard,
in the worst case it is
the bean, in the best
one the figure.
If you have found the
bean you will have to
pay this cake,
but if you have found
the figure, you will be
crowned and king.”
Just as Erika described
above
for
Mexico,
the holiday season is
also longer in Spain.
Spaniards don’t feel that
the Christmas period is
over until January, 7th
when getting up in the
morning. This is when we
realize that the holidays
are gone and the daily
routine is here again. In
the last hours of January,
6th it is time to say
goodbye to Christmas,
remove the Christmas
tree, the nativity scene
and all the decorations
and wait all the year
long until the next one
comes!
If you would like to read
more interesting stories
don’t forget to check the
links you can find at the
following post:
Travelling around the
World sharing Cultural
Heritage, Folklore and
Background and at
Sandbook.Net
Penpal
and Swappers Site and
the Sandbook Magazine.
Let’s meet again soon!
¡”Feliz Día de Reyes”!
c h e c k
Taking advantage of
Erika’s great article, I
would like to add a few
lines to tell how “Día de
Reyes” is celebrated in
Spain as well.
As Erika tells, the core
of this festivity in all the
countries in which this
special day takes place
is to celebrate the arrival
of the Magi, the Three
Wise Men or the Three
Kings to Bethlehem in
order to adore the Jesus
Child and offer him their
gifts: gold, frankincense
and myrrh. However,
customs, traditions and
celebrations vary from
one place to another.
Surely people from
other countries where
the “Three Kings Day” is
celebrated could tell, but
let me explain how this
journey is lived in Spain.
Right after the New Year’s
all children get really
excited. Why? Because
they know that the Three
Wise Men will be visiting
them very soon and they
will receive the presents
they have dreamt of
the last months! Before
the arrival of the Three
Magi, the children have
to write them a letter
so the Magi know what
there are two small
trinkets: a bean and a
little figure. The person
who finds the figure
it is said to have good
luck throughout the
year, while the one who
finds the bean will have
to pay for the “roscón”.
The tradition says the
following (it is written as
a rhyme in Spanish):
“He aquí el roscón de
Reyes, tradición de un
gran banquete
en el cual hay dos
sorpresas para los que
tengan suerte.
En él hay, muy bien
ocultas, un haba y una
figura;
el que lo vaya a cortar
hágalo sin travesura.
Quien en la boca se
encuentre una cosa un
tanto dura,
a lo peor es el haba o a
lo mejor la figura.
Si es el haba lo
encontrado este postre
pagarás,
mas si ello es la figura,
coronado y rey serás”.
Translated to English:
“Here it is the Three
Kings Bread, tradition
of a great feast
in which there are two
surprises for those who
are lucky.
There are, very well
hidden, a bean and a
figure;
the one who is going
to cut it do it without
mischief.
The one who finds in his/
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by Penpalling & Letters
Magi,
camels
and pages, too.
The night is
long and surely
they need to get
their
strength
back with so
many visits in
one night! The
Three Kings only
leave the gifts
when they know
the children are
sleeping.
On January, 6th,
very early in the
morning, children
get up and run
to the Christmas
tree. They are
very
excited
to see which
presents the Magi
gifted them! It is a
special morning
full of joy, laugh
and happiness.
They finally can
play and enjoy
the so awaited presents!
Usually, the Magi also
leave a little gift in the
houses of other relatives:
grandparents, uncles and
aunts... The children have
to hurry up and enjoy
their presents as the
school will start soon!
In Spain it is also eaten
the “Roscón de Reyes” or
the “Three Kings Bread”
or “Kings Cake”, mainly
for breakfast in the
morning of January, 6th.
