Hi mom! How's home? How are you and dad? What is it like without me or Chris in the house? I can imagine it must be lonelier, and the house must feel empty. And how's Magpie doing without me or Chris in the house? She must be alone all day except for the morning and night. And have you fixed the water pump for the pipes yet? I hate having to take showers with the pump wailing the whole way through.
I'm alright, so you don't have to worry. You probably can't call me yet, because all of the phone lines into the city are blocked, except for the emergency lines. New York has been quiet since the 11th. It's an atrocity, what happened to the Twin Towers.
My job is normally fine, because I get to meet new people, I can write about stories that interest me, and I can see fascinating new places. I've never been to New York before, and I've seen some of the sights, like the Statue of Liberty. I can't find any football here thought (it's called soccer here because for Americans football is a game like rugby, but a lot slower). Hockey can be fun to watch sometimes. It can get a little bit lonely here though because I've really just arrived, but at least there are the people in the office who I can talk to.
Of course, there are some weeks which are very saddening, and I have to write mountains of stories for The Guardian back home in London. I've only just started, but from what I've heard from the people down in the office is that sometimes I'll have no time except for work work work.....
I miss home a lot. I miss you mum, and tell dad that I miss him a lot as well. I also miss Magpie, and my old room. I also miss London, and its weather. It can rain a lot across the pond in New York. And London is more laid back. Manhattan in particular is moving very fast. So many people all going somewhere. There are always traffic jams on the roads and sidewalks alike. It's almost as if every street is Oxford Street.
Please reply as soon as possible. I'm dying to know how you all are. Remember that I'm fine and that I'm not hurt at all. Please tell dad that I love him.
Your son
Alex (Written by Alex Wiedemann)
Dear Dad,
How is windsurfing in Hawaii going? Are your elbows doing alright, because I remember they were sore before you left? I really hope you're having fun with mum and Gaby.
It's mad over here in Beirut. Two car bombs have exploded; I wonder if there are going to be more? One of the cars with a bomb had a journalist in it and the other had the Lebanese prime minister in it! I will let you know more about it near to the end of this letter.
Other than that horrible news, the weather has been great, sunny. My free time has been great too. I've visited downtown and most of the beaches. The problem is that my work mainly absorbs all my time leaving little free time everyday. I've bought you guys many presents and I look forward to sending you more letters.
My new job is great, I get to travel to many different countries and have interviews with important people and I get to be the first to know a lot on the story I will be presenting. The only problem about my new job is that, I will miss you guys. Not being able to see you often because of travelling is a problem. I will miss home and playing football and watching football. Most importantly I will miss my whole family and friends. I will miss lying on the couch watching TV. While you're probably reading this, I will be listening to the news on the radio and watching the news on the TV writing notes for my story.
The music here is pretty awful and I don't know how I will stand listening to it all the time. It's a smoking country here everywhere I go people smoke, so I've absorbed a lot of second-hand smoke. The food is amazing here. It's probably my favourite food in the world. How is the food in Hawaii?
Well, on with the story. The Syrians have been raiding into Lebanon creating chaos on the streets and pretty much everywhere. An Arabic journalist had made comments to a newspaper about her negative thoughts about the Syrians, so one day when she had finished her work, she got in to her car and was on her way home. Five minutes into the drive the car exploded. The car bomb wounded many civilians on the street, with glass exploding onto them as many hotel windows shattered. She was badly injured in this, losing her left arm and leg and also she suffered extensive burns.
The Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri was also killed in a car bomb. He was in a car with two other people: a driver and one of his friends. It was said that there was a construction site working underground a few weeks before the blast, this site was exactly where the car exploded, so I'm guessing that the bombs were placed in that exact spot. Rafik Hariri and his driver died straight away from 100% burns. His friend survived and was taken to hospital with 90% burns but he died three days later because he couldn't go on any longer with the burns.
I will be looking forward to sending you more letters and that's enough about me. Send me some letters on how your holiday in Hawaii is going. Miss you guys.
Sincerely Anthony (Written by Anthony Abdelnour)
Dear Mum and Dad,
How is it ye old sunny England? Here in Tokyo it is amazing! I can't believe I've been here for nearly a week now already! Everyday is just as exciting as the last! SO far, however, concerning the journalism department, nothing really eventful has happened so I've had most of the week to myself to snoop around, you know your daughter!
Tomorrow though I will be visiting some of the country side suburbs as there have been numerous minor reports of giant radishes growing through the asphalt, as this will in the future be quite a problem for local councils as they will have to pay for repairs of the road sides. Now however, locals seem to love these new radishes cropping up all down they're streets! These lovely radishes are being an inspiration to the public, showing people how to get through tough times!
