I am learning the Russian langage for several reasons, though it is certainly NOT essential for me to learn it.

1. I am around A LOT of Russian/Belorussians in the industry which I work.
2. I believe that by learning and understanding, I am hoping to show respect to those I am with on a day to day basis.
3. I (romantically) find it a fascinating and beautiful language.
4. My heritage is that of Romanian and Russian, therefor, I SHOULD learn and pass this onto my children.
5. Simply, it is the first foreign language I have ever been remotely interested in learning and, thus have not given up on.

There are more reasons.

But, back to the main question, I have done the pen pal thing, it seems it wanes regardless if American or Russian. The correspondence is wonderful, when it happens, yet life intrudes on both side of the ocean and well .... =)