07.2011_Sandbook Pen Pal Magazine issue 9 by Sandbook Net

SANDBOOK May 2011 issue 7

PENPALS AND SWAPPERS

THE MAGAZINE

Pen Pal Boutique

ARTBox.CO.UK

The Notebook

FEATURES : • Write around the World • The big wish of Chimene • Mother’s Day • Pen Pal Interviews

GUEST AUTHORS

EDITORIAL May 2011

Dear Sandbookers,

Monica Boldoni Pen Pals

Art Box www.artbox.co.uk

Pen Pal Boutique http://on.fb.me/ PenPalBoutique

The spring had arrived! The sun is up and shinning and you are holding the May issue of our penpal magazine! We hope that May brings you all the love, success and mail that you need to keep the smile on your face all month long! In this issue, you will find interesting articles, links and interviews about Penpalling! Don’t forget to check out our cultural section to learn about Labor’s Day, St. George’s Day, Mother’s Day and of course The Alphabet Day! We have a new group on Facebook dedicated to Penpalling and our magazine. Search for “Sandbook PenPal Magazine” and join us while we are discussing the topics for the upcoming issues! Don’t forget that we are always searching for guest writers – so if you are interested in becoming one or you have links to e-shops for stationery or a Penpalling blog that you want to share – simply contact us! Happy PenPalling!

Raia from the Sandbook.Net Team Tinne Raeymaekers Labor’s Day Mother’s Day

www.Sandbook.net

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Chimene and Roos Big Wish of Chimene

CONTACT US Cover: GAYA DESIGNS Editor: Raia Alexieva Graphic Designer: Aspeia Alexieva / GAYA DESIGNS IT administration: Jason Dimitrov Photography: Manuela Balocco Production Coordinator: Raia Alexieva Team Authors : Erika Millare / Samantha Stroy / Raia Alexieva / Bea from PenPalling and Letters / Rae from Glass Completely Empty Productions / Nina / Beautybrite / Paula Milburn / Mika Magazine / Yanelis from PPFL. Information is correct at press time.

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

AUTHORS

IN THIS ISSUE

Rach Gee Write around the world Making Postcards Birthday Twins Penpalling & Letters

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Culture: 84 Labor’s Day and Mother’s Day 86 May 6 (April 23) St. George’s Day 90 May 24, Cyrillic Alphabet Day Yanelis A cup of tea withYanelis

Paula Milburn World Travel: World Heritage

Lifestyle: 92 The Notebook (2004) 94 Samantha’s Thoughts 96 World Traveler: World Heritage (UNESCO) 108 Fashionista 110 Birthday Twins 112 Next Issue 113 Subscribe 114 Contact us

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Nina Pen Pal Book

66 Pen Pal of the Month April 2011 68 Lost Pen Pal 70 Pen Pal Ads 83 Pen Pal Connections

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Raia Alexieva St. George’s Day Cyrillic Alphabet Day

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Pen Pal Interview Project: 32 Pen Pal Interviews: Ilse 42 Pen Pal Interviews: Yanelis 46 Pen Pal Interviews: Emma 50 Pen Pal Interviews: Heather 52 Pen Pal Interviews: Jade 62 Pen Pal Interviews: Sui 64 Pen Pal Interviews: Kristy

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Beauty Brite Fashionista

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Website Promotion: 26 www.Artbox.co.uk 28 PenPal Boutique 30 UK Pen Pals Group

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Samantha’s Thoughts

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Samantha Stroy

Correspondence: 6 Write around the World 10 The big wish of Chimene 14 PenPals 16 A cup of tea with Yanelis 20 Pen pal Book 22Making Postcards

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The Notebook (2004)

2 Editorial 4 Contents

WRITE AROUND THE WORLD - May 2011 Update by Rach Gee

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http://on.fb.me/WriteAroundTheWorld http://glasscompletelyempty.blogspot.com/

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rae@glasscompletelyempty.co.uk

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Contact: Glass Completely Empty Productions:

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“Slowly, but surely, we move onwards. My video camera is filling with the cutaway shots which will help pad the film out.”

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Slowly, but surely, we move onwards. My video camera is What have we been doing filling with the cutaway shots for the last month? which will help pad the film out. Well, it doesn’t feel like a lot but, as I In a few days I’m heading down look to the box beside me, I realise to Brighton, camera tucked safely it’s far more than I’d imagined. For, in my bag, to get some shots on the floor, sits one of several of shops and postcards (I’m still boxes of artefacts for the film. waiting to hear from a lovely There’s a huge bag of stamps in stationery shop in Brighton. I have there, sorted by continent and emailed them and I’m tempted to waiting to be put into albums. just turn up on their doorstep one Nearly 1,000 stamps from across morning!). the globe! And it’s all thanks to a few dedicated people. Oh, and We also now have a little website my dad! (Who, I discovered, had up and running. It’s not quite a huge bag of stamps secreted what I envisioned but it sure does away. Mine now!). do the job! You can find it at: http://tinyurl.com/ As the days roll on, more bits writearoundtheworld and pieces arrive. A box of finished decos. More stamps. If you still want to get involved, Postcards and letter paper. All are you can! Read onwards and, if you waiting to be sorted and filmed. would like to help out in any way, There’s also the hangers for the just get in touch! postcards, which are going to feature in the film. The pieces are We are putting sitting in the garage, waiting to together a be assembled. It’s tiring but it’s book about the a lot of fun and it would never making of the have been possible without you, film. the wonderful people who are filming and writing and recording Titled Write Around The World: and photographing. Your sheer The Small Film That Took The enthusiasm for letter writing and World By Storm, it will be released this film is amazing, far beyond towards the end of everything. what I thought it would be. Thank We want to include photos from you SO much, from the bottom of the exhibition so it may be a while my heart! down the road yet. However, we’d

Write Around The World Website (separate from Facebook page) http://tinyurl.com/writearoundtheworld

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Does your town/city/ village have an exhibition space? It could be a theatre, an arts centre, or even a café. Send us an email, let us know and we’ll add you to the list. Or, do you run a business? We’re looking for stalls to come and celebrate the film with us! It doesn’t matter if you not a letter writing related business, we want to include as many people as possible. This is

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Our “Office Manager”! http://tinyurl.com/GCE-office-cat

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Glass Completely Empty Productions Facebook Page http://tinyurl.com/GCE-Productions

love to feature interviews with letter your film! You are the people writers. Interviewees will be given who have made it possible, so the same questions that have been come and join in the fun! given to the people who are in the film. If you’d like to be Send us letter interviewed for the book, writing photos drop us an email at: rae@ to be used in glasscompletelyempty.co.uk the film or book. Send us items for the These could be photos of exhibition. We your stationery collections, are looking for: of the post boxes near you, of the post office, of stamps, • Used stamps (No of stationery or card shops, UK. I have enough of those!) of postcards. If it’s related Postcards to letter writing, we want • Nice stationery sheets and/ to see it! Be sure to include or envelopes (doesn’t have your name and the location to be lots, just one of a single of the photo (if applicable) design is great) or the photo title so that we • Pen-palling magazines can credit you. Email them • Full FB’s or Decos to the usual address: rae@ If you’d like to send us glasscompletelyempty.co.uk something for the exhibition, just email us at: rae@ If you have any suggestions for glasscompletelyempty.co.uk the film/exhibition, or if you for our postal address. have any questions or queries that aren’t listed above, please Get involved feel free to email. Our inbox is with the always open and we try and exhibition! reply as quickly as possible. I think that’s all for this month, and all that’s left to say now is a huge thank you to everyone who’s involved. Thank you for your support and for everything you’re doing. It really is appreciated and I hope that one day, we’ll be able to meet and I can thank you personally. Until next month, I remain your friendly neighbourhood film-maker. 99

THE BIG WISH OF CHIMENE

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The blog started with a first blog entry about the reasons why we start this project, what Chimène would like to read about and see from people who decide to take a part in our project.

a first blog entry about the reasons why we start this project, what Chimène would like to read about and see from people who decide to take a part in our project. I decided to place a photo of her in the message, so people can see to who they going to write to. Moreover, the message goes on telling the readers about my plan to make a scrapbook of the letters we will receive. So later on, we will have a big map on which to see the countries, while reading the letter from that country. We already received 2 letters and I put up a photo from what Chimène received and it really surprises us what people send to her: postcards, maps, flowers, flyers, etc! So great to see how people are so sweet. The first letter was from USA - Arizona from Misha, a 16 years old girl who was very creative with her letter and also told about the area that she lives in. She also sent us flowers that she picked when she walked around her neighborhood, so that we could smell the flowers! Moreover, she

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Interview with Roos from http://chimmy26.blogspot.com/

in that region/country. She has only couple of hours of history at school. Nowadays, kids do not learn about other Hello! I’m Rosita, 38 countries - how it is to live years old and living there, what is the history in the Netherlands of a town, etc. Chimène together with my is really curious about boyfriend Martijn and the lifestyle in different our daughter Chimène countries together with of 10 years old. My the tradition in those biggest hobby is writing countries and regions. letters to my pen pals She would love to hear worldwide. I am into about that! My idea penpalling for many of opening a blog for years now and still love her, came up with the to write and receive thought about a project letters. My other hobbies through the mail (letter are swapping, walk mail one!), because I get with the dogs, kawaii, a lot of mail myself and Disney, photography, Chimène is always a meeting people from little disappointed when other countries and she doesn’t receive any many more. As for my letters (sometimes my day time job, I work as penpals send her a card a hairdresser 21 hours a or a present). That is the week. reason why I started the Blog “The Big Wish of How did you decide Chimène”. I have also to make your blog blogged a few years ago The Big Wish of which is quite easy and Chimène? How did of course it can reach a the idea come up? lot of people out of the world. My daughter Chimène is a very curious kid Tell us more about who loves to read all your blog – how about other countries, did you start with how people live around it? Where did the the world, what kind of first letters come places and traditions from? they have there, what flowers and animals are The blog started with

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Tell us more about yourself (hobbies, where you live, etc)

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Yes , I only do all the work on the Blog. I look every day who visited the blog and if someone emailed me and they wants to join, I put their name and country on the list. And if Chimène receives a letter, I will put up the photo of it on the blog with some explanation about it, so that everybody can read what it is about.

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Do you do all the work around the blog yourself?

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My advice to other people who enjoy penpalling or have just started with this great hobby is always put a few questions in your letter and make something from the letter! Don`t send boring letters!

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penpal experience.

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included some postcards summer and we started from the USA, so we can a great friendship! You see how it looks there. can imagine how sad we were, when she went How often do you back home! My mother promote? Are there told us to write letters any campaigns with each other in order that you have done to keep contact and or you rely on help so we did! Sadly, I lost from friends? contact with her after a few years, but I have I always try to promote always had a few other the blog every 1 or 2 Dutch penpals. When I weeks , depends how was 19 years old, I found busy I am, but I mostly out that you also could do it on penpal-groups write with somebody on Facebook and put a from abroad through message on swapbot. FB`s and found 2 great com. I also visit some girls in the USA & 1 other blogs from people older man in Japan to who I think they want penpal with! After a few to write to Chimène! years I stopped writing We have already 23 with overseas penpals, Participants for just a because I was pregnant couple of weeks! And and so busy with work every week, I get some and such and only wrote emails from people who letters with my Dutch find this a great project Penpals. But a few years and think that I’m a good ago I started penpalling mommy to have started again with penpals from this! That`s always great all over the world thanks to read and they always to the internet! And I join. love it a lot! With some I only write and with other I understand that we also swap things with you are a penpal the letters. yourself. How did you start Give advice(s) to penpalling? our readers how to make their I started penpalling correspondence when i was 9 years old! more interesting A niece of my neighbor or just share came over for 2 weeks to anything from stay at his house for the your personal

Anything else you would like to add? This is a great project and I hope you want to join! Everytime when Chimène hears that someone joins her project she gets a big smile on her face and she`s really learning from it and tells it to her friends. So go visit the blog and read all about this project. 13

PENPALS

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is married and has two wonderful sons. Obviously I received both the pictures of her wedding and the pictures of her sons and I feel like I am a little part of her family… When I write a letter, I try to narrate what happened to me from last time I wrote and to communicate

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but simply because I feel to be part of their lives in a different way. For example, some years ago I met a Canadian friend with her friends at the railway station in Milan when they were travelling around Europe by train. At that time she was single, while now she

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special thing to open an envelope and read a letter from a faraway friend… And then there are also those friends whom I was able to meet in person. The link with them has become stronger. Not because we write to each other more often,

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interested in what I write to them, in my life, they bother to answer me and give me advice, they cheer me up if I am sad… some of them even send me presents! An American friend, for example, even sent me a box of biscuits that she had cooked! It’s a very

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Naturally now, to keep in touch more frequently, maybe in periods where the time to write is really scarce because of daily schedule, you can exchange some e-mails or sms (text messages), or maybe you keep in touch through Facebook… But the pleasure to receive an envelope addressed to you is unique. An envelope that contains a letter which was written just for you. A letter that somebody has written thinking of you. A letter from a friend. Yes, because when they ask me the reason why I entertain pen pal relationships, my answer is this: because I have more sincere friends who live thousands miles away from me than near here. It doesn’t mean that I haven’t a single friend here, indeed I can count 3 true friends who have always been close to me and have helped me through hard times, but the so-called pen pals are quite another thing. Pen pals, even if they don’t meet me in person, are

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The next question is: correspondence in which sense? Obviously, in this era of pc and cell phones, nobody expect that you pick up pen and paper literally to write to a perfect stranger. So, when I explain that correspondence is meant in a traditional sense, everybody remain with their mouths open. Maybe, it’s because, when you think of a letter, you remember old western movies or war ones where letters were the only mean of communication…

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by Monica Boldoni monicaboldoni(at)alice.it

to the person I am writing the feelings I am experiencing about that particular situation and at the time I am writing the letter. Sometime I take advantage of my pals’ patience and I vent if I am frustrated for some reason, or if I feel sad or angry. When I write I try to communicate the same feelings that I would communicate if I was meeting my pal in person, like we were chatting with a good cup of tea before us. If someone would ask me if I would recommend you to start pen palling, I would absolutely answer so. Maybe there will be some people who won’t even answer to your first letter and some people who will stop writing without a good reason. And then there will be some people who will write you in hopes to obtain something different from friendship, like those who look for a relationship or those who ask for money. But in despite of all these bad experiences, you will also find some wonderful people who will make your life a bit more special. Then, yes, I recommend it, pen palling is a wonderful thing…

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When they ask me what my interests are, one of my first answers is the correspondence.

A cup of tea with Yanelis from PPFL

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Have you met some penpals in person? We have a album called “PPFL Meet & Greet” and so far there has been 10 pen pals who have met in person by meeting in PPFL. I have personally

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Pen Pals For Life C/O Yanelis Gourrie Po Box 27321 Tampa, Florida 33623 USA Email: Penpalsforlife@live.com www.facebook.com/penpalsforlife

Being Facebook friend with PPFL, I saw the members album. How often do you get emails from members with intros and photos to update that album? I love the way our PPFL Member Directory has grown so much. We have right now 166 members. We get an average of 1-3 requests per day to be added. Some want to

Do you think that a forum/community of penpals can exist smoothly only on Facebook or on other webpages? I think it can in the near future, that is one thing we are currently working on. Some of our members do not want a “group” or “forum/community” at all, they love the way the page is running. However, we are in the process of creating a website and when that project is completed, we love to have a forum/community for those who want to participate. I believe it can work on both Facebook and other pages.

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PPFL is very vivid and it updates quite often. How do you come up with all the interesting questions for discussions on your wall? This is one of the hardest tasks for me on PPFL. Thinking of new questions of discussion that will

add more information to their current ad, or some want to be added. This is a great way to get new pen pals. All you have to do is be a member of PPFL, send an email with your picture and photo to penpalsforlife@live.com and be included in our directory… Now pen pals will leave you comments under your photo and there you have new pals.

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What’s new in PenPals for Life Facebook Community? There are so many new things happening at PPFL community every day. From new giveaways, to new members, and brand new things coming up! Right now we have a Tattoo Contest, Vacation Photo Contest, Swaps. Just so many things happening! In the next

I noticed a lot of contests going on at the Facebook page - let us know more about them. Are there any new ones or some that are still going on? Yes, we have the Tattoo, Vacation Contest going on right now. The Tattoo contest will be for all month. We are thinking of new contest in the upcoming weeks!

keep our members busy is kind of hard, due to the fact that they cannot be the same. We have about 15 questions of Discussion a day. Some I get from personal experiences, some of issues that I have myself so I ask them in a way to help me come up with answers, also some are from our own members who need advice (and we ask this way too) or some are just petition by our members. Also my assistant (Lisa Marshall- Vice President of PPFL) does come up with them also. We do update our page quite often. Pen Pals For Life is based in Tampa, Florida USA- however Lisa is based in England, so with the time difference we are able to be on PPFL nearly 24/7, which is great. We feel PPFL is family!

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Hello Yanelis! How are you doing? Hello Raia. I am doing wonderful. Words cannot express how I feel, with the page growing so much every day. It is a wonderful feeling, which I know anyone that has a special dream project become a reality would feel.

few weeks we are having 3 new swaps (postcard, stickers, and candy swaps). We also have 166 members in our directory. This is one of the projects that we have grown so much on.

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Pen Pals for Life is a Facebook community for penpalling and swapping that we presented in our previous (April 2011) issue. We met with Yanelis from PPFL to further talk about penpalling and correspondence!

met 3 of them and it has been a pleasure. Lisa- our VP, has also met 1 pen pal in England after meeting on PPFL.

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Share with us some advices on how to make a letter really personal one or how to decorate it? I think the most important thing about a letter is to write as if you were talking to that person. Listen to their previous letter, make sure you answer every question they have and make each letter different depending on that pen pal. It will give it a special touch. Decorate with stickers, colors with markers and make it like if you were receiving the letter. What would you like on it? Make it your own style.

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Who runs PPFL, who is staff? Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll I created the group 04/08/10, so besides myself Yanelis Gourrie/Owner of PPFL , there is also Lisa Marshall/VP of PPFL. We both work on PPFL. She assist me in running the page, checking email, uploading and having up to date communication with all of our members. When it does come down to making a decision on the page, it is I who makes it the decision. When it also comes to marketing our page or anything like that it also comes to me.

