Eastern European pen pals can bring you closer to the countries in which you are interested, and it’s a great way to make friends and learn about different cultures. Some pen pal relationships result in visits—and it’s always nice to visit a country where a local can show you around.
The best way to find an Eastern European pen pal is to join a pen pal organization. Two very reputable, reliable pen pal organizations are SAPE (former Soviet-American Penfriend Exchange) and IPF (International Penfriends).
SAPE began as an exchange between Americans and citizens of the Soviet nations, but still maintains its lists of interested pen pals from countries from the former Soviet Union. It is free to use, though it is best to request more pals than you plan on writing to because it’s likely you won’t receive responses from everyone on your list.
IPF works a little differently. There is a small membership fee, and in exchange you will get a list of 14 pen pals from countries of your choosing. Your name will be sent on to 14 other people who will then write to you. Your membership lasts for a year, the end of which you will have to renew if you want more pen pals.
Tips for Letter Writing
- When you write your introductory letters, keep them simple but interesting. Introduce yourself. Describe your likes and dislikes, hobbies, what your occupation is or what you study, and a little bit about the other people in your life (family, significant other, pets). If you are communicating in English, you won’t know the language level of your new pen pal until you receive a reply, so try to keep the language understandable.
- Be sure to include your return address somewhere on your letter in case it becomes illegible on the envelope.
- In the case of Eastern European countries that use the Cyrillic alphabet, you may either be given the address in that alphabet or a transliteration of it into Latin letters. Either way, print as clearly as you can, copying the address carefully. Alternatively, make a photocopy of the address, cut it out, and glue or tape it onto the envelope.
- Always include your return address. In the case of a pen pal having moved, you may get the letter returned to you—which is better than not knowing if your letter was simply lost or ignored.
- If you don’t hear back from your pen pal in a couple of months, write again with a short note explaining who you are and that your previous letter may have gotten lost. Some postal services in Eastern Europeans are still notoriously unreliable and lost letters are casualties of the system. However, if you don’t get a reply from the second letter, it’s best to resign yourself to not corresponding with the person in question. He or she has moved or has become uninterested in pen palling.
- You will find correspondence with your Eastern European pen pal to be rewarding and educational. Not only can you send letters, but small enclosures (like postcards, pictures, stickers, or bookmarks) make the exchange even more fun.
- Occasionally, you will get a letter that is unwelcome—such as from someone asking for money or other inappropriate favors. Ignore these letters and promptly notify the pen pal organization with whom they are affiliated.
Some pen pals relationships have turned into lifelong friendships. So give it a go and have fun!
