Story: Meeting Virtual Friends in the Real World

Are you a citizen of the Internet, or a citizen of the world? Moving between these convergent realms — traveling both virtually and actually — means that people are the most important points of intersection. Yes, you can learn a lot about someone just by following their blog and corresponding via email, but nothing replaces the immediacy of getting together face to face. Although meeting someone offline for the first time can be awkward, it's great to have a local contact when visiting a place for the first time, and virtual friendships grow stronger when they're cemented by an offline meeting. So get out from behind your keyboard and try these tips to make your first meeting a success.

1. Make a General Announcement

If you're traveling to a city, consider making a general announcement about it on your blog or social network of choice. Some people may feel uncomfortable meeting you in person, or they may just be too busy. But making a general, public announcement lets people know you'll be in town without 'inviting yourself' into their lives. Even if no one can meet with you, you'll probably still end up with valuable travel suggestions.

2. Plan Together

If you're used to communicating online, there are plenty of tools available for helping you plan your travel and associated meetings, especially if you're meeting multiple people along your journey. Group forums, wiki pages, or mailing lists provide opportunities to plan with your friends — instead of planning around them. Cede some of your agenda to the locals and you'll probably learn about all kinds of activities, hangouts, and events that you won't find in any guidebooks.

3. Meet on Neutral Turf

Try to meet in a safe, neutral place so that you'll have something to do if your friend is late — or if he or she doesn't show up at all. A public venue is also handy if your contact turns out to be creepy and you need to abort. Keep the location close to where you're staying to reduce planning complications and to afford you more options should you decide to hang out longer than initially planned.

4. Wear Something Recognizable

Even if you've seen a photo of someone online, it can still be difficult to spot him or her in a crowded room or a busy street. It might seem somewhat awkward to ask your friend what kind of jacket he or she'll be wearing when you meet, but a lot less awkward than eyeing strangers with that quizzical look in an attempt to ascertain if they are who you think they are.

5. Stay Active

If you communicate with someone so much online that you feel comfortable enough to meet him or her in person, you may actually run out of things to talk about when you finally meet face-to-face. That's why scheduling around an activity is a good idea — to give you something new to talk about. Besides, when you have a busy travel schedule, meeting someone while taking in the sights is a great way to make the most of your time.

6. Relax!

Most of all, don't think of an offline meeting as weird. You probably already know a lot about the person you're meeting, so the 'getting to know you' routines you may instinctively follow when meeting someone for the first time won't necessarily apply. The trick is to relax, forgo the 'normal' social conventions, and just go with the flow. Visiting places is fun, but visiting people can add a rich, social dimension to your travels.