Aloha!

My name is Melanie (Alexandra is my second name, hence -> Alexa) and I am 20 years old. I hope I'm not too old for you guys!

I'm not originally from the UK so bear with me--English isn't my first language (actually it's my fourth)!

At the moment I'm participating in a one-year English program at our local university. However, I am going to move to Surrey in September as I will be studying English Literature at a British university. I am really excited!

When I was a kid, I loved reading books (and I still do) which inspired me to write a couple of short stories for myself. Since I will be far from home in a couple of months, I thought it would be nice to pick up that old hobby again to distract myself. I haven't written much lately except for essays, so I am really looking forward to get into the writing business again. I've also decided to try writing in English, which will be quite a challenge for me.

I came across this community a few days ago and I thought, why not register? Anyway, that's about it...

Hi everyone!

Hi Melanie!! Welcome to YWS!! I'm sure you'll like it here.

Looking forward to reading some of your short stories too!!

That's awesome that you are coming to the UK to study in Surrey. I live in Edinburgh up in Scotland, but I'm not studying or anything. I wish I was!!

Are you from Luxembourg if you don't mind me asking. I LOVE Luxembourg. I've never been or anything, but I've always been fascinated by the country.

What's your favourite book? Favourite movie? Pair of shoes?

No one's too old for us! XD. Forever young, eh?
Welcome to YWS, Alexa! Or do you prefer to be called Melanie? Ah. For now, I'll call you Alexa! I'm Mizzle, by the way, but you can just call me Mizz, or really anything; I'm also known as Rainie, and...yeah, you get the point. We're big on nicknames here.
Be sure to stop in and come on by to the chat room--it's a great place to meet some of our members, and that's always a good thing, right?
Anyways. Do you have a favorite author? A favorite book? And do you prefer rain or sun?
So. Yeah. Welcome to YWS. If you ever need anything at all, just PM (private message) me! I'm always happy to help.
Toodles,
Mizz

austenite, how did you guess?? Actually I AM from Luxembourg! I have a lot of favourite books. I love Arthur Golden's Memoirs of a Geisha, Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird aaand Alex Garland's The Beach (the movie is great as well)!
That leads me to favourite movies, which include The Beach and Romeo+Juliet. You could call me a Leo fan haha When it comes to shoes, I couldn't possibly decide! I have way too many pairs! But I have this old pair of black cowboy-ish boots that I am wearing all the time.

And Mizz, thank you! I don't really have a favourite author; as you can probably tell my taste is all over the place! I think that J. K. Rowling is a terrific writer, though, although many people might disagree.

I like sunny days, as long as it doesn't get too hot! I have to admit that I really like rain, though. Especially when I am all cuddled up in my bed reading or writing...
How old are you, if you don't mind me asking?

Thank you so much for the warm welcome, that's so kind of you!

In your profile it says Lux, I know that's kind of stalkerish but hey!! Leo fetishes are good, is Titanic a favourite as well then? I'm not a big fan to be honest, but I really enjoyed Shutter Island. He is talented though!!

So random question for you. In universities here, you study English Literature. Does that mean you study Luxemburgian Literature? One of those blonde people questions for you!

Oh really? Haha silly me, I've already forgotten that I've put my location in! (Usually I am rather secretive about it. Luxembourg is such a small country and you never know who comes across your stuff on the internet)
Well to be honest I think that Titanic is a good movie, really. You just won't hear me admit it in front of other people!

There is some kind of Luxembourgish literature, although I have to admit that I have never read any of it. I've heard that they translated the first Harry Potter into Lux though! The German translation is fine, but Luxembourgish--really?? Kind of unnecessary, considering it is not really a language that's adequate for literature. Don't get me wrong, I love my mother tongue and I am proud of it, but I would never consider writing in it.

I am actually studying English literature here! I am also taking a couple of American Studies courses, which is interesting as well. I think that they've recently introduced a bachelor degree in "Luxembourg Studies", though.

The language situation in my country is really interesting!

Haha, your name caught my attention! I have a friend named Alexandra, or Ally, and my name is very similar. But I'm secretive too so when it comes to names I like to keep them close. It's perfectly alright!

Your English, I must say, is very good! If you want some grammar practice, check out the Grammar section of the knowledge base. The Knowledge Base is full of articles written by YWSers to help you out. You can find it by clicking "Resources" in the header, right by "read/write".

Hope to see you around! PM me if you need anything.

~Rosey

Alexa wrote:And Mizz, thank you! I don't really have a favourite author; as you can probably tell my taste is all over the place! I think that J. K. Rowling is a terrific writer, though, although many people might disagree.

I like sunny days, as long as it doesn't get too hot! I have to admit that I really like rain, though. Especially when I am all cuddled up in my bed reading or writing...
How old are you, if you don't mind me asking?

Thank you so much for the warm welcome, that's so kind of you!

You're welcome, Alexa! XD. J.K. is indeed a great writer, I agree, though you are right, I have come across many people who disagree with a passion. But who cares what they think, half of them are lazy bums who don't have half the ambition J.K. did!
Ah, see, I love the rain...absolutely adore it. And yes, I have danced in the rain before. It makes me feel like I'm five years old again. As for my age, I am still in school, and a number plus a number equals my age. XD.
Luxembourg! I need to go there one day, really, I do.
Oops. Our family dog died today, so if you don't mind, I'm going to have to cut this short!
Toodles,
Mizz

Woah, your fourth language! You sound fluent. And I thought learning bits and pieces of Spanish was hard. * sighs *

And I love the rain, too.

What kind of stories do you like to write?

Anyway, welcome to YWS! Let me know if you need a review or anything.

Have fun!

Lupis

Hey Alexa! Welcome to YWS! I'm kind of intimidated by the amount of people who have already posted here, but I want to say hi anyway! What genre do you write? What's your favourite colour? Any specific musical tastes?
I agree with you and Mizz on the rain and J.K - rain smells really good, and it's lovely to just stand in the rain with your face tilted back, and J.K wrote the books that got me into writing and reading, and I think they are good books, too! *HP pride*
lol, a little weird here. But most of the people on YWS are mad. Are you joining our number?
It was nice meeting you, and I can't wait to see you around the site!! PM me if you need/want anything, from joining a group or Storybook (although that's not some people's thing) to reviewing something, and I'll be happy to check it out and probably oblige!

~Durrie

P.S you're very fluent at English - and it's your fourth language! Personally, I'm learning Chinese with my school, and it's pretty mind-boggling! Four languages, at least - go Alexa! xD

Aaah, I was lucky enough to enjoy a thunderstorm today! If only I wasn't suffering so bad from that stupid hay fever

canislupis, I haven't really written seriously so unfortunately I have nothing to show. Whenever I find myself inspired to start a story it usually goes in the direction of mainstream fiction!

Durriedog, my favourite "colour" is grey. Isn't that weird? Some people say it's not a real colour. When it comes to music, I like to listen to alternative stuff, electronica, ambient, new wave... some of my favourite artists include Metric, Moby, Unkle, Massive Attack, Air... I could go on forever! What about you?

Oh and by the way, what are these Storybooks about?

Hi Alexa!

Your English sounds great! It's not my first language either (I'm Finnish), but it's the first foreign language I started to learn. Altogether I'm learning four foreign languages, I just love them. Which languages do you speak?

And, Luxembourg! I don't know that much about Luxembourg, but I love your Eurovision entry from 1965, heh. (France Gall - Poupée de cire, poupée de son)

The storybooks can be about anything! One person usually starts it, having come up with the basic genre and other details, and then other members can join it and write the story together. I don't really do storybooks, so I'm sure that someone with a bit more experience on them will be able to explain them better.

Well, you seem nice and I hope you will enjoy YWS! Just PM me if you ever need anything!


Demeter
x

Hello Alexa/Melanie. My name is Cirque but mostly preferably I go by Alice. Welcome to YWS. I see you have already had a very large welcoming party, but who cares. There is always room for one more, right?

I just want to mention, your English seems flawless. English is my first language, French my second. The problem is, I'm still not that good at English.

Demeter, I am speaking Luxembourgish (sounds a bit like a mixture between German and Dutch), German, French and English! Yep, too bad Luxembourg is not participating anymore these days :/ it sucks to be left out.

Hey Cirque, thanks! Where do you live?