Papa's Paperclip Patterns

Papa's experiments with his new Nikon...

Norwegian Binders

When I was doing my research for The Yellow Paperclip with Bright Purple Spots and found out that the paperclip was a Norwegian invention, I also came across several sites which said there was a giant paperclip sculpture in Oslo. Unfortunately, I never found a photo of this elusive paperclip.

Luckily, some great Norwegians found Kyle's blog and sent him some photos. It looks like there's more than one giant sculpture of paperclips or "binders"...




Thanks, Kyle, for allowing me to post these photos here!

I will send two copies of my book to the Norwegian ambassador here in Manila. I hope the Norwegian community likes my story!

A Paperclip Documentary

Ade, thanks for telling me about this documentary.

From Yahoo! Movies: Whitell Middle School in rural Tennessee is the setting for this documentary about an extraordinary experiment in Holocaust education. Struggling to grasp the concept of six million Holocaust victims, the students decide to collect six million paperclips to better understand the extent of this crime against humanity. The film details how the students met Holocaust survivors from around the world and how the experience transformed them and their community.

I can't wait to see it. Watch the trailer and learn more about how the humble paperclip has created miracles and changed the world... yet again.

WOW! Twelve Paperclips in an Hour

I still can't believe I saw twelve... yes, TWELVE... twelve paperclips when I walked from my office to the post office and back (to snailmail two copies of my book to Trixy and Julia).

A blue bent-into-a-heart-shape one on the sidewalk, just after I waved to friends. A green one a few steps later. A red one in the post office. There was another blue one. Then white. A brown one in a rain puddle. Yellow in a sidewalk crack. Orange. Pink and Green as I crossed the parking lot (that's nine and ten). Blue again. A big bright shiny red one as the twelfth, as if the grand finale.

By the sixth or seventh, I was walking around with a huge smile on my face. People must have thought I was crazy or high on something. Hee-hee. I'll probably see more... would I reach ten? Naaah, that's too much.

Ask and you shall receive. Be careful what you wish for. Sometimes you get even more than what you asked for.

The Yellow Paperclip Goes to Pittsburgh

In late 2005, my paperclip found its way to the hearts of third graders all the way in Pittsburgh, which is literally on the opposite side of the globe. I was blessed with the opportunity to travel to Pittsburgh in April 2005 to visit our corporate headquarters. This is one of my favorite photos of the Pittsburgh Postcard in my mind...


I met many wonderful people, including Donna, a grade school teacher who got so excited when she found out I was coming out with a children's book. I sent her a copy as soon as I could (which was sometime in October) so she could share it with her class. We ended up exchanging a couple of emails:

Dear Nikki,

Thank you so much for remembering to send me your book. I thought it was just wonderful. I read it to my students and they loved it as well. My 3rd graders would like to send you a little thank you. Can I have your address, please? I hope all is well with you. Lots of luck with your book. I know that it will do well.

Donna

P.S. My students couldn't believe that I knew the author of a book. They kept asking me questions about you.

And I replied with my address and asking what it was her students wanted to know. I couldn't help but walk around with a silly smile on my face after reading her reply:

Nikki,

Thank you for your address. My students ( keep in mind they are eight years old) were asking these kind of questions: How did you meet her? Why was she in the United States? How did you understand her (meaning: does she speak English?) What is her job? Show us the Philippines on the map. How long does it take to get there? And on and on and on. Good luck with the International Book award. Keep me posted. You will be hearing from my students and I in a few weeks.

Donna

I'm sure these kids have never even heard of the Philippines; I seriously doubt they've even met a Filipino. But now, thanks to my story, they at least know about my country, have seen where it is on the map, and hopefully, they can even be proud that they know about a unique Yellow Paperclip with Bright Purple Spots!