How Does a Penpal Relationship Start?
Other People Are Reading
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Accidental Penpals
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Penpal relationships can start unintentionally between friends, family, and even strangers through communication via letters in the mail. It begins with a note from one person to another. That person responds with another letter. The two become better friends, or pals, through writing-- hence the name "Penpals." Generally, letters between penpals are sent through snail mail. Even President Ronald Regan developed a penpal relationship while in office. It began with a request for an autographed picture and the correspondence lasted 50 years.
Student Penpals
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Some school teachers will set their students up with penpals from other schools or countries as part of a class project. Teachers will use their own networking skills to ensure that students are corresponding with kids their own age. The idea is to share information about the school day, hobbies, and family traditions with students from other cultures or backgrounds. Some of these relationships last a lifetime.
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Find a Friend
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People who want to find a penpal can go to numerous websites that offer searches. People can search for a penpal by gender, age, and even country. Once you find someone that intrigues you, you write a letter. The letter generally contains background information about yourself, and questions for your penpal to answer. It may take months to find a penpal who writes you back on a consistent basis.
Prison Penpals
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Prisoners will receive information about the penpal services through magazines distributed to prisons. They will send information through the mail- usually a picture, background information, what they are looking for in a penpal, and their address. They will also have to pay money for this service. Some prisoners are looking for love; others want to share information about their criminal case. Some just want a friend on the outside. Their information is placed on prisoner penpal websites. Generally, only people over 18 can write to penpals in prison.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Photo by Kevin Marsh