It is baked and prepared
in the same way as it is in
Mexico. Inside the pastry
l i k e
THree Kings’ Day
a t
n e w s
l a t e s t
t h e
The cream:
We are going to mix the ingredients in a big bowl. First, we add the
can of evaporated milk, and just after that, we add the sweetened
condensed milk and the 2 whole eggs. With an electric mixer or a
beater, we are going to mix up these ingredients and when they’re
perfectly mixed, we will add the lime juice. We will keep mixing for
about 3- 5 minutes, until our cream will get thick.
The crust:
In a glass pie plate or any pastry mold we have at home, we will
spread some solid butter (just a thin layer) in all the surface, so it
will be easier to cut out our pie once we have finished it.
Once we have done this, we will melt the rest of butter, for that
we will use a pan. Butter melts really quickly, so keep an eye on
the pan since it takes less than a minute to be done.
We are going to put in a blender cup about 200 grams of cookies,
we should make sure that our cup is completely dry. We blend it
slowly, since it’s dry and it may get stuck at times. Don’t give
up, just make a stop, shake a little bit the blender cup,
and blend it again. When our cookies look like a thin
Procedure:
powder, they will be ready.
We will put the cream on the crust we
We will add the melted butter to our “cookies powder”
have done previously, and after this,
little by little, and we will mix it all perfectly.
we just have to decorate it, either with
Then, we will put this mixture in our glass pie plate,
a layer of cookies on top or with some
and with our hands or with a spoon we will try to make
cookies and lime slices.
it flat. This will be our crust.
We need to put the pie on the fridge
for about 2 hours or until it gets hard.
Enjoy!!
c h e c k
This section will view recipes send
by you, our readers. Soon we will be
able to cook some really ineresting
and very diverse dishes coming from
all the corners of the world.
a t
i t ?
Ingredients:
4 or 5 limes’ juices
1 can of evaporated milk
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
200grams of “Marias” cookies (those are
Mexican sugar cookies, but any other flat
sugar cookies will work well)
Butter (100 grams approximately)
2 eggs
Lime slices (optional)
REcipes
n e w s
l i k e
Mexican key lime pie
Approximately 8 slices
by Erika Millares
l a t e s t
I think we have a ghost
in my house. Just some
things seem to fall on
their own when no one
is near them. Just when
I thought I got rid of the
last one at our old place.
Crazy! I wonder if other
people believe in ghosts
or faeries or anything
like that.
For New Year’s Eve we
watched the fireworks
from our home. Very
pretty and too cold to
take the kids out. But,
they enjoyed it and we
colored for awhile and
then went to bed. Now,
school is back in session
and things are finally
getting back to normal.
Well, here is the end of
my article. As always
you can contact me
for anything. Hope
everyone is working
on some nice and fun
letters and receiving
some awesome mail.
xoxoxoxo,
Samantha Stroy
itsapenpalworld@gmail.
com
http://itsapenpalworld.
blogspot.com
t h e
spent Christmas with my
mom was a long time
ago. Since her being sick
for over 10 years, she just
gave up on the holidays
and just stayed in bed.
So, somehow this year I
convinced her to come
over and exchange
presents and have
dinner. Even though she
was here an hour and a
half, it was still very nice.
I also got to spend
Christmas with my
cousin, who has always
been in prison or locked
up since we were kids. In
20 years, he was finally
out and it was just a nice
get together.
A few days before we
went to my husband’s
grandma’s house. They
had a present exchange
game and a good
dinner. The kids got to
take pictures with Santa
and open presents. It
was very nice also. But,
sometimes I have to
remind myself all the
people I have in my life
that are still here and not
the ones who are gone. I
am very thankful for my
family.
c h e c k
84
I will find my inspiration
and creativity again and
start my writing. Since
moving into our new
place, I just haven’t found
my sweet spot. My old
house, it took I think 6
months and rearranging
the bedroom three
times before I found the
right writing area for me.
I don’t know if it is me or
other people too but I
have to feel comfortable
where I am writing, have
what I need beside me,
and the right lighting.
