A Japanese person taught me how to make matcha tea, an Italian made me try espresso. In return, I taught them how to use the word “xin chao” in Vietnamese.

I thought this was just for chatting. I never expected someone would teach me how to say “thank you” in ten different languages.

My new friend sent a photo of the sunset in France. I replied with a picture of the sunrise in Saigon. Two time zones, one sky.

My Japanese friend said it was snowing where she was. I went out onto my balcony, and it was sunny. But I still felt warm for some reason.

I was just going to send a “hi” for fun. Now, every time I open the app, I have to wait for them to be online before I can focus on my work.

It feels like every time zone here is a small kitchen, and there’s always someone making tea.

I logged in just to try the app, but I got hooked on a feeling of warmth I thought the internet didn’t have.

I never thought I’d get to know anyone for real on here until the app reminded me of her birthday before Facebook did.

We’ve only met through OVFRIENDS, yet we know what kind of tea the other likes, what type of movies we’re scared of, and that our birthdays are surprisingly close together.