Anyway, aside from giant radishes, the day after tomorrow (not the movie) I will be going to one of Tokyo's major robot conventions, I've already interviewed some of the major contestants (was in the Daily Mail on Sunday, pg 5) and it sounds amazing! I even met one 6 year old boy who could build up a robot from scrap on his own! Here everybody deems a genius compared to the likes of me! I'm really looking forward to this convention, it seems interesting to no end!
So, that's all the news here really, how are you two? I haven't gotten a letter in quite a while! Maybe we should convert to email instead of traditional post... (There are tons of places I can connect to the internet here too!) So how is the weather there? I know it must be gorgeous! So write back soon! I want to hear everything that going on back home!
Dearest Mum and Dad, I'm sorry I didn't get the chance to send you the letter attached to this one, I just can't find the time right now! I had to leave right after writing it to go see the radishes which were even more amazing than I thought that they would be! And when I say amazing I mean AMAZING. Radishes are tiny back home compared to these! They're called giant radishes for a reason! They're probably as big as I am, well almost anyway. In one village I visited there was one truly inspiring tale. A giant radish which all the locals adored and saw as a symbol of inspiration had been decapitated during the night by an unknown assailant! Everyone was devastated! Neighbours came out periodically to check on this little radish, many of them are trying to save its life by putting the poor little things remaining roots in a water bowl in the hope that it will grow back.
I for one am seriously interested, and am in fact going back tonight with my night camera to see if I can catch this perpetrator in the act! I'm dying to know who would defile the adorable little thing! And as they say, the guilty always return to the scene of the crime. Maybe I should bring my BB gun with me...
Well, write back soon! All my love, your daughter, April (Written by April Williamson)
WN America, Washington Office Washington DC Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Dear mother,
I am sorry that it has taken me such a long while but I have been very productive since my arrival to Washington last week. I've had a fairly hard time adjusting to this new environment. The winters are colder and the culture is very different in America. I probably would have gained a lot of weight from the larger meal portions and fattier foods here if I hadn't spent some of my free time in the gym. I stand out because of my accent but I don't mind the extra attention. The people here seem to show more politeness and patience with you when it is clear that you are a foreigner. The winters here are much colder than in London: yesterday the temperature ranged from -29C to 0C. For the last week I have been reporting on the recovery effort in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. The devastation left from Hurricane Katrina has taken the lives of 1,325 and you'll be surprised to know that that is the third highest in U.S history. There are still 6,644 reported missing. While in Mississippi I faced a very sorrowful experience to see dead bodies found and to hear grieving family members. Fortunately, most of the people present in the cities had already found their lost family, whether dead or alive and had had a proper chance to grieve. It was this experience that had reminded me of how much you mean to me and I knew I had to write back to you as soon as I had a chance. Debris floated in the water and I was amazed at the apparent power of the Hurricane. All glass structures had been destroyed and roofing as well as entire buildings had been uprooted. Gloves, pliers and many more safety tools and equipment were used by the workers for the clean up. The water levels had decreased in the area of Mississippi that I was reporting in and it was a sickly grey-green colour. Other than the joy of the people who had recovered their families that whole week was devoid of any happy moments. Fortunately, I do have some more cheerful activities to talk about as well. On my second day in Washington I went on a tour of the city and was able to see the White House. I had entered the White House during an international press conference a few days later I had the opportunity of meeting the president once the conference had ended. President Bush had made a speech on the war efforts in Iraq. I had been partly distracted by his lovely accent but I did manage to focus enough to ask him a few sensible questions after the speech. I've been staying at the JW Marriott hotel where I have a penthouse suite, please tell Uncle Reza: I know he'll be very jealous. I miss everybody, the experience in America has been great but it would be so much better if you were here with me.
Yours Sincerely, Cadeem (Written by Cadeem Lalor)
Dear Susannah,
I miss you so much! How are you? I hope you're having a great time. I am here in London working as a foreign correspondent for The New York Times. It is such an interesting job! There is so much diversity here. London is a wonderful city to be in and I love it. The job is so amazing. Journalism is such a unique opportunity. I get to meet people, see things and I also get to see many things from many different points of view. It's fascinating.
I am reporting on all sorts of events. Currently, nothing much has been happening here in London that is worthy of international newspapers, a kind of dull time for me but in actual fact London is never boring. There is so much to do here. All of my time isn't used up writing articles.
