Friendships are a vital part of anyone’s life; they bring advice, comfort, understanding, and good memories. The 21st century has made international friendships much more accessible. With the help of social media, a person no longer has to wait weeks on end to receive a letter from their pen-pal. Although this may be a fun and exciting method of communicating, getting on Skype or sending a message on Facebook is quicker and easier. Having a connection in another country, brings cultural diversity, and betters the understanding of the lives of others.
When I was in the 2nd grade I was given an incredible opportunity. Thanks to the friendships my teacher had in Thailand, I was introduced to a pen-pal, as were the other twenty-two people in my class. Her name was Nalinee or Yoyo for short. We exchanged letters through school and carried our new-found friendship into years ahead. Unfortunately, traveling to Thailand to meet Nalinee and her family was never included in my own family’s budget. In December 2004 a deadly tsunami took over her home town of Phang Nga. Even at the young, naïve age of seven, I was concerned for her well-being. My apprehension grew after I didn’t hear from her for several years. In 6th grade my teacher once again was acquaintances with a teacher at Thai Chinese International School (TCIS). We were each assigned a random pen-pal, this time from Bangkok, Thailand. When I received my first letter I could not believe it; the letter had been signed by Nalinee. I had been reunited with Yoyo, and in my mind this was all thanks to fate. Even now, 4 years later, we are still communicating through the help of social media and other technology. We have never truly met, yet we are still lifelong friends, with childhood memories that continue to grow. We have provided each other with not only a friendship but insight to both the American and Thai cultures.

Being open-minded and accepting of people with different values, religions, or traditions, can enrich your own life in unthinkable ways. A connection can be formed in the strangest settings and most unexpected situations. Cultures vary from destination to destination, yet we are all human. Skin color, language, and beliefs are all things that merely characterize the wonderful beings that create the human race. International friendships provide a sense of understanding that there are people around the world that share the same dreams, fears, and problems that are present in my life. A friend is more than someone you pass in the hallways at school every day, it’s someone to relate and talk to. Even if that moment of friendship only lasts a second, the memory of that person will last a life time. International connections can be used to change the world, simply by connecting one person at a time. Finding commonalities and sharing a smile can bridge the gaps formed by differences and make the world a better place for future generations.