MIKA Coming out: June 21st, 2011 19

PAL BOOK http://inlovewithsnailmail.blogspot.com/2011/02/lost-letters.html

By Nina

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2020

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When I was a child, we all had those school friends books which we gave to our class mates to fill in some pages about themselves. There were questions like "What is your favourite subject at school?", "What do you want to work when you are grown-up?" or "What is your favourite movie". You were also asked to add a photo of yourself and some also required that you wrote down your favourite poem or a wish for the owner of the book. I really loved those books and still go through my old ones from time to time. When I started penpalling "seriously" as a teenager, I had a lot of German penpals, and one of them sent me her palbook which she created herself - a similar thing like those friends books we had back in school, but as she wrote down the questions herself and decorated everything in a very lovely way, I simply had to steal this idea! So, some years ago I

created such a palbook for my penpals from abroad as well. In fact, I created two of them - one for my penpals from Europe and one for those from oversea. Everytime I receive the filled-in book back in the mail, it is such an exciting moment and I cannot wait to read all the answers of my penpals. Even if you know each other already for some years, there are always things you didn't know about each other. Here you can see my own entry.... well, only the questions. To read the answers, you have to belong to my circle of friends first. My biggest fear is that my precious books get lost in the mail during its long journeys around the globe (in fact, it once happened with my German palbook many years ago and I am still terribly sad about it), so I decided to scan the pages... just in case! I guess it will be a wonderful memory in several years in which I will hopefully still be in touch with my dear friends.

MAKING POSTCARS

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I’ve been taking photos for as long as I can

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“I’ve been taking photos for as long as I can remember.” what happens if you live in a place where there are no postcards 22

remember. That’s me there, at 18 months old, with my dad’s camera. Apparently I’ve loved playing with them even before I could walk. So it stood to reason that I’d eventually end up messing with them on a larger scale. My birthday gift to myself

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stations, to theme parks, to libraries. But

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And that’s the only one they do. One singe postcard with photos of empty streets and the local fast food joint. It’s no wonder people laugh at us.

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Despite living in a town steeped in history, we have no postcards. Oh, you can buy them from time to time in one of the card shops but, rather than focus on the beauty of our little slice of England, they look at the market square. Which would be fine. Except the one decent shot they have, rather than show the gorgeous 16th Century church shows the local... KFC... Yes, that’s what my friends around the world see: a glimpse of a spire and the KFC. Fantastic...

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Well, if you’re anything like me, you’ll make your own!

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a few years ago was the digital SLR you can see in my Sandbook author photo. And that’s when the real fun began!

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Postcards Who doesn’t like receiving one in the mail? They’re a little slice of life from some far flung (or not so far flung) place, a snapshot of another world. You can find them everywhere, from beaches, to train

to be found? Other than stocking up when you go travelling, what do you do then?

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by Rach Gee

So I was bored. I was bored of only have one image that I could send to people around the world. What must they think of me, this person living in a town which prefers to glorify its shops rather than its heritage? One way I worked around this was, like any good postcard collector, I stocked up when I went travelling. I have literally hundreds of cards from Brighton and London, all of them different and all of them beautiful in their own way. But I wanted to show them where I lived. I wanted to show them 23

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I couldn’t have been happier! And when I discovered that I could use my own images, I was delirious with joy. Riffling through the hundreds of megabytes of photos I’ve taken, I began picking out the ones I wanted to use. My first attempts were multi-image cards. While they’re not of the town I currently live in (the one with the now world famous KFC. I’m never going to live that down), they provided a quick and cheap snapshot of my life. I had two different multiview ones produced. And like postcards you’d buy from beside the beach, I even added what the images were on the reverse! Suddenly

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And you can print anything you can imagine. The only limit is your imagination. Perhaps you’d like to send your favourite family portrait. Or a memory from your past. Or perhaps what your future will look like. It doesn’t have to be scenery! Let your imagination go wild!

Recently I’ve been creating more, these ones single view images. One, which I’m particularly proud of, was taken in Dorset a year ago, and was the photo that nearly destroyed my camera. You’ll realise why when you spot it! It’s one of the reasons I brought that camera; the body is completely sealed, making it harder for moisture, dust and other microscopic undesirables to get in and wreck havoc with the sensitive innards.

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Postcards! For free!

Also, make sure the resolution of the photo is set to the highest setting. If it’s too low it’ll print pixelated and will be a waste of your money (Which, obviously, you don’t want). So, there’s a particular picture you want, crank up the resolution setting to its highest and go and take it! Upload it to website and start having fun with your very own, personalised postcards!

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out quite expensive unless you get the offers, so sign up for those!

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I felt (vaguely) famous! Professionally produced postcards that bore my photos! All I had to pay For the past several years, was the postage and I’ve had a lot of dealings 100 beautiful cards were with my favourite of mine. online printers. You know who I’m talking about; I The multi-view ones were seem to mention them in fairly easy to put together every article I write! Yes, and, if you have an image I’m talking about good manipulation program, old Vistaprint. I now get you can do them yourself. inundated with offers Just start out with a blank every week and, a year or template that’s slightly so ago, I noticed that they bigger than the postcard were offering 100 free size you’re producing and postcards. away you go!

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where I’d been travelling and what I had seen with my own eyes.

Oh, and make sure that, like any postcard you’d buy in the high street, to put the location and your name on the back! That way everyone will know that So, if you’re bored with the glossy postcard they’re the every day postcards getting in the post is a work you buy on the street, why of art created by your very don’t you have a go at own hand. And what can creating your own? There be better than a piece of are plenty of places online limited edition art from which will print them for one of your friends?! you; most online photo printers will do them, as do Have fun and happy Vistaprint. They can start photographing! 25

ARTBOX.CO.UK for the more pressing orders.

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How often do you update the website? Every week and often daily. We have periods when we get new stock in when things are very hectic and we add all products as fast as we can to show our customers all

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What is your payment policy? What is the shipping policy? You can use credit cards and paypal to pay for orders placed. Shipping is fast and worldwide. If you place an order before 16:00gmt we will ship it the same day. We also offer express delivery

We are currently at an early stage of a total re-design of Artbox. www.artbox.co.uk co.uk and there will be Customer service: +44 (0)20 8452 7694 more payment options Artbox High Street Shops: http://www.artbox. like Google, collection co.uk/information.php?info_id=5 possibilities (for those Email us on shop@artbox.co.uk living/able to visit our shops/warehouse) and easier navigation and so Any tip or on. We are very excited Anything else you advice about about the new site and would like to ad? Penpalling and are looking to launch this Don’t miss our monthly after the summer around correspondence competitons with a September. In the mean that you would like to give to our super nice free prize time we are updating as readers? every month to the lucky fast as we can with new and Penpalling is a great person guessing right! exciting products from all way to learn about Join here www.artbox. around the globe. people and life in other co.uk/competitions.php countries, cities and

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have time to get new products in. This means more stationery, letter sets and pencils among others.

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What type of products can we expect from the website? Our aim is to have the single largest collection of “Kawaii” stationery, sweets, clothing and gifts. At the moment we are looking to widen the range as many items are selling out before we

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website was properly launched in 2009 and have since grown a lot. We now have about 2500 unique products from all over the world in stock at any one time. We also have 3 high street shops in Covent Garden, Selfridges and Kings Road.

We are also active on facebook and twitter: FB: http://on.fb.me/ArtBox TW: http://twitter.com/artbox_uk

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Tell us more about Artbox.co.uk – how was the idea about the e-shop born? When was the e-shop established (opened)? Artbox is originally from South Korea and, started in the UK in 2005 as a small shop in Covent Garden. The Artbox.co.uk

Are there any sales going on right now? Yes, we have a continuous sale that is updated throughout the year. This is the link http://w w w.ar tbox. co.uk/specials.php We are also doing various offers and these are spread through our email newsletters and our twitter feed.

cultures. We recommend everyone does it. If you want to use some cute letter sets even better! Our boss used to do it and is now introducing his children to do the same.

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http://www.artbox.co.uk

the new goodies. As you may know the picture on our front changes every 2 weeks and some times faster. We try to make it as interesting and relevant as possible.

PenPal Boutique Penpallling finally has its own soundtrack!

http://on.fb.me/PenPalBoutique

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Hi All! My name is Helen and I am from Penpal Boutique. As a keen and fellow pen-paller, I thought it was only fair to share with you all the gorgeous stationery items available via Penpal Boutique’s e-Shop! I know that 99% of people who write to penpals tend to have a stationery addiction; I am one of them!

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Penpal Boutique was formed in January 2011, due to the fact cute stationery seemed hard to come by in the UK! Penpal Boutique specialize in Genuine Sanrio, Kawaii and other cute character stationery and do not believe in bad quality or photocopied items! Since January 2011, due to regular demand, a few other items have been introduced to Penpal Boutique’s range, including Diddl and Blue Bear; which can be very hard to find.

costs down, postage will always be combined for multiple purchases, and just to say thanks to our regular customers, freebies are usually included when making more than one purchase! To keep things fresh, new stock is added regularly so make sure you like the ‘Penpal Boutique’ facebook page to keep up to date and also see our Pick of the Day! For those of you who do not have access to facebook please email hp1985@hotmail.co.uk for an up to date pricelist and photos! Please note, the website will be available soon.

w w w w llli iikkkeee i iittt??? ccchh heeeccckkk ttthh heee lllaaattteeesssttt nn neeew wsss aaattt w ww ww w. ..sssaaann ndd dbbboo ooo okkk. ..nn neeettt

A new place for S tat i o n e ry

On her Penpals music show experiment, Georgia will be blasting music up to 11 from as diverse genres as the world we live in! Send in your comments, requests, questions for the show!! As Georgia sums it up: “You are the music, your wish is my command!”.

Georgia’s penpals Music Show

on air since March 20, 2011 Get in touch on powerofthesun89@hotmail.com and on the FB page of the show!

Penpal Boutique will ship worldwide. After all, everyone should be able to buy and use cute stationery! Paypal is the preferred method of payment and can only be accepted for international orders (Outside the UK) but cheques and Postal Orders for UK customers are also accepted. To keep postage

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http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/UK_PandS/

by Paula Milburn

postcards, FBs and the like, goodie bags, food, This group is for UK based treats, cards.... anything people only...sorry! If you that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legal to send are looking for a penpal through the post just group for international to keep our letterboxes people, please email happy!! me on pinklioness@ googlemail.com as I Since the cost of postage have many other groups is so high we like to keep that would suit your things within the UK, as that is pricey enough, but needs. As I was saying... this international postage is is a UK group for UK crazy these days. people.... we swap letters, Rules are simple - UK 30

b a s e d addresses only (so yes, you could be on a year out in Timbuctoo provided you use your parents address in Royal Tunbridge Wells as your contact address LOL), no discrimination of any kind, addresses MUST be in the applications, and you sign the roll call in

POLLS each and every month unless previously discussed with the management that you will be AWAL (thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Absent with APPROVED leave)!! Happy Swapping! Paula, Group Owner 31

Hello there! How are you doing? Tell us more about yourself, your hobbies, personal life, interests.

now employed as a teacher. When I get back from work and when I’m done with all the duties, I enjoy quiet nights in front of

s h ows (such a s Glee,

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the TV, watching mainly crimescene-TV-shows (such as The mentalist, Castle, CSI New York, Code 37, …) or feel-good TV-

The past few months I’ve been going to these zumba classes (yes, I know, it’s a hype, but it’s a good one I think), partly because of the sports, partly because my instructor is always super enthusiast and positive. It’s like therapy and workout two-inone. Impossible not to love it. I like losing myself in fiction, usually being a good book, but I often D e s p e r a t e have months when I’m housewives, …). Not not reading anything all at once of course. I at all (apart from worklove orange-kiwi and related things, glamour o r a n g e - s t r a w b e r r y magazine and letters of juice, so I always have course). Then suddenly oranges in the house. I realize I’m missing it and hup, I’m off to the

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What else does m y world consist of? Well, I studied theology and religious studies – which made me fall in love with the student city Leuven – and am

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Pen Pal Interviews: Ilse

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What do you like / dislike about Penpalling/ correspondence? It’s just that magical feeling when you open your mailbox and tadaaaa, there’s a letter in it for you and you can instantly tell that it’s not a bill or anything like that! I love the idea that someone sat down and took the time to write me a letter. Nowadays with the internet everything seems to go so fast and “in between” all the other things

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How did you start penpalling? When was that? And why did you decide to start Penpalling? I think it started when I was about thirteen because I was way too chatty to tell my friends everything I wanted on schooldays (imagine!), so I started writing them short letters after school. It was quite fun and soon I decided to place an ad in a local newspaper for kids and that’s how I get my first penpals. They soon stopped writing, but I kept looking for some penpals, also on websites, and then I found my first real penpal, a girl from the Netherlands. She really made me get the penpal “virus”, but you should read more on it in question 7 ;). Anyway, after two years all of my

penpals had stopped writing once again so I think that between my 15 and 19 years old I didn’t penpal at all. Somehow I started missing it so I decided to look for penpals once again. This time I went all international, placing ads in English. I got some wonderful penpals who got me back into it, but the penpal I have the longest now is someone I’ve ‘only’ been writing to for about three years I think. Somehow they always seem to stop writing, but I haven’t found that a reason to totally quit with it myself so far.

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new people, it’s lively and it has some really nice architecture. There were always lots of fun things to do, for student-friendly prices or even for free, so I’ve had a great time there. Whenever I return, I’ve got this instant smile on my face when I get off the train.

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library. Both with movies and books I’d often pick “light” material when it’s for my free time. I don’t

like crispies. Nor coffee. And oh, I can be a bit chatty. You might notice in this interview I’m not that good at putting

If you have to describe yourself in only 5 words what would they be? That’s a tough question… And I could probably give you a different answer if you asked me the same tomorrow. Well, here you

go for today: penpals – cocorosie – Leuven – caring – theology. Penpals, that should be easy to understand. The whole snail mail thing isn’t just a hobby for me – it’s really something that I believe defines me. I just can’t imagine quitting it altogether. There might come moments in life when I’ll have to limit it, but really stopping? I don’t think so. I hope I’ll always find a way to continue.

is the atomium, but Manneken pis (basically a small statue/fountain of a small boy peeing…) is just as famous. Tom Dice was our latest attempt for world fame at the Eurovision song contest and he did pretty well. Waffles are quite Belgian as well, there’s even a Belgian guy who brought the Belgian waffles to New York, it’s called “wafels and dinges”. It must be pretty unique then, right? My city then. I live in a city close by Oostende, which is a city at the North Sea. It’s mainly visited because of the beach, but it has some other things to offer as well, for example some museums (including the James Ensor house) and the Mercator, a ship that brought the remains of father Damien (a Belgian who recently was proclaimed a saint by the catholic church, mainly because of his work in the leper colony of Molokai). The city I love most though is Leuven, the place where I studied five years theology and religious studies. It has a very cozy atmosphere, it’s easy to get to know

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things in short. I always feel the urge to tell the whoooole story. My apologies for that already.

Tell us something about your town, city or country. Where to start? Belgium is a small though interesting country. Interesting for several reasons, not only because we have delicious chocolate ;). For one, we are small but bilingual. The northern part of the country (Flanders) has Dutch as official language, while the southern part (Wallonië) has French as official language. There’s even a small region near the German border where the official language is German. Nowadays, politics in Belgium is a bit shakey. Flanders and Wallonië have some issues going on and somehow along the way we broke the world record of time it takes to get a new government… Hurray? In daily life we don’t notice that much of the political crisis, but I do hope they’re figuring things out. So, what else makes Belgium interesting? French fries! I never knew why they called them “French” fries, because they’re really considered Belgian over here… Our national monument

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Pen Pal Interviews: Ilse

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touch with your first penpal? Tell us about your first penpal even if you have lost touch with them. We might be able to help you locate

first time I discovered the art of a letter. We’re not in touch anymore, we kind of stopped writing after about three years (after getting longer and longer times in between letters) but I did find her back via facebook

How many Penpals do you have? Where are they from? It’s really hard to tell. I have about twenty penpals who write more often than once a year and they’re from all around the world (such as USA, Australia, South Korea, Hong Kong and lots of places in Europe). That amount of penpals probably sounds worse than it actually is. I think you should look at frequency of letters instead of the number of penpals. When I was still a student (a year ago) I used to send and receive two letters a week. That was really a

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How do your friends react when they discover you are into Penpalling? Are they also into it or they give you the “strange” faces? I’m happy you use the word ‘discover’ in your question, ‘cause that’s usually how it goes. I

abroad for quite a while, I try to surprise them with a letter that would look like one I’d send to a penpal. So far I’ve only got very enthusiast responses on that :). Sometimes they even write back ;). My mom used to look at me like I’m a crazy person, acting all childish with cute paper or cutting out pictures

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finding a good solution in between to make the penpal relationship working.

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somewhat matters as well. When I keep writing letters of a decent length, and only get very short letters back, it can get hard to find things to talk about and keep the conversation going. I like to take my time to write a letter and put everything I want to say in it, while others prefer to write a letter more quickly, so shorter, but more often. In my opinion, it’s a matter of having the same expectations or

and I know she’s alright nowadays. We had a short chat and she didn’t seem to have any interest in penpalling anymore, or maybe she wants to leave that time behind her. Although her letters always made me very happy, we were both teenagers with all the drama and dark sides that can come with teenage life. I can imagine that it’s not always fun to look back at those times or to think about things you may have written back then ;).

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to like about that? Of course sometimes it can happen that it doesn’t click with a penpal. I’ve experienced that myself as well. It’s usually not because I think the person isn’t nice, but it has more to do with the fact that we have different ideas about penpalling. For me, a letter should be like a conversation, not a monologue, so I like to tell from the letter that the other person has read mine. The length

Do you still stay in

him/her. I consider the Dutch girl (see 4th question) my first penpal, because she was the first one who wrote me for a longer time and she was the one who really got me into it. She’s an extremely creative person, always finding a way to “pimp” a letter or to put something extra to it. I believe it w a s the

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you’re occupied with. When you write a letter, you can slow down a minute and make time for a person. It’s definitely the best thing about it. It works the other way around too. I love it when I’m writing a letter to someone. It’s a way to think about things, interact with someone else – sometimes building a strong connection through letters – and an opportunity to try and be creative. What’s not

from magazines and using stickers and rubber stamps for letters. But then again, she’s not as girly as I am, so there are other things she doesn’t get neither. She’s like “well, that’s your hobby then, if you like it, that’s fine”.

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won’t often introduce myself as “hi, I’m Ilse, and I love to penpal”. It’s something they find out along the way. My friends from Leuven usually find it pretty cool, although they might not be interested in doing something like that themselves and they might not understand the whole stationery and decoratinga-letter thing. S o m e t i m e s, when a friend is really close a n d they g o

Pen Pal Interviews: Ilse

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other messages back and forth, not limiting ourselves anymore to the topic of stationery shops. At one point, Edina asked me a bit more about my trip and the practical aspects about it and when I mentioned I had some trouble finding couch surfing hosts in two of the cities I wanted to visit, she suddenly surprised me by saying that I could stay over at her place! The cities I mentioned weren’t too far away so it would be a good base she said. Since we had already messaged each other that much, I really felt like I was going to visit a friend and the days we spend together were wonderful indeed. Strictly seen, she’s not a penpal, but since we did meet each other on the interpals website and are still in touch on it, I thought it’s still a story worth mentioning here.

