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Postcrossing Spotlight: Fimafengur from Iceland

On this week's Spotlight interview, we talked to Óskar, aka Fimafengur, from Iceland. He's passionate about vintage posters - and postcards that depict them!

Here is what he had to say to our Spotlight questions:

How did you come across Postcrossing? What got you hooked?

I think I’ve always been interested in postcards; at least I started early on buying cards when traveling around Iceland with my family on holidays. Started collecting cards from each place, town, museum etc. we stopped at. I continued this habit when I went traveling around the world on my own. I'm not a very organized collector but I buy cards that interest me somehow.

001 (3)

But… if there are any cards that I'm really passionate about then, it's the vintage posters (travel ads, trains, cruise liners) and movie posters, old and new. One of my favourite cards is from a small collection I have from Swiss-old-timers and shows an ad from the Oriental Express.

A few years ago I read an interview in a local newspaper with an Icelandic Postcrosser. I decided to find this site and simply got hooked. I soon realized how the Postcrossing project is a great way of traveling around the world and “meet” all these nice people. I'm still a bit amazed that some stranger on the other side of the world will make the effort of buying a card, a stamp and mailing it to another person.

Show us your mailbox, your mailman/mailwoman, your postoffice or the place where you post or keep your postcards!
post office in

There are two post-offices in my hometown Akureyri. The staff is very friendly and provides an excellent service. This is the office in the city centrum.

Show and tell us about your favorite received postcard to date, and what makes it special.

I find it very difficult sorting out a few favourites! … but I’ll try to show examples of what I like in postcards.

fr 117423

FR-117423: This one combines two things I'm a fan of: Paris and bridges. It's also a beautiful one.

uz 1566

UZ-1566: Cards from distant, faraway places, which I probably will never be able to visit or experience otherwise, like this one from Samarkand.

us 1641649

US-1641649: A great b/w photo of a great performer… I went to a TT concert in Copenhagen in 2000 (she was about 60 at that time).

DE 1300838

DE-1300838: Reprint of a vintage posters ( more bridges and transportations ). Visited Wuppertal over 20 years ago and went on this “Schwebebahn” and it made my day getting this card.

What is it your favorite part of the Postcrossing process?

Sending a card… trying to pick a card according to the receiver’s request or what I think that would make the postcrosser happy to receive. Here in Iceland most of the postcards you can find are “touristic”, i.e. nature, landscape etc. Fortunately many Postcrossers seems to like these cards. I always try to buy cards I like myself and I also visit museums and such places to increase the diversity. Then I wait for the card to arrive and I'm always glad when it's registered and I really appreciate a comment or just a “thank you” from the receiver.

Is there anything that you are passionate about?

I strongly believe in equal rights for all humans and democracy. One of the most important things is education, which sadly is very poor in too many countries, especially for girls and women. I try to support organisations like UNICEF and SOS Children's Villages and also some smaller “private-projects” in Yemen, Ethiopia and South Africa. There are so many more things in common to people all over the world than those that divides us. I think the world would be a bit nicer place if we all made an effort to communicate and understand each other.


Posted by on 15 Aug, 2012
Tags: ,




26 comments so far

Luziaceleste, Brazil
I entirely agree to Óskar regarding equal rights! postcrossing is an unique chance to get in contact to diversity and realize how close we are! Tuvalu postcard for me in a precious jewel...
Posted by Luziaceleste on 15 Aug, 2012


ferminadaza, Turkey
That orient express card is just beautiful!
Posted by ferminadaza on 15 Aug, 2012


monkeykaman, Hong Kong
I receive my first vintage postcard recently..so happy.the card is so beautiful.
Posted by monkeykaman on 15 Aug, 2012


susaniso, United States of America
Yes, I agree. The small kindnesses of a stranger in another part of the world (choosing a card, writing something to me, putting on a stamp, and sending it) are a way to heal the world. Thanks for this interview. I love getting to see the post offices of others!
Posted by susaniso on 15 Aug, 2012


Robin67, Austria
You send gorgeous cards from your wonderful country. I doubt I will, but I would just totally LOVE to visit Iceland. Your cards certainly make people immensely happy! :-)
Posted by Robin67 on 15 Aug, 2012


isagv, Germany
Very nice interview. I would also love to visit Iceland and ride an Icelandic horse one day.
Posted by isagv on 15 Aug, 2012


islander61, Bahamas
Wish I could get a postcard from Iceland :( (Love that Tina Turner card, by the way!)
Posted by islander61 on 15 Aug, 2012


adobe, United States of America
I agree completely with Oscar (my apologies that I cannot write Icelandic accent on your name) that education is key, and maybe our little postcards encourage people to explore the world beyond.