My
holidays
were
chaotic. As everyone’s
I’m sure. LOL(editor’s
note: laughing out
loud). It was nice to
have Christmas dinner
at our new place and we
had my mom, my step
dad, my cousin and his
girlfriend and son, and
of course my husband,
my kids, and me. It
was nice. The
last time
I
i t ?
Happy
New
Year,
everybody!
New Year comes with new
beginnings. Every year
since I can remember
I have always made a
new years resolution
list. For what? I have no
idea. Things I wanted to
accomplish in the year
before but never did.
But, somehow my list
gets lost or put away and
forgot about. Not this
year! I am not quite sure
on what everything is
that I want to accomplish
but by New Year’s Day I
will have a list.
Lately, I have lost my
creative
inspiration.
Though I do try to do
my best, but I just can’t
seem to find the right
spot, or the right time
of day to myself to write
or draw or even read. So,
definitely in the New Year
RECIPES
l i k e
SAMANTHA’S THOUGHTS
85
PRague
l i k e
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c h e c k
t h e
a t
l a t e s t
n e w s
n e w s
a t
l a t e s t
world traveller: Prague, Czech Republic
l i k e
i t ?
c h e c k
t h e
hidden treasures
by teresa wodehouse
87
i t ?
l i k e
c h e c k
t h e
n e w s
n e w s
a t
l a t e s t
l a t e s t
t h e
c h e c k
i t ?
l i k e
blend of the traditional
and the modern, the
forgotten and the newly
restored.
Yet, apart from the
breath-taking facades
of old buildings, the
cobblestone streets and
squares, the concert
halls and, of course the
famous Czech beer, there
is another unexplored
area of Prague’s wonders
that only a few get to
know: its tearooms!
After a tiring day of
sightseeing, for a quiet
talk with your date…
OR…to write a letter to
a dear friend, the
smoky cafés or noisy
pubs simply cannot
give you the right
atmosphere.
In such moments
(and not only in
those), the tearooms
are an invaluable
solution.
Since freed from the
past regime, Prague
has become a place
of an incredible travel
interest. People from
all over the world come
to look for the magic of
old times and the new
air of contemporary
metropolis. They find a
a t
Their
various
locations,
unique
styles and magical
atmosphere provide
a perfect place to
enjoy a piece of
tranquility in the
bustling town.
So what is so
special about
the tearooms?
It is not just any
place where tea
is served. There
are several unique
features that can
be found in most of
the tearooms. Each
of them adds to
the final image and
89
88
a t
n e w s
l a t e s t
works and a variety of corner not to ruin your
different board games eyesight.
or even origami.
I
am The tearooms are
typically open during
the whole day until late
evening every season
of the year. In winters
they are searched
for their warm cozy
shelter and spicy hot
masala chai. They are
completely packed
during the cold
winter days. But they
are open in summer
as well, as they let you
cool down with a cup
of green tea or many
cold tea drinks. Special
pretty seasonal teas are always
relaxation
sure they available.
and peace, most
would give you a
of
the
tearooms paper and pen to write, Since you have come to
are
equipped
by in case you want to the tearoom to enjoy
bookshelves full of write a letter. And you the peaceful escape
interesting
literary can always find a well lit from the world, the
a t
t h e
is brought together
with the menu.
To enjoy your
time of
n e w s
c h e c k
l a t e s t
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t h e
l i k e
c h e c k
90
entrances are the first
to attract your curiosity.
Although situated in
the central part of the
city, some are very
difficult to find, hiding
themselves in the back
yards, small side-streets Once you enter a
and
underground tearoom, the place
i t ?
Republic does not even
produce tea! – yes, it’s
a beer country). But
what makes the Prague
tearooms special is
Atmosphere
the feeling they give
Good quality tea can be you once you enter.
found anywhere in the Their hidden locations
world (of course, Czech with
unexpected
People gather here
in couples, small
groups, and very
frequently
alone
yearning to escape
from the noise of
the outer world. Some
come here to read
books or, like me, to
write letters. To help
preserve the low noiselevel of the place, there
is sometimes a cute
custom to order your
tea by ringing a bell
upon which the waiter
appears. The small bell
l i k e
exquisite atmosphere
that you come to absorb.