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story from your Penpalling experience? It probably sounds a bit cliché, but penpalling allows me to meet people I’d never get to know in real life. I’m not only talking about a distance issue, but also about personalities. Sometimes people think in boxes and we easily judge on the way people look, but penpalling makes people look further than that. It happened the other way around as well. There was this ‘dark’, interesting girl whose profile I liked but I thought she would find me too superficial so I didn’t contact her. She had noticed that I visited her profile though, and guess what? She contacted me whether I’d be interested in being penpals. I’m still happy she did that. Another nice story is that when I was preparing my trip to Romania, I decided to look for Romanian people who are into snail mail on interpals to ask them about stationery / postcard shops over there. I got into this conversation with Edina and we kept sending each

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about my country or to learn the language, I’d be hesitant. When I What are you have a penpal, I’d like to looking for in a talk about what’s going penpal? on in my life, what Someone who can keeps me occupied. become a friend. I Getting to know each really believe that it’s other is the main not necessary to meet reason for penpalling someone in real life for me, all the rest is to build a friendship. just a bonus. Same goes Letters can do the for decorating letters. trick as well. It’s just Although I love doing different. Sometimes that myself, it’s not a penpals may get to see must. Of course I like other sides to me than it when a penpal does my “real life” friends do. this, but the message And it probably works that’s in the letter is still the other way around as the main thing. well. I can talk of some penpals as if they were Where do you “real life” friends. I can find new Penpals care about them just as from? Do you much. rely on FBs or So, what do I find Facebook or important in a penpal? other websites/ That he/she makes blogs? it possible to get a Usually I find them connection. By that I in livejournal groups, mean what I already or interpals. I try to mentioned before: avoid FB’s because I keep the conversation generally just don’t like going. And you don’t that concept. But we do that when you all have to do what we just give the shortest feel best about and if I, possible answers to my by accident, get a FB, I’ll questions, nor when search for someone to you don’t mention pass it forward. It’s not anything I said in your like I’ll break the chain, letter at all. I’ve noticed but I’d rather they not it’s good to have send me it in the first more or less the same place. view on penpalling. If someone just wants Tell us a funny/ to be penpals to know interesting

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Are you searching for new Penpals? If yes, please give us some contact information that we can publish in the magazine so that people can write to you back. See previous question. Like I said, it just wouldn’t be fair to my new penpals, who

already have to wait way too long for a reply.

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fun frequency for me. Nowadays I send and receive one a month … Most of my penpals seem to have adapted that slower pace right now. See, back in September I started life as a working girl, in November I started living by myself and last February then I moved. I’m still looking to find a good balance between duties (such as work and the household) and things I like to do. So far I’m really still in search of that, always being behind with letters. I’m very aware of the fact that my penpals have to be patient with me the past few months and I hope it’ll get better soon. For now I decided not to take any new penpals because it just wouldn’t be fair to my current penpals. No matter how interesting new people may be.

How do you keep track of your mail? Share your tip on how to organize ourselves. I keep all letters in a small cupboard. I used to organize them by name, but since I moved it got a bit 39

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Have you met a penpal? If so, let us know how the meeting went. I met two penpals, though one of them is more like a livejournalfriend than a penpal, since we don’t write each other very often… So, one time I met my English friend. When I was on a holiday with a friend in London, she came over to visit me and we had a really nice afternoon together. She took me to all kinds of cute shops and we had a lovely lunch. The other

What do you usually like writing/reading about in the letters? Anything that keeps my penpal occupied! I like to discover what they’re busy with or what’s on their mind. It can be daily chitchat, or deep conversations. Both are nice to read. As I said before: the trick is to keep the letter being some kind of dialogue. Make sure you’re not just writing a diary, but let the other person be a part of your letter, either by

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I don’t have a visa card of my own it’s no longer an option.

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Do you swap things? Do you like sending gifts to friends? If yes, what is the most

funny gift you have ever sent/ received? I don’t really swap things, but sometimes close penpals send me gifts on special occasions and I do the same for them. One time my Australian friend sent me an Australiapackage which I totally adored. It included a CD of the Australian singer Sia, a cookie cutter in the shape of her country and a “come on aussies!” scarf. Usually we send each other small things though, so that it can fit in an envelope. A couple of times, I’ve ordered online, to avoid high shipping costs, but since

disappointed myself. I’ve ordered three times online so far, one time I did this huge order on www.angoomart.com and the other two times were big orders on www. janetstore.url.tw . Both e-shops have a good service, sharp prices and great items. Here in Belgium traditional shops don’t often offer stationery that’s suitable for penpalling, but the postcrossing subforum of my language (so basically the Netherlands and Belgium) has a special topic where we keep each other updated on the rare offers of nice stationery traditional shops have.

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the other person never wrote back… It seems like a terrible way to end a penfriendship. So whenever someone doesn’t hear from me and wonders whether I got the letter or whether I sent a letter, they can just ask me (obviously) or check the blog. If you want to get an idea of what it looks like, you can find it at ilsespenpals.wordpress. com, but I have to note I got this idea from a penpal myself.

asking questions or by and then I fold it around reacting on things he/ an existing envelope, make sure I leave a bit she said. extra space to glue, and then cut out the When it comes to right shape and glue it making cute and personal letters, together. Make sure to leave one end open so everyone has his/ that you can still put the her own style. letter inside it (classic Tell us your trick mistake one could how to make a make). Piece of cake, letter/envelope trust me! I usually finish unique? Do you decorate it? If yes, it up with decotapes for how?! Give us some two reasons: it’ll stick together better and it’ll tips on how to look nicer, because the make the letters more interesting. parts of the front image The trick? There are you have over the back lots of tricks I think! If image (to stick them you want it easy and together, remember?) be visible don’t have much time, won’t you can always look for anymore. You can just stationery that’s already have the decotape over nice-looking the way it it, which will make it is. If you do have time, look like a smoother you can keep yourself transition - well, that’s busy decorating paper what I think. in all kinds of ways: use rubber stamps, Where do you buy decotapes, stickers, … your stationery or why not draw things supplies from? or make collages? It’ll Do you prefer reflect your personality traditional shops so there’s not much or e-shops? If so, you can do wrong, give us some links. trust me. I love to make I prefer traditional envelopes myself too. shops because it’s easier To do so, I just cut to pay and because you out two big pictures can really see what from a magazine (the you’re buying. I know ‘lookbook’ section in e-shops have pictures, glamour magazine but sometimes it looks or advertisements for different in reality. example work out fine) Not that I have been

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more chaotic… I really should try to make a new birthday calendar as well, as the other one got lost while moving, but then I should contact all my penpals or search for the birthdays in – usually – their first letter and that could take a while :/. Sounds more like a job for during holidays. For keeping track of mail I use a blog, with basically one entry that counts, it’s one I keep editing when mail comes in or goes out. I decided to do this because I’ve heard stories about mail getting lost and people who stopped writing because they thought

time I met my Polish friend Kama, who was once again traveling around. She had decided to drop by my city and it was a really nice afternoon as well. We might meet again in Summer, but it’s not decided yet. There are other penpals I’d love to meet (although it would also be okay if we’d never meet), but we haven’t really spoken about it yet or the distance – with budget / time issues – is a still a problem. For example, my Australian penpal invites me every year to her birthday party… in Australia.

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Pen Pal Interviews: Ilse

As I mentioned earlier, I’m not looking for any new penpals at the moment, but if you’re somehow dying to contact me or really need to ask me something, you can contact me via my interpals profile (http:// www.interpals.net/ winglessdreamer) or my livejournal page (non-members can comment there as well, http:// w i n g l e s s d r e a m e r. livejournal.com). 41

PEN PAL INTERVIEWS: YANELIS

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also into it or they give you the “strange” faces? My “real life” friends think it is waste of time. They do not understand how I can tell pen pals

Do you still stay in touch with your first penpal? Tell us about your first penpal even if you have lost touch with them. We might be able to help you locate him/her.

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brightens up, and at the same time to know that someone’s face will bright up when they get mine too. I dislike how sometimes the correspondence can get lost.

How many Penpals do you have? Where are they from? Right now I have 63 pen pals. About 16 or so right every week and about 20 once a month. I have others who will write every few months, once a year for birthday or something. They are from here in the USA, from England, Scotland, Mexico, Brazil, New Zealand and all over the world.

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stamps.. $$$

I do still stay in touch with Selena, my first pen pal of 17 years. She is 2 years younger than me. She resides in Italy and we have never met, however I wish and hope one day we will. She and I still write and we are also friends on facebook.

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things so personal and spend money on stamps and other items for total strangers. Now they are used to it. I do encounter the store clerk always asking why I purchase so many postcards and the post office they love me when I go in for

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Cuba in 1979 and now I If you have to reside in Tampa, Florida describe yourself USA. I love pen paling, in only 5 words photography, reading, what would they writing, collecting be? postcards, magnets. I Honest, Sincere, Loyal, love to travel. Adventurous, Loving.

How do your friends react when they discover you are into Penpalling? Are they

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Hello there! How are you doing? Tell us more about yourself, your hobbies, personal life, interests. Hi, My name is Yanelis Gourrie, I was born in

How did you start penpalling? When was that? And why did you decide to start Penpalling? I started pen paling when I was 14 years old, I replied to an ad on a magazine and I do still keep in touch with that first pen pal. She lives in Italy and it has been an amazing experience to still stay in touch so many years later and kind of have grown together as kids, teenagers, and now adults. I started pen paling out of curiosity and here I come and I would not trade for anything.

correspondence? I love getting something in the mail that you do not expect – a letter, a postcard, a swap or just a simple hello. It is amazing how my face

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Tell us something about your town, city or country. Tampa is a city in Florida. We are about an hour from Orlando. We are surrounded by beautiful beaches Clearwater, Indian Rocks, St Pete and it is at times a little boring, but at other times there is a lot going on. We have some amazing clubs, some great theater and the best beaches and museums.

Are you searching for new Penpals? If yes, please give us some contact information that we can publish in the magazine so that people can write to you back. Always.. Here is how to contact me: Yanelis Gourrie PO Box 27321 Tampa, Florida 33623, USA 43

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meeting a few. In august I will be travelling to England to meet a few pen pals.

I like to make it unique for each pal. The stickers to decorate, what do they like, for example if they like monkeys, try some monkey stickers. If they dislike frogs, make sure I do not put any frog stickers.. I do decorate the letters and envelopes.

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Where do you buy your stationery supplies from? Do you prefer traditional shops or e-shops? If so, give us some links. I use ebay, dollar store or swaps.

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When it comes to making cute and personal letters, everyone has his/ her own style. Tell us your trick how to make a letter/ envelope unique? Do you decorate

it? If yes, how? Give us some tips on how to make the letters more interesting.

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What do you usually like writing/ reading about in the letters? I like to write almost as if I am having a conversation with my pen pal. So when they read it is not like reading a letter, but hearing me. I like to write about what has been going on in my life, what I think, my thoughts, and ask lots of questions to them and be involved.

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yanelis.gourriel@hotmail.com or penpalsforlife@live.com www.facebook.com/penpalsforlife@live.com https://www.facebook.com/yanelis.gourriel

Where do you find new Penpals from? Do you rely on FBs or Facebook or other websites/ blogs. Since opening my new dream on facebook Pen Pals For Life www.facebook. com/penpalsforlife I have been able to find pals. Until then I just put it new pals there. I also use on a pile. friendship books and Websites. Do you swap things? Do you like sending Tell us a funny/ gifts to friends? interesting If yes, what is the story from funniest gift you your Penpalling have ever sent/ experience? received? I do not have any, sorry. Yes, I do swap things like postcards, magnets, How do you keep pencils, stickers, fbâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, and track of your mail? anything that my pals Share your tip on wants to that I can get here. how to organize ourselves. Have you met a I have a binder where I penpal? If so, let have info sheets on all my us know how the pen pals and also keep meeting went. track of when I write, what I Yes, I have met a few. I met send, and when they reply. Amanda here inTampa and Birthday and holidays cards. we had coffee for about 3 Very organized and works hours or so and now we for me. Pen Pals do not go will be going to the beach on the binder until after 5 on the 14th. I also met a letters that is when I know few others here in Tampa we will be established pen and right now planning on

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What are you looking for in a penpal? Someone honest that will think of our friendship as an everlasting friendship, where 20 years from now we can still be friends.

PENPAL INTERVIEWS: EMMA MORRIS

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Do you swap things? Do you like sending gifts to friends? If yes, what is the funniest gift you have ever sent/ received? I love swapping and sending gifts. I send different things from handmade items made by myself to jewelry or cosmetics. I have been sent lots of lovely things – baby clothes (for my children), tea (!!), cookbooks, stickers, jewelry ...the list goes on. Although friendship is more important than presents ;-).

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Tell us a funny/ interesting story from your Penpalling experience? I was writing to a lovely lady, and I realized that she actually only lived and worked in one of the next villages to my mother and father in law. It was quite funny at the time, it is a very small world.

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Where do you find new Penpals from? Do you rely on FBs or Facebook or other websites/ blogs? Sandbook or interpals, I don’t use addresses from FB’S.

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emmaohwow@aol.com Facebook Emma Morris/Emma Ohwow or Em’s Lovely Treats (for all things cake!) Em’s Lovely Treats, Baking and the other bits

What are you looking for in a penpal? A friendly, chatty letter. Honesty and non judgemental. Sometimes there is a delay in replies or I can receive a sad letter, but that’s life and I try to send them back some positivity or a nice card.

mail? Share your tip on how to organize ourselves. I keep all my new letters in a letter rack and reply as soon as I can, and keep all letters that I have replied to in a box. At the end of each year I put the years worth of letters away, I never throw them away. I also keep the stamps in a stamp folder, so that in a few years time, I can show these to my daughters.

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How did you start penpalling? When was that? And why did you decide to start Penpalling? I started penpalling in January 2009, I had just had my first baby and as I have always been used to full time work or study, I felt a bit lonely at home. I will never ever regret

I feel like I have just the right number to remember each letter, and to keep up regularly.

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Hello There! How are you doing? Tell us more about yourself, your hobbies, personal life, interests. Hello, My name is Emma, I am 25 years old and I live in England UK. I am really good at the moment and enjoying life to the full, I am a mum of two girls (aged 9 months and 2 1/2 years) and wife to Russell. I currently work part time and my hobbies and interests include baking, penpalling (of course), shopping and travel. If you have to describe yourself in only 5 words what would they be?

Tell us something about your town, city or country. I live in Letchworth Garden City, It is one of England’s two garden cities and it was the first in the world. It was founded by Ebenezer Howard, and inspired other garden cities around the world such as Welwyn garden city (a neighbouring city to me) and many other towns. It is a pretty city with lots of trees, gardens, greenery and a 13.1 mile country path that goes around the edge of the city via countryside, farms, parks and villages

it! I have made some it’s anything other amazing and inspiring than brilliant to have friends. I find I can tell penpals!! my penpals anything without them judging Do you still stay in touch with your me! first penpal? Tell us about your What do you like first penpal even / dislike about if you have lost Penpalling/ touch with them. correspondence? I dislike it when you We might be able are in the middle of a to help you locate good friendship that him/her. has lasted at least a few Yes, I do! In fact, I have 1 months and then your new penpal, the other penpal stops writing, pals I have had since I I find that upsetting, I started penpalling! My would rather they were first UK penpal keeps in honest or put a postcard touch when she can but in the post to say they not on a regular basis are unable to write for and my first European penpal writes every whatever reason. fortnight or so. How do your How many Penpals friends react do you have? when they Where are they discover you are from? into Penpalling? Are they also into I have 5 (just right for me) they are from it or they give England, Malaysia, you the “strange” Faroe Islands, Germany faces? The majority of my and Belgium. friends think it’s really great, and I am not Are you searching ashamed to tell them. for new Penpals? After all the people I If yes, please give write to have become us some contact good friends of mine information that too ;-) I have learned we can publish in so much about other the magazine so cultures and countries; that people can it would be hard for write to you back. my friends to say that I am not at the moment,

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Lively, fun, artistic, friendly, humerous.

Have you met a penpal? If so, let us know how the 47

PENPAL INTERVIEWS: EMMA MORRIS

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lives, hopes and dreams, decorate it? If yes, good things that have how. Give us some happened such as tips on how to births, milestones etc!! make the letters One of my pals had her more interesting. book published last year I always use brightly stationary that was amazing to coloured read about!! (which doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be expensive) and lots of stickers, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hand When it comes to What do you usually like making cute and decorate my letters but personal letters, like them to be pretty. I writing/reading everyone has his/ also use decorated tape about in the to tape my envelopes letters? her own style. I like writing and Tell us your trick up (as sadly things reading about pretty how to make a can go missing in the post!) and I also use much anything. I write/ letter/envelope read about day to day unique? Do you personalized address

labels. Where do you buy your stationery supplies from? Do you prefer traditional shops or e-shops? If so, give us some links. I use letterset.com, paperchase (UK Shop chain) and Phonex Trading UK - I am a phoenix seller ;-) you can buy phoenix items in the UK, France, Australia or New Zealand only.

http://www.facebook.com/Penpalsforlife Please join our page: http://www.facebook.com/Penpalsforlife, where we are a friendly, family oriented and friendship everlasting page of pen pals. We have daily communication (alsmost 24/7), over 1550 members and growing everyday. We have Giveaways, contest, virtual friendship book, Daily question of discussion,member of the week, photos, tips on pen paling and newsletter. Join us today and become part of a great pen pal page. We love to be your pen pal. Thanks,

Yanelis Gourrie

Pen Pals For Life Owner/President

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meeting went. I have not yet met a penpal but aim to meet my German pal this year and have invited my Malaysian pal to stay when the time is right for her!

PENPAL INTERVIEWS: HEATHER CARRABIS HEATHER.CARRABIS@GMAIL.COM

How do your friends react

What are you looking for in

How do you keep track of your mail? Share your tip on how to organize ourselves. YES. i HAVE A AN INDEX CARD FOR EACH PERSON. IT HAS THEIR

ADDRESS, E-MAIL ADDY, FACEBOOK, BIRTHDAY, WHEN RECIEVED AND SENT ALSO INTEREST, HOBBIES AND IF THEY COLLECT ANYTHING. Do you swap things? Do you like sending gifts to friends? If yes, what is the most funny gift you have ever sent/received?

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YES TO BOTH. FUNNIEST GIFT EITHER SENT OR RECIEVED? HMMMMM. I DONT THINK ANYTHING STANDS OUT AS FUNNY.

