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Fri 16 Nov, 2007 01:49 pm
I remember getting my first pen pal - must have been when I was in 7th grade. I got a pen pal through my French class - it was supposed to be to help us learn French. We would write in French and our pen pal would write in English. It ended up being a pain in the butt as I was just learning French.
Then a year later, a girl wrote to me from Wales. It was through the same program - in the program, you were supposed to pick three countries in order of preference - I guess I must have put down Wales as my second or third choice so I got another pen pal. I still have her letters - we were very dedicated pen pals from 8th grade and through high school. I wonder what happened to my little friend.
My daughter mentioned having a pen pal - she is nine. Any one know how to go about getting a pen pal? Do you think it is a good thing for a nine year old?
Yes, I think it's a good thing for a nine year old. All my pen pals were through school programs. I had a soldier pen pal in middle school during the first gulf war, and one from Africa in (I think) 3rd grade. I just remember always being excited to get a letter.
I had a pen pal from Mexico but I could never read his letters since I didn't know the language at the time and he could never read mine, since he did not know my language (most people don't)
But we continued our diligent correspondence for the better part of three years until the novelty finally, and mercifully, waned.
I had two pen pals when I was in high school. One in England (Julie) and one in France (Genvieve). My french was much better in those days.
I wonder whatever happened to Julie and Genvieve?
I would enjoy a pen pal as an adult.
I remember the pen pal programs in school.
They never really stuck though..
it was sort of a once in a while, if at all thing
Oh yesssssss. When I was around 16 or 17 years old, I had a pen pal
in Sweden - Frederick - we corresponded in English. He even visited once,
and we had a great time.
shewolfnm wrote:I would enjoy a pen pal as an adult.
I remember the pen pal programs in school.
They never really stuck though..
it was sort of a once in a while, if at all thing
Funny I just volunteerted with one through work. However, this is a sort of pen pal/mentor program with a local either middle or high school. I just filled out the information a week ago so I haven't any more details at this time.
CalamityJane wrote:Oh yesssssss. When I was around 16 or 17 years old, I had a pen pal
in Sweden - Frederick - we corresponded in English. He even visited once,
and we had a great time.
Would you be my penpal, Jane? That would be so cool.
Got my first pen pal when I was 9, in Switzerland.
We visited each other a couple of times and wrote ... until both of us left school.
I had some in France, too - got their addresses when I visited England for the first time (14 years old).
But that stopped, because they only wanted to write in English, and I wanted to improve my French.
My sister got a pen pal in the (then) GDR ... because this girl thought exchanging letters with me was too political :wink:
gustavratzenhofer wrote:CalamityJane wrote:Oh yesssssss. When I was around 16 or 17 years old, I had a pen pal
in Sweden - Frederick - we corresponded in English. He even visited once,
and we had a great time.
Would you be my penpal, Jane? That would be so cool.
Of course, gustav! But I'm afraid I don't know enough cuss words
to correspond properly with you.
No, I never had an official pen pal, can't remember what happened about that, maybe the program stopped at my school of the time.
I did have (and still do have one, however sporadic), writing pals from the different schools I went to as a kid.
I had even saved the letters... as an only child without children around in the new neighborhood can get to be sentimental..
and years later, years as in four or five decades, sent those from the one who wrote the most back to her. She loved getting them, a window into her growing up self...
I had two starting at about the age of 11. One was a Swedish girl who looked like a young goddess and became a successful concert pianist. The other was a Japanese girl who would correct my English grammar (wish I still had her around today) and painted lovely watercolor pictures on her letters. Lost track of both around the time I went to college.
I thought pen pal writing really existed prior to the internet? Do people still pen pal via snail mail?
Having pen palled in the 1980's, before everyone owned a computer, I discovered there are people who sort of collect pen pals, in that having more is better.
Writing only in English, my only pen pals were in the U.S., U.K., Holland, South America. Most pen pals impressed me with their positive nature. I don't think they were pretending or putting on a show. They were very involved in this or that. They'd send photos, to show me this activity or that activity.
Very social people, since they were usually with friends at these activities. Its like there was a desire to "connect" with the entire world almost, in my opinion. Their positive natures impressed me (I'm now repeating myself).
Foofie wrote:I thought pen pal writing really existed prior to the internet? Do people still pen pal via snail mail?
Yes they do.
I remember years ago, I had about 15
(they were from a fan club I was a member of)
Now, I think that dwindled down to about 4.
Of my goodness - I got my first letter from my pen pal. She seems so cute!
It wasn't a very long note, but what could I expect as she is in the 5th grade. She has a cat too like me and 3 brothers and no sisters just like me.
And I really love her question - do I think I'm gecky, goofy, popular or weird? Great question - I'm going to have to think about that one.
I got another letter from her before I could send one - I was going to write it today at lunch.
She is so cute. She drew all these hearts on the envelope with penpals in the center. She wrote that I am her b-friend.
For those that are interested in pen-pals, there are several sites on the internet where you can sign up for pen-pals.
These are real pen-pals, where you send letters, not e-mails.
http://www.ipfusa.com/?gclid=CKqUp9jgpZACFTyKOAodcT_pgA
http://www.pen-pal.com/
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