Most of us are familiar with penpals and the age old tradition of posting letters overseas or to another part of the country and building a friendship, learning about new cultures, a new language or an understanding.
My initial exposure to penpals was at an age of around 10 when our school class would write to a class of similar age in Sweden. It was so exciting to get mail with "funny looking" postage stamps and to learn of a life vastly different to our own. (I couldn't believe my penpal could see reindeer not far from her home! Maybe they were Santa's!)
Today there is no need to wait weeks for a response, "snail mail" is now faster than ever, but there is also efficient electronic means such as emails and instant messenger. So staying in touch is easier and more exciting than ever.
Being an E-pal (email pal) is more exciting and easier than ever, you also have the ability to send digital photos and short movies with ease to those with the technology.
The reasons for being a penpal remain unchanged. For children it is an excellent and exciting way to learn of a different life, culture and lifestyle to their own. For those learning a new language communicating with someone who speaks that language natively can quickly advance their skills.
For a lot of people it is about forming long term relationships and like all human relationships share understanding, friendship and sometimes these relationships can even lead to finding that special life partner.
For others it is with interest and intrigue that they learn of a different life style, such as those writing to prisoners, penpals who would not otherwise come into contact with those incarcerated.
Relationships play an immensely important role in our life and having a penpal can be one of the most rewarding things we can do. Today there are so many options available to us that staying in touch is easier than ever before.
Online penpals / E-pals can be found on the internet and good sites allow you to select or filter potential online buddies and search by criteria such as countries, age, sex, religion, languages spoken etc.
http://www.my-epal.com
