Building friendships that span the globe

The Friendship Force may not be a group of superheroes intent on saving the world, but its members are doing their best to bring the world closer together.

Made up of groups of people from more than 50 countries, the Friendship Force involves cultural exchanges between chapters. Members travel to other affiliated clubs, staying in each others' homes and spending the days touring with their hosts.

"You really get to know how other people live in other parts of the world," said Emma Bluestone, 75, a retired psychotherapist from Woodbury and a Friendship Force member for 15 years. "Once you've been in their house for a week, by the end of the week you're friends. Today you're a guest, tomorrow you help make breakfast, and that's it."

On a recent summery late afternoon, roughly two dozen New Zealanders gathered with their Long Island hosts for a farewell clambake at a private beach club in Huntington.

Out and about

The Kiwis had just finished up a week staying with Friendship Force of Long Island members - visiting the Hamptons, New York City and practically everything in between, including the Nassau County Museum of Art in Roslyn, Oheka Castle in Huntington and Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay. Now, they tucked into clams, mussels, lobsters and icy beers while watching the light of the waning sun reflect off Huntington Bay.

Barry Bridges, 70, from Blenheim, New Zealand, sat on a bench near the festivities, a sweating bottle of Heineken in his hand.

Bridges, a retired firefighter, has been a Friendship Force member for six years.

"There's just a common bond amongst us all," Bridges said. "Anyone who takes a complete stranger in your home, there has to be a trust."

He said he enjoyed seeing New York and Long Island through a local's eyes.

"We also see places that if you just came on your own, you wouldn't see," he said.

Friendship Force members are often retirees who have the free time and discretionary income needed to travel, although the club takes members of all ages. Traveling is not mandatory, and those who aren't able to host members from other clubs in their homes can take them out for dinner or other activities.

Lasting friendships

The Friendship Force has been around since 1977. Headquartered in Atlanta and promoted by President Jimmy Carter, the Friendship Force has expanded to 346 clubs in 59 countries.

Sue Harnett, 73, also from Blenheim, and her husband, John, have traveled seven times with the Friendship Force - and lost count of how many times they have hosted other members.

She said she found the Long Islanders to be "very nice, warmhearted, welcoming people."

Harnett said she and her husband have developed lasting friendships with the people they've met on their trips. And the friendships that have been forged internationally are important, she said.

"You don't go to war with people whose table you've had your feet under," Harnett said. "People are people all over the world. There's no basic difference in what you want out of life."