This article was written by two Hey Lady! Members - Ewa and Francesca - who became speaking partners four years ago and have been best friends ever since. They wrote this article as a tribute to each other on Galentine's Day. Read on to hear how two women living in completely different countries went from being English speaking partners and study buddies, to inseparable “soul mates”.‍

What is Galentine's Day?

You may be wondering, "what is the Galentine’s Day"? Let us explain!

Falling each year on February 13th, Galentine’s Day is basically the friendship version of Valentine’s Day. It’s a celebration that’s all about celebrating the female friends in your life. 💖

Because, isn’t it true that we love our friends? It’s not a romantic love, like with your significant other, but yes, we love also our besties!

Online friendship – is it possible?

Many people doubt if it’s possible to have a real, genuine friend “from the internet”. The answer is: YES!

Believe us, it’s absolutely possible to have a real, meaningful friendship - even if you live far away from each other! And we’re the best, REAL example! 💞

So, let us tell you our story

We (Ewa & Francesca) first met at Hey Lady! nearly four years ago... And it was love at first sight.

Ewa came across Francesca's article on the platform about her passion for orchids. She was so captivated that she reached out to Francesca to start a conversation. Given Ewa's fondness for Italy and its people, making the first move was effortless.

When we finally had our first one-to-one conversation (face-to-face via video), we realised we were a match made in heaven!💕

Since that moment, we’ve been meeting almost every week.

And what do we talk about? Everything! We talk about our families, our husbands and kids, our jobs, our holidays, our sports and our favourite recipes.

In a nutshell, we share our real lives with each other!

Every conversation brings us closer, strengthening our bond with laughter, support, and endless stories.

Our friendship is a rare gift.

It started with just learning English together, but with time, it has grown to be so much more.

We support each other emotionally.

As everyone, we have ups and downs and it’s so nice to receive a message from each other in the early morning, to uplift our mood - and even in a hard/sad moment - receive a bit of support from one another.

We’re like a family, with trust, respect and honesty, which is possible to develop even online!

Maintaining a long-distance friendship is so easy, with the help of the internet!

Meeting in real life (IRL)

What’s more, we meet regularly in real life as well!

We do it at least once a year and even if it’s not so simple, we really hope we’ll manage to do it forever. 🚗✈️

In 2021, we first met in person in Venice during Ewa's family holiday. We were so excited to finally meet, just two months after our first conversation online (inside Hey Lady! - which was called 'The Ladies' Project' back then!). And to our surprise, we were exactly the same height! We shared our first Aperol Spritz at a bar near the Rialto Bridge and talked for an hour like old friends.

After a year of talking, we were thrilled to meet again in Venice in 2022 - what a wonderful moment! We were like a pair of lovebirds, with our amazing Coach Kat from Hey Lady! (and her parents as well!) - all together in the heart of this magical city.

We were over the moon to spend time together, strolling through the charming streets of Venice.

Even though we live far away, nothing could keep us from meeting again!

In 2023, we saw each other in person TWICE! 👯

The first time was in Kraków, near Ewa's hometown, and it was incredible to be part of such a wonderful group of ladies.

And the second time was in Venice again, this time with our dear friend Tamy (Hey Lady! Big Sister/volunteer), with her daughter and granddaughter as well. On this occasion, Ewa put her Italian to the test - and she spoke as if she were a true Italian!

But our story isn't over yet! In April 2024, we joined another Hey Lady meetup in Milan, and here we celebrated being 'Legendary Ladies' in Hey Lady! and drinking another Aperol Spritz in the Navigli.

Every time we meet, it’s an incredible and emotional experience.

Of course, our friendship isn’t exclusive - we love sharing it with others, creating connections, and being a magnet that attracts even more amazing friends! 💖

And now? We’re already thinking about our next meet up in 2025 - this time in Rome! We're planning to spend quality time together, explore the city, and, of course, enjoy another Aperol Spritz. Cheers to more unforgettable moments!

We’re also regular co-hosts inside Hey Lady!

As we’ve mentioned, we are SOUL MATES. 💖💖

At the same time, we love sharing our special bond with other amazing women. Being part of the Hey Lady! community for four years, we enjoy co-hosting events (English conversations and study groups) together.

But why do we co-host? Because we are perfectly “in tune” with each other, always on the same page, and we want to share this harmony with others, inspiring and connecting even more wonderful souls.

A Wish Between Friends: Exchanging Love Letters on Galentine's Day! 💌

Ewa's Letter to Francesca:

"Francesca 💖, you’re not my favourite, but...you’re totally my favourite. On this special day I would like to thank you for lifting my spirit, sharing the joy and staying beside me (even if it’s online) when I need it the most. Thank you for your laughter and for the moments we share together. Thank you for helping me with learning Italian language – the “side effect” of our friendship. Ti voglio bene. Thank you for being the wonderful person you are - for all the little things, the big things, and everything between. Love, Ewa"

Francesca's Letter to Ewa:

"Ewa 💖, I just wanted to take a moment to tell you how much I appreciate you. You are my better half. Our weekly meetings, our daily texts, our endless support for each other - these are things that truly brighten my days. You are more than just a friend: you are a sister! Together, we have built something special, not just between us, but also with the amazing women we connect with. The warmth, kindness, and encouragement we share make every moment meaningful. I’m so grateful for our bond and for the way we lift each other up. Kocham cie. Love, Francesca"

Looking forward to many more chats, laughs, and unforgettable moments together!

Ladies, cheers to all of you! You make our life brighter and funnier – Happy Galentine’s Day! May we always be this fabulous. Love you, girls!

Ewa & Francesca 💖💖