Just as I made sending letters through Slowly a fundamental part of my routine, I also learned to listen to my penpals.

I can be heard by whole the world. We all can be heard and listen to each other.

I am proud to say that my Mandarin has definitely improved, and I have been able to talk with teenagers from Senegal to Switzerland and Hong Kong.

Next month, we’ll finally overcome the 320 km that separate us and meet in person.

He came to my city and we met and spent one of the best weeks in my life. He became one of my best friends.

I was so happy that I went around the house saying "I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM JAPAN"

Our letters are long, drawn out paragraphs, about everything...

It is wonderful to make friends from a completely different part of the World and to see their country through their eyes.

Now I also have a big new dream to buy a ticket to South Korea and fly to Seoul to meet my awesome soulmate!

It has connected not only us, but also our lives and hearts...

She took a plane and drove 200km by car to see... me? Just... me?

When I listened to her sweet, soft voice speaking lovely Persian words to me from across the world, it melted my heart.