I am going to preface this entry by saying that I do not advocate unsafe behavior. This article is intended for adults who know what they are doing and are looking strictly for friendship in other cultures. Kids should always ask permission from their parents and parents should always know what their kids are doing.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled blog.
I sure some of you know that I do the whole penpaling thing. I’m not sure how to spell that (somehow it looks butchered there), but it’s fun. At least it is to me. But I have no life and love other cultures and travel a whole hecka ton.
I got started because I was homebound with the flu and absolutely had to have someone to talk to. Then I started to get addicted. Now, I am a full-fledged penpal. You can do a lot with a hobby like this really. For one, you can stick to emails or go the more traditional route and write letters. Me, I like mail I can touch and collect stamps from. You can also start swapping. Swapping is basically where you find like-minded people and trade things through the mail. Bottle caps, postcards, seeds, pens and pencils, tea, patches, little toys, whatever you like.
So maybe, just maybe you’d like to start doing this whole penpal thing too, but aren’t sure how. Well, for starters, get to a search engine and type in penpal or free penpal or something like that. Now, you are going to get a whole lot of sites you do not want. It takes time to weed through them, so here is a very short list of some of the ones I recommend or know people who use.
Interpals.net – There is a really good search menu and so far almost all of my experiences here have been pleasant.
PenPal World – I used to use this a couple of years ago and it was great.
PenPals Point - I haven’t used this one, but some people I know do and like it.
Military Penpals – Read this site carefully before begining and use appropriate behavior!
Any Soldier – This is a freakin’ fabulous site.
I realize that this is a very short list, but these are some of the most easily accesible in my opinon. Also, keep in mind that each site has their own rules of conduct and you need to be mindful of them. Use discretion, common sense, and decorum.
Don’t give out your address, phone number, or personal information! Use a P.O. Box or just email! There are a lot of nasty people out there and you don’t want a predator or killer finding you!
Basically, just keep your head, start slow, and keep writing. Be consistent and know your limits. If you can only handle one or two penpals, stick with that number. I speak with experience. Don’t get excited, go overboard, then have ten letters a day to write. That isn’t fun for anyone involved.
Some people you will connect with, some you won’t. It takes time to build up a friendship. Just relax and keep talking. If you decide to meet, make certain that you take someone with you, keep your cell phone charged, let others know where you are going and what you will be up to, check in with others at appointed times (every hour or so), keep to daylight and public places.
As long as you play it safe, you can develop long lasting friendships this way. Good luck and have fun!
