Penpals Finally Meet After 33 Years

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In a nearly empty airport after several delayed flights, Tania Nemer is holding onto 1souvenirs from a long friendship.

¡°This is the guide of her city. So she wanted me to look and see what her city is like and she put little notes in them.¡±

The guides and letters have been 2connecting Tania with Jorgette Vitorino over 5,000 miles.

¡°And we¡¯ve been writing each other since 5th grade, so it¡¯s been about... I¡¯m going to 3age myself... 33 years.¡±

The penpals met each other when Tania was at Copley, Fairlawn.

¡°Ms. McGarvey from Copley, she, she¡¯s the one who said, you know we need to 4broaden our horizons and let¡¯s connect with a school in Brazil. And I¡¯m gonna pair you up and connect you.¡±

Saturday, the two are connected 5in person.

¡°It was amazing to, to finally arrive.¡±

And the connection is clear.

¡°There were so many 6parallels in our lives.¡±

Both women who always shared a love of writing and birthdays just days apart... grew up to become 7attorneys, raise families and never 8lose touch.

¡°What I, what I think is so special is that you can have so many wonderful feelings for a person you have never seen before.¡±

A 9whirlwind trip for Jorgette and her husband includes a 10scavenger hunt around Hudson, Saturday. 

¡°I wonder¡¦¡±

The friends exploring northeast Ohio and finding friendship can spark through letters, span continents and last years.

¡°You know, good people are everywhere and she¡¯s really one of them.¡±