January 1, 2014
Dear Natalia,
Hi! My name's Clint Barton. I guess I'm you're new pen-pal, huh? Well, e-mail pen-pal. But it's basically the same thing. I've always wanted a pen-pal! Last year one of the Spanish classes in my school did this thing where they all got a pen-pal from a Spanish speaking country. They sent letters all throughout the semester. I'd be jealous if it hadn't have been for a grade, haha.
You're from Russia, right? Crap, I don't know how good your English is… Just… Let me know if you can't read this (sorry if that's offensive? I really have no idea what things are like in Russia…) I'm from the USA in probably the most boring state in the whole country: Iowa. Don't get me wrong, I know the name sounds super exciting, but it's not. Basically the whole state is made up completely of corn. Ugh.
Anyways, I guess I should tell you some more about myself! I'm a high school senior, 17 years old. I've got blond hair and blue/grey eyes. I'm 5'11" (wait, you guys measure with cm, don't you? I guess then I'd be… 180.34 cm! According to Google!) I'm really into archery (I'm club president at my school) and (embarrassingly enough) gymnastics.
Enough about me, though! (Unless you have questions? Go ahead!) What about you? What's it like where you live? How old are you? What do you look like? What are your hobbies/interests?
I'm really looking forwards to hearing from you and sticking with this whole pen-pal thing finally!
Regards,
Clint
1 January, 2014
Clint,
Hey, Clint! I guess I should start this out by answering a few of your questions:
Yes, you're my new pen-pal! Yes, I'm from Russia. My English is completely fine, don't worry :). I grew up learning both English and Russian, so you should be fine, and no, your question wasn't offensive haha.
Alright, I live in Moscow, Russia, my name's Natalia Romanova, but you can just call me "Natasha" (that's my English name.) I'm also 17 and (if Google is to be trusted) also a "high school senior". I think. I'm in my last year of secondary school. I'm 164.5 cm (I think that would be 5'4"?) and have long red hair and green eyes.
As far as hobbies go, I'm pretty involved with my schoolwork and studying. Other than that, I dance ballet, am also in gymnastics, I like to read, and to practice with throwing knives.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
As far as a question for you goes… Hmm.
Okay: If money wasn't an issue and you could explore any part of Earth, where would you explore (and why?)
Talk to you soon! :)
Natasha
January 8, 2014
Dear Natasha,
Sorry it's taken a week to get back to you! We got slammed with projects the second we got back to school. Seriously. Every single subject got like 3 projects each, I swear. Ridiculous.
God, you're so much more interesting than I am! Knife throwing?! That's so cool! Ugh, you're makin' me look bad here, Nat.
And oh, look at that, we're the same age and everything… ;) ;) ;)
Nah, I'm just kidding, I wouldn't try to flirt with you: you're clearly way out of my league haha. It does make me feel better that I'm not the only nerd that's into gymnastics, though. Not that I'm calling you a nerd, no, but. Okay that kinda came out wrong :P It's just, everyone here is always like "Oh, you're in gymnastics? Haha what a loser!" so it's kind of nice to find someone else who does it, y'know?
Sorry, I'm getting all sappy and sentimental so early in :P
Oh god, okay, if money wasn't an issue… I would probably… Huh.
Maybe the rainforests in South America. Those seem pretty cool, I think. Money is stupid, though. Everything should just be free, don't you think? So no one goes hungry, everyone can go wherever they want without having to deal with the hassle?
Alright, and a question for you now! (Thinking of questions is always the hardest part...)
Boring, I know, but: what's your favorite time of day/why?
All the best!
Clint
11 January, 2014
Clint,
That's okay that it took so long! I don't mind. I've been pretty busy between school and ballet practice lately, haha. And really? Three projects for every subject? That is a little ridiculous. I'm not more interesting, though ;) It was my father's idea to get me into knife throwing, not mine. Honestly, I'd probably just drop it completely if it weren't for him.
And I'm not "out of your league" haha.
Why does everyone there make fun of you for gymnastics? Are they that threatened by someone being able to do things they can't? Hmm.
I don't mind you getting "sappy and sentimental" haha. Shows what kind of person you are :)
I think that the rainforests would be interesting to explore! As for me, I would probably explore the deep depths of the oceans. Did you know somewhere around 95% of the oceans are still unexplored? Imagine what we could find there if money wasn't a problem!
My favorite time of day would probably be very early in the morning. Some time between 4-6 before everyone else has woken up, but the sky is just starting to light up. It's always quiet and peaceful. Everyone always says I'm crazy for liking the morning because they all like to sleep in until late haha.
