Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
My hobby for years has been writing to pen pals. I had several as a kid and still write to 4 of them (going on 40 years now!) and have met them all. I have had in the neighborhood of 50-60 penpals for the past 5 or so years. Mind you, these aren't email pals, but REAL letters...the snail mail way! I love it. I have met several of these gals as well. A couple of summers ago I went to NC & SC and spent 10 days driving through those beautiful states meeting with 5 of my pals. What a trip! Many of these pals are true friends, and once I meet them in person, it seems we are even closer. This is kind of a "lost art". As a teacher, I encourage my students to write letters as well. Nothing makes my day like opening my mailbox and finding a letter instead of all bills & junk mail! If any of you enjoy penpaling I'd love to hear about it. Also, if you want a penpal from Montana (female, 47, married, 2 married kids & 2 1/4 grandkids!) please email me at georgiainmt@yahoo.com and we can talk about it! Happy Halloween to you all!
Georgia
I used to have pen pals from when i was a kid up to about 20 or so. Now with the internet, I meet people from all over the world. It's like pen pals, only so much more immediate.
I was an avid letter writer in the olden days. Never had a pen pal.
I have a few online pen pals. One being very long term from Canada. He is a writer and his letters are very interesting to read.
I have only had one bad experience. A friend in college turned me on to a pen pal club for people with AIDS. Well, my pen pal was serving time in prison and his first letter to me stated he collected stamps and wanted to know if I collected stamps or old silverware.
Uh. Right.
I gave him holy he11 and ended that one with an exclamation point.
I have email pals but I do have a few friends whom I still write snail mail letters to. It really is wonderful to receive a letter or card instead of bills. I have this one friend whom I rarely see but have been pen pals with ever since she was a summer intern at a law firm where we both worked. She's finally finished with law school but we still keep in touch.
Interesting that this should come up...
I was actually thinking that I'd like to have penpals (email) & googled it. There were a lot of sites, but basically people use them as dating sites.
Where did ya'll find your penpals?
THere was (is?) an international pen pal club (you could probably google it for more info) where they'd link you with several penpals from various countries (your choice), they would match you with those of similar interests, ages, etc - there was a reasonable fee at the time too - it was interesting and I got to meet a few of them and still keep in touch with some of them sporadically, over the years.
I kind of hate that I am of the generation where email is the only form of communication. In middle and high school foreign language courses, we had the option of registering with an international penpal association. I was assigned penpals in Finland (the only person who ever answered me, and only wrote back a few times), Spain, Zaire, France, and Argentina. Maybe my French and Spanish was so bad that I scared the others off!
I do have many good friends internationally online, but it is not the same. However, I am studying abroad in London partially so I can meet many of them, as we have kept up near daily correspondence for about 7 years. They are all friends and one of the group did come visit a few years ago.
I know this is an older thread, but I too use to have about 20 at one time (stamps were cheaper then...lol) I made a few good friends and still keep in touch with a few. Mainly mine came from the love of the same music etc. I met quite a few of mine as well. The furthest a gal from Japan. I would love to find a new pal and start writing to. I do enjoy emailing as well, and have met a few online pals that I can call my good friends. (I'd love to actually find a music buddy in my neck of the woods too.)
Wow, i havent had a pen pal since i was in grade school and im 38 now. Now a days, everyone seems to be too busy doing whatever. It would be nice to have a circle of pen pals...
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
