My Pen Pal

It all began with an advert in a newspaper. I was going through its pages when my eyes came upon the section called "Looking for a Pen Pal?" I suddenly became engrossed in it and started scanning through all the names and addresses listed under so many different countries. One specific one stood out—a girl named Emily from Valmera. There was something about the way she introduced herself. This caught my attention. She mentioned and emphasized her love for reading, her curiosity about the continent I live on, and a wish to make friends all across the globe. Without any further hesitation, I copied down her address and then began to inscribe my first letter.

Writing to a stranger, who is in a distant world away, was an exciting yet anxious experience. What do I say to someone I have never met? How do I introduce myself in a way that kindles a bond? After doing all the thinking, I settled on a straightforward but genuine letter:

Dear Emily,

Greetings from Ashanzulu! My name is AtoNkosi, but my family and friends call me Nkosi. I am very happy to write to you as my new pen pal. I found your name in one of the leading newspapers in my country, which enables people from various parts of the world to link up through letters. I thought it could be great to exchange ideas and experiences with each other.

Let me first of all, tell you a little about myself. I am 15 years old and currently in secondary school. I live in a relatively small town called Akaruma, which is in Ashanzulu, a beautiful country in Central Africa. In your introduction, you that you love reading—I am also a lover of the same! Some of my favorite books are "Songs of the Desert Wind" – by Fatima Boulahya, "Beneath the Baobab Moon" – by Naledi Khumalo, and "The Drums of Kwaku Amano" – by Nii Kojo Bansah. What are some of yours?

Everyday life here in Ashanzulu is quite spirited, lively, and full of compelling traditions. My country is known for its warm-hearted people and hospitality, colorful festivals, and tasty food. I wonder if you ever heard of Pepper Glow Rice? It is one of our most well-liked and popular dishes, and I believe you would also love it. What are some of the foods that you enjoy most in Valmera? What town in Valmera do you live in?

When not reading, I enjoy playing football with my friends, listening to various kinds of music, and oftentimes just being outside in the evening, watching the sun go down. I love to stretch my imagination. Ashanzulu has a very tropical, dry, and humid climate, and as I write to you right now, it’s the dry season. What is the weather like in the country? I read that you have snowfall at certain times of the year in your country, right? I have never seen such a spectacle before, but I can only imagine it being fun to play in during these times.

Kindly let me know more about your country and daily life. How is your school system over there? Do you perhaps have any hobbies or pets? Have you ever traveled outside Valmera? As for me, I have only traveled outside my town Akaruma but never traveled outside Ghana. However, I hope to one day travel and explore the world beyond my home.

It is always interesting to think that we can establish a friendship through letters despite being so far apart from each other. I hope I will hear from you soon and look forward to knowing and learning more about you.

Wishing you a wonderful day!

Your new friend,

Nkosi

I sealed that first letter with joy and sending it felt like a part of myself was traveling into the unknown, hoping it would show up in welcoming hands. The hope and expectation for a response were both exciting and intense—I knew emails could take weeks, sometimes even months, to move across continents. But when finally I received my first reply from Emily, with her orderly and well-organized written words and a picture of her backyard in snow, I knew immediately this was the beginning of something exceptional.