UPCOMING PLANS, WHAT HAPPENED ON VACATION (HOLIDAY), HOW WAS UR HOLIDAYS ETC. When it comes to making cute and Have you met a personal letters, penpal? If so, let everyone has his/ us know how the her own style. Tell meeting went. us your trick how NOT YET. to make a letter/ envelope unique? What do you usually Do you decorate it? like writing/reading If yes, how. Give us about in the letters? some tips on how LIFE, WHAT IS GOING ON, to make the letters

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What do you like / dislike about Penpalling/ correspondence? LIKE: MEETING PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD, DISLIKE: NOT BEING ABLE TO READ SOME LETTERS DUE TO SLOPPY HANDWRITING.

Are you searching for new Penpals? If yes, please give us some contact information that we can publish in the magazine so that people can write to you back. ALWAYS! HEATHER.CARRABIS@ GMAIL.COM OR HEATHER CARRABIS; 46 SOUTH STREET; WESTBOROUGH, MA 01581; USA

P e n pa l s from? Do you rely on FBs or Fac e b o o k or other websites/ blogs? FACEBOOK AND MAGAZINES. AND SOMETIMES FB'S. Tell us a funny/interesting s t o r y from your Penpalling experience? CANT THINK OF ONE.

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How many Penpals do you have? Where are they from? I HAVE ABOUT 60ISH. THEY ARE FROM ALL OVER.

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How did you start penpalling? When was that? And why did you decide to start Penpalling? I STARTED PEN PALLING ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I WAS BORED AND SICK OF NEVER HAVING SOMETHING TO DO SO I "GOOGLED" "PENPALS" CAME UP WITH WWW.INTERPALS. NET AND I HAVE BEEN VERY HAPPY WITH IT EVER SINCE.

Do you still stay in touch with your first penpal? Tell us about your first penpal even if you have lost touch with them. We might be able to help you locate him/her. I STILL STAY IN TOUCH WITH MY FIRST PENPAL! APRIL IS A VERY NICE GIRL FROM NC.

a penpal? SOMEONE THAT IS NICE, EASY GOING AND HAS AN OPEN MIND.

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Tell us something about your town, city or country. I LIVE OUTSIDE OF BOSTON, MASS. ONE OF THE ORIGIANAL TOWNS OF THE UNITED STATES. WONDERFUL CITY TO LIVE AROUND.

when they discover you are into Penpalling? Are they also into it or they give you the “strange” faces? THEY THINK IM NUTS AND GIVE ME THAT STRANGE LOOK

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If you have to describe yourself in only 5 words what would they be? FUNNY, SMART, OUTGOING, LIKEABLE.

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Heather Carrabis 46 South Street Westborough, MA 01581 USA

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Facebook: SEARCH FOR ME BY MY NAME (HEATHER CARRABIS) OR BY MY E-MAIL HEATHER.CARRABIS@GMAIL.COM

more interesting. IF I HAVE STICKERS WITH ME I TEND TO USE THEM. Where do you buy your stationery supplies from? Do you prefer traditional shops or e-shops? If so, give us some links. I USUALLY BUY MY PAPER ON SALE AT TARGET OR OTHER PAPER STORES. OR PEN PALS SHARE SOME OF THEIRS WITH ME. 51

PEN PAL INTERVIEWS: JADE STEPHENSON

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am a Psychology student and I love arts and crafts and music! I do swaps with kawaii (cute in Japanese) things. I love anything on Hello Kitty, Sanrio and have many photos of my Facebook page. I also love friendship booklets. I have a fat cat called Melly and she is 11. I rescued her from the Animal Welfare League. She has a Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/ group.php?gid=152393801931 She has more friends that me!! Other members post their pics of their kitties too. Video's of cats

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Hello there! How are you doing? Tell us more about yourself, your hobbies, personal life, interests. Hi my name is Jade Stephenson.

I am 27 years old and have been penpalling for over 3 years now! I live on the Gold Coast, Australia. I

Jadestephenson83@hotmail.com Facebook user: http://www.facebook.com/JadeStephenson Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/Jadegreen83 http://www.etsy.com/shop/Jadegreen83?ref=si_shop: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=152393801931

using the toilet!! I also love making wind chimes. Mushroom wind chimes. Here is a link www.etsy.com/shop/ jadegreen83. I also have a Facebook page of it as well. http:// www.facebook.com/pages/ Whimsical-Mushroom-WindChimes/113035898781958. I have turn tables and love electronic music. I mix music and love the Internet! I also love post cards. Great post card site at http://www. postcrossing.com/ it's where you get an address, just a random one then when they receive it your

address gets released into the system and some other person from who knows where sends you a post card! Easy to use as well. If you have to describe yourself in only 5 words what would they be? Artistic, Free spirit, Loyal, Loving. Tell us something about your town, city or country. The Gold Coast, Australia is the biggest multi-cultural city in Australia! It has beach all up the coast with high rises. Suburbs are

lovely with big lawns and beautiful gardens. We have many different cultures living in Surfers Paradise. The party capital of the world! Loads of night clubs and always something on for the family. We have many theme parks on the Gold Coast. Dreamworld, Wet n wild, Warner Bros Movie World plus the biggest shopping centre in Queensland! Food is fantastic here. We have my favorite Japanese food, Tai, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Italian, Mexican, Brazilian, Vegetarian, and of course Australian foods like hot chicken 53

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PEN PAL INTERVIEWS: JADE STEPHENSON

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rolls, pies and sausage rolls! How did you start penpalling? When was that? And why did you decide to start 54

Penpalling? My interest in letter writing began when I was very young. My family took me away to Byron Bay about 3 hours drive from where I live. It was the annual camping

trip. My grandmother raised me and had a VW camper van. The old 70s style. Bright yellow! My Nan would buy me arts and crafts and cute stationary to do. Sitting on the beach, in our lovely

camping grounds on the cooking table. My fondest memories of my Grandparents are from this holiday. So we went into town and on the way was a youth carnival . There I remember meeting

a group leader lady. At the age of ten, I felt close to her and was sad that I could never see her again! So I asked her if she could please write to me? The next day I went back and gave her my address.

She gave me my first decorated letter to me!! I remember little doggies on the envelope. I read it so many times and kept it in my pocket throughout my holiday. I did write to her a few times but lost contact. 55

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PEN PAL INTERVIEWS: JADE STEPHENSON

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A few years ago, I thought I'd try finding some penpals! I googled penpal sites and found a few. I tried at first and got a whole lot of junk coming through my email. Then 3 years ago I looked on facebook. I found so many and posted an add! I got many responses and have had up to 25 penpals 56

at a time. Today I have 11! All girls that are my best friends! We talk about everything. Our highs and lows. Even though we are so far away, with technology and snail mail I feel as close as can be! We do swaps, arts and crafts, ATC's (Artist trading cards), birthday cards and presents. Hand made cards and of course

beautifully written letters from these amazing women, What do you like / dislike about Penpalling/ correspondence? The thing I like about penpalling/ correspondence is that their will always be someone their to talk too. My penpals are on facebook too so because

they're from all over the world usually one in online to chat too! I love getting wonderful letters that are decorated and are one of a kind. Just for me! I love checking my mail box every week day wondering if I'll get a letter today! and I especially love the fact that I have made such wonderful girlfriends that I will

be friends with for a life time! The things I dislike about Penpalling/ correspondence is that it can be quite hard to find a loyal penpal. If you keep trying (like I did) you will find some lovely friends. Stick it out and keep writing! Try not to prejudge. Remember, they are probably nothing like the mental

picture you have in your head. Another thing is some penpals you can send little sticker gifts for months and months and they won't send you back. It can be dishear tening, maybe just mention that it bothers you. Be honest! Also postage can be expensive so light 57

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How many Penpals do you have? Where are they from?

Are you searching for new Penpals? If yes, please give us some contact information that we can publish in the magazine so that people can write to you back.

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Do you still stay in touch with your first penpal? Tell

I have 11 penpals currently. From: Japan x 2, China (Macau), Portugal, France, USA x 2, Holland, Austria, Italy, U.K, and Germany!! I have been writing to these girls for over 3 years now.

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us about your first penpal even if you have lost touch with them. We might be able to help you locate him/her? No, I didn't stay in touch with my very first penpal. It was the lady from the youth group in Byron bay. It was magical and without the technology to track her down then it was impossible. I unfortunately don't have the special letter any more. Refer back to question 4

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How do your friends react when they discover you are into Penpalling? Are they also into it or they give you the â&#x20AC;&#x153;strangeâ&#x20AC;? faces? Well! I have had some very interesting reactions. Apparently I don't 'look' like the type of person (didn't know we had a look?) who is into penpalling! I have told friends and they laugh and call me a nerd! It doesn't bother me because I know they're missing out!!

I have tried to get some friends into penpalling and they've been quite blunt about not wanting to do 'that sort of thing'. Worried about other people having their address ect or what other people will think of them. I don't have any friends in my own country that are into penpalling. Their is a silly stigma with the whole thing that is very 1980s!! Penaplling is for people who like something different! Not just email.

tip on how to organize ourselves. The way I keep track of mail is I have my adorable address book that I have come quite attached too. I write all their names down and have a sent, received tally system. Just to keep track I write what they've sent me and what I've sent them!! As long as you tick it off when you are putting the letter in the envelope, it's fantastic. Hasn't failed me yet! I save all my letters in a big cake tin!!! I need a second one soon xo

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postage things are great!

com/JadeStephenson One of those any ways! this is my facebook page I love to listen and give if anyone would like to be advice if asked xo my penpal Where do you find If you are searching for new Penpals from? penpals place an add on Do you rely on FBs these facebook pages. This is or Facebook or other websites/ where I found mine. blogs. www.facebook.com/group. I have found penpals from www.postcrossing.com php?gid=99995323823 as well! Mainly facebook www.facebook.com/group. sites. Seem to be the most reliable and you can find php?gid=6620365988 out about the person www.facebook.com/group. you're writing to. Also if you are lucky enough to php?gid=57760883466 receive a full friendship www.facebook.com/group. booklet that you have to return. I become penpals php?gid=277001090665 from friendship booklets www.facebook.com/group. too. php?gid=2342338080 Tell us a funny/ www.facebook.com/group. interesting story from php?gid=244409311846 your Penpalling www.facebook.com/group. experience? Well in January of this php?gid=6101967739 year I posted a letter to my penpal in Italy! What are you Through facebook every looking for in a week I asked her if she penpal? I am looking for females had received it yet? Every that would like a life time week the answer was no. friend. Any one that is :( So I stopped asking. The into Jewellery making/ minute I stopped asking swapping, Sanrio, cats, she emailed me and said arts and crafts, ATCs (Artist that she finally received it!! Trading Cards), Stickers 4 months later. Better later and stationary, post cards, than never right? LOL!! We poetry, reading, wii games were cracking up about it. (so we can verse each other on MarioKart and Animal How do you keep Crossing). The Internet, track of your etsy, Twitter, Skype, MSN. mail? Share your

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PEN PAL INTERVIEWS: JADE STEPHENSON

Do you swap things? Do you like sending gifts to friends? If yes, what is the funniest gift you have ever sent/ received? Yes I love doing swaps!!! I swap things that are kawaii (cute in Japanese) like pens, handmade cards, jewellery, 59

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PEN PAL INTERVIEWS: JADE STEPHENSON

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I love cupcakes as well. So it will likely have some of those going on!! Where do you buy your stationery supplies from? Do you prefer traditional shops or e-shops? If so, give us some links. Most of my stationary I buy from www.etsy. com search kawaii. www.ebay.com search Hello Kitty papers and all the individual characters. Very very cheap and most are free postage!! So that's me. I spent a lot of time on it. I hope I get it published! Jade Stephenson

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What do you usually like writing/reading about in the letters? I usually like writing about things in my life. Books, friends anything I have previously stated. I like reading about anything you would like to tell me! I will not judge you!

When it comes to making cute and personal letters, everyone has his/ her own style. Tell us your trick how to make a letter/envelope unique? Do you decorate it? If yes, how. Give us some tips on how to make the letters more interesting. My style is love hearts, stamped hand made envelopes, recycled papers, stickers, art it depends on how I feel. Always pretty. Hello kitty paper and envelopes. I even design my own on Illustrator.

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meeting went. No I haven't met any of my penpals but I speak to them through skype, video and chat. So I'd like to think so! At first talking and seeing them was very strange. Then I almost craved talking to them once a week!

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wind chimes, stickers, friendship booklets, post cards, hanging window chimes, I love sending gifts to friends because all of mine are handmade! The funniest parcel I have ever received was a letter that I opened that burst open with glitter!! GLITTER BOMB! It was all over me and took weeks to finally see the end of the stuff!! So funny, we laughed for a while. I had no idea she was doing that. Then every letter I received from her I opened with caution.

Do you run a business? Would you like to generate more interest and income for your business? If so, Glass Completely Empty Productions is looking for you! Once the pen-palling film is finished we're going to take it on the road for a global tour. We're looking for pen-pals who run businesses to join us by running stalls at the exhibition. It doesn't matter if your business isn't letter writing related, we want to invite everyone to take part! If you'd like to take part, please email Rae with the nature of your business and she'll put you on the list: rae@glasscompletelyempty.co.uk

PEN PAL INTERVIEWS: SUI

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Have you met a penpal? If so, let us know how the meeting went. Yes I have met 7 of my penpals so far from Hong

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If you have to describe yourself in only 5 words what would they be? If I had to describe myself in 5 words it would be cheeky, What do you like naughty, sacastic, tough and / dislike about friendly. Penpalling/ correspondence? Tell us something I like penpalling cause you about your town, get to write to different city or country. people around the world I live in Porirua, which is part that could have the same

Do you still stay in touch with your first penpal? Tell us about your first penpal even if you have lost touch with them. What are you We might be able to help looking for in a you locate him/her. Yes I'm penpal? still in contact with my first Someone penpal. He is from Nigeria that has and now livingi in Canada. honesty We had lost contact for a while there and then I found Where him again on Facebook. :) do you find new How many Penpals do Penpals you have? Where are from? Do they from? At one point I had over 200 penpals, but that's come down in bumbers a bit. I have penpals from Canada, USA, Bermuda, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Guyana, Jamaica, Australia,

How do you keep track of your mail? Share your tip on how to organize ourselves. I write down in a book each

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How did you start penpalling? When was that? And why did you decide to start Penpalling? I started penpalling by accident really and that was back in 1982 when I wrote to someone in Mozambique. But I really started getting into penpalling in 1988 and got my first real penpal from a newspaper. I started penpalling to meet new people around the world and to learn about the different cultures etc that are out there.

Are you searching for new Penpals? If yes, please give us some contact information that we can publish in the magazine so that people can write to you back. Not at the moment, unless they want to be friends on Facebook.

Tell us a funny/ Do you swap things? interesting story Do you like sending from your Penpalling gifts to friends? experience? If yes, what is the Um...can't really remember funniest gift you any funny or interesting have ever sent/ stories, there's been so many received? so it's hard to single just one I usually just swap fbs and out. postcards.

Kong, two from New her own style. Tell Zealand, two from Germany, us your trick how Ireland and South Africa. All to make a letter/ the meets with my pals went envelope unique? Do well. We exchanged gifts you decorate it? If and just went and had lunch yes, how. Give us some somewhere and had a look tips on how to make around Wellington. One of the letters more my New Zealand stayed at interesting. my place for a couple of days. I usually just decorate it with stickers that's about it really, nothing too exciting. What do you usually like writing/reading about in the letters? Where do you buy Usually about what we have your stationery done since the last letter, supplies from? Do you what we like in common etc. prefer traditional shops or e-shops? If When it comes to so, give us some links. Usually from just the local making cute and shops from our shopping personal letters, centre. everyone has his/

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of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. Porirua has a population of around 50,000 and has a large Polynesian and Maori population.

day who I have got a letter from, when the letter arrived and when I have sent the letter off. I usually the letters in a folder.

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Hello there! How are you doing? Tell us more about yourself, your hobbies, personal life, interests. I'm fine thank you. I'm Sui Knowles, born and raised in Wellington New Zealand, I have one sister named Michelle, no brothers, my mother was from Samoa and my dad is from England. My hobbies and interests are reading, listenting to music, ancient cultures and civilazations, anthopology, researching family history, penpalling.

you rely on FBs or Facebook or other websites/blogs I usually find them in fbs or on Facebook..

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Sui Knowles [sui.knowles@gmail.com]

How do your friends react when they discover you are into Penpalling? Are they also into it or they give you the â&#x20AC;&#x153;strangeâ&#x20AC;? faces? They find it interesting that I write to many people around the world and ask how I got into it and stuff like that. Some give strange looks as if to say "why do you want to do that for?" but I just dismiss that.

New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Russia, Austria, Luexmbourg, Switzerland, Turkey, Belgium, England,Guernsey, Ireland, Egypt, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Seyechlles and some other places that I can't think of at the moment.

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interests and things in common as you. What I don't like about it is all the weirdos that are out there.

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How did you start

When it comes to making cute and personal letters, everyone has his/ her own style. Tell us your trick how to make a letter/ envelope unique? Do you decorate it? If yes, how. Give us some tips on how Do you swap things? to make the letters Do you like sending more interesting. gifts to friends? If I make my letter unique by yes, what is the most putting my own stickers on funny gift you have it and writing and around it. ever sent/received? Usually I put a lot of stickers Yes I do swap; I swap FB's, on the outside of the stationary, stickers, maps, envelope on the front and vacations guides, Christian back. books/materials, and a few other items. The funniest Where do you buy gift I have ever sent was your stationery the maps, vacations guides supplies from? and stickers to one of my Do you prefer penpals and she thought traditional shops or it was a hint and that I was e-shops? If so, give us sending her to that place as some links. a prize. I buy my stationary and other items at the dollar Have you met a stores or at Target. I go to my penpal? If so, let local Dollar Tree.

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If you have to describe yourself in only 5 words what would they be? Loving, Kind, Passionate, Caring, Strong

Tell us something about your town, city or country. My town is small and everyone knows everyone. I live in Saint Joseph, TN in the USA. It's small but it is home and I love it.

What do you usually like writing/reading about in the letters? I love to write/read about someone's life and about their families and what they like to do and the usual things that go on in someone's life.

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babysit m y niece and nephew during the week.

penpalling? When was that? And why did you decide to start Penpalling? I wanted some friends to talk to on a more personal level so I went on a free pen pal website and found a couple. But since I was on Facebook quite a bit I found some penpal groups on there and I joined and got more and I even made my own pen pal group. I love making new friends and hearing of others lives. I first started getting penpals in October of 2010.