And like Isagv, my dream also is to visit Iceland and ride Icelandic horses!

It is nice to meet Fimafengur!
Posted by adobe on 15 Aug, 2012


geminiscp, Portugal
Nice postcards and nice interview! :)
Posted by geminiscp on 15 Aug, 2012


siobhan, Germany
Such a coincidence - I just sent Óskar an official postcard a couple of weeks ago. :D Nice interview!
Posted by siobhan on 15 Aug, 2012


kk12, United States of America
I'm totally with Óskar, most of the cards I get I'm never going to get a chance to go to, but I can in a way through postcrossing. Nice interview.
Posted by kk12 on 16 Aug, 2012


bornokyo, Philippines
Thanks for the inspiring story you shared to us. I am always happy to read such stories.
Posted by bornokyo on 16 Aug, 2012


ipuenktchen, Iran
nice interwiev with the islandic postcrosser - I agree!!!
happy postcrossing!!!!!
Posted by ipuenktchen on 16 Aug, 2012


lucymonty, United Kingdom
Great interview! That Tina Turner card is fab!
Posted by lucymonty on 16 Aug, 2012


bodrumlu, Turkey
very nice interview.
happy postcrossing
Posted by bodrumlu on 16 Aug, 2012


texasdreamer, United States of America
I really enjoyed this interview. Óskar makes a great point about people in the world being more understanding of others...I'm definitely a huge advocate of that! :) I love that Postcrossing is full of people that are curious about the world!

Iceland seems so beautiful...I would love to visit one day! I've watched shows about Iceland and it always strikes me as very "clean and peaceful...and cold!" Lol!
Posted by texasdreamer on 17 Aug, 2012


paixsurlaterre, United States of America
“I agree completely with Oscar (my apologies that I cannot write Icelandic accent on your name) that education is key, and maybe our little postcards encourage people to explore the world beyond. …”

+++++

Óskar

Ó = Capital O-acute

STEP #1) On your keyboard make sure that the NUM LOCK key it toggled (turned) on.

STEP #2) Hold down the ALT key while at the same time type the following numbers from the NUMERIC keyboard, 0211:

ALT + 0211

Voilà!:

Ó

- or -

You can compose your communiqué using a word processor like Word for Windows and then select, copy, and paste it.

Once a document is opened:

STEP #1) ALT + I

This displays the INSERT pull down menu.

STEP #2) Choose SYMBOL from the pull down menu or just press the letter s on the keyboard.

This bring up the character set window.

+

Postcrossing ... creating friendships and promoting world peace, one postcard at a time!
Posted by paixsurlaterre on 17 Aug, 2012


YiliLoh, Malaysia
Thanx for sharing and enjoy your lovely weekend! Happy Postcrossing!!! :)
Posted by YiliLoh on 17 Aug, 2012


hmthompson, United States of America
I sent this gentleman a postcard in May 2012. After reading his Profile I thought that he sounded like an articulate, caring person. The Spotlight interview corroborates my inkling. Well done!
Posted by hmthompson on 17 Aug, 2012


rosenbusch, Germany
I know Oscar, because I sent him a postcard. Thank you for sharing the informations...
Posted by rosenbusch on 17 Aug, 2012


CeceG, United States of America
Iceland is awesome and Akureyri is a beautiful town! I even bought stamps at that very post office to send postcards home to the US! You rock Oskar!
Posted by CeceG on 17 Aug, 2012


Absynthe, Canada
I also just received a postcard from Óskar - my first from Iceland. Loved his choice of card (an introduction to a previously unheard of artist) and the varied stamps, too.
Posted by Absynthe on 18 Aug, 2012


Fimafengur, Iceland
Hello everyone. Nice to meet you all… and again some of you! Thank you for taking a time reading the Spotlight and all these positive and splendid comments. It´s really encouraging. Take care.

Óskar Ægir / Fimafengur
