Teens` letters

 

Fiona, 16

Galway, Ireland

«I’ve got lots of friends and we’re all into the same kind of thing. We like watching TV, especially comedies and all-time favourite is Father Ted. We love music too, and I’m really into indie* bands like The Bravery and the Arctic Monkeys. I try to go to as many gigs** as I can. I’m not really into fashion. I can’t stand shopping and I couldn’t care less about designer labels».

 

Josie, 16

Glasgow, Scotland

«I really like shopping. I think it’s a relaxing, enjoyable pastime. So much so, I can spend hours window shopping in the city centre with my friends. H&M is my favourite clothes shop because you can always find great bargains there. I also like going to the cinema and I try to catch a film at least once a fortnight with my friend, Tom. Everyone my age is crazy about mobile phones and texting has become a new national pastime!»

 

Jamie, 16

Crystal Brook, Australia

«I live with my family on a farm near a small town in South Australia. The countryside is beautiful around here and I go walking and horse riding a lot, but life is generally boring. I don’t fancy living here when I’m older and dream of going to live in a big city. My friends and I spend a lot of time on the internet playing games and chatting and we watch DVDs. Of course, like all teenagers, we always have homework to do».

 

Kim, 16

Vancouver, Canada

«During the week I don’t do much in the evenings apart from my homework, so I really look forward to the weekends. On Saturdays, I usually hang out with my friends down at the shopping mall where we check out the shops for new clothes, grab a bite to eat and watch a movie. On Sundays, I usually go for a trip to the countryside with my parents. I love that».

 

Brandon, 16

Seattle, USA

« I’m an active person. I have TV. I find sitting in front of a TV screen a waste of time. I’m fascinated by the great outdoors. I’m a skateboard fanatic and get to and from school every day on one. At the weekends, I try to get out of the city and go rock climbing or paragliding. Extreme sports are my passion! I think it’s important to look good too and I go for the sporty look».

 

Emily, 16

London, England

« I like keeping fit, buying expensive clothes and dance music! I love going out clubbing with my friends at the weekends – we dance all night. I have two younger sisters, but we fight a lot because they always want to wear my clothes. That’s so annoying – I have it when they do that».

 

John, 16

Bristol, England

«I like cooking! I am extremely fond of reading recipes for food I have no intention of cooking and don't even like. I try some new recipes which I find in magazines. I made hot cross buns for Easter and shared them with friends. I also love making jams and chutney. I make a lot of small jars, decorate them with lovely labels and offer them to my friends and guests. Last weekend, we went goyaviers picking and made 17 jars of jam. It smelt delicious».

 

Amizi,15

Cairo, Egypt

« I spend all my free time singing different songs. Singing high pitches is like playing Frisbee with our voice so we sense ourselves as expansive, filling space, projecting ourselves into the world, having an impact. Songs explore human stories and emotions. By singing happy songs, sad songs, love songs, yearning songs, we get to role-play and step outside ourselves for a few minutes. Like getting a vacation for our lives for a brief time».

 

Arthur, 16

Moscow, Russia

«My dream is to become a professional football player. I spend all my free time playing football. I’m a goalkeeper.  I can’t imagine my life without football and my team».

 

 Andrey, 15

Voronezh, Russia

«I like singing and writing songs. When I am seriously pursuing songwriting, I have my headphones all the time, playing everything from Miles Davis to the Beatles to Ravel to Notorious BIG - exposing myself to all kinds of music at all hours. It is nearly impossible to write good music unless you're living and breathing it 24/7».

 

*-from a small independent record label

**-live performances