How do you keep track of your mail? Share your tip on how to organize ourselves. What I did was went out and bought a 3-drawer plastic rolling container that I could put all my letters in one drawer, my envelopes and paper in another, and all the stuff I swap into another one. I also bought rubber-bands to wrap around the letters and I bought an address book to keep all my penpals names and addresses into that way I wouldn't have to keep looking back to the envelopes for the addresses.

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Hello there! How are you doing? Tell us more about yourself, your hobbies, personal life, interests. I am doing fine. My name is Kristy Griffin. I am 28 yrs old. Marriedforalmost3yrs.Ihave a 10 yr old daughter from my first marriage. We have a Miniature Schnauzer named Ally. She is just like another child to us. I love writing and being on Facebook. But I also hang out with family and friends. Text to friends and I

have anything funny or us know how the real interesting to say at the meeting went. moment I'm sorry to say. I have never met any of my Maybe in time. penpals.

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kristygriffin83@yahoo.com Facebook user: Kristy Lenise Griffin Twitter : makenziemom1

all over the world. I have What do you like most in the USA but I also / dislike about have some from England, Penpalling/ Great Britain, Germany, and correspondence? Guyana. I like making new friends Are you searching for new and learning of different Penpals? If yes, please give us places around the world. some contact information What I don't like is how that we can publish in the expensive it can sometimes magazine so that people wind up becoming. can write to you back. If you would like to become How do your friends penpals I am only looking react when they for USA at the moment. discover you are But you can find me on into Penpalling? Are Facebook. I am the owner they also into it or of the penpal group "World they give you the Pen Pals". You can find me by â&#x20AC;&#x153;strangeâ&#x20AC;? faces? searching my name "Kristy My friends don't have Lenise Griffin". a problem with me penpalling. They are also What are you into it as well and usually looking for in a that is how we became penpal? friends. I have no preference when it comes to penpals. I love Do you still stay in to learn about different touch with your places and different people first penpal? Tell so it doesn't matter. As long us about your first as they are nice and like to penpal even if you write then I will love them. have lost touch with them. We might Where do you find be able to help you new Penpals from? locate him/her. Do you rely on FBs or My first penpal was Lindsey Facebook or other Hartlaub and we are still in websites/blogs. contact. We even text to one I find new penpals on another and talk all the time Facebook. on Facebook. We are very close. Tell us a funny/ interesting How many Penpals story from do you have? Where your Penpalling are they from? experience? I have about 30 penpals I haven't been doing it right now and they are long enough I suppose to

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PEN PAL INTERVIWS: KRISTY GRIFFIN

PENPAL OF THE MONTH CONTEST

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Hello from California, USA! This is our interview with Amalia (Mally) Armas, who Are you searching for more nominated her penpal Larissa Handeland penpals? If so - write a short for our PENPAL OFTHE MONTH April 2011 message to the people who are Contest. She is going to share some of her reading this interview. pen palling experience with all of us. I always am! I am 27 (28, May 21) and I love to read fiction books & watch How long have you been movies. I’d love a pen pal who also loves penpalling? to read (any kind of book is fine). I also I started back when I was 14 but then I love swapping things in my letters and stopped. I love writing so I thought I’d find mailing postcards between letters. I don’t some friends & pen pals. So I started again expect the same in return but just know back in November. that I do love doing that. I collect stickers, postcards, cute stationary & pens. I am Doyou stillwrite (stay intouch) engaged with no kids. I am an animal with the first penpal with lover! I believe that’s it! :) whom you started penpalling? I wish I did but I don’t =( I would love to How did you come to know know how she is doing. FBs / How long have you been swapping them? Do you prefer typed or hand I actually received my first ones from written letters? Larissa. I didn’t know what an FB was. I don’t mind either one. Always thought it meant Facebook. LOL! Give some tips/idea how to Thank you, Larissa, for clarifying!

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Do you still write (stay in touch) with the first penpal with whom you started penpalling? Are you searching for more penpals? I sadly lost contact with my first penpal, though we If so - write a short message to the had had lots of good times/laughs, etc in the time people who are reading this interview. we did correspond. I hope that she’s still doing well. I am not actively looking for a new pal at the It would be fun to try to find her again one day. moment, though if my message struck a chord within you, don’t be afraid to say ‘hi’/shoot me a Do you prefer typed or hand written message! :) letters? I prefer handwritten letters as there is nothing How did you come to know FBs / How quite like the feeling of that paper in your hands, long have you been swapping them? seeing the style of that person, etc. It just makes I found out about FBs through my penpalling and that friendship more tangible in some ways. I have have been swapping those about as regularly as I my moments of typing my letters too.... sometimes have been penpalling.

How many penpals do you have? I have about 10. I had more but they just disappeared.

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How long have you been penpalling? I have been penpalling for over ten years... started in middle school and I have been hooked ever since!

How many penpals do you have? I only have a handful of penpals at the moment I’ve found that if you have too many, it takes the joy/ fun out of writing and makes it seem like a chore. I don’t like that. I like those personal letters between my pals that share the ups, downs and the sideways in life & get the joy out of writing. Viva la pen!

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And one day.... You are a 66Winner!

Hello from Texas, USA! This is our interview with Larissa Handeland, who is our PENPAL OF THE MONTH April 2011. She is going to share some of her pen palling experience with all of us.

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“Not only is Larissa my pen pal but she is also my friend. When I need advice - she is there. When I share some great news on Facebook - she is always there to make it an even bigger deal. We also send a TON of mail to each other. I do mean a TON. Between letters we send even more correspondence such as postcards or note cards. Also, we have SO much in common. If she loved here in California instead of Texas, she would be one of my best friends. Plus, she gets me hooked on some great things. I love Swap Bot because of her lol (I am officially addicted!). If she won, I know she would appreciate the prize because she is that kind of person. No matter how big or small - she appreciates anything and I love that. Mally”

Give some tips/idea how to make a letter more interesting? Write about a new place you’ve visited, new restaurant, new hobby of yours. Write about something that made you laugh, think, cry about. Write about your frustrations, things that make you happy. Dreams you have or aspirations that you are working toward. Don’t be afraid to write about something... and if you are concerned about if your pal would be interested in hearing about this or that, ask them before divulging.

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It all starts with filling out an application that’s available on our website and your nomination is done in no time.

make a letter more interesting? I always ask a lot of questions. That way they don’t have the “How do I answer to that?” thought. Also give lots of details about things. I like the same because it makes me feel like I’m there. Especially when it’s something exciting that happened.

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it helps in these busy times... and let’s your pen friend stay in the know of your going ons. Postcards are another great way when times get super busy that Mally & I keep in touch! It’s the little things that mean the most.

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Our PenPals of the Month April 2011 Amalia Montalvan-Armas from USA and Larissa Handeland from USA

LOST PENPAL

Samia Oumohand, France samgunsjovirow@yahoo.com 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: samgunsjovirow@yahoo.com

Sonia Hardoin (born 08-08-1973) 461 Rue de la Trapinière F-50000 Saint-Lô France (address valid until 1993)

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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. 69

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Katarina Långdahl, Sweden gulliolli@yahoo.com I'm looking for two lost pen friends. Mauy Burr who used to live on Taylor Avenue in East Brunswick, NJ. She's born 1973.I'm also looking for Ellen Blaze who used to live on Kane Street in Lackawanna, NY.

Marlene Miller, Ohio, USA marlene159@zoominternet.net 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 marlene159@zoominternet.net and put in message about her,thanks for any help you can give.

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Sarah Trewhitt, UK therose1972@hotmail.co.uk Hiya , This is not really for any one in particular .. but i used to pn pal about 5-6 year ago and had to give up for many many reasons .. i have started pen palling again over the past year and if there are any of my old pen pals out there that would like to get in touch then please do so.

Tina Jacobs (Nieman) ,USA tina70mercer@yahoo.com 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.

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michelle [voyles] lowe, usa lwmcll@yahoo.com Christina Santos - she was living in Chicago, IL, if I remeber right. I miss her letters and would love to find her!

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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Trisha Stevens, USA TStevens918@friendshipxpress.net Message for Lost PenPal : Not looking for anyone in particular, just wanted to let all my lost pen-pals know that I have not forgotten them. I have recently moved. Please contact me by email or at www.FriendshipXpress. net to get back in contact again. Thank you!

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).

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Maria Nieves (or Maria Neus) Estébanez Gutiérrez (born 29-03-1974) Carrer Briquets 1, entlo primero E-Barcelona 08033 Spain (address valid until 1991)

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Theda, Germany info.tiehsvd@forum-artium.net

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Then this is the section for you. Place your story about your Lost penpal and we will try to help you

Katharina Nöhring (was: Melter), Germany KathaNoehring@aol.com 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! l i k e

HAVE YOU LOST A PENPAL? YES? Reconnect!

Tom Todd, England lustywinos@yahoo.com Kara from Wichita Ks. We wrote for about 10yrs in the eighties. Queen fan.

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 - if you want you can leave your snail mail addresses but please note that the SandbookNet Team is not responsible for any spam (junk) mail that that may generate. We urge you to submit only digital contact information to protect your privacy! 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. 7) Ads are printed as they are submitted. We are not going to correct your messages, so please note to write them in “clean” way. What is the policy on Commersial Ads? If you would like to place a commercial ad for products or services, you will need to get in touch with us (email us at magazine@sandbook.net ). These Ads are going to be reviewed and negotiated with the respective companies. SandBook.Net Team

name : Angela Benton nkotbfan@live.com age : 29 country : United States Ad : I am 29 years old. Married and have 3 kids. I love nkotb. Facebook. Making new friends. Hot summer days, swimming, and birds chirping. I have 2 cats.

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name : Anastasia Email : aja23@yandex.ru age : 29 country : Russia Ad : Hello people! I’m an active penpaller for many years already and used to have many penpals but recently most of them stopped writing me or writing too seldom because they are too busy and I understood that I have only a few left. Thought these ones are very important for me, I still want to find some new friends About me: My name is Anastasia, I’m 29y.o. and I come from SaintPetersburg, Russia but I’d love to move to Europe at least for some time soon. For sure, I like my country but it would be exciting to live in other places of the world to see how people live there. At the moment I’m working as a secretary. I have 73

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name : Katarina kat.sweden@gmail.com 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.

name : Bev Email : BlondieBear75@ hotmail.com age : 35 country : Australia Ad : Hi All.....I am a stay at home mom of 4 from sunny Qld who would love to write to other Aussie’s. I have a wide range of 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.

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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 senior-year 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!

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or money. I have a boyfriend, and I enjoy taking pictures. I enjoy I’m a poor university student. :D concerts. I love music videos.

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Name: Radhia Age :43 Country: Tunisia 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; name : Jolene I am stay at home mom, looking Whiterose232006@yahoo.com for FEMALE snail mail pals from age : 28 all over the world. I like movies, country : USA reading; crocheting, cooking, Ad: Hello Everyone, I’m looking listening to music, postcards, for new pals & swappers. I swap stickers, Kawaii things, writing anything from FBs to Stickers. I’m letters and swapping; I like not accepting any new penpals sending and receiving little from overseas at this time but surprises in the letters. There’s I take any amount of pals & nothing more joyful than getting swappers. I’m always taking new a letter from a friend ;Enough of pals from Canada & USA. So feel bills in my mailbox! So! Let’s start free to drop me a line & I’ll get penpalling!. back to as soon as I can. My email is: Whiterose232006@ Name: Kimi yahoo.com Thanks, Jolene Age: 19 Country: Australia name : Natalie E-mail: kimberley. Email: natkenfloppy@ jensen91@gmail.com

Hello, potential future penpals! 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 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

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name : Martina Martina_J_@gmx.at age : 25 country : Austria Ad : Hello! I love it to find nice and long letters in my mailbox... you too? Then we should become penpals. My name is Martina and I am from Austria. I am looking for penpals around my age from anywhere in the world (female penpals only!). My hobbies/ interests include: writing/reading letters (of course), shopping, surfing the internet, traveling (I LOVE it), reading, movies, PS3, Wii, Nintendo DS, spending time with my boyfriend, going out and lots of other things... Interested? Please contact me at Martina_J_@gmx.at I am looking forward to hear from you!

hotmail.com age : 37 country : Canada Ad : Hi my name is Natalie and I’ve been paling for about 25 years (started when I was in grade 6) I like snail letters (I do still swap Fbs from time to time) and emails so either way is perfect for me. I love hearing from new people. I am married and have a 3.5 year old daughter who is the apple of my eye. Please email me at natkenfloppy@ hotmail.com and we will go from there. Hope to hear from you soon. Please no prisoners.

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name : Cécile ciloune@gmail.com age : 27 country : France Ad : Hello everybody, I’m looking for new penpals from all over the world, no matter where you come from :) I can write in french, english, spanish or romanian so feel free to contact me in your own language if it’s one of above. I love writing and receiving long letters. I love swapping things (stamps, stickers, magnets, stationery), sending small gifts from time to time ... I’m a school teacher, mum to be (in january) and I’d love to know you, you who are reading this ad :) Just contact me by mail at : ciloune@gmail. com and I’ll send you my snail

mail address.

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Gregory Lentz 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.

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PenPal and Swappers Ads

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Name : alison hepworth Email : malin@malin.karoo. co.uk Age : 44 Country : england Ad : hi there i am alison 44 mum to 4 23 to 16 live in town called hull uk hobbies are palling travelling

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Name : Stephanie Fatta Email : aveggiemom@yahoo.com Age : 30 Country : USA Ad : Hi everyone! I am a married mom of one son. I love pen palling and looking for new pen pals from the USA only please. I am looking for long term/sincere pals around my age. I enjoy reading, travel, pen palling, working out, healthy, beauty, blogging, houseplants, and so much more! Email me for my address if you are interested!

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name : Yvonne inkytrailers@yahoo.com age : 37 country : Netherlands Ad : Hiya! Thought I would give this a try as I am looking for a few new pals :). I am specifically

Name : Rosita Druijf roos.chimene@upcmail.nl Age : 38 Country : the Netherlands Ad : hello penpalfriends , im looking for long letter penpals who write regular about anything , love to hear your story`s . im almost 38 years old (12 february) , but feel more like 30 hahaha . my hobby`s and likes are : writting letters , swapping , walk with my dogs , photography , facebook , kawaii , diddl , disney and manny more , i will tell that in my letter . if you want to write with me , give me a message . happy writting everybody . greetings Rosita

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name : Victoria G nekrobows@yahoo.com age : 18 country : California USA Ad : Hello im from 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: nekrobows@yahoo.com

socializing with family and isn’t going to fit in here. Louise x friends. Quite a normal person I would think *grin*. If it did get name : Colleen you interested, I would love to contact me at: hear from you! Have a great day! Colleen Penpal on Facebook. Add me! name : Meli age : 45 manzalone@hotmail.de country : USA age : 28 Ad : Hello Friends... Colleen from country : Germany the USA saying hi to everyone!! Ad : Hey everyone, I’m looking for Love this magazine!! I am 45 and pen pals from New York, Las Vegas am from Wisconsin in the USA. and the Bay Area - California. I I have been penpalling on and love long handwritten letters, off since 1989. It’s an awesome swapping, horses, traveling, hobby. I love reading, 70s and 80s stationary, crafts and the USA. rock music, crafts, scrapbooking, Feel free to email me. journals, history, thrift stores, travelling, the paranormal, name : John Ferguson penpalling, and swapping fb’s/ Email : jferguson92200@ stickers/stationary. I also swap yahoo.com postcards. Short or long letter pals age : 26 welcome. Hope we can meet.... country : USA Ad : I like snail pen pal only in the Name : Phyllis Estep USA, & e-mail pen pal from all Email : over. My hobbies are collecting phyllisestep@live.com postcards, collecting wrestling Age : 60 cards, & many more. Especially Country : usa writing to people. Ad : Hello I am a 60 year old wife, mother and grandma. I would like name : Louise pen pals any ages. I will answer louisexmarie@gmail.com all. I will also swap fb, slams, post age : 21 cards, recipes and many other country : UK things. write me if you want a Ad : Hello! Hobbies; reading, faithful pal. phyllis Estep P.O. Box writing, penpalling, letters, 6311 christiansburg, va. 24068 music, films, walking, socializing, drawing. I am looking for email or Name : Henry snail mail. I’m looking for a penpal hbaker@rochester.rr.com that will write for a long time as Age : 57 i’m hoping to form a long-lasting Country : USA friendship. I’ve never swapped or Ad : I am disable gentleman collected anything but if you want looking for e-pals in USA only, to send me something then feel I like WWE wrestling, and law free. Anyways, email me and we books and action movies and can chat some more :) Everything country music

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name : Petra Schmied p.schmied02@gmx.at age : 40 country : Austria Ad : Hi, I am a 40-year-old 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.

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 theater, like to listen to music,

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I’m waiting for a letter from you

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lots of hobbies, just a few to 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 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

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Name: Lisa lisaluvsfbs@aol.com Age: 45 Country: usa My name is Lisa and i am 45 years old USA mother to two (ages 12 & 18) lisaluvsfbs@aol.com I am Native American/German/ Irish lady. I love making friends with ladies all over the world. I enjoy photography, swapping fbs, phone calls, music, family, God, learning about other cultures. I am especially looking for Middle Eastern ladies to correspond with, I traveled to the Middle East in 2007 and loved the people I met there. I am not looking to push religion, just make friendships. Would love to hear from other moms anywhere.

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Name : Katka Louzilova katerina174@post.cz Age : 34 Country : Czech Republic Ad : Hi, my name is Katka, I am 34, have 2 children, living in Prague. I love to write and recive letters , I would love to find penpals from all over the world. My hobbies include reading, cooking, travelling.

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(grown-NO grandchildren or daughters-in-law.Wants pen pals who like to write more than a paragraph. NO religious stuff please (I have my own religion). I have 3 dogs. Much more but will tell when you write.

