Fever

Please note: I'm in the middle of moving to a new flat, so things are pretty busy and crazy (everything has to go really quickly now, we got the place on short notice) - for the time being I've put my parents' address on here to avoid confusions and I'll change it as soon as possible to my new address. If you're sending to my parents, please be patient if I don't rate quickly. They live far away and I don't see them often. Thank you very much!

If you don't receive a swap from me within two weeks after the deadline, please let me know and I will resend it or ask at the post office - the delay (or loss -.-) will most likely be due to post running times or due to the custom office. When sending to me, please be so kind to put a custom declaration sticker on each piece of large mail, if you don't live in the EU. Without the sticker they send the parcels through customs and it takes them ages to get to me, plus they are sometimes damaged. Thank you!**

Hey to everybody!

My name is Sophie and I'm a 20-year-old University student from Germany. Well, I AM German, now living in Bavaria, and if you've ever heard a Bavarian talk, you wouldn't believe, that they're officially part of Germany. I'm studying Scandinavistics (currently learning Norwegian and Icelandic) and Japanese.

I'm very much into music and when listening I enjoy mostly Metal (like Black, Folk, Death or Pagan Metal) and Industrial music, as well as Jazz or any really special kind. I'm an avid piano and cello player always looking for new challenges and I'm also very fond of singing - especially classical songs. Music has been by my side during the ups and downs of life, always. I often associate certain songs or musicians with a certain period of time in my life. I've always been a concert goer, too, so I've spent many summer nights out camping on a festival's camp ground and still love to do so (although I have to say, as a University student these things do become less affordable :-/).

I love reading and I'm open to any genre except teenie novels or trashy romance novels - I like the classics as well as thrillers or fantasy.

I'm a film lover and a comic book reader. I'm a lot into unusually drawn comics or weird stories, but the classics like Batman or Thor will always be as awesome as in their first hour of existence. Warren Ellis is my God and I often wish I could have a look in Neil Gaiman's mind. I'm quite a cineast: I'll go to the cinema alone on a Sunday afternoon sometimes, because I want to watch that particular film and not because of the sensation of going to the cinema together with someone. I do watch Action films and black comedies, but my heart really belongs to the thoughtful, fantastic films, using beautiful pictures and beautiful words and beautiful music. Or the really unusual films, that look ugly but mean a lot. Or those, that seem to take place in someone's mind, dealing with people's psyche instead of action.

I'm quite a creative person, I play two instruments (cello and piano) and sing, but I also love drawing and painting, doing handicrafts or writing (for example letters - I like beautiful long letters!). I'm always jealous, when I read what people on here can do with their hands, so anyone who can teach me any new crafts is encouraged to do so and will be rewarded. :D I've also started to violate my guitar just recently, but it still sounds so horrid, that I mainly use it as a tool of control, when I want to punish my flat mates for not taking the bins down.

I collect beautiful postcards (artistic), fans, mugs, dice, striped socks, requiem masses and lipsticks. I like cats, but hate dogs, and I love the colours green, red, black and violet - but all of them in darker shades. Furthermore I don't like pink, girlish stuff, but I like cute things, which aren't too trashy.

I'm a vegetarian and sometimes a "do-gooder" - I'm into organic food and fair trade (I'm occasionally working in a tiny organic food shop), but I'm not someone for demonstrations and accusations. I just like fresh food and I like to think of the producing people as happy people, who don't feel pressured by big enterprises.

I've got a dry sense of humour and I laugh at a lot of bad jokes - if I'm not the one making them. ;-) I don't like "political correctness" - terms like that don't change anything, except they raise barriers in people's heads. If it's offensive, I'll probably find it funny... ;-)

I'm an active person, too active at times, as people have pointed out to me. ;) I'm a runner and a fighter: I used to train in a boxing club and am into Karate currently. When it's possible at all I'm out running everyday. I love the outdoors!

I've got a raven tattooed on my right forearm.

I'm not a religious person, but I'm careful with terms such as atheist or agnostic. I still haven't figured out quite what I know or don't know, so I don't want to put a label on my "non-believing". I do consider religion a very important topic and I actually care what people think or believe in and like to share a good discussion. But I don't like to be "persuaded" by someone and as I respect people who believe in a deity I expect them to respect my view, too.