Let’s take a look at what
you can expect.
spaces all of which
suggests
secrecy,
intimacy and mystery.
The architecture of the
surrounding area is
often old, traditional
and
authentic.
Sometimes you can find
a small sign pointing to
the place; in some cases
there is a handle of a
bell you need to pull in
order to call the waiters
to let you inside. It is
rather unusual to come
across a tearoom unless
you look for it.
strikes you as incredibly
peaceful, quiet and
intimate. The light is
dim with candles and
old lamps; the music
is dreamy or ethnic.
The rooms are often
divided into smaller
compartments.
The
furniture varies from
rattan chairs, armchairs
and sofas to decks
where people take their
shoes off and sit or lean
in heaps of cushions.
Such “shoe-free areas”
are to be found in most
tearooms. Soft cozy
cushions are mandatory
as well as small tables
on which your tea is
served.
Tearooms are strictly
non-smoking places,
the only exception
being the shishas that
are served in some of
them.
91
popular honeycake), halva
and endless small snacks
l i k e
India, Nepal, Taiwan, bottle for you to prepare
Ceylon,
Turkey, the tea yourself, in a glass,
i t ?
c h e c k
a t
n e w s
l a t e s t
t h e
c h e c k
i t ?
l i k e
board games and, finally,
the tea itself. You can take
your shoes off and close
your eyes. No one will be
offended by this behavior
since this is indeed what
people often come here
for. Just be sure to wear
clean socks.
I have been, apart from
penpalling, a big tea
culture enthusiast since
many years (as all of my
friends know very well).
Having spent more than
10 years exploring the
tearoom culture in Europe,
Asia and the United States,
I find the Czech tearoom
culture very unique.
Although there are many
interesting tea places in
the world, Prague tearoom
model is rather special and
not widely spread even in
Europe (there are a few
such places in Slovakia
or Hungary). I hope you
will once come over and
experience this interesting
part of the Czech culture.
I will be happy to answer
any questions or hear your
comments. All the best in
2011! Teresa Wodehouse
(to get in touch with the
author, please contact
teresa.wodehouse@
gmail.com)
93
such as
nuts, dried
fruits, tea cookies,
almonds, toffee, Japanese
mixture...etc. It is up to you
to try.
Take your time and enjoy!
I simply love visiting
tearooms to meet friends
or write letters. It is a great
alternative to your cozy
home. Plus, you can sip
a healthy drink in a nice
environment.
It is very
common to
study,
read,
brainstorm, plan
and schedule either
by yourself or with your
colleagues in the intimate
compartments. Using a
laptop should not be a
problem in any tearoom (I
actually wrote many of my
university essays and even
my thesis in tearooms). Yet,
there is hardy any wireless
internet connection –
many are also under the
ground level, so your
cell phone might have
problems with catching a
signal.
No matter what your
everyday problems are,
tearoom offers a space
to forget, escape and
recharge. When you
take your time, don’t
rush and plunge into the
atmosphere, you might
realize that the world
seems brighter after
your visit. Tearooms are
equipped with the best
items to sooth your soul
and help you get in touch
with yourself: decks with
soft cushions, candles, nice
music, books of poetry,
a t
in a calabas (a special cup
in which mate is served)…
some teas are good with
milk, some with sugar or
honey. In any tearoom,
each tea is prepared the
way it is usually drunk.
You should trust your teawaiters who serve you the
delicious potion and they
should be always ready
to answer your questions
about the tea serving.
As far as food goes,
tearooms do not serve
bigger dishes, but you will
definitely find something
to satisfy your hunger.