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further! For the low price of postage, you can have all this in the form of a long letter life long snail mail pal who loves - loves, I say! - who loves the written word in all its guts and glory. I’m 41 with two grown children in college and an ornery old hubby I’ve had for 21 years. We have 1 black cat who’s 13 years old and a loveable crab apple. I enjoy so many things I can’t begin to list them but here a few of the highlights: Kawaii, penpalling, family, animals, ancient history, Regency romances, Dr. Who, AGT, sticker, Facebook, sci-fi, Name : Tonya Cassell writing... I collect Kawaii, Hello tazzymania2001@gmail. Kitty, stickers, s/p shakers, pens, com postcards, FBs, LBs, SBs. I swap Age : 36 postcards, FBs, LBS, SBs and take Country : United States all excess. I’m looking for ladies Ad : I love photography, pen only 30-50 from anywhere, paling, and collecting celebrity especially UK, Ireland, France, autographs. I collect celebrity Spain, Japan, Scotland. As autographs, Christmas village always, no men(happily married) pieces, china dolls, stuffed ,cons, Africa/Ghana(I’m no fool animals, and crystal figurines and I don’t have money to spare so forget it). Please put penpals Name : Nelda Dunlap and this site name in the subject rosepetunia69@gmail.com line so I don’t think you’re spam Age : 42 and delete you. I look forward to Country : USA hearing from all my new friends. Ad : Hello all my new friends. Nelda Dunlap 316 W. Tyler Av Are you looking for a devoted Charleston, Illinois 61920 USA snail mail penpal? One who will not stop writing after a couple Name : Sandra Walker of letters or who only writes Email: twice year? A penpal to talk southernrosebelle@ with about everything from yahoo.com the sublime to the ridiculous? Age : 59 A penpal who enjoys stuffing Country : USA letters, decorating envies and Ad : hobbies: collects postcards getting something in the mail and foreign coins. Loves to read. besides bills? Then look no Likes to cook. Married, 2 sons

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Name : Melissa G Holland Email : melissagholland@ hotmail.com Age : 35 Country : USA Ad : Hi my name is Melissa and I’m 35 yrs old. I’m looking for new pen pals in the USA only for right now. I enjoy collecting recipes,cookbooks, postcards,recipe postcards, stationary, Hello Kitty items, and so much more. I have been penpalling since 2006. My hobbies are making new friends, facebook, watching tv/movies, listen to music, penpalling, and hanging out with family and friends. Please email me if you want to pen pal with me. Sorry no prisoners or men plz.

Name : barbara glisczinski Email : yumyum1948@yahoo.com Age : 62 Country : united states Ad : Hello from Wisconsin.I am 62 a Type 2 Diabetic also am disabled.Looking for women from 35 to 80 to write to by snail mail.My interests are counted cross stitch, needlepoint, plastic canvas, knitting, latch hook, reading, gardening, cooking, crossword puzzles ,jigsaw puzzles and collecting postcards. Want worldwide penpals.

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Country : Germany Ad : Hello everyone out there, my name is Fabienne, but everyone says Fabi. I am 23 years old and a female. I am searching for LONG LETTER pen pals. No matter where you are from. My hobbies are writing, photographing and a lot more. I don’t mind your age or your gender. Just write me an email which makes me want responding right away. And mention Sandbook in your email (best would be: “Sandbook - pen pal” as your email subject). I would love to get to know you before writing letters to you. I am not sure if I can answer all messages, but I will sure try to. Write me a long email and your chances are getting better. I hope I will find some nice friends.

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reading music tv computer family my ps2, collecting wrestling i am after pals to wrtie from asia magazines, & much more. all europe usa canada australia new zealand, worldwide females Name : Karen for now. leahrosesmom@cox.net Age : 48 Name : Samantha Stroy Country : Georgia, USA Email : Ad : Hello, my name is Karen. I am a itsapenpalworld@gmail.com 48 year old single mom of a 7 year Age : 27 old daughter and a 23 year old Country : USA son, living in Middle Georgia USA. Ad : Hello everyone, Im looking I am new to penpalling and hope for some long letter penpals to share this hobby with my 7 year who enjoys a little bit of old daughter. I love reading books numerology,astrology,tarot, and (and reading long letters), classic twilight and vampire novels. rock music, arts & crafts (making SOmeone who likes to swap jewelry, crochet & cross stitch), various things that fit in an and blogging. I write poetry and envelope. I am a married stay at I love to take digital photographs. home mom of 3. I promise to write I hope to eventually swap FBs, back. Long letter pals only please.. and postcards. I am looking for a I love reading,writing,shopping,di female penpal, preferably around vination,hello kitty, and so much my age, in the US, a mom and a more.. Hope to hear from you all Christian is a plus. I can write short, soon. long or medium letters. I can be reached at leahrosesmom@cox. Name : Mandee net. Thanks! Email : southernfaith@live.com Name : Stefanie Age : 27 stef.langenberg@web.de Country : usa Age : 45 Ad : I’m Seeking To Make New Country : Germany E-Pal Friends And New Facebook Ad : I am looking for poeople Pal’s Aswell. Send Me Msg If Your from around the world to Seeking The Same Or Like To Be swap postcards with. Besides Pal’s..xoxo in swapping postcards I am interested in reading, travelling, Name : John Ferguson photography, genealogy and Email : history. I prefer my postcards jferguson92200@yahoo.com written and stamped, not in an Age : 26 envelope. Country : USA Ad: collecting postcards, Name : Fabi collecting wrestling cards, listen writing-fabi@web.de to music, reading, coloring, play Age : 23

Name: Danette Email: 77

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Name : Alessandro alohatucano@katamail.com Age : 32 Country : Italy Ad : I’m a 32 years old italian guy looking for snail mail penpals world wide. I’m not looking for romance or sex: I’m gay and engaged with my boyfriend, but i prefer female penpals cause they are most talkative regular writers (males are also welcome, of course). I look only for penpals around my age. I would find someone who thinks that a penpal is not only a letter writer but a real friend. Send me a short email introduction but I will not reply 79

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Name : Tatjana email: tatjana_203tp@hotmail.com Age : 28 Country : Germany Ad : Hello, my name is Tatjana and I’m 28 years old. I’m looking for new penpals around my age (only female) from all over the world. I like reading, music, traveling, of course writing letters and many more. I am interested in learning about different countries and cultures, because I think it is very exciting to learn how different things can be in other countries. Feel free to write me, I’m looking forward to your message. You can write in German, English or French.

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Name : naaser Name : André Mota Email: Email : andrevf@live.com veer_786_n@yahoo.com Age : 17 Age : 34 Country : Brazil Country : bangladesh Hi there! My name is André, I’m a Ad : HELLO ! I am looking for 17 years old boy from Brazil. I’m foreign friends . Will you be looking for open-minded people friends with me ? Can we start around my age to talk about writing letters to each other ? everyday life, movies, hobbies, I am looking forward to your culture, travels... Anything, really! letter . See you later. my hobbies If you’d like to be penpals with r music, movie, traveling, me, don’t hesitate to contact shopping, friendship & etc etc me. Snailmail only, and I’m not looking for relationships Name : missy or anything, just friendship :D shortymiss_17512@yahoo.com Thanks! Age : 36 Country : usa Name : Jose Antonio Ad : i have a pen pal newsletter Zamarco called dfu,its been around since Email: 96 & comes out every 3 months,it zamarco65@yahoo.it has a lot to read,samples are $3 Age : 46 or $6 yr email me if intersted. Country : Brazil Ad : Hello! My name is Jose Name : Barb Antonio and I’m a 46 years old ks.sunflower1956@gmail.com man from Brazil. I’m looking for Age : 55 some new penpals mainly from Country : USA North America, Europe and Ad : Hi Everyone - I am 55, Japan aged from 30 to 50 years married, disabled, stepmom to old. I’ll answer to both men and one and gma to 4. We live on women, sex or race really doesn’t 4 acres and have 2 horses and matter to me. My interests are 3 dogs - these are my babies!! I mainly reading, swimming, would like penpals of any age, biking, travelling, music and LADIES ONLY. Letter size does movies. I work in the health not matter, long or short, either area and I’m a true and positive way. Some of my interests/ person. I look to meet people to hobbies are - reading, cross build a long lasting friendship stitch, facebook, tv, movies, old

cemeteries, old castles, movies about Camelot and that era, cooking and more. I will answer all.

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through writting letters. If you would like to write with me then please send me an email telling something about you and I’ll send you my postal address. Bye

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Name : Briony mercianphoenix@gmail.com Age : 28 Country : United Kingdom Hi ! I’m 28, a mum of 2. I live in a small village in the middle of England and I’m due to marry my partner of 10 years in September. I’m slightly crazy, but all the best people are and I don’t follow the crowd. I have a good sense of humour, but you need to appreciate sarcasm. I’m not fussed about the length and regularity of letters as long as you write, we all have a life and sometimes things get in the way. I love getting home from work and finding letters from my pals, it makes such a nice change from the usual junk mail and bills. Likes/Loves---Thunderstorms, Animals, Climbing trees, Watching the sunset, Looking at old photos, Tattoos Long showers, Nag champa, curling up with a book, New shoe smell, Walking barefoot, Mountains, Cuddles, Purple, Kisses, Pre-Raphaelites, Autumn, Museums, Summer rain, Stone Circles, Crystals, Stickes, Cute penpal paper , Hello Kitty, Kuromi, Tinkerbell, Faeries, Dragons, Unicorns, Mermaids, Fantasy art, Chocolate, Vodka, Playing my music LOUD, spending time with my friends, days out as a family, Facebook, Netmums, Shiney things, Music, reading, Ebay, Charity shops and more!

I’m looking for fellow eccentrics, chocoholics and bookworms Any age, anywhere but Ladies only please :) Uk ladies only for snail mail, all other countries e pals Thank you for reading xx

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Name: Michele Cimons micgci126@yahoo.com Age: 51 Country: USA

Name: Josh Cowan jcowan1023@gmail.com Age: 31 Country: USA Ad : My favorite color is green. My favorite food is seafood and sushi. My favorite drink is root beer. My favorite sport is basketball and I play basketball through Special Olympics. I love music and my favorite singer is Weird Al Yankovic and my favorite music group is Blink182. My favorite actor is Jim Carey and my favorite actress is Olivia NewtonJohn. My favorite movies are Ace Ventura, Despicable Me, and Karate Kid. My favorite TV shows are the Price is Right, Minute to Win It, American Idol, America’s Funniest home videos, America’s got talent, Dancing with the stars, and So you think you can dance. My favorite animal is the frog. My favorite cartoon characters are Spongebob Sqaurepants, Scooby Doo, The Flintstones, Yogi Bear, and Family Guy. My Favorite Super Hero is Batman. I have Cerebral

Palsy and participate in Special Olympics. My favorite special Olympics events are bowling, basketball, and cycling.

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Name: Sandra EMAIL: penpals4me@live.se Age: 21 Country: Sweden Ad : Hello everybody! My name is Sandra, I’m 21 years old and live in Sweden. I’m searching for penpals from all over the world, in around my own age! But especially from: Denmark, New Zealand and Germany. And UK London and in West Chester and Forks. But of course anyone can contact me if they’re interested :) I love to read and write. When it comes to books I almost only read fantasy, and right know I’m stuck on vampires. I love the music groups: HIM, 3oh!3 and The Rasmus. Write me a mail if your interested =)

Ad : My name is Michele. I’m 51 years old. I live in New York in the USA. My interests are cats, animals, listening to music, watching tv, reading, movies, Disney, soap operas, crafts, internet, Facebook, penpalling, fill in puzzles, word search puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, nature, flowers, walking, postcards, stickers, Hello Kitty, and much more. If anyone is interested in being penpals. Please email me at: micgci126@ yahoo.com. Thanks I hope to hear from someone soon. Michele

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D.Danette.L@gmail.com Age: 51 Years old Country: USA Ad: Hello, I am 51 years old, 4 children & 5 grandchildren. I have more furry children than I can count, I rescue, spay/neuter and find good-loving homes for strays and homeless animals. Many decide to stay with me :) I am an artist who loves to read, sew, knit, crochet, paint, sculpt. I love the outdoors. I enjoy movies, music, the supernatural, the sea, swimming, walking and more. I love letter writing, though sometimes there may not be tons to say.

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Name : Cindy Country : Belgium Age : 27 Date of Birth : October 10th, 1983 e-mail address : bellega@gmail.com I’m a 27 year old female from Belgium. I’m looking for some sincere snail mail penpals (preferably from outside Europe!) aged 22-35 (females only). I can write in English or in French. I don’t care about your religion or the color of your skin, but I have no love or money to offer, I am only looking for long-term friendship! I really prefer neat, handwritten letters though. My interests include penpalling, shopping, painting, languages, movies, Asia, books, fashion, kawaii, animals, videogames, Name: Jessica Obando flowers, Africa, photography, Age: 35 cooking, Italy, internet, travelling, Country: Peru fantasy & sci-fi, Email me at: Starbucks, postcards, nature, jessica_obandoe@yahoo.com chocolate, islands, Snoopy, Paris, Message: I am Peruvian female world heritage, history, music looking for penpals and swappers (various styles) and much more! from all over the world, no men, Please mail me if interested. no prisoners. I enjoy reading, Thank you! swimming, dancing, fashion, cooking, decoration, travelling, Name: S.P. going to nice restaurants, writing Country: Philippines and receiving letters, facebook, Age: 28 (29 soon). surfing on internet, I collect Email address: sanrio, diddl, kawaii, strawberry pinkspaces@gmail.com shortcake, carebears, snoopy, Ad: Hello! I am SP, 28 years old disney, postcards, souvenirs, etc. turning 29. I am looking for pen I love to watch: CSI, CSI:Miami, pals all over the world. I like CSI:New York, NCIS, Bones, Castle, music, makeup, accessories, Criminal Minds, Law&Order:SVU. glitters, colors, cute things, nail I hope to hear from you all. polish, photos, scrapbooks, stationery, stamps, stickers, key over back into it once again, with an understanding that the morning is mine to do with as I please, sight-seeing, concerts, festivals – all that embraces life – You are more than welcome to write. I need a good friend, and I would like to share the ups and downs and twists and turns of life with you, so when you decide that you would like to know more of the behind-the-scenes details of my life, I will be here waiting to greet you, hopeful that we can grow as friends, getting to know each other, and sharing the companionship and joy of it all – Until then, have a wonderful time – may all you touch shine as brightly as the sun – Best wishes, Always, Rob

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Name: Irene Age: 24 years old Country: Italy Email: irycoggi96@libero.it My name’s Irene, 24 y o I live in Milano and I study veterinary medicine there. I love animals and i have two rabbits a turtle and a dog. My interests are running (marathons and mountain running races) traveling, of course penpalling, language learning, decoupage, internet surfing, mountain hiking and climbing, reading and practicing belly dance. I speak Italian

Name Robert Age: 35 Country: USA Email me at: exemplartemplar@gmail.com Hi! I hope this letter finds you well and that your life is blessed with lots of family, friends, love and laughter. I’m looking for someone who’s willing to take the time to get to know me for who I truly am, someone with an understanding ear, someone who is kind and thoughtful, who can understand that life can be unbearably sad yet extraordinarily fantastic, someone who can laugh at the silly, absurd complexities of life, and someone who is honest, loyal, and kind – willing to share their stories, interests, thoughts, opinions and ideas. I’m 6’2”, 190 lbs, with brown hair and blue eyes.– I’m healthy and fit, always doing what I can to stay in shape. I’m well educated, though I haven’t allowed any of it to go to my head! I have three college degrees, with areas of study ranging from Accounting to Computer Applications. I have a desire to succeed in life, in everything I do, and I have the motivation to chase my dreams. Every day, I strive to find within

myself a better man than I was the day before. I like to believe that I have a down-to-earth sense of humor, knowing that sometimes the realities of life ask that we take things seriously. I am honest, caring, and loyal to my friends – faithful to the end – genuinely supportive and considerate to their needs, understanding, trustworthy, and protective, with a sincere ear and a soft shoulder. As a person, I am true to my morals and convictions. I am righteous, passionate and respectful – I attempt to be easy-going, laidback, and patient, though life isn’t always that simple. I am I try to maintain a positive and hopeful outlook on life - always looking for the bright side of things. I believe in many things, but none so much as love, karma, and the power of a smile that is warm and genuine. Some of my interests include music, movies, photography, and writing, laughing and enjoying life, spending time with family and friend. I enjoy the rush of adrenaline from sudden, unexpected yet exciting, events, the warmth of the sun and the feeling of love, belonging, and togetherness involved in the gathering of family and friends, the spiritual connection made while learning of the cultures, traditions, mythologies, and religions of my ancestors, the sense of adventure while travelling with friends, the pleasure of waking from a peaceful sleep and then rolling

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Name : Faisal Cheema Email me at: faisalcheema44@gmail.com Age : 33 Country : Pakistan Ad: I collect stamps, postcards, FDCs, phonecards and coins. I am working on a project to collect POSTCARDS of UNESCO World Heritage Sites from all countries. You can see my collection at http://unescopostcards.blogspot.com I can swap postcards and other stuff from PAKISTAN. Best Regards!

English, Dutch (hope to improve it), a bit of French German and Spanish and would love to learn Chinese Russian and Japanese. My address is: Irene Coggi via chiarelli 8 20151 Milano Italy

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Name : Alysia Email me at: weealydee@hotmail.com Age : 23 Country : Canada Ad : I’m 23 years old, from Canada, and I have a 5 year old son. I am divorced, as well as newly single after my last serious relationship, and am definitely not looking to see anyone for a long time. Eugh, men *sigh*...but I’ll write to both males and females, just no prisoners please! I have many, many interests but I especially love reading and writing. I currently work from home and I have just purchased a house so I’ll be settled at my current address for years to come (meaning you won’t have to worry about me up and moving). I’m looking for long-term penpals who will write regularly and send more lengthly snailmail letters. If you’re a swapper, I’ll swap anything. I haven’t done much before but I suppose it would be fun! :) If you would like to be penpals, please send me a message and let me know if you would like me to write the first letter or if you’ll do so.

Name : Nicole Email me at: nml2@aol.com Age : 41 Country : USA Ad : Hi I am Nicole I am looking for pen-pals that will keep writing. My hobbies are pen palling, swapping, collecting. I swap stickers,goodiebags and I like to swap themed packages. Please no prisoners. USA only please.

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to telegraphic letters: i love to get long and chatty letters! I can speak english and french. I could sound terribly offensive, but please, only good handwritten or typed letters: i’m done to take an effort everytime i read a letter... sorry!! Looking forward to hear from you soon!

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Yahoo Groups that you might want to join: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/strictlysnail http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crazy_pen_pals

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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, tracylynnsanders38@yahoo.com

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!

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Name : premraj kumar Name : paulino damiano Email me at: Email me at: kubuprem@gmail.com paulinomugendi@yahoo.com Age : 39 Age : 33 Country : india Country : kenya Ad : i like to get new penpals Ad : place your ad, include from all over the world..my hobbies and interests My name hobbies travelling, reading, is Paul Damiano from Kenya and writing, books, yoga, ayurveda... i am very much interested in meeting penpals from all over the world and learn more about their culture, languages and way

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: penpalsandswappers@googlemail.com. Please do not forget your address or e-mail address.

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Name : Felicia M. Ciaudelli Email me at: mrschopchop@verizon.net Age : 47 Country : USA Ad : I love reading, music, fashion, crafts, opera, doing word search puzzles, watching old movies, collecting Nancy Drew, Dana Girls, Trixie Belden, Cherry Ames and Vicki Barr books - some of my favorite tv shows are NCIS, Prison Break, Hell’s Kitchen, Breakout Kings, Law & Order: SVU, History Detectives, Cold Case, MASH, Alias, ANTM and lots more!!!

