SUMMIT COUNTY, Ohio — Fifth grade will always hold a special place in Tania Nemer’s heart.
“I went to Copley Fairlawn City Schools, and my teacher, Mrs. McGarvey, had thought of this great idea to just join two people from different places,” she said.
What You Need To Know
- 5th grade will always hold a special place in Tania Nemer’s heart
- This is how communication began with her now lifelong friend and pen pal, Brazilian native Jorgete Vitorino
- The International Youth Service (IYS) was the world’s largest pen friend organization for school children
- Vitorino said having pen pals was an experience that taught her the beauty in learning new languages
- Months would go by before they pair would hear from one another, but this did not deter them from meeting one day
This is how communication began with her now lifelong friend and pen pal, Brazilian native Jorgete Vitorino.
For Vitorino, she was connected with not only Nemer, but to other children from different countries through the International Youth Service (IYS).
The IYS was the world’s largest pen friend organization for school children.
“I wrote the first letter, and that was so exciting because nowadays, you write a message, you get an answer maybe five minutes afterwards,” she said. “At that time, it was not like that. I think it took probably more than a month for this letter to arrive here in the U.S.”
Vitorino said having pen pals was an experience that taught her the beauty in learning new languages.
“If you want to write in a different language, in a foreign language, then I’m sure it improves your knowledge,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s German or English. I also speak other languages.”
Months would go by before the pair would hear from one another, but this did not deter them from meeting one day.
“I knew we would meet,” Nemer said. “I just didn’t know when. Then when she messaged me, she’s like, ‘I think we’d love to come visit.’ I jumped right away.”
Now, 33 years later, they did just that.
“It’s a very special friendship. Very special, and I’m thankful for it,” said Vitorino.
