Best Way to Connect with Girls All over the World

You’ve got friends on your street, in your neighborhood, around town . . . maybe you’ve kept in touch with some who moved to dif­ferent states. But do you have any friends in other countries? Ex­pand your horizons. Connect with girls around the world.

Sherry Handel is the CEO and president of Blue Jean Media and author of Blue Jean: What Young Women Are Thinking Saying and Doing (Blue Jean Media, Inc, 2001). Her Web site, Blue Jean Online, has had more than a million visitors from 95 countries. Sherry says:

Getting to know girls in other countries can seem intimidating at first. There can be a fear of not having anything in common. You might think, “I don’t know anything aboutBangladesh, so what do I have to say to someone who lives there?”

But once you connect with girls from around the world, you realize you don’t have to know anything about where they live. For one thing, you will learn. And you’ll realize all girls share the same feelings: happiness, sadness, excite­ment, horror—we just have different cultures.

Sherry offers ways to connect:

Hit the Internet. The Internet offers a huge opportunity for girls to connect worldwide. Blue Jean Online is an example of a Web site where girls from all over the world can connect—and safely, too, as safety is always a consideration online. For example, there are many Web sites where girls can sign in and become mem­bers. They then get a member name that doesn’t identify their real e-mail address. So they can be incognito. These Web sites often have chat rooms, bulletin boards, and instant message opportunities to get to know other members from all over the world.

Write to pen pals. Despite the online opportunities, traditional snail-mail pen pals still thrive. There’s still something to be said for opening your mail box and finding a letter from another country, the international postmark, the foreign stamp . . . and reading some­one’s actual handwriting.

Start a zine/read a zine. A zine is a hand-made, self-produced publication that provides its writers with an outlet for creative self-expression. Though once associated strictly with all things inde­pendent and underground, zines are now making their way across the country and around the world. When you start a zine, you can publicize it to girls all over the world who will read what you have said and may respond. Reading zines helps you read voices of other girls. You can get involved on their Web sites or write to the editors and connect that way.

Join an organization. Take up a cause! Help out an organiza­tion. There are many organizations that don’t care if you are a teen; they are simply grateful for the extra assistance of another person. Think about something you are passionate about, and chances are there is an organization for it. Many organizations bring together girls from all over the world who have a common interest. They also offer opportunities for travel to other countries. Some teen girls serve as representatives for the organization and travel that way, while others offer camps and study programs.

Travel on a student exchange program. Student exchange is done through your school or organization. You spend a period of time staying with a family abroad, and sometimes their teen reciprocates and stays with you. Student exchange is a big commit­ment for your family, but can provide you with a valuable experi­ence. Check with your guidance counselor to find out what your school offers.

Travel abroad. Some girls have the opportunity to travel abroad with their family and friends without a formal program. Of course, this can be a great way to connect with girls where you visit. Other girls travel through study abroad programs designed for stu­dents. These programs are great for your college applications, as colleges love to see international experience. Check with your guid­ance counselor. There also are great books on how to study abroad, and the Web site offers a wealth of information.

Student travelers often congregate in the same places and meet each other. There can be an instantaneous bonding experience when you are all visitors in a common country.