How to Send Letters to International PenPals
E-mail and instant messaging services make it easy to communicate with people around the world. Yet for all of their conveniences, they lack the charm and personality that a handwritten letter affords. Many people keep the fine art of letter writing alive by seeking out international penpals for traditional mail exchanges. There are additional considerations to this style of communucation, however. If you have acquired a new penpal from abroad, it's important to not only write an engaging letter, but to make sure that letter makes it to its destination with as little hassle as possible.
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Instructions
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Write promptly. While a letter may take a few days to reach its destination domestically, it could easily take a week or two internationally. Take into account the speed and efficiency of the postal service in your penpal's country. Whether you are writing the first letter or drafting a response, do your part to hurry things along. If you procrastinate, your penpal may begin to think you are no longer interested in the exchange.
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Address your letter correctly. Pay attention to how your penpal formats her address. Copy it onto your envelope exactly and write the destination country directly underneath. This will reduce the chances of delays or mix-ups while your letter is en route.
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Calculate the correct postage. One U.S. first class stamp will not be enough to mail your letter internationally. To calculate how much postage you will need, utilize the USPS Postage Price Calculator (http://ircalc.usps.gov/). Input the letter's destination, shape, and approximate weight. The website will display the First Class postage price on the next page.
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Affix the correct postage onto the envelope. Mail it at any mailbox or at your local post office.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are planning on mailing a present to your pen pal, you will need to fill out a customs form, listing the package's contents and approximate worth. These forms are available at the post office or through the USPS website (https://webapps.usps.com/customsforms/).
