A pen-friend is a friend we have never met but to whom we write letters. Many sometimes keep their pen-friends for many years. Sometimes they meet their pen-friends.
But usually people don't meet their pen-friends because they live many miles away from each other. Most pen-friends are between children living in different countries. They write to one another to find out about the way of life in other countries. Sometimes they write so that they can practice one another's language.
Letters between pen-friends are usually full of information about the writer's own country, his own town, school, interests and so on. The best place to find a pen-friend is in a children's magazine. Most magazines for young people list the names and addresses of children in different countries, who are looking for pen-friends, for example.
John Smith, aged 14, living at 17 New Road, London, England, wants a pen-friend in Thailand (boy or girl). He is interested in collecting stamps and listening to music.