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 vandine69@yahoo.com

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Name : Melike Gül Email me at: turkspice@gmail.com Age : 30 Country : TURKEY Ad : hello everyone, I have been penpalling since my 13 and nowadays mainly swapping and writing to LLPs. I live in Istanbul and look for sincere Long Letter Pals and swappers internationally.I swap any kind of bags and HQ fbs, nice&neat fbs or regular fbs.I love collecting anything on hello kitty and diddl. I like sketching designs, cooking, travelling, facebook and novels. I’d love to receive letters from mainly from Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, and other Europeans especially. Pls kindly specify your desire in your letter.Happy to answer all swappers and penpals gladly.

of life. i love nature and here in Kenya i promote tree planting activities with school children, farmers and community at large.My hobbies include: nature, photography, traveling, social work, music , languages, camping and cycling. please write to me and i will answer all letters.

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Name : Trisha B. Email : TStevens918@ friendshipXpress.net Age : 31 Country : USA Ad : Hello everyone. My name is Trish and I am 31 year old mom to 3. My interests are writing to my pen-pals, making friendbooks and anything else that has to do with pen-palling. I also love to find activities to do with my kids, ages 8, 7, and 4. I would really like to find other mommies who have children around those ages to write to. My son, who is 8 and my eldest daughter who is 7 get excited when I get letters and packages in the mail from my pen-pals. They always ask if one day, they will be able to have their own pen-pals. My sister and I also have a web-page that we have put together and are trying to build up for pen-pals. If you have anything you would like to add to it or have any ideas, we would be most happy to consider anything you put forward.

w w w.FriendshipXpress.net Thank you for your time and look forward to hearing from you. NPW~NSW~W/W Excess Welcome I Pre-Make FB’s.

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chain and postcards. I love to collect and exchange/swap also. I hope to find friends here that will not stop writing after a few letters. I like to have friends who is 28 to 30 years old, male or female that will write letter in his/her own handwriting. Thank you. Twitter: http://twitter.com/pinkspaces Blog: http://intopinkspaces.blogspot.com/

Labor Day and Mother’s Day by Tinne Raeymaekers tinne.raeymaekers@ hotmail.com

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Mother’s day Mother’s day (or Moederdag in Dutch) is celebrated on the second Sunday of May in Belgium, but in the province Antwerp (where I live) it is celebrated on the 15th of August, the Assumption of Mary, since 1913. The Assumption of Mary is an official holiday, while Mother’s day is not. It means that in families, the partner and children ‘spoil’ mother. She gets breakfast in bed, flowers and the household chores are taken care of by other members of the family (that’s the idea anyway). Usually the children made a little present at school or the day care/nursery. The holiday, as we know it now, is originated in the United States. It was Anna Marie Jarvis who in 1907 started to promote Mother’s day as a day to show appreciation to mothers. It turned out to be a great success, but for Jarvis a bitter one. Mother’s day soon became a commercial holiday (as many holidays do) which was never her intention. Eventually she spent most of her life and money campaigning against(!) this holiday.

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when I say that, today, for most Belgians it is just an extra (paid) holiday.

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up in their best clothes. Moreover, typical for Belgium, soccer matches, bicycle races and pigeon races were held. The tradition still lives in bigger towns and cities, but the floats and the need to dress up in your ‘pretty’ clothes disappeared. The number of people celebrating the fest decreased and the average age of the participants increased. I don’t think I’m mistaken

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The 1st of May The 1st of May (Labour day) is in Belgium an official holiday. It is called ‘De dag van de arbeid’ or ‘Het feest van de arbeid’ in Dutch. Not that long ago it was a day when thousands of workmen gathered to march through the

streets to show their power, solidarity and political demands. There are a lot of speeches made by politicians. But behind the red flags and music bands you could see more workmen next to the platforms (floats). Every organisation with the word ‘socialistic’ in its name was there. Many youth movements and women’s organisations participated in the fest. People were dressed

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ST. GEORGE’S DAY

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by Raia Alexieva

St. George’s Day is one of the most popular and widely celebrated holidays around the globe. The day is in recognition of Saint George. It is celebrated as an anniversary of the death of St. George (April 23rd, AD 303). 86

Many countries that are part of the Eastern Orthodox Church use the Julian calendar to mark the day, which offsets the day to May 6th on the civil calendar. In other words, that is why people in Western Europe celebrate St. George’s day on April 23rd, while Eastern Europeans celebrates it on May 6th.

England St. George’s Feast is ranked high in England. It is a major feast and a national holiday, which popularity is increasing over the last couple of decades. How is St. George’s Day celebrated in England? The ancient tradition states that on St

George’s day one should wear a red rose in one’s lapel, which as you might have already guessed is no longer widely practiced. Another custom is to hang up or fly the St. George’s Cross flag: many buildings and businesses decorate the rooms with garlands of

the crosses of St. George. That can be particularly noticed in pubs or other local venues. The hymn “Jerusalem” is part of the sermons in cathedrals, churches and chapels on St George’s Day. Spain Saint George

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patron saint of the former Crown of Aragon, as King Peter I of Aragon won the Battle of Alcoraz with his patronage. The saint is also patron of several cities that hold festivals on that day.The festival name is La Diada de Sant Jordi, also known as el dia de la rosa (The 87

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Central and Eastern Europe There are many name days in the Eastern Orthodox 88

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Hungary. Hungarians also prepared on the evening celebrate St. George’s Day of May 5th. These bowls contain water, crane’s bill as Police Day. (wild geranium) and a Bulgaria: small clean stone. A knife St. George’s day is placed over the bowl’s ( Г е р г ь о в д е н , edges and set (bowl and Gergyovden) is one knife) is taken outside of the most loved and under the moonlight celebrated festivals in to stay overnight. There Bulgaria. It’s one of the is a deep symbolism most popular name days behind this tradition. It in the country and also a is commonly believed public holiday (May 6th). that the extract of wild The celebration of the fest geranium (crane’s bill) is begins on the morning going to bring you health of May 6th when people all year long. The stone Hungary: wash their faces with the is placed in the bowl The day is a name day of water from the special because it symbolizes György and Györgyi in traditional bowls that they strength and the knife Church. Name day is a special day/holiday which is in celebration of the names that are derivates from the names of different Saints. That being said, St. George’s day (May 6th) is also a name day for everyone whose name has the “George” root: George, Georgia, Georgina, Georgi, Gergana. St. George is also known as Saint George the dragon killer.

– resistance. On the morning of St. George’s day one should wash his/ hers face to stay healthy and strong all year long. The tradition goes on and says that you must drink some of the water as well (even a sip will do the trick to stay out of the hospitals until the next year’s St. George’s Day). Bulgarians traditionally associate St. George’s Day with the custom to make swings on the green trees, swing on them for health and strength and have a picnic in the nature.

Yet another custom is to cook and eat lamb, which is connected with the ancient sacrificial traditions on St. George’s day. Don’t forget that St. George is a patron saint of the shepherds. St. George is also the patron saint of the “Bulgarian Army” (named so by Knyaz Aleksandar in 1880). An annual Army Parade that is held in capital city of Bulgaria – Sofia, where the different branches of the army presents their manpower and equipment.

Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina: Đurđevdan (Cyrilic: Ђурђевдан). St George’s Day is one of the most common Slavas (family patron day). St George’s Day is marked by morning picnics and folk dances. Albania and Kosovo: St. George’s day (Shën Gjergji or Shëngjergji) is marked as a day of joy and believing in God. Many fires are built as it is believed that their cleansing power will

bless the houses, fields.

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Day of the Rose) or el dia del llibre (The Day of the Book) in Catalonia. It is held on April 23 and bears a lot of similiaries to St. Valentine’s day (if you would like to learn more about the holiday, please download the April’s issue of Sandbook Net PenPals and Swappers Magazine and read the article about “Diada de Sant Jordi” by Bea from PenPalling and letters!).

Russia: St. George’s Day is a very popular name day. One of the forms of the name George is Yuri and the feast of St. George is commonly celebrated together with the anniversary of the dedication of the Church of St George in Kiev (Ukraine) by Yaroslav I the Wise. That is why the tradition is often referred Vesenniy Yuriev Den (Yuri’s Day in the Spring) and Osenniy Yuriev Den (Yuri’s Day in the Fall). 89

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their own. The tradition goes on and everyone who is working in education or culture is being congratulated on this day and celebrates it! Students are also celebrating this day. Many schools and Universities hold special events to mark the day â&#x20AC;&#x201C; special school concerts in which the children take a part in showing their appreciation for the holiday and their knowledge in reading/writing or they act in plays or sing. May 24th is simply one of those days when children and parents come together to enjoy a beautiful and sunny day. For the seniors in High School , this is also the day of graduation! Yey! So happy May 24th , everyone!

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May 24th â&#x20AC;&#x201C; St. Kiril and Metodii or the Bulgarian (Cyrillic Alphabet) Day The 24th of May is the Day of Culture, Language and Alphabet in Bulgaria. The day is associated with the work and life of the Saint brothers Kiril and Metodii, who invented the Bulgarian alphabet more than 1200 years ago. The alphabet gave the needed basis for the development of the culture and science in those middle ages. Moreover, it gave the opportunity for the country to get established. The Bulgarian alphabet turned into a major cornerstone in the Slavic (Slavonic) culture. Many other Slavic nations took the some or more of the symbols from that ancient alphabet and established

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24th MAY CYRILLIC ALPHABET DAY

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THE NOTEBOOK (2004) “Why didn’t you write me? Why? It wasn’t over for me, I waited for you for seven years. But now it’s too late. w w w . s a n d b o o k . n e t

You wrote me? Yes... it wasn’t over, it still isn’t over. “

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was directed by Nick Cassavetes and based on the novel of the

same name by Nicholas Sparks. The Notebook was inspired by the

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McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands and James Garner. It

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!

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The Notebook is a 2004 romantic drama film starring Rachel

The story starts on the summer of 1940 in Seabrook, South Carolina. Allie Hamilton (Rachel McAdams) is an upper-class girl who is spending summer with her family in that coastal town. At the main festival, she meets Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling), a local boy who works at the lumber mill. Years later, an old gentleman reads the story of a couple written in a faded notebook to an old, sick lady...

Find PenPalling & Letters on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/penpallingandletters

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The narration, both in past and present, is full of strength, charm and deep, sometimes contradictory, feelings. The story captives the viewer from the very first moment and keeps its delight until the end. The special chemistry between the main characters adds an enchanting touch besides showing freshness and naturalness around them.

Penpalling & Letters: www.penpallingandletters.blogspot.com

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with every great love comes a great story

The Notebook is an epic love story which tells about lost opportunities due to insurmountable obstacles, about second chances, discrimination due to social strata, the true love that endures through time and overcomes the difficulties, the victory of love over the disease, even for a moment, or arranged marriages of convenience.

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story of the grandparents of Sparks’ wife, who had been married over sixty years when Sparks met them. Sparks marvelled at how much the couple cared for each other, and wrote his novel as an attempt to describe such a love.

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I wrote you 365 letters. I wrote you everyday for a year.

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By Samantha Stroy This month was special to me. As you know in last month’s column I mentioned how my nanna was in the hospital in bad shape. Well, she’s doing much better and recovered amazingly! I am very proud of her.

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Itsapenpalworld@gmail.com http://itsapenpalworld.blogspot.com/ www.facebook.com/angelbaby916

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Hello, Welcome to Samantha’s Thoughts!

My daughter had a US and my husband pen pal. Then, she special "Mommie's and children took me replies in the form Day" in her class to lunch, we visited of a journal also. It is called "Moms and my husband's mom's an interesting way of Muffins." All the grave to show some writing to someone moms got together love and had a nice and it is fun. and we spent an hour dinner later that What kind of music with our kids at school night. Even though do you listen to that and ate muffins and sometimes I don't gets you in the mood had juice. Elizabeth, feel like I deserve to to write? made me a beautiful be appreciated or Well, I'm going to Mother’s Day card pampered too much end here as it's time and it made my heart but they made the to tip the rose and melt. Haylee (my 4 day very special for bring this issue of year old, turns 5 on Samantha's “Right now a friend and I the 23rd) drew me Thoughts to a pretty picture are doing a “Journal Letter,” a close. That's and my youngest, where you take a journal something my Serena, is 2 and and write in it as you friends and I in well she gave me would a letter on paper junior high and lots of hugs. and when you are done high school used My nanna's to end our letters you mail it to your pen birthday was on and notes to pal. Then, she replies in each other. Hope the 6th and my husband, kids and the form of a journal also. you enjoyed this I took her out to It is an interesting way of month's column lunch and spent writing to someone and it and at the bottom time with her. It are ways to get is fun. “ was nice. Then in touch with me on the 8th was for feedback or me. I wrote 6 letters Mother's Day in the comments as usual it's so far this month. I always appreciated. “Elizabeth, made know it's not much Love Always, but at least I wrote Samantha Stroy me a beautiful them and mailed Mother’s Day card them. Hope to hear from you and it made my heart Right now a friend soon and remember melt. Haylee (my 4 and I are doing a feedback is always year old, turns 5 on "Journal Letter," appreciated good or the 23rd) drew me a where you take a bad. So, please if I can pretty picture and my journal and write make things better youngest, Serena, is 2 in it as you would a or you want a certain letter on paper and topic then get in touch and well she gave me when you are done with me at the following lots of hugs. “ you mail it to your ways mentioned above.

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SAMANTHA’S THOUGHTS

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WORLD TRAVEL: WORLD HERITAGE Edinburgh Old and New Towns

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And so, part 2 of the UNESCO series continues

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postcard from each place.

David Dale, from 1800 to 1824. The village introduced new ideas to keep the workforce happy childcare, education, healthcare and cooperative shopping. He built schools, good housing and the world’s first co-operative food store. The UNESCO inscription states “When Richard

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World Heritage (UNESCO) sites play an important part in not only historical and geographical senses, but also for postcard traders it’s a‘niche’ which a lot of us try to get at least one

New Lanark became a World Heritage site in 2001. New Lanark is at the eastern end of the Clyde Valley and is just outside the market town of Lanark. New Lanark was built around 1785 by the industrialist David Dale, who constructed a series of mills close to the River Clyde. The fast flowing river provided power for the mills. The village’s cotton mills continued to operate for nearly two hundred years until they closed in 1968. The village was then managed by Robert Owen, the son-in-law of

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pinklioness@googlemail.com

In this series I intend to (briefly) visit each area of the UK working from North to South. If popular I will continue with other countries and work our way around the world. Even if you don’t collect postcards, to travel the countries from the comfort of your own home without the need for passports or the high cost of travel tickets will be interesting I’m sure....

New Lanark, Scotland

1. Edinburgh Castle 2. National Gallery of Scotland 3. John Knox House 4. The Georgian House 5. Gladstone’s Land 6. Palace of Holyrood House 7. National Museums of Scotland 8. City Chambers 9. Scott Monument 10. Royal Scottish Academy 11. Usher Hall 12. Old College, University of Edinburgh 13. Cockburn Street 14. Victoria Street 15. Scottish Whisky Heritage Centre 16. Scottish Gallery of Modern Art 17. The Grassmarket 18. Greyfriars Church 19. Scottish Parliament 20. Calton Hill 21. Canongate Tolbooth 22. High Kirk of St Giles 23. Scottish National Portrait Gallery 24. Royal Bank of Scotland

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By Paula Milburn

Landscape setting Topography of Hills and Valleys Juxtaposition of the Old and New Town Valley of the Water of Leith Urban form and architecture Contrasting characters of Old and New towns High quality townscape Historic Buildings Historic Interiors Statues and monuments Parks, Gardens and Graveyards History and Heritage Historic City and Capital of Scotland

Walking around the Edinburgh World Heritage Site, you will see an impressive range of buildings, monuments, streets and points of interest. This interactive map of Edinburgh gives you a guide to particular sites and their location.

Here’s a quick list of The main places to see in Edinburgh and the new towns: l i k e

Edinburgh has been the Scottish capital since 1437. It has two separate parts: the Edinburgh Old Town, dominated by a medieval castle; and the neoclassical Edinburgh New Town , developed in the 18th century and which had a far-reaching influence on European urban planning. Edinburgh became a World Heritage Site in 1995. The key features of the World Heritage Site are:-

Communities Intellectual tradition, Education and Law Edinburgh – Festival City

Arkwright’s new factory system for textile production was brought to New Lanark the need to provide housing and other facilities to the workers and managers was recognized. It was there that Robert Owen created a model for industrial communities that 97

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• Braxfield Row [built c1790] – a row of ten houses. There are nine four storey properties and one five storey property. All the houses are owner occupied. • Long Row [built c1790] - a row of fourteen houses, all three storey. Ten of the houses are owner occupied and four are tenanted. • Double Row [built c1795] – a row of five storey houses. The row is currently derelict. • Mantilla Row [built c1795] – this row of three houses was demolished when it became structurally unsafe. New foundations and a retaining wall have been laid, but the row has not been rebuilt. • Wee Row [built c1795] – a row of houses which has been converted to a youth hostel. The hostel is operated by the Scottish Youth Hostels Association. • New Buildings [built 1798] – a four storey building containing the clock tower. The building has been converted to tenanted flats. • Nursery Buildings [built 1809] – a three storey building which has been converted to tenanted flats. The buildings were once used to house the orphan children who worked in the mills. • Caithness Row [built 1792] – a row of three storey houses which have

been converted to tenanted flats. Caithness is a district in the Scottish Highlands. The row was named for a group of Highlanders who were recruited to work in the mills. • Village Church [built in 1898] – now used for social purposes. • Mill Number One [built in 1789] – this building became derelict and was rebuilt as the New Lanark Mill Hotel. • Waterhouses – a row of one and two storey buildings which lie next to Mill Number One and have been converted to holiday flats. • Mill Number Two [built in 1788] – this building is now used for tourist purposes. • Mill Number Three [built in 1824] – this building is now used for tourist purposes. The building also contains a turbine which generates electric power for parts of the village. • Mill Number Four – this building was destroyed by fire in 1883 and has not been rebuilt. • Institute for the Formation of Character [built in 1816] – a four storey building which is now used for tourism and business purposes. • Engine House [built in 1881] – this building is attached to the Institute for the Formation of Character and contains a restored steam engine. • School [built in 1817] – a three storey building which is now used as a museum. This building housed the first school for working class children in Scotland.