What really gets to me is the mayor of London, Ken Livingstone. Somehow he was re-elected relatively recently, even after he introduced the congestion charge (a £5 charge every time you drive into a certain area in central London). Now he has raised the charge to £8 and he is using his authority to add the congestion charge to Kensington and Chelsea. It's really annoying. No one wants the congestion charge, it hasn't really done much. (I've done my homework and know all about it.) Congestion has been reduced in the areas of the congestion charge but many of the businesses have lost lots of money or have relocated to outside of the zone. All it is doing is earning the government more money. I cannot stand Ken Livingstone. He is making campaigns that encourage people to travel using public transport, but ironically he is also raising all of the fares. Starting in January 2006 all of the fares will be raised, including children's fares. He has made riding on the bus free for under-16s which, in the long run, doesn't exactly help with the skyrocketing tube fares. As a person who uses the tube every day, it infuriates me.
Sorry to be going on about all of this, it isn't very important, but because of the lack of news I'm having to write little articles on all sorts of things, including the congestion charge for all sorts of papers.
I can't believe it is almost 2006! You should visit during New Year's or Christmas, I know you'll love it here. Apart from you and the rest of our family and friends the thing I miss most about home is the food! I'm not such a fan of British food although I am a picky eater, so you could say that I'm not such a fan of the food anywhere. What I really miss is the candy. You never learn to appreciate it enough until it isn't available to you. I know I sound like a five year old saying that, but you know I've never outgrown my sweet tooth. The weather here isn't all that great either. It's freezing outside but there is barely a drop of moisture in the air most of the time.
I miss you and hope to see you soon! Love, Caroline (Written by Caroline Morris)
February 19th 1930
Dear Mother,
How are you doing in the cold of Tibet? I hope you're enjoying your holiday over there; I heard it's quite a hassle to get around without causing a bother. How's father doing? I'm happy he's finally found a place to enjoy himself. I'm sorry I'm unable to visit you more often; my job is keeping me occupied round the clock. Although it does demand a lot of effort and time, I rather enjoy myself, I seem to get carried away in all the excitement and the hectic lifestyle, and it keeps me on the edge. Being posted on Wall Street just adds to the excitement. However, I do miss the quiet, relaxing lifestyle I shared with you at home a few years ago. Spending my days quietly reading and studying is not how I planned them, but after a full days running around, meeting people, making interviews and reporting the local news, a relaxing read is a star to wish for.
How was the Christmas Party you threw over the festive season? I'm terribly sorry I missed it, but the greatest market crash the world has ever seen was a journalists dream, I had only one opportunity to seize it and I did what I had to, to ensure that that happened. I wish I was there to enjoy the party with you; Journalism seems to be addictive in my case.
As I attempted to explain before, my career has brought me to lead an unpredictable, busy work life. Earlier this week, I received a VIP tour around New York to get a feel of the Big Apple; after all, I can't report on a city I don't know. Preceding the difficult tour, I interviewed several market experts on their views of the crash. A day in the Big Apple really drains the energy, mine at least. It surprised me, all the people there were just walking and walking and they never stopped. How the managed that, I do not know. I guess the big cities take some time to get used to.
A lot has changed since our last trip here when I was young. The buildings have grown and it's become rather sad since this crash. The poor have crowded the streets and it's a cold time for the city. I know you're worried but it's my job to report to those over on the west coast. I am stubborn, but I am also devoted.
Mother, I hope I will keep you occupied with this letter and I pray that it will reach you safely in Tibet. I hope to see your soon, I have rearranged my schedule to give me an open Easter, perhaps we can arrange a get together, after all, I don't see you and father very often. Give my greetings to father I wish you both the best during your holiday in Tibet.
