Tracy Jones
The Maman Brigitte, Blind Lagoon (Bayou Sauvage)
New Orleans, LA
USA

Demetria Strelnikov
Western Manor
Llanina, Wales
UK

• My name's Tracy Jones and I'm a Senior at Salem (S.W.I.M. for short), though Tracy or Trace is fine with me. (Either's cool.) I've never been to anywhere else in the UK except for Devon (because my ma lives there), so I'm pretty excited about the TWT Tetra-Wizard Tournament. I've heard some crazy stuff about your school!
  
  And meeting new people from the other side of the world—like yourself—is a bonus, too, of course. : )
  
  Anyways, I don't want to bore you with junk all about me,so I'll keep it short 'n sweet: I'm 17, was my hall's Quodpot captain last year, and class president of mine. I was born in New York City but most months out of school I live on a boat with my nanna in New Orleans—the Maman Brigitte. I like animals (I've got lots of pets), sports, music, and. . . all my subjects, actually, but what I really like are Herbology and Home Economics. If I had to choose between sports and cooking, I'd choose cooking in a heartbeat.
  
  Just. . . don't tell my coach I said that.
  
  And you? What do you like? How’s your school like? I look forward to hearing from you!
  
  
  

Tracy Jones
The Maman Brigitte, Blind Lagoon (Bayou Sauvage)
New Orleans, LA
USA

Demetria Strelnikov
Western Manor
Llanina, Wales
UK

• Bilingual, huh? That's pretty cool! I m'self know two—English and French—though the latter's got the Louisiana twist (which makes it a little different from the standard stuff used in Europe) and I use it so rarely outside of home New Orleans (where my nanna—my ma's ma—lives) that I always get rusty before the school year's out. Still, it's always affected how I speak, so I hope you don't get too lost.
  
  We don't play Quidditch here, mostly, but whenever I stay with my ma I like to catch up on it (my friends think it's pretty weird!) and play it with the friends I got over there. Speaking of which, I've got one who goes to your school actually; I don't suppose you'd know someone named Gracie? Though, from what I'm told your school's pretty big, so if you don't then nevermind. : )
  
  Anyways, what I meant to say that if you don't have the arm strength, you could make up with speed? Like, using momentum. If you go fast enough, maybe it'll be enough.
  
  ...Yeah, physics. It's one of my worst subjects, actually, heh.
  
  I like rap, rock, hip hop, R&B, and jazz, jazz being my favorite out of all of them (Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington are where it's at, yo!) And while I can't play an instrument to save my life (trust me, I'm really bad at it), I can sing a little, and dance—particularly dance. I'm told I'm pretty good at it, actually. :'D
  
  It's always nice to meet someone else who loves Herbology! For me, you can say that runs in the family—I'm told that my dad was a Herbologist's assistant, and then a researcher before he passed away. And cooking—I like to think that I got it from Ma and Nanna. Both are awesome cooks; my nanna's pies are famous even outside the bayou, and my ma helps run a restaurant over in Devon. It prob'ly helps with my Potions work too, I think! Shame your kitchens seem inaccessible; house elves can be like that. I think so're ours, but as long as you don't get in anyone's way it's okay.
  
  Living on a boat is pretty cool, especially when you don't have to worry about seasickness! Ours is a lot like a house that just happens to be on a river; Nanna charmed the house herself, so as soon as you step inside—no more rocking, and the inside isn't small at all, either. I mean, sure, it is pretty narrow to be honest, but it's a lot a like a tower: the rooms are upstairs, and we've got four floors, can add another if we have to, and have a pair doors that connect the top and ground floors and the basement—which has several windows, so you can see the occasional 'gator that passes by. =)
  
  
  So, the Tournament. Are you gonna join? I am!