Couscous is very common,
pita bread filled with
cheese, olives or even fruit
or cinnamon. You may find
toasts, cakes (especially a
n e w s
92
l a t e s t
England, Africa and
South America. There are
numerous black, green,
white, oolong and herbal
teas, flavored teas, nontea drinks such as rooibos,
sahlep, and mate – all in
several different flavors.
Everyone chooses by his
or her taste.
Every tearoom has some
specialty on their menu,
may it be a seasonal tea
offer, new interesting
The tea menu
flavor or non-tea drink
After all, the tearoom’s such as kombucha or
most
important lassi.
ingredient is, of course, You might be surprised
tea. The menu in any by the various ways tea
tearoom includes up can be served. In a pot
to 50 different kinds already prepared for
of tea from all over the consummation,
with
world – China, Japan, extra water in a thermos
t h e
waiters and waitresses fit
your needs. They will not
rush you or disturb. They
are friendly and will make
you feel welcome. In
case they do not attend
to you fast enough do
not be offended. The
tearoom rhythms are
slow and calm.
Settling your bill is always
done at the counter
where you may find tea
for sale, ceramics, books,
ethnic jewelry or incense.
Don’t worry; the waiters
are not even used to big
tips. A few Czech crowns
will do.
l i k e
NUMEROLOGY READINGS
i t ?
c h e c k
n e w s
l a t e s t
n e w s
l a t e s t
a t
t h e
l i k e
i t ?
c h e c k
t h e
a t
sandbook.net & Gaya designs present: samantha’s numerology
You will be introduced to the characteristics,
behavior and nature of people of the various numbers.
booklet coming out January 21, 2011
95
94
CELEBERTY BIRTHDAY TWINS:
By Rach Gee
n e w s
a t
a t
n e w s
l a t e s t
l a t e s t
t h e
t h e
c h e c k
(Musician)
25th January 1759 – Robert Burns
(Scottish Poet)
26th January 1961 – Wayne Gretzky
(Hockey Player)
26th January 1955 – Eddie Van Halen
(Musician)
27th January 1964 – Bridget Fonda
27th January 1756 – Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart
28th January 1981 – Elijah Wood (Actor)
28th January 1977 – Joey Faqtone, Jr
(Singer)
28th January 1912 – Jackson Pollock
(Artist)
29th January 1981 – Jonny Lang
(Guitarist)
29th January 1954 – Oprah Winfrey
(Talk show host)
29th January 1880 – WC Fields
30th January 1974 – Christian Bale
(Actor)
30th January 1937 – Vanessa Redgrave
(Actress)
30th January 1882 – Franklin D. Roosevelt
31st January 1981 – Justin Timberlake
(Singer)
31st January 1971 – Minnie Driver
(Actress)
c h e c k
(Musician)
18th January 1904 – Cary Grant
19th January 1946 – Dolly Parton
(Musician)
19th January 1943 – Janis Joplin
(Musician)
19th January 1809 – Edgar Allan Poe
20th January 1971 – Gary Barlow
(Musician)
20th January 1946 – David Lynch (Filmmaker)
21st January 1976 – Emma Bunton
(Singer)
21st January 1956 – Geena David
(Actress)
22nd January 1965 – Steven Adler
(Drummer)
22nd January 1959 – Linda Blair
(Actress)
22nd January 1561 – Sir Francis Bacon
23rd January 1974 – Tiffani-Amber
Thiessen (Actress)
23rd January 1957 – Princess Caroline of
Monaco
24th January 1958 – Jools Holland
(Musician)
24th January 1949 – John Belushi
(Actor)
25th January 1981 – Alicia Keys
i t ?