Question for you: What's your family like? Do you have any siblings?
Natasha
January 16, 2014
Dear Natasha,
It keeps throwing me off at first that you write the date before the month haha.
Alright, maybe not 3 projects in every subject, but it sure felt like it! And knife throwing's that bad, huh? Why'd your dad make you do it? Just because?
CLEARLY everyone feels super threatened by the boy who can stick his feet behind his head and bend over backwards into a hand-stand ;) I think that the oceans would be sweet to explore, too! But I'd just be a little freaked out by the, uh, lack of oxygen haha. Sure, submarines are great, but… They can also break? Like, I just don't think I'd be able to do it. Sigh. But I'm all for other people exploring them and sharing their discoveries!
Oh, god, you're a morning person. Alright. I mean, mornings are aaaaaalright, but if I don't get at least 2 pots of coffee, I won't wake up before 9 am. It just won't happen. At all. My favorite time of day is lunch time, definitely. It's not too early, the sun's warm. There's food. So much food. People won't look at you weird if you're still drinking coffee ;)
And actually, I'm adopted! I never knew my parents and I have no idea if I have any blood-related siblings. But my foster parents are pretty cool. They're really nice and didn't have any kids of their own, so I'm an only child. What about you?
And a new question, because I completely forgot to ask it in my first e-mail: When's your birthday?
Sincerely,
Clint
23 January, 2014
Clint,
Haha! Well it's the 23rd of January, so why would I say it's the January of 23rds?
I thought three projects per subject was a little extreme ;). It's not like knife throwing is bad, it's just boring. I'm not sure why my father wanted me to get into it, to be honest.
So are you claustrophobic? That could explain why you'd be afraid to be in a submarine. But you don't technically have to be in a submarine to explore the oceans: you could make a robot to do it for you! :).
And yes, I'm a morning person haha. I don't really drink coffee too much. Normal, plain coffee, at least. I typically like to stick to sweeter drinks. But lunchtime is a good time of day, too! I agree, the sun is shining, there's good food…
You're adopted? Do you even know your real parent's names? (Just tell me if I'm getting too insensitive or rude or anything) It's just my father and I over here. No siblings, my mother died when I was really young. I don't really remember her much…
And my birthday is the 22nd of November :) Yours?
Question: Is it true that in America you pledge to your flag every day at school? o_O.
Natasha
January 28, 2014
Dear Natasha,
"The January of 23rds" Nat, I'm pretty sure no one says it like that hahaha :D No, we just say "It's January 23rd!" Nice and simple. But I guess your way makes sense too ;)
I don't know if I'd classify myself as full-on claustrophobic… Maybe just… Half. Half claustrophobic. Because that definitely makes sense hahaha. And alright, you raise a fair point, I didn't think about robots doing all the work ;)
God, I don't know how anyone manages without coffee. Without five pots of coffee a day. At the very least. Bare minimum, here. Do you guys have Starbucks, there? Because I know they have tons of sweeter drinks to pick from!
Yeah, I'm adopted. My real parents were "Harold and Edith". Probably sound like the weirdest names ever to you, right? Hahah. And no, you're not being rude, it's all cool. Again, I didn't know my parents, so I don't really mind much, I'm used to it.
My birthday's June 18th! I'm a Summer baby haha.
And okay when you put it like that, it sounds a little creepy. But it's not every day we say the pledge! It's usually only on Fridays at my school. I do know there are a ton that say it every day though…
Alright, now I have to come up with another question. Ummmm.
What is… The most exciting thing you've ever done?
Sincerely,
Clint
PS. I can't believe it's already almost been a month and I'm still remembering to do this pen-pal thing! :D
31 January, 2014
Clint,
Right, right, right. That's what I meant! I just… Forgot. Hahaha
"Half claustrophobic," huh? Yeaaaah, definitely makes sense. (Eye roll)
Yes, we have Starbucks! But we probably don't have all the same drinks as you do in America. And do you really drink at least five pots a day? Or are you just exaggerating again? Because that sounds so extreme! How wouldn't you be bouncing off of the walls all the time?
From a Russian standpoint, yes, the names sound funny :) But I watch plenty of American films and tv, so I'm very used to English names :) I'm glad you didn't find my questions rude or anything, though! Some people get very upset when talking about things like that, I wasn't sure how you'd react…
The most exciting thing I've ever done? Hmmmm…. I'd probably have to go with the time I snuck into a upper-class ball in Moscow ;) I found an old dress that fit me and just acted like I knew what I was doing and that I was supposed to be there haha.
Question: What do you think about me?
Natasha