Tag Archives: international

Day 259: Enrique Peña Nieto, President of Mexico

Posted on September 16, 2015 | Leave a comment
photo: independent.co.uk

photo: independent.co.uk

Today is the 205th anniversary of the beginning of Mexico’s war of independence from Spain. I thought I would drop Mexico’s president a note to send my best wishes on the anniversary and also take advantage of the opportunity to find out who President Peña Nieto likes in our upcoming presidential election. I’ve got a feeling it’s not Trump, given his rather salty remarks about our neighbors to the south.

Day259

Mr. President,

I wanted to send you a letter to wish you and all of Mexico well today, the 16th of September, on the anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Mexico.

I lived for one year in the esteemed metropolitan city of Guasave, Sinaloa when I was a junior in high school – similar to the year you spent at Denis Hall Junior High in Maine. I love Mexico and the Mexican people.

I would be interested to know which 2016 candidate for president in the United States you feel is the best.

Kind regards from Washington, D.C.,
Reed Sandridge

P.S. I also studied at Tec de Monterrey (for one semester), but I was at the Mazatlan campus, which I don’t believe is at the same level as the Monterrey campus where you studied, but it was still an amazing experience. 

 

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Day 149: The Ruta Family

Posted on May 29, 2015 | Leave a comment

I met my buddy Ryan Ruta while living in Valladolid, Spain back in 1995. We spent a semester studying Spanish at the Universidad de Valladolid. It was a tremendous experience and I made a couple of friends along the way, Ryan was one of them.

He ended up moving to Bolivia to do some post-graduate work, met his wife Twyla, got married, started a family and joined the Foreign Service. Every couple of years they move to a new country and he often comes back to Washington for periods of time, so we get to catch up then.

He was here back in April and I’ve been meaning to write him ever since.

I used some Wasi tape to add an international touch to the header of this piece of stationery.

I used some Washi tape to add an international touch to the header of this piece of stationery.

Dear Ruta Family,

I hope my note finds you well. One thing that I always enjoyed during my time abroad was receiving handwritten letters from friends and family.

I’ve been writing a handwritten note or letter to someone every day this year. Today is Day 149! I’ve written to all kinds of people – family, friends, celebrities, politicians – just yesterday I wrote to former President George W. Bush. Ryan even helped me leave an anonymous note with $10 in it at Starbucks on Day 104 while he was visiting here in DC. I’m sorry there’s no money in this letter for you, I learned long ago that sending cash in the mail is not a wise decision. That reminds me though of a short story, Una Carta a Dios by Gregorio Lopez y Fuentes. Have you read it? You can find it online – it’s really short but worth reading.

I hope to some day visit you guys while you are living abroad. I don’t know if I will make Honduras, although it’s one of the few countries in Latin America that I have not visited. It would be fun to see you and check it off of my list of countries to visit.

I hope that Bianca, Diego and Lexi are all doing well – hopefully making new friends and adapting to life there. I guess the same could be said for both of you too!

When you have time, drop me a note and let me know how you are doing. And definitely let me know when you’ll be in Washington as I always enjoy seeing you and catching up.

Abrazos,
Reed

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Day 97: Reyes

Posted on April 8, 2015 | Leave a comment
Postcards that Reyes sent me from her travels through the south of France.

Postcards that Reyes sent me from her travels through the south of France.

Buenos dias! I lived in Valladolid, Spain 20 years ago as part of an exchange program between Indiana University of Pennsylvania and La Universidad de Valladolid. It was a fantastic experience. I lived with a host family while I was there, studied a little bit, explored the city and had a girlfriend for a while too: Reyes.

We’ve stayed in touch on and off for many years – with Facebook it makes it a lot easier. I was pleasantly surprised when I received a nice handwritten note from her along with some post cards from the south of France recently.

I should have written to her in Spanish – but I was feeling a bit lazy this morning and besides, she’s living in London, so English is fair game!

Day 97- Reyes

Day 97- Reyes-2Dear Reyes,

It was so nice to receive your note and beautiful post cards from the south of France. I’ve actually been there about 8 or 9 years ago. It was amazing. Winding through the countryside, you find the most breathtaking little villages.

I know you love France – how about the U.K.? I don’t remember how long you’ve been in London. I’ve really only been to London twice, so I don’t feel that I know it very well. Didn’t you spend some time in Ireland? I love it there.

Thanks to social media we are still in touch 20 years later – but there is nothing like receiving a handwritten note from someone you care about. Thank you and stay in touch.

Abrazos,
Jason

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Posted in Just because, Reconnecting, Replies

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Sunday Letters: William Kelly to his mother

Posted on January 4, 2015 | Leave a comment

I was thinking that I would do something a bit different on Sundays. Instead of sharing my letter on Sundays, I thought I would share someone else’s letters that are interesting or catch you up on the letters that I receive back from the people I’m writing to – I hope to get some responses! As Lazlo Toth Continue reading →

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Day 1: Josie Adivino

Posted on January 1, 2015 | 4 comments

Happy New Year!

Today is my first letter in my year-long commitment to write handwritten letters. I’ve seen a few other blogs that tried this, but I haven’t seen anyone get past a month or two. After successfully completing my Year of Giving project, I am confident that I can complete this task as well. I may however run out of people to write to, so feel free to send me your suggestions.

Josie in 1987

Josie in 1987

My first letter is to Josie Adivino – someone I met through letters in the 1980s. Back then when it wasn’t uncommon to sign up to have a pen pal with someone from another country, Josie and I were connected. At the time Continue reading →

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