11th January 1952 – Ben Crenshaw
(Golfer)
12th January 1966 – Rob Zombie
(Musician and Film Director)
12th January 1954 – Howard Stern –
(Shock Jock and TV Personality)
12th January 1628 – Charles Perrault
(Author of “Cinderella” and “Sleeping
Beauty)
13th January 1977 – Orlando Bloom
(Actor)
13th January 1966 – Patrick Dempsey
(Actor)
14th January 1982 – Caleb Followill
(Musician)
14th January 1892 – Hal Roach (Filmmaker)
15th January 1979 – Drew Brees
(American Football player)
15th January 1929 – Dr Martin Luther
King, Jr
16th January 1979 – Aaliyah (Singer)
16th January 1874 – Kate Moss (Model)
17th January 1964 – Michelle Obama
(1st Lady)
17th January 1899 – Al Capone
(Gangster)
17th January 1706 – Benjamin Franklin
18th January 1971 – Jonathan Davis
l i k e
(Musician)
5th January 1956 – Diane Keaton
It may be dull and gloomy outside
(Actress)
6th January 1955 – Rowan Atkinson
for some of us but, if you’re a January
(Actor, Comedian)
baby, it’s time to party! To find out
6th January 1412 – Joan of Arc
who else is lucky enough to share a
birthday with you, check out Famous
7th January 1964 – Nicholas Cage
(Actor)
Birthdays at:
www.famousbirthdays.com
7th January 1956 – David Caruso
(Actor)
A very Happy Birthday to all of you!
May your new year be filled with all the 7th January 1800 – Millard Fillmore
(13th US president)
things you wish for!
8th January 1947 – David Bowie
(Musician)
1st January 1969 – Verne “Mini-Me”
8th January 1935 – Elvis Presley
Troyer (Actor)
1st January 1946 – Kathleen Casey (1st 8th January 1911 – Butterfly McQueen
Baby Boomer. Born just after midnight (Actress)
9th January 1982 – Kate Middleton
1946)
(Fiancée of Prince William)
2nd January 1968 – Cuba Gooding, Jr
9th January 1944 – Jimmy Page
(Actor)
(Musician)
2nd January 1920 – Issac Asimov
9th January 1898 – Gracie Fields
(Author)
(Singer and Actress)
3rd January 1969 – Michael
10th January 1945 – Rod Stewart
Schumacher (Formula 1 driver)
(Singer)
3rd January 1956 – Mel Gibson (Actor)
3rd January 1892 – JRR Tolkien (Author) 10th January 1949 – George Foreman
(Boxer)
4th January 1809 – Louis Braille
11th January 1971 – Mary J Blige
(Inventor of the Braille system)
(Musican)
5th January 1969 – Marilyn Manson
l i k e
i t ?
Birthday Twins
Birthday Twins! What’s more cool than
findingsomeonewhosharesthesamebirthday
date with you? No matter how far away you
live from one another an instant connection
is made. On one and the same day, you party
together to celebrateYour own Special Day!
The Team of Sandbook.Net would like
to say a very Happy Birthday to:
16h December 1989, Sandra from
Sweden1
6th December 1984, Jaswant Tan from
96
Singapore
20th December 1985, Martina from
Austria
22nd December 1972, Sandi from
Germany
23rd December 1968, Lillemor Nielsen
from Sweden
3rd January 1980, Josh Cowan from the
USA
6th January 1956, Belladonna Glaser
from the USA
6th January 1970, Rhonda from VA,
USA,
8th January 1960, Selina from New
Zealand
15th January 1975, Biene from
Germany
18th January 1959, Anne from Canada,
23th January 1979, Maren Ylinen from
Finland
24th January 1979, Laura Flad from
USA
24th January 1972, Marie Hunter from
Wales, UK
26th January 1979, Sarah from
Janesville, Wisconsin (USA),
26th January 1953, Denise from the
USA
May you all have a wonderful day!
To join our birthday twin section, send us your
birthday, name, country and email to our email:
[email protected]
To contact any of our Birthday Twins, log onto
our website and look at the Birthday Twin
Section.
97
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a t
St. Valentine Photo Message
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Sandbook.Net is organizing St. Valentine’s
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i t ?
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