What else? I like spending time in the bath room (which woman doesn't?), using good smelling cosmetics, washing my hair (I have a slight obsession with my hair), sometimes even trying out make-up and so on ... also, I like decorative things, but it's hard to find something which i like, because I don't like trash, neither pink girlyish trash, nor "black romantic" trash. That's just not my thing!

Well, I'll leave it here, so you have at least some information about me for the start. I'm looking forward to lots of fun swaps!

Another info about me, because in some swaps it's needed: My shoe/socks size is a European 39/40, so I think that would make me a 6 1/2 in US sizes? As for clothes, I'm wearing a size S (36 in European sizes, 8/10 in UK sizes).

• dice (I just started my collection of dice and I'd LOVE some cool, unusual, colourful, interesting, strange (...) dice - you'd absolutely make my day with some really outstanding dice ;))

• fans (I have a collection which becomes larger and larger, partly thanks to the lovely members of swap-bot - thank you!)

• mugs/tea pots (I'm collecting them, so I love mugs with great, extraordinary motives)

• tea (there's almost nothing I don't like, so feel free to surprise me!)

• socks (I LOVE striped, kneehigh socks > EU size 40, American size 6 1/2)

• Handmade things - whatever you put your heart into must be beautiful

• Requiem masses - I collect CDs of requiems and will love any new suggestions :)

• jigsaws (I love the challenge of a jigsaw puzzle with over 500 or even 1000 pieces)

• Vertigo comics and graphic novels (I just adore serious, well-drawn, surrealistic, violent, awesome ... comics :))

• ravens

• big cats

• the woods

• political incorrectness

• vanilla (flavour/smell...)

• roses and sunflowers

• myths, legends, fairytales

• the colours green, black, red and dark violet

• stationery/lettersets (as I'm one of those "less than 3 pages is not worth the postage"-writers, I usually only use A4)

• candy/lollipops and chocolate :)(yup, I do have a sweet tooth)

• fan stuff (you'll find my favourite fandoms sprinkled all over my profile - I love fandom-related things :))

• old cemeteries and stone angels

• Etsy (who doesn't? :) Check my favourites!)

• elegant stickers

• beautiful rubberstamps with unusual/pretty motives

• candles

• cocoa, coffee, drink mixes (I'm a caffeine junkie, but I do like hot drinks in general - they make me feel comfy-cozy :))

• beautiful/artistic postcards

• scarves

• CDs (see my "favourite music" section - but actually, I also quite like to be surprised with something extraordinary)

• drawing/painting supplies of all kinds

• copic markers/brush pens etc.

• Any jewellery making supplies/pendants (I recently started to get into making it myself, so I appreciate all sorts of good advice/new ideas, too :))

• Tasteful jewellery (nothing big - at the moment I'm looking for a necklace with an anchor pendant ... colours are fine, but I prefer small to big ;))

• DVDs (check out my "favourite movies" section! Only request here: I live in Europe, so I need those with regional code 2, otherwise I can't play them)

• good pens in different colours (I think it's quite hard to find good writing or drawing pens, so if you have any special tips - tell me!)

• books (I LOVE reading, but I don't like books, which look used and carelessly treated. I can read German, English and French, but you could also give me a chance to try a book in Norwegian ;) I prefer either thrillers or classics or serious/intelligent novels - nothing too trivial, please. See my "Favourite books")

• snow globes

• music boxes (the nostalgic ones, especially)

• Scandinavia and East Asia (and really ANYTHING about it ;))

• useful but also beautiful/creative things for the kitchen

• photography art books (tasteful nudity/people/aesthetic photos)

• Minami Ozaki (also her art in general, not only the mangas/anime - I have to admit, that I'm a massive fan of hers!)

• typical things from your country (surprise me, show me where you live! I love to discover the world)

• comics/mangas (action/horror/shonen-ai/comedy)

• skin/body/hair care products (big fan of LUSH and that kind - I could literally bath in those smells)

• anything else for my hair ... I'm slightly obsessed with it ;)

• eco/fair trade products

• anything about Lord of The Rings or other epic fantasy (but NOT Twilight/ Eragon or other teen stuff) - I also love Harry Potter

• vegetarian cooking books

• Batman

• sheet music (I play piano, cello and sing - so if there's anything you'd like to share with me, I'd be happy!)

• note books and note pads (especially ones which also look nice)

• paper craft items (I have always use for stuff like glue and would love washi/deco tape or pretty scrapbooking papers)

• craft supplies (I'm open to trying new things, so if you can spare some of your stash I'd love to see, what I can make of it.:))

• decorative things, that don't jump in your face screaming "I'm kitsch!" - though it's quite a funny picture in my head. :D

• lipsticks and make-up (for some reason I've got a collection of lipsticks, although I don't use that much make-up - but I do like some nice stuff from time to time)

• face masks (the ultimate treat for a film night, don't you think?)

... and surprises! :-)

• anything containing meat or fish (I'm a vegetarian)

• water (this is my weak point phobia-wise ... but as you can't send me the ocean it wouldn't really affect swapping ;))

• dogs

• too sappy stuff

• teen comedies (in books and movies)

• colours pink and yellow

• cheap decoration stuff

• no name brands

• earrings (I don't have pierced ears or anything else pierced)

• pop and hiphop music

• lipgloss

• nail polish

• extremely hot/spicy food (like snacks for example)

• butterflies

... you see, I don't have a huge "Not to send" list, so things are not getting too difficult for you. I'm basically happy about everything, that shows, you put some thought into it. :)

... are more than welcome! If you think, we could have a great private swap together, send me a PM. I like private swaps, because you can choose your partner and really concentrate on a package he/she would really like. So, feel free to ask me for a private swap!

... are a "beautiful thing". I'm currently on a quest for new, exciting, long-letter-loving, weird, wonderful, sometimes unwordly penfriends from all around the world. I love to share my life, a good discussion, recommendations or rants and whatever else moves you in your life.

But, although I'd love to write to people from everywhere, there are three countries I'd be particularly happy to find a penpal in: Norway, Iceland and Japan. I've started University in October and these are the three languages I'm studying, so it would be most amazing to have someone, who could add some short paragraphs in these languages to his/her letters and endure a few lines (which will hopefully become more and more lines as time passes) of my horrible first steps.

But wherever you come from and whatever you're doing: If you'd like to exchange letters, please don't hesitate to message me. :)

There's always some stuff I'd be particularly happy to receive, especially things I can't get here in Germany or only with great difficulty. Here's what I'd be happy to receive:

• Charlie Black Deodorant (it's a great scent, which I discovered living in England - but being back in Germany now, I can't find it anywhere)

• Issues of the "The Dark Side" magazine - it's an awesome UK magazine about horror movies

• McVities Digestives (with chocolate or plain) - found them in the UK

• Icelandic sweets (I tried some a couple of times and I've never tasted anything like it before)

• CDs of requiems - I collect them and would love any requiem from anywhere in the world! You'd make me extremely happy with a new one for my collection.

• A necklace with an anchor pendant - I've seen a golden one once, which was really delicate any tiny. If you ever come across one, I'd be willing to swap for anything! :)

• Any merchandise/books/doujinshis/art by Minami Ozaki from Japan/East Asia - it's incredibly difficult to come across anything but the mangas here

• Fazer Dumle (sweets from Finland and Scandinavia)

• Blackadder DVDs from the UK

• "The Boondock Saints" on DVD

• Puma Shower Gel

• Speculoos Crem by Lotus from the Netherlands (I still don't understand, why they don't sell it in German - it would be a hit!)

• A4 narrow ruled writing pads with margin (from Ryman, e.g.) from the Uk - I just got used to writing on these, but in Germany, they don't sell pads with such narrow rules. If you could fill up my supply, I'd be more than happy. ;)

I enjoy:

• Classics (some of them would be "Lord of the Flies", "1984" or "Brave New World". Right now, "To kill a Mockingbird" is on top of my wishlist.)

• Serious novels (I really like books with some story, it needn't be long, but it has to be essential and intelligent. I love Haruki Murakami, for example, or Osamu Dazai.)

• Fantasy (I love a good fantasy book! But it must be really good - nothing like Twilight or Eragon ... "Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell" is by far one of my favourite books and I'm sure, I'd enjoy similar books)

• Provocative books (I like things, that seem out of order, because they often are the most thought-provoking. If you have ever read "Crooked Little Vein" by Warren Ellis you'll know what I mean. I'm not faint hearted, no matter if it's explicit in sex or violence or radical morals, I'll read it as long as it's a book with a thought and an intention behind it.)

• Thrillers/crime novels (I like the old detective novels just as much as a good bloody thriller. I'm especially into the work of the Norwegian author Jo Nesbø)

• Some of those amazing "Young Adult" novels - I'm a huge fan of Harry Potter, then recently got into the Hunger Games and Skulduggery Pleasant or Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell sure are some of the best, breathtaking books for young - and older people - ever!)

• mangas & graphic novels in extraordinary drawing style (some of my favourites are "BRONZE:Zetsuai" and "Ghostface")

To sum it up: In general I like extraordinary books with a special twist. The genre is secondary to me, actually, books you can't put into one genre seem to be the best ones. I'm open to surprises, but I want books to be special in one way or the other - I hate the feeling of "somehow it feels, as if I've already read this ..." when reading a new book.

I enjoy:

• Metal (Black Metal, folk Metal, Death Metal ... preferably non-American bands, e.g. Scandinavian or Middleeuropean bands)

• Industrial (I like artists such as Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails, Velvet Acid Christ etc. - anything heavily electronic is welcome!)

• Classical (I really don't like Mozart! My favourites are L. v. Beethoven, A. Schönberg, C. Monteverdi, J. Brahms and especially E. Grieg. But I'm open to any less known composer from former eras!) - I'm especially into choral works/oratories. I collect requiems! I love baroque music and opera, but am not very much into opera other than that. Romanticism is another favourite epoque of mine.

• Jazz (I like the classic "oldies", the milestones of Jazz, such as Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong or Miles Davis, but also younger musicians, such as The Bad Plus, who do what Davis did more than half a century ago: Innovating)

• extraordinary/avantgardistic bands (these are mostly only nationally known bands, but feel free to introduce me to the very special artists of your country. To give you an idea, I love especially Tom Waits' music!)

• entertainment music from around the 1930's or music, that sounds as if it were (such as Max Raabe)

• extraordinary soundtrack (not the usual stuff by Hans Zimmer, but really special soundtracks)

I enjoy:

• Fantasy movies (either the epic ones, such as Lord of the Rings, or the rather special, beautiful ones, like "MirrorMask" and "Pan's Labyrinth" - I also enjoy Tim Burton's movies a lot.)

• Dramatic/serious movies (I really don't like kitchy love stories, but if there's some depth in a tragedy, I love to watch it. Some of my favourites here are "Closer" and "Lost and Delirious")

• Disney movies (I love all Disney movies, especially the old ones! My aim is to own all of them one day ^^ I also like movies similar to Disney, such as "Ice Age", but I'm really not into badly drawn movies.)

• Action/Martial Arts movies (I love especially those rather stupid, but great movies such as Terminator and other Schwarzenegger movies, but also those funny ones such as "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" or "Lock, stock and Two smoking Barrels". And I'm very much into any kind of martial Art movie!)

• English comedies (with that black, sarcastic humour ... I love it!)

• Old movies (also romances, with actors like Fred Astaire, Audrey Hepburn or Doris Day - at that time, romantic comedies were really sweet!)

• horror movies (I enjoy a good bloody zombie movie, such as "Braindead" so much, because you actually don't need any brain to watch it, which I find extremely realxing^^)

• Science Fiction (certainly not everything, but I'm a sucker for Star Wars and films like "Planet of the Apes")

After I took part in a few e-mail swaps (which I probably won't do as much again ...) I just wanted to say a couple of words about ratings: If you're just going to leave a 5 with no comment at all, please consider not rating me at all. Even an e-mail swap takes time and effort and it's disappointing to get no feedback at all from some people. It's no use for other swappers, because they don't see anything about the quality of my swaps in these ratings. If there's nothing to say about the swap (even though I wonder, why people join then), please don't leave me with an uncommented rating. Think about it ... ;)