Thank you for your replies.
Spicytuna: It's great you have a good experience. Your bad experience wow what a nightmare!! Unfortunatly the internet does attract stalkers and general wierdo's
That is one reason I no longer have pen pals in my own country, I would freak out if a pen pal turned up on my doorstep! I have a long list of bad experiences but nothing anywhere near as bad as yours. However I do have a good experience. After 3 years of trying to find a nice friend in another country, I finally found one 4 months ago
Even though I have never met her, we are real friends. It is like we have known each other for years. When I have had pen pals in my own country, it does not mattter if they are a foreigner living here, all I get is can we meet for a coffee or I want to meet you, can I come round, this is normally in two weeks of knowing the person. Haha some did not wait that long. One man asked to take me out in 3 emails! I am not trusting enough to meet someone off the internet that quick.