Loosefolia

Hello! I'm twenty-four years old, female, living in Jakarta with my family. I work freelance as a private tutor, and occasionally as an English-Indonesian translator. Last year, I graduated from university with a Bachelor's degree in Biology, and now, I'm currently in the process of applying to Graduate school to study flower development and evolution :).

I have a senior Calico Persian cat named Macan who is an actual sweetheart. She never bites or scratches, and is always very patient with me whenever I'm having one of my existential breakdowns. Recently, we've adopted a kitten (named Bruno), which Macan has adopted as her son, and now Bruno and Macan is inseparable. Bruno is obviously a hyperactive little goblin, and even Macan, the always gentle and patient cat, gets tired of his antics sometimes.

Hobbies and interests:

• I love flowers!! I'm planning to study them more in Graduate School.
• I love reading, mostly classics, general fiction, and fantasy. I'm trying to read more philosophy books. I'm not a big fan of thrillers and horrors (although I will read some good ones occasionally).
• I love journaling! Especially junk journaling. I've also been really into the Korean or Japanese journaling style with cute stickers
• I love collecting stamps and postcards.
• I enjoy gardening in my spare time.
• I can also knit and crochet. I'm currently learning how to make embroidery.
• Favorite animals: birds, especially sparrows and pigeons and ducks. RACCOONS!!
• I've been really obsessed with dinosaurs lately
• My favorite food is cinnamon rolls :D

I will always try to send out swaps on time. If I have to post a swap late because of life reasons, I will send you a message. If my swap doesn't reach you within a month or two, please leave me a message. I am happy to resend. Mail from my country can sometimes take a (very) long time to arrive.

I became interested in the world of snail mail only recently, and so far I have enjoyed the process of sending and receiving mail. My mother gave me her stamp and postcard collection to continue the hobby. I enjoy looking through her collection every now and then. Snail mail makes me feel like I'm living in a different era. A small escape from the mundane everyday life, I suppose.

I'm also an avid snail mail recyclist. Most mail that I receive will get archived, stamps on envelope collected, and envelopes with pretty designs often gets recycled into my journal.

I have been on swapbot for almost four years now, and I am always so very grateful for all the lovely swaps I've received. I really do believe in the kindness of strangers, and I always try to return that kindness into the world as my way of saying thanks.

I'm currently most interested in collecting botanical postcards! (The ones where each part of the plant is showcased.) But any other postcards are still welcome! Favorite themes: Botanical related, beautiful landscapes, gardens, nature and the likes. Store bought, handmade, or interesting free / ad postcards are okay.

I prefer postcards sent naked and stamped. However, if sending in an envelope, I prefer the postcard to be blank :).

Ideas on what to write on the back of your postcards: - your favorite plants / animals - a favorite quote from a book that you're currently reading (don't forget to write down the title and the author so I can check it out!) - a unique idiom from your language (especially non-English ones, but English idioms are okay, too!) - something about you or your hometown / and country - something about your culture, history, myths, legends - something that I might not know about you, your culture, or the world in general - a fun fact - a funny story - the reason why you chose to send that specific postcard for me :D

My favorite book genres: classics, general fiction, fantasy.

I like reading classics because it's the most accessible for me. I can easily find old classics in used bookstores or in libraries :D

• I'm trying to read more philosophy books, mostly about Stoicism. I'm still currently reading Discourses by Epictetus.
• I have found that I am also drawn to Scientific History books, such as Harari's Sapiens or Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything. I haven't read Bryson yet, but it's on my TBR!

Book genres that I don't really like to read: horrors or thrillers.

Content triggers that I try to avoid: isolated imprisonment, drowning. These are two of my major traumas.

George Elliot's The Mill on the Floss was a big trigger for me. I had to put down the book at one point because it hit too close to home. Although I love George Elliot's writing style, and I did manage to finish the book eventually, but it took a lot out of me :(

Favorite books:

• The Master and Margerita by Mikhail Bulgakov
• Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
• An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
• The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman

Favorite Authors:

• Andrea Hirata
• Dee Lestari
• Sapardi Djoko Damono
• Jane Austen
• George Eliot
• Charles Dickens
• Leo Tolstoy

Feel free to add me on Goodreads! I like to update my reading there.

• botanical postcards
• postage stamps (used and unused).

Main topics that I collect: plants, flowers, birds, frogs / toads, dinosaurs, landscapes, buildings.

Other topics that I collect: insects, reptiles, fauna, nature, agriculture, historical events.

(Optional) If you know the story behind the stamps you're sending me, feel free to let me know! I love learning more about the stamps I'm collecting! (Write about one or two stamps is fine) :D

• glassine bags, for stamps. I can't seem to find any here in Indonesia, so if you have a few extra bags to spare, I would be happy to receive them. Any size :D
• coins from other countries, especially if they have a flora / fauna picture on them
• postcards with written notes on the back
• anything flora / fauna themed
• any kind of tea (I'm not allergic to anything). I also like to collect the tea bag packaging (I usually use them in my journal) :D
• Journaling ephemera (vintage style): stickers, washi tapes, pattern paper, or anything that I can use in my journal, really ;)
• pretty floral washi tapes and paper with a floral pattern on it! I love using those in my journal
• pressed flowers

A quick note: Extra ephemera is appreciated, but not required. I give a heart rating to all my received swaps.

A few topics that I try to avoid:

• I'm not very fond of swimming pools.
• No images of caged animals, please. It upsets me :(
• Gory depictions, thriller, horror.

If you're using stamps to send your mail, please make sure that the stamps aren't sealed with clear tape. I collect the stamps on envelopes that I receive, and having tape on top of the stamps often ruins the stamps (they're really hard to get off and the stamps would often rip when I attempt it).

Also, please don't use double tape to stick on stamps to envelopes. Paper glue is enough :).