I couldn't think of a catchier 제목 for this that wasn't corny, says the writer.

It's funny that when 당신 really want to say something the words don't come out as easily as 당신 thought they would. So at the risk of sounding cliché, I just wanted to say that I'm really speaking from the 심장 here, which may be why it's not as eloquent as I'm used to being. But I don't know how else to say it.

Traveling a lot, I went to a myriad of international schools who were used to people coming and going and acted accordingly, welcoming newcomers with almost too much enthusiasm and making sure these people found their place in their new, albeit temporary home. Their instant acceptance was one of my 가장 좋아하는 things about the international school community, and one of the reasons I want to go back and teach at such schools. But when I came to college in the US, holding on to good 프렌즈 was like trying to hold onto water. They were constantly slipping through my fingers. Either I never saw them much, 또는 they were always too busy, 또는 they had their other 프렌즈 they've known since kindergarten... And the drama department is quite cliquish. It's hard to make real 프렌즈 with my interests because they are so tight. This was strange for me, but not impossible obstacles to overcome. Over the past 년 and a half I've gained a few good 프렌즈 here that I can rely on.

But it took me a whole year.

I don't know, maybe I was wrong in choosing such a big school. But I 사랑 the school, and I enjoy the 프렌즈 I have made, so there's no point in leaving now.

The reason I'm giving 당신 this 랜덤 story is because I came to the 대학 of Washington in August of 2006 and didn't really have decent 프렌즈 until March of 2007. I came onto 팬팝 in May 2007, and was instantly welcomed. To me, it was exactly like stepping back into those international schools, where people are fascinated 의해 you, and want to tell 당신 all about themselves and hear all your stories and show 당신 all the cool places around town to hang out at.

I went to a play last night, alone, because all three of the people I had invited couldn't make it and during intermission while everyone had someone to talk to, I felt a little lonely. But then I came 집 on Fanpop, and there were 코멘트 to read, and all of them insightful 또는 sweet 또는 helpful and it made me smile. The atmosphere on this site is all (or at least mostly) positive from my experience. I feel like we really appreciate each other, and are always eager to help our fellow users, whether it's teaching them how to use the site, 또는 showing them where all the great content is, 또는 simply just cheering them up after they've had a lousy day.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want this to come off as "Oh, I have no 프렌즈 except fanpop." Not that there's anything wrong with that either! I just find, strangely, that people on 팬팝 seem far 더 많이 open to human connection than people at my university, which is ironic considering the circumstances. But maybe it's because we're hiding behind a computer screen that we feel we can be so open with each other, open in ways we aren't really with the people who surround us physically. I don't really know.

Go out and hug someone today. Connect with someone today. And I don't mean a *cyberhug* 또는 connecting to the Internet. I mean seriously go out and make a physical human connection. The world is missing that.

Physical human connection... that sounds like I'm advocating for something "Ooh la la!" LOL! But 당신 guys know what I mean.

And after you've made that human connection, come here and share it with your fellow fanpoppers. 또는 not. But do it anyway.

In the meantime, I'm still here, connecting with 당신 guys who are so accepting of just about everything and everyone. It still impresses me how we can get in such a heated 토론 in the 토론 spot for example and still appreciate each other as individuals with different viewpoints. 당신 don't get that everywhere.

So people of the 팬팝 Community, and yes, that is you, the person 읽기 this, whoever 당신 are, I salute you!