After 43 years of corresponding by mail, two long-time penpals finally met face-to-face this week. Sonya Clarke Casey from Newfoundland and Michelle Anne Ng from Singapore had been exchanging letters since they were paired up through a school penpal program in 1983.
The two women sat together in St. John’s, reminiscing over stacks of letters they had saved over the years. Clarke Casey chuckled as she read aloud a letter from 1992 about the weather and relationships, while Ng shared a lengthy letter she wrote about her love for the song “99 Luftballoons.”
Their friendship began as a cultural exchange, with Ng sending newspaper clippings about local teen fashion in Singapore and Clarke Casey sharing stories about life in Newfoundland. Over the years, their bond grew stronger as they wrote about university, travels, and personal milestones, such as Clarke Casey announcing her pregnancy in a letter to Ng.
Despite incorporating emails and Facetime into their communication, the penpals never abandoned handwritten letters, believing there is something special about receiving a physical letter in the mail. Ng vividly recalled the excitement of receiving her first letter from Carbonear, Newfoundland.
After years of hoping to meet in person, the friends decided to make it a reality. When Ng seized the opportunity to visit, Clarke Casey eagerly awaited her arrival, even making a sign to welcome her at the airport. The emotional reunion was marked by hugs and disbelief that they were finally meeting after four decades.
As they spent their first night together reading through old letters and sharing laughter, Clarke Casey reflected on the unique connection they had built through written words. Despite meeting in person, they both agreed that their letter-writing tradition would continue, with Ng expressing her belief that their friendship would endure throughout their lives.
The meeting in person was a special milestone in their relationship, but it was clear that the bond forged through letters would persist for years to come.