Robin Recommends

A pen pal relationship is often used to practice reading and writing in a foreign language, to improve literacy, to learn more about other countries and lifestyles and to make new friends. As with any friendship in life, some people remain pen pals for only a short time, while others continue to exchange letters and presents for life. Some pen pals eventually arrange to meet face to face.

 

Pen pals come in all ages, nationalities and cultures. One can seek new pen friends based on one s own age group or a specific occupation or a hobby or one can select someone totally different.

 

A modern variation on the traditional pen pal arrangement is to have a key pal and exchange e-mail addresses as well as or instead of paper letters. This has the advantage of saving money and being more immediate, allowing many messages to be exchanged in a short period of time. The disadvantage is that the  communication can be very ephemeral if the e-mail messages are not routinely saved.

 

Many people prefer to receive paper letters, gaining the satisfaction of seeing their name carefully printed on a thick envelope in the letterbox. Using postal mail, it is possible to trade postcards, stamps and anything else light and flat enough to fit inside an envelope, often called ‘tuck-ins’

 

So, if you are someone who loves to make new friends across the world, then pen-palling is a hobby meant for you.

 

 

 

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