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The buildings in New Lanark are listed in Wikipedia as followed:

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was to spread across the world in the 19th and 20th centuries. New Lanark saw the construction not only of well designed and equipped workers’ housing but also public buildings designed to improve their spiritual as well as their physical needs.The name of New Lanark is synonymous with that of Robert Owen and his social philosophy in matters such as progressive education, factory reform, humane working practices, international cooperation, and garden cities, which was to have a profound influence on social developments throughout the 19th century and beyond” David Dale was a selfmade entrepreneur from Glasgow who had an estate at Rosebank, Cambuslang, not far from the Falls of Clyde (waterfalls). He constructed a dam above New Lanark and water was drawn off the river to power the mill machinery. Dale sold the mills, lands and village in 1800 to a partnership that included Dale’s son-

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• Mechanics Workshop [built in 1809] – a three storey building which once housed the crafstmen who built and maintained the mill machinery. • Dyeworks [built in ?] – these buildings now contain shops and a visitor centre. • Gasworks with octagonal tower [built at some time before 1851] - this building is used as a store. • Owens House [built in 1790] – this building is now used as a museum. • Dales House [built in 1790] – this building is now occupied by a firm of book publishers. • Mill Lade - built to carry water from the River Clyde to power the mill machinery. • Graveyard - the graveyard is on the hill above New Lanark, between the village and the visitors car park. Many of the first villagers are buried there.

in-law Robert Owen. Some 2,500 people lived at New Lanark, and Owen found the workers living conditions unsatisfactory and resolved to improve them. He opened the first infants’ school in Britain in 1816. Although the mills were very profitable, Owen’s partners were unhappy about paying the cost of his welfare programmes. Owen bought out his partners in order to be able to continue with the reforms. In 1825, The Walker family bought New Lanark. The Walkers managed the village until 1881, when it was sold to Birkmyre and Sommerville. They remained in control of the village until the mills closed in 1968. When the mills closed the inhabitants drifted away from the village, and the buildings began to deteriorate. In 1975 the New Lanark Conservation Trust was founded to prevent demolition of the village. Most of the buildings have now been restored and the village has become a major tourist attraction. In addition around 250 peopel live in the village.

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Hadrian’s Wall became a World Heritage site in 1987. The World Heritage site now consists of various parts of the Roman Empire border in the 2nd century A.D. These Roman Lines stretched some 5,000kms from the Atlantic coast of northern Britain, through Central Europe to the Black Sea, and on to the Red Sea, across North Africa to the Atlantic coast. Parts still remain of the ramparts, walls and ditches, watchtowers, forts, and civilian settlements, across this vast area. .

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Hadrian’s Wall, World Heritage Site

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locomotives that hauled the carriages. The line ran from Portrush to Bushmills with an extension added to the Giants Causeway. In 1899 the live rail alongside the track, was replaced by an overhead electric wire, steam haulage ended in 1916. The tramway eventually closed in 1949.

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The Giants Causeway World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland has 40,000 tightly packed basalt columns that developed during volcanic eruption 60 million years ago. The site is on the north coast of Ireland, 3 km north of Bushmills in County Antrim. It became a World Heritage Site in 1986. The Giant’s Causeway is now owned a by the National Trust. Most of the columns

Although many ships have been wrecked on these cliffs, the most famous was the “Girona” a ship of the Spanish Armada. It was laden with its own crew plus the crews of two other Armada shipwrecks, when her rudder broke just off the Giants Causeway. She hit Lacada Point at midnight on October 30th 1588 with the loss of over twelve hundred men. It is believed that there were only five survivors. They say that the survivors were aided by Sorley Boy MacDonnell of Dunluce Castle. Victims were buried in St. Cuthbert’s Graveyard at Dunluce and some survivors are said to have married local girls.

In victorian times there were protracted legal disputes over access to the basalt columns. In 1897 a lengthy case battle the syndicate that owned the land, and local people who claimed historic access, resulted in the public being excluded from seeing the stones, unless they paid the syndicate for the privilege. The Causeway was bought by the National Trust in 1963 and there is free access to the public today. The Causeway Tramway was re-opened in 2002. The original Giants Causeway tramway was developed by Col. William Traill of Ballyclough. He commissioned the Siemens Company to incorporate their new electric tramcar technology for the Giants Causeway Tramway. Col.Traill built the generating station at the Walkmill Falls and installed water turbines to produce electrical power for the tram line. The tramway opened in 1883 and was the world’s first commercially run ‘hydro-electric’ powered tram system. Although hydro-electric power was used, it was normally two steam

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Giants Causeway, Northern Ireland

The Irish legend tells of the giant Finn McCool building the causeway to walk to Scotland to fight a Scottish giant, Benandonner. After an abortive foray, the Scottish giant pulls up the causeway. And today you can see similar basalt formations in Fingals Cave on the Scottish Island of Staffa. The basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway are not unique. Similar rock structures exist in several places like the “Organ Pipes” formation on Mount Cargill in New Zealand. Devils Postpile National Monument in California, Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming, the Garni gorge in Armenia, the

Cyclopean Isles near Sicily. These other columns are not as impressive as the Giants Causeway ones. After eons of weathering, clumps of rock have been given names to describe what they look like - the Organ, Giant’s Boot, Giants Eyes, the Shepherd’s Steps; the Honeycomb; the Giant’s Harp; the Chimney Stacks; the Giant’s Gate and the Camel’s Hump.

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are hexagonal, but there are some with four, five, seven and eight sides. The tallest are about 12 metres high. The columns formed when liquid molten rock was forced up through cracks in the chalk bed to form a lava plateau. The rapid cooling of the lava made it contract into hexagonal basaltic columns. You can see the same effect with mud on a lake bed drying in the sun under the right conditions.

part of the frontier Upper German Raetian between rivers Rhine and 103

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The plan was for a ditch and a wall with 80 small milecastle forts every Roman mile. Each milecastle fort would contain about 20 soldiers. Between each milecastle would be two intermediate turrets for observation. The wall was to be 3 metres wide and 5 or 6 metres high. Local limestone was to be quarried for the building - except west of Irthing where turf was used instead as there was no nearby stone. The turf wall was 6 metres wide and 3.5m high. Milecastles in this area were also built from timber and earth rather than stone. Each Roman legion— the Second, Sixth, and Twentieth Legions built their milecastle forts to a slightly different design, and there are three different turret designs. Each 5 miles was assigned a contingent from a particular legion. One cohort would then build the foundations and the milecastles and turrets. Another cohort would then follow on to build the wall itself. Soon the wall design was narrowed to 2.5 metres wide. Then 14 full-sized forts

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reoccupied. . Antonine was unable to conquer the northern tribes and so when Marcus Aurelius became emperor, he abandoned the Antonine Wall and occupied Hadrian’s Wall once again in 164. It remained occupied by Roman troops until their withdrawal from Britain. Frontiers in the early Roman Empire were based on natural features and it was not until the reign of Domitian that the first physical frontier was constructed, in Germania Superior, using a fence. Hadrian improved on this idea, by building a continuous timber palisade backed by forts. Hadrian reduced the Roman garrison in the territory of the Brigantes and built his wall to the north of them. This new wall replaced Stanegate road which had been the boundary of the Roman Empire. Construction of Hadrians Wall started in 122 and took about ten years to finish. Soldiers from the three Roman legions in Britain did the construction work. The route of the wall ran parallel to Stanegate road from Carlisle to Corbridge.

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where there have not been pressures of population. Most of the wall can be followed on foot. Hadrian’s Wall ran due west, from Wallsend on the River Tyne to the shore of the Solway Firth on the other side of England. It was about 120 km long. The Roman Emperor Hadrian (76-138). visited Britain in AD 122 and commissioned the wall. Hadrian was under pressure all across his empire - Egypt, Judea, Libya, Mauretania were all causing him concern. The wall was a symbol of Roman power, both in Britain and in Rome. Fifteen years after its completion, a turf fortification, the Antonine Wall, was built further north to run between the Clyde and Forth. The Antonine Wall was shorter in length, 40 Roman miles (about 60 km) and had significantly more forts than Hadrian’s Wall. It was garrisoned with the same number of men, and more advanced with large platforms for ballistae. However A reasonable portion of within one generation the wall still exists. This the Antonine Wall had tends to be the part in been abandoned, and the centre of its length, Hadrian’s Wall was

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Danube was made a World heritage site in 2005, as an extension of Hadrian’s Wall. Other parts of the frontier will be eventually added. Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia, as well as the Antonine Wall in the UK, are all likely to be put forward as part of this World Heritage Site. Hadrian’s Wall (In Latin it was called Vallum Hadriani) was a stone and turf fortification built across the width of Britain. Its purpose was to curtail military raids by the Scottish tribes into Roman controlled areas and to physically define the frontier of the Empire. Today the wall is in Eng lend, and does not, as is sometimes thought, actually define the border between Scotland and England today. The wall was the most heavily fortified border in the Empire. It is believed that the gates in the wall acted as customs posts to allow trade and taxes to be collected.

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were added along the wall, including Housesteads and Birdoswald. Each of these held a garrison of 500 to 1000 auxiliary troops (no legions were posted to the wall). The total number of soldiers manning the entire length of the early wall was probably greater than 10,000.The eastern end of the wall was extended east from Pons Aelius (Newcastle) to Wallsend on the Tyne estuary. Also some time still during Hadrian’s reign (before 138 AD) 106

the wall west of the Irthing was rebuilt in sandstone to the same size as the limestone section to the east. The Vallum was also added on the southern side. It was a large, flatbottomed ditch 6m wide at the top and 3m deep bounded by a substantial earth bank on each side (called berms). So in the end the defensive system was pretty formidable, from north to south there was: a deep ditch armed

with rows of pointed stakes the Wall itself military road (the “Military Way”) Vallum — two huge banks with a ditch between. By 410, the Roman administration and its army had left Britain .Archaeology is revealing that some parts of the Wall remained occupied well into the 5th century. But in time the wall was abandoned and fell into ruin. Over the centuries a proportion of the

stone was “liberated” for use in local buildings. The National Trust owns 6 miles of the Wall, running west from Housesteads Fort to Cawfields Quarry. Access to the Wall and the public rights of way is from car parks operated by the Northumberland National Park Authority at Housesteads, Steel Rigg and Cawfields. Housesteads Fort is owned by the National Trust, and maintained and managed by English Heritage.

sandbook and gaya designs present

Rach Gee’s booklet coming out 24 may 2011

FASHIONISTA

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Daze, Fairytale Pink, Reflections, Tramp, and Crystal Ice! As you can see, the colors I received are spectacular! The pictures give you an idea of the color, but you really need to see them in person! Mineral makeup eye shadows also have multiple uses, in addition to applying it dry, you can even add a few drops of water to your brush and dip it in your color to apply to your eyelids. I have added her eye shadows to my rotation of colors to use with my mineral makeup. The colors are so beautiful and go on so smooth. The eye shadows don’t dry my skin or irritate my eyes. I have even noticed that the eye shadows last through my Turbo Fire workouts which can range from 30 minutes to 55 minutes! Turbo Fire makes me sweat like crazy too! Can your makeup survive a sweaty workout? You can purchase Orchid Blue Cosmetics online. You can also find Orchid Blue Cosmetics on Facebook.

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You don’t need to cake on your foundation just to get great coverage. You don’t need to cake on your eye shadow or even worry about reapplying any of your makeup midday because mineral makeup lasts all day! Mineral makeup products also have less than 10 ingredients in them and I can pronounce them. Orchid Blue Cosmetics offers a full range of products including foundation, blush, finishing veils, concealer, shadows, liners, lip gloss, brushes, and body glitter! I think it’s worth mentioning that Orchid Blue Cosmetics lists their ingredients of all of their products, you may be surprised at how minimal the lists are. When I found Orchid Blue Cosmetics on Facebook, I asked if I could review the product! Shelly, the owner, was so kind to send me samples sizes of 6 eye shadows, foundation, and veil to play with! I had so much fun experimenting with the 6 eye shadows: Windswept, Beach

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Orchid Blue Cosmetics

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review

I am a huge fan of mineral makeup and have been using it since the summer of 2006! Mineral makeup is the only makeup I wear. I no longer mess with liquid foundation or powder foundation that you would find at the store. Mineral makeup feels so light on my skin and allows my skin to breathe. My skin doesn’t feel dry when I apply it either, nor does it feel cakey or clog my pores. My skin looks and feels healthy when I use mineral makeup and I feel like my tone and texture is improving over time. Best of all, mineral makeup saves me money since a little goes a long way.

http://www.orchidbluecosmetics.com/

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CELEBERTY BIRTHDAY TWINS: MAY BIRTHDAY TWINS By Rach Gee

www.famousbirthdays.com

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1st May 1967 – Tim McGraw (Country singer) 2nd May 1945 – Bianca Jagger (Mick Jagger’s ex and political activist) 3rd May 1933 – James Brown (Godfather of Soul) 4th May 1929 – Audrey Hepburn (Actress) 5th May 1978 – Redi Tlhabi (Johannesburg radio host) 6th May 1915 – Orson Welles (Film director and radio broadcaster) 7th May 1931 – Teresa Brewer (Singer) 8th May 1940 – Peter Benchley (Author of Jaws) 9th May 1873 – Hoard Carter (Archaeologist of King Tut’s tomb) 10th May 1957 – Sid Vicious (Bass player of the Sex Pistols)

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Have a very Happy May Birthday!

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May is a month filled with amazing people. Take a look at the list below to see who shares your birthday. If you’d like to see who else shares your birthday, go to:

11th May 1904 – Salvador Dali (Surrealist painter) 12th May 1961 – Ving Rhames (Actor) 13th May 1914 – Joe Louis (Heavyweight boxer) 14th May 1944 – George Lucas (“Star Wars” director) 15th May 1969 – Emmit Smith (Dallas Cowboys running back) 16th May 1986 – Megan Fox (Actress) 17th May 1965 – Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails front man) 18th May 1919 – Margot Fonteyn (Ballet dancer) 19th May 1925 – Malcom X (Human rights activist) 20th May 1946 – Cher (Singer/Actress) 21st May 1952 – Mr. T (Star of “The A Team”) 22nd May 1934 – Peter Nero (Pianist) 23rd May 1910 – Artie Shaw (Jazz clarinetist) 24th May 1941 – Bob Dylan (Singer/songwriter) 25th May 1963 – Mike Myers (Comedian/actor) 26th May 1886 – Al Jolson (Actor in first talking movie) 27th May 1990 – Chris Colfer (Actor) 28th May 1968 – Kylie Minogue (Singer) 29th May 1736 – Patrick Henry (American patriot) 30th May 1980 – Steven Gerrard (Football player for Liverpool FC) 31st May 1819 – Walt Whitman (Vagabond American poet)

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Birthday Twins Birthday Twins! What’s more cool than finding someone who shares the same birthday 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 celebrate Your own Special Day!

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4th May 1986, Kristin from USA 8th May 1983, Maja Jan from Slovenia 8th May 1986, Anne Lanto from Finland 10th May 1981, Lori Johnson from UK 21st May 1989, Samuel karanja ng’ang’a from Kenya 23rd May 1950, Rebecca Surber from USA The Team of Sandbook.Net would like to say a very 17th May 1976, Julie Emond from Canada Happy Birthday to: 24th May 1966, Lisa Smith from USA 4th May 1981, Claudia C from USA 25th May 1982, Special S. Gazmen from Philippines

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26th May 1966, Ilse Smeulders, Belgium 29th May 1986, SeongMi An from South Kore May you all have a wonderful day! To join our birthday twin section, send us your birthday, name, country and email to our email: fun@ sandbook.net To contact any of our Birthday Twins, log onto our website and look at the Birthday Twin Section.

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NEXT ISSUE

Is the next issue free?

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Coming out: JUNE 11, 2011

3) money requests - such ad will result in your permanent ban from our community.

Make sure that you stay informed for the latest news:

What is the policy on commercial Ads?

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Sandbook Friend us on Facebook: http://facebook.com/sandbooknet If you would like to place a commercial ad for Discuss this Magazine: http://on.fb.me/PenPalMagazine products or services, you will need to get in touch Join our Facebook Group: http://on.fb.me/SBNgroup with us (email us at magazine@sandbook.net ). These Join our Facebook Page: http://on.fb.me/SBNpage Ads are going to be reviewed and negotiated with Read our blog at: www.sandbooknet.blogspot.com the respective companies. Visit us on our website: www.SandBook.Net

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PenPalling and Letters Got that Swing Blog Angeling

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I don’t see my Ad. Why?

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Samantha’s thoughts Children’s Day: June1 Penpals & Swappers Ads World Heritage UNESCO - part 3

1) Promote us - tell your penpals and swappers about the magazine. 2) Give us feedback - by contacting us. 3) Become a guest writer -contact us with your idea of an article. We need to make sure that the topic is still not taken by someone else. We don’t want to print out articles with similar content. There is no word count for the articles! There are no deadlines for subThe published ads are in agreement with our policy: mitting them! The articles are going to be published 1) we are not a dating site/community - write in whatever issue we are currently working on. If you decide to send any pictures with your article, you will appropriate ads to have them published! 2) no inmates - we have kids that are members in our need to have the rights to that image and the image needs to be with a minimal resolution of 800x600. community!

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Go to www.sandbook.net and go to the Magazine section. Then simply click “Place an Ad” and you will have to fill out the form that loads on your computer screen. Please remember to give your actual/ real email address, as it will be the only connect information that anyone can use to get back in touch with you.

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How does the subscribe feature on the website work?

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Yes! So go ahead and tell all of your penpals and swappers about it. Promote the magazine so we can choose from various penpals and swappers ads. The Get in touch with us via email and we will be happy to walk you through the process of getting your article more, the merrier! published. We are seldom assigning topics to authors and we are always searching for new and interesting articles. Please note that if someone else is working on the topic that you want to write about we are going The “Subscribe” area on our website collects to have to ask you to write about something else. We information such as your name/nickname and an are doing that simply to ensure that we don’t have email address. After filling out the form, we will send one and the same stories printed under variation of you a notification when the latest issue is released. names. There is neither a deadline for the articles, nor Don’t forget to check your spam folder - our automatic a word count.Simply write and we are going to print system message may be stuck in there. When you the article in the issue that we are currently working find it, just click “not spam” and your notification will on. The publication date is determined by our work appear in your inbox next time. load and the space available inside each issue.

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How to become a guest writer?

T US C A T N O C

ews! n t s e t a l for the d e m r o f stay in u o y book t d a n h a t S / e r m knet .co o r o e t b t i d Make su n w t a / s http:/ cebook.com/ agazine : r e t t i w ://fa nT p o t t s h PenPalM u / : e k w o o m . o b b f . e Foll on Fac zine: http://on s u d n e i Fr roup ga g a N M B s i S / h e t on.fb.m /SBNpage Discuss / / : p t t h : Group ttp://on.fb.me ogspot.com k o o b e c h Fa .bl Join our Facebook Page: w.sandbooknet ww Join our r blog at: k.Net o o B d Read ou n a www.S : e t i s b e our w n o s u t i s Vi