There are countless questions I'd like to ask to any new penfriend: here are a few, so to get us started from the "basics about you". It's not a proper questionnaire (and certainly it is not some sort of psychological test!): just a compendium of "general-purpose curiosities" that may help you to introduce yourself fully - without wasting time trying to figure out such things as: "What am I supposed to tell him now?". Questions which open to the dialogue, offering many starting points for conversation. (That's the reason why Proust coinceived them: some kind of parlour game fit to enliven-up the conversation amongst his guests, and a brilliant way to "break the ice" between perfect strangers.) Answer on this same plain-textfile and then email it back to me (postmaster@fenice.info) as enclosure: be concise, but never vague. And if you have more than one answer to give, always list them in order of importance (eg: if you prefer green better than blue, write green, blue instead of blue, green). If you feel like doing it, you can also send me pictures (of yours, or of the place where you live, or snaps from your holidays..). Depending on the amount of spare time I can get for myself, I'll always do my best to reply to all those who've sent interesting & sincere letters to me. NAME: SECOND NAME: SURNAME: NICKNAME: AGE: ADDRESS: GENDER: SEXUAL PREFERENCE: ARE YOU SINGLE, WITH STEADY PARTNER, OR MARRIED? YOUR PARTNER'S NAME: JOB / TYPE OF SCHOOL: MANSIONS / SUBJECTS STUDIED: HOBBIES: TABOOS: RELIGION: DATE OF BIRTH: ZODIAC SIGN: ASCENDANT: FAVOURITE COLOURS: FAVOURITE BOOKS: FAVOURITE SONGS: FAVOURITE MOVIES: FAVOURITE DRINKS: FAVOURITE DISHES: FAVOURITE RESTAURANTS: DO YOU OWN A COMPUTER? DO YOU SMOKE? HOW MANY PENPALS DO YOU HAVE? IN WHICH COUNTRIES? WHY DID YOU TAKE UP PENPALLING? WHICH LANGUAGES DO YOU SPEAK (OR AT LEAST COMPREHEND)? DESCRIBE YOUR TOWN AND/OR COUNTRY IN A FEW WORDS: And, finally, the famous "Proust's questionnaire": 1. What I don't like of myself. 2. What do I like in a man. 3. What do I like in a woman. 4. What does it take to become a friend of mine. 5. The time I've been happy the most. 6. The time I've been sad the most. 7. Whom would I turn myself into, if I had a conjurer's wand. 8. What did I use to think I would've done "once grown-up". 9. How many times have I fallen in love. 10. The mistake I wouldn't make again. 11. The person I admire the most. 12. Who I thank God I'm not. 13. Red or black? 14. Your favourite fantasy you never fulfilled. 15. The last time I got upset (angry). 16. Whom I wish my guardian angel were. 17. When did I feel proud to be born in my Country. 18. When did I feel ashamed to be born in my Country. 19. What would I dare to do in the name of Love. 20. How do I wish I'll die. A few more questions that Proust forgot to mention.. 21. My hidden quality. 22. The fault I'm afraid I'll never get rid of. 23. The thing I'm ashamed of the most. 24. The things that scares me the most. 25. In a lover I seek.. 26. My recurrent dream. 27. My worst nightmare. 28. It always makes me laugh.. 29. The question I'd ask God if we had the chance to speak "face to face". 30. I believe it's nice.. 31. I believe it's bad.. 32. I am disgusted by.. 33. The quality I wish I had. 34. My everyday little manias.. 35. Your favourite season? 36. Which do you like best? The cat or the dog? 37. Which is the capital sin you risk the most? (Which overindulgence do you partake in the most.) 38. What do you think other people like of you the most? 39. How do you imagine the future? 40. Which is the craziest thing you ever did? ABOUT THE THINGS YOU READ.. 1. What are you reading these days? 2. What's the very first book you read? 3. Which is the funniest book you've read? 4. And the most sad one? 5. The toughest book? 6. The most erotic one? 7. Name one character to identify with. 8. The character you hated the most? 9. A book that deserves a sequel? 10. Which book would you bring with you on a desert island? 11. A writer to dissuade from? 12. A classic you wish you had read? 13. A scary novel? 14. A character you'd court/woo? 15. A book that should be made a movie from? 16. Your favourite quotation. 17. The most underestimated book? 18. The most over-estimated book? 19. The best novel about love? GAME #1 Imagine a large painting, hanging on a wall. The picture portrays a desert. In the desert there are: a stairway (or a ladder, as you prefer), a cube, and a horse: place them the way you like best. Pick a piece of paper and draw them, then tell me: what's the stairway / ladder made of? And the cube? And the horse? Write on the paper the material each one of them is made of. Suddenly, a violent sandstorm arises. When the ghibli stops.. what has changed, from the previous scene? Turn the piece of paper and draw what you can see in the after-sandstorm. Where's the stairway/ladder placed? What is it made of? (I mean.. the material, or the substance it's made of.) Where's the cube? What is it made of? Where's the horse? What is it made of? Suddenly, a violent sandstorm arises. When the ghibli stops.. what has changed, from the previous scene? GAME #2 What's your favourite animal? Why? Your next-favourite animal? Why? Your third-best animal? Why? The animal you hate the most is.. Because..