Yours Sincerely,
Constantin Groenert (Written by Constantin Groenert)
The Guardian Newspaper Las Vegas Branch Nevada, USA
08/08/05 1:30 AM
Dear Mom,
I haven't been able to write to you for awhile because I have been immersed in a story I was covering for the London office. I couldn't put any details of it in my letters before, but now that the story is done I am free to do so. One month ago I picked up a small story about a casino that was suspected of money laundering. I went to the casino, checked it out, dug a little; not expecting to find anything except a dishonest executive or a faulty accountant. What I didn't expect to find was the largest gang front in Las Vegas! Yes mom, your daughter has helped uncover and convict the biggest gangsters and crooks in Las Vegas history! The gang was using the casino as a front for a large scale cocaine and heroin business. The LVPD have been trying for years to crack down on the increase in the drug trade. Little did they know that it was originating right under their noses! This has been the most dangerous story I have ever investigated, and to be honest I am glad its over. Gangsters are nasty people, and my life came under threat more than once. I won't trouble you with the gruesome details of my exploits in this letter. But call me anytime. My phone is always on, and I would love to hear your voice again. Please don't worry about me. I am eating well, and I've been getting a bit of exercise when I can. I miss you and the rest of the family a lot, but don't worry I'm not lonely. Las Vegas has become quite a hotbed for celebrities. More and more of them are buying houses here. Celebrity reporters are saying that it may become a new Hollywood. Somehow I doubt that ever happening. Hollywood is a synonym for movies. It would be hard to change that. I get invited to lots of parties, now that I'm an established journalist. The London papers love celebrities, and HQ loves to get juicy A-list gossip. So I always am invited to galas at rich actors houses. I'm not complaining though! This evening I was at George Clooney's Las Vegas penthouse house for a party. There were tons of celebrities there like Céline Dion and Oprah. However, the party wasn't that interesting. There were mainly gossip columnists there, and nothing appealing to the London office came up. So I left early and went home. Celebrities are overrated. Most of them are narcissistic and egotistical. Very few of them are exciting, I have met a few though. Charlotte Church, Kelly Clarkson and Collin Ferrell are always interesting. This position in Las Vegas has been a once in a lifetime experience. This is such an exciting city and so much happens. My work hours are great. I have to wake up really early and make sure my cell phone and my T.V. is turned on, but when the London office goes to sleep, I am free. I can do whatever I want, and almost never have to worry about getting a call from HQ. There is another Guardian Las Vegas correspondent here who works with me. We have agreed that she can take Sunday and Monday morning off, and I will cover everything. This arrangement can be heaven or hell. Most political announcements come out on Monday morning, so that they have the whole working week to follow up on it. However, on Sunday morning everyone in Vegas is hung over, so usually I have the morning free. I take my day off on Tuesday and Wednesday morning. It is relief having a fellow Guardian correspondent here. It makes the job so much less stressful. Its also great knowing that there is someone you can confide in close at hand. It is always stressful wondering whether you can trust another journalist with trade secrets, and so on. Anyway, I have to go to sleep now. I have to be at a press conference at 8:00 tomorrow morning. The Las Vegas mayor is making a statement about the corruption allegations against him.
Love You!
Courtney (Written by Courtney Gans)
Dearest Parents,
It's been six months now since I last saw you. Life here has been difficult and lonely. But everything is alright and I have just written an article about the trouble Uzbekistan is facing. First, Mom... Dad ... everything is alright I know you have heard about the terrorist attacks but honestly I am fine. When the first attack happened I was on Asimov Street absorbing the long expected spring. Right now the city looks beautiful with the trees and the flowers in mid-bloom and then suddenly I turn around and I hear people screaming in Russian "Run....go now run!!!" I stopped and thought about it, should I run and save my neck or find the most exhilarating article in the world. Yes, I know I should have run but this article is my big break you'll see it when I come home for the summer. So I ran to the bazaar and I was only there for a second and there was no one left at the grand market as if a hurricane had swept all the people away. Everyone was running passed me and I just stood there like an idiot looking at people with my goggle eyes and scribbling things down. At that very moment I felt lonely, I really needed someone at that moment. As if he read my mind Dimitri called me. He then asked "So do you have the article," and I replied with a solid "no". I just don't understand the people I work with here and I'm suppose to be a professional and if I say to them that there is a meeting at six my employers will only appear at around eight. Now, Dimitri calls me every hour of the day asking the same things. I really do think that I have to change things around here but the Boss replies with yet another solid "no". So do you want to know who the boss is well its Dimitri. But what really got me mad was when he knew there was an attack and the first thing he thought about was work. I could have died and he would have thought who would write the next article!
So I hung up the phone scribbled some more notes down. I wondered around the market thinking just what had happened there six minutes ago. Then I came back to my senses and ran to the apartment. The apartment is cramped and is similar to the mouse holes we have at home but it's cozy. Then I started to write. As I was writing I had the TV on and another two places were blown up! Now in the Capital at least 19 people have been killed and many more injured in the attacks.
I went outside and there were no people. The usual "bread-sellers" were gone as well as the "sour-milk sellers". The once busy city had become a ghost town in a flash. Where ever I went in the city it had to be with a knife in my pocket. All streets had cement barriers and soldiers. All that we can do now is wait and wait.
Please don't worry I will call you soon and watch out for my article in the New York Times.
Lots of Love,
Darya Yaitskaya.
(Reporting from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Asia, event happened on April 02, 2004) (Written by Darya Yaitskaya)
