Hobbies

• What you do in your spare time can often say more about you than your career. Your hobbies may give you some common ground with a pen pal who, for example, jogs regularly and wants to trade tips on how to train for a marathon, or records music and needs advice for promoting his music online. Just be sure that you don't focus exclusively on your hobbies, as your pen pal may get bored if every other email details the growth and health of your vegetable garden.
  
  

Local Events

• Local news is often neglected in national news, so it's a good idea to keep your pen pal updated about your area, so long as the stories are legitimately interesting and affect you personally. For example, if your city cut funding for the fire station and you or someone you know decided to form a volunteer fire department, your pen pal will probably be interested in the logistics and training involved. She might be less enthused, however, if you regale her with the obituaries and wedding announcements.
  
  

Family

• Family dynamics can be very different depending on a person's culture, and while nobody wants to hear about how often your niece spits up, your pen pal might be surprised at how different your family is from one that, for example, practices arranged marriage, or sends children to boarding schools from a young age. While it's best not to complain about specific family members until you've established a friendly, supportive rapport, don't be afraid to tell your pen pal any historically significant -- or just funny -- moments your family played a part in.
  
  

Goals

• Whether they are short-term or long-term, your goals are a great indicator of your ambition, work ethic and passion. Tell your pen pal how far along you are, for example, in earning your degree or being promoted at your job. Even personal goals, such as setting aside more time for your family or cutting your sugar intake, can be interesting to a person who lives in a country with fewer work hours and less processed food.