A 20 October report revealed that two women who had been writing letters to each other for 43 years finally met for the very first time. The meeting took place in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and it was full of laughter, hugs, and happy tears.
According to the report, both women were emotional as they opened old letters and remembered their childhood connection that started back in 1983.
How a School Project Became a Lifelong Bond
In 1983, when they were both in Grade 5, Sonya Clarke Casey from Canada and Michelle Anne Ng from Singapore were matched as penpals through a school program. What began as a simple classroom project soon became a lifelong friendship. They shared everything through their letters — school life, music, family, and dreams. They always ended each letter with the same line: “I hope someday we will meet.”
For years, the letters travelled thousands of miles between Singapore and Newfoundland. Sometimes it took weeks to arrive, but they never stopped writing. Clarke Casey once joked in an old letter, “It’s finally 4 degrees here — do you have a boyfriend now?” They both laughed when reading that message again after four decades.
A Box Full of Memories
During their reunion, the women brought hundreds of letters they had saved. Each envelope showed their handwriting growing from children to adults.
Ng said she loved how her friend’s letters described small-town Canadian life — snow, ponds, and even royal visits. Clarke Casey, on the other hand, enjoyed reading about the busy streets of Singapore and the latest teen fashions that Ng often included with newspaper clippings.
“It’s amazing to look back and see who we were,” said Clarke Casey while smiling at one of the old letters. “Those papers hold our lives.”
From Handwritten Notes to Modern Messages
With time, technology changed the way they communicated. They started sending emails and video chatting, but they never gave up on handwritten letters. “There’s nothing like getting a real letter in the mail,” said Clarke Casey.
The friends said the feeling of opening an envelope from another part of the world can’t be replaced by a phone notification.
An Emotional Airport Meeting
After years of planning, Ng finally decided to travel from Singapore to Canada. Clarke Casey couldn’t sleep the night before. When they finally met at the airport, they hugged tightly, both crying and laughing.
Clarke Casey held a welcome sign and said, “I can’t believe we are really meeting after 43 years!”
Still Writing After All These Years
Now that they have met, both women say their friendship feels stronger than ever. They spent their first weekend together reading letters at a local market and enjoying waffles.
But one thing hasn’t changed — they still plan to keep writing.
“Nothing’s going to stop us from writing to each other,” said Ng with a smile.
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