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Post by KatieJoy on Nov 7, 2014 5:19:09 GMT -5
Hey all, We are going to start a forum penpal! Please use this thread to express your interest in a forum penpal, and send a private message to the person you would like to be a penpal with, so you can both discuss how often you would write to each other and exchange addresses. This is just a fun and interesting way to make new friendships. I think to make things easier, if you're interested in having a penpal, to sign up below with a small bio about you and were you live in the world. Let me know who you're a penpal with, and you can have more than one if you wish. Special thanks to patchworkgal and desertsage for the inspiration!
| Name | Country | Penpal | | Kettle | Australia | KatieJoy | | Suzanne | USA |
| | Karen | USA | Rhonda | | DesertSage | USA |
| | Rhonda | USA | Karen | | KatieJoy | Netherlands | Kettle |
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Post by Kettle on Nov 7, 2014 7:49:33 GMT -5
I'm interested! It's a cool idea  So, anyway, a blurb... um... I'm an Australian university student studying linguistics and psychology (I'm especially interested in culture and that sort of thing). I'm going to be studying for a year in Singapore next year (two more months before I leave!). And I really like birds. I'm also kind of geeky, I guess - I play a lot of fantasy role-playing and I like to read/watch sci-fi stuff, but I've never been fangirl-ish - I don't remember weird details (unless it's Discworld...), or actors or anything like that, but I have a lot of respect for people who do (or maybe envy - my memory sucks  ). Oh, and I collect stamps (which may or not be one of the reasons I'm so interested in this... ) |
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Post by StellaZiganti/Suzanne on Nov 7, 2014 8:40:15 GMT -5
Sounds fun! Hmm...where to start. I'm a tomboy, I suppose. Not in the anti-feminine sense, but more in the I fix stuff, get dirty, and don't need help working on my car sort of way. I grew up in the true sticks of northern CA and spent most of my time on my grandparents cattle ranch, rode bmx with my brother, and then was an avionics tech (aircraft) in the Air Force. I was an exchange student to Finland in high school, and lived in Portugal (Azores) and Germany for several years. I got out of the Air Force after my son was born in Germany, hubs stayed in, then got out, then went back in...?! I have been married for 12 years and have two crazy, amazing sons (3 & 10) that keep me on my toes! My dream is to be an expat living in Europe one day if I can get it all worked out, but I might settle for an airstream and a really long meandering trip a few times a year if the hubs won't move with me. I love to cook, bake, and make candy but I'm a bit of a health nut so I give most of it away. I run, mountain bike (just getting into it), and get lost whenever I get the chance. Oh, and dogs... we have a 8 year old German Shepard-Great Dane cross that we adopted as a wee little guy and he's every bit as big as you'd imagine. (he's the fawn dude in the pic on my blog header) and then there's Stella! She's a 1.5 year old, blue American Bully, built like a rhinoceros, and sweet as they come! Sorry...that was really long winded, but you deserved a fair warning!  |
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Post by patchworkgal on Nov 7, 2014 11:12:15 GMT -5
I am a bit of an old fashioned gal, mostly a home-body with a geeky streak. I chalk that up to my childhood--spent roaming all over the world with never enough time to put down roots anywhere. My parents were missionaries, not the kind who go into places and try to "civilize" people, but the kind who helped small third-world groups develop a written language, then taught them how to read and write. We moved so many times it was painful. To this day I have a hard time feeling truly "settled" anywhere.
Always the new kid on the block, I learned to immerse myself in books to avoid the awkwardness. I like to think I got over that and have lost most of my social shyness, but I'm often told I'm a hard person to really get to know. And I admit, sometimes it's easier for me to form "virtual" relationships because of it, though. Once I began a family of my own, I decided it was time for this rolling stone to stay put for a while. Chuck and I raised our two girls here in Birmingham, AL. Abbie is now married and lives in Ohio. Becca is still living at home and is about to give us our first grandchild, a boy due in March.
My life may sound kind of dull compared to some, but I'm content. I still love to travel, but kind of like Bilbo the Hobbit, as long as it's "There and Back Again" and not too long away, I'm happy. (Btw, I'm a huge fantasy/scifi fan, especially Tolkien.) I like to read and I enjoy writing. I love learning new things. I'm a bit of a history buff--could wander for hours in museums and true antique shops. I love gardening and critters of all sorts. I'm not much into sports of any kind, but I do love walking and hiking--mostly just to be outdoors. I have tried my hand at most every craft there is, from knitting, crochet and embroidery to painting, even tried woodworking and pottery. But working with fabric is my favorite by far. Somehow it understands me!
That's probably TMI, but it'll do for starters!
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Post by desertsage on Nov 9, 2014 18:17:00 GMT -5
Wow.
*laughs*
I'd be happy to occasionally scribble back and forth with any or all of you.
Hadn't responded yet because I'm always weird about these sorts of introductory things.
You do not want to know how long it took me to work up something for our about page.... and it REALLY needs work.
My childhood was weird. I ended up as a military brat. Spent time in... we'll go with calling it 'multiple countries' long before I was 10. We spent enough time in England for me to consider it home, but I picked up a smattering of German, learned to love the cadences of Asian languages, and... many other things during that time period.
There was actual bonafide culture shock when I finally got to the States. I'd picked up an English accent (since I kinda learned to talk there, and we spent most of our time there) and the first Stateside posting was Georgia. Sub-dialetic issues were fully present. I still remember scribbling notes to myself, trying to spell what I was hearing, so I could look it up when I got home.
I am a voracious reader. If I get fascinated with a concept of a subject or category or knowledge or... I tend to immerse. MUST READ AND RESEARCH ALL THE THINGS!
I used to love hiking and camping and wandering and certain kinds of tests of physical stamina and dexterity. I was a gymnast, a skater, a dancer.
Unfortunately a number of factors had already done damage to my spine, and then a little before 2000 I got sick. I won't go into the gorey details here, but 2 years later my body was an entirely different place to live in. There's nerve damage, there are bone fragments floating in my spine, there are stripped nerves... Day to day I don't know how many limbs are going to be working or how well.
However, I'm stubborn. I use my chair as little as I can managed, and take the bruises when both legs shut off close enough that the canes aren't enough.
Combine that with MCS, and the places DSN came from are writ sort of clear.
I taught myself how to knit and crochet while I was getting over the last dregs of the sick. (That level of antibiotics course would slay anyone for a bit.) I'd always embroidered and sewn.
I am a musician (that's been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.) Music and languages, always fun to find another to play with.
I hate bullies. I hate isms. I hate... thoughtless disregard for other people. Hate isn't quite the right word, there... I don't understand them, I will stand up to them, and I hope I never do anything akin to those sorts of actions.
We have 3 dogs, 3 cats, 4 chickens, a smattering of fish, and get joy out of them all.
And, even the names indicate our bits and pieces of geekery. (Granted, so do our tea names.)
I feel like this is both too much and too little, so I'm going to stop typing and just figure questions can be asked or scribbled if curiosity is there.
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Post by KatieJoy on Nov 10, 2014 3:32:36 GMT -5
You know what I am in!
I am a British expat living in the Netherlands. I live in a small historical city called Haarlem, which is west of Amsterdam. I have only been here for less than a year, but I love it.
I was was born and raised in London, so living in Haarlem is a massive culture/population change! Occasionally I get nostalgic and pine for London, especially now Christmas is round the corner, London is amazing at Christmas time.
I was was also raised in a charismatic Christian family. But I rebeled against it when I was 18/19. I couldn't stand the hypocrisy and the politics of the church. I still have my faith, but I live it in my own way. I don't need to go to church to be a believer.
I spent a lot of my time in Education, I went to two colleges and uni. Mostly studying art and design. So it's funny I end up doing this SEO thing instead! But my Etsy shop satisfys my need to create.
I love history, especially English (kings & queens) and ancient Chinese. I like to read, again historic novels mostly.
I like to to vent and moan! But I am also a good listener and encourager. Also most things don't shock me.
So if you want to be my penpal! Message me!
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Post by KatieJoy on Nov 20, 2014 10:26:45 GMT -5
I got my first penpal letter a few days ago. I was so excited and I responded! My hand ached like mad afterwards.
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Post by Professor Rhonda on Nov 22, 2014 11:46:02 GMT -5
If its not too late I would love to join you all!!
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Post by KatieJoy on Nov 23, 2014 15:00:19 GMT -5
If its not too late I would love to join you all!! Of course not! Just send a message to the person you would like to penpal with. |
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Post by Professor Rhonda on Nov 24, 2014 8:28:45 GMT -5
If its not too late I would love to join you all!! Of course not! Just send a message to the person you would like to penpal with. Wow, I don't who to choose?  ?? |
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So, anyway, a blurb... um... I'm an Australian university student studying linguistics and psychology (I'm especially interested in culture and that sort of thing). I'm going to be studying for a year in Singapore next year (two more months before I leave!). And I really like birds. I'm also kind of geeky, I guess - I play a lot of fantasy role-playing and I like to read/watch sci-fi stuff, but I've never been fangirl-ish - I don't remember weird details (unless it's Discworld...), or actors or anything like that, but I have a lot of respect for people who do (or maybe envy - my memory sucks 
). Oh, and I collect stamps (which may or not be one of the reasons I'm so interested in this... 
Check out my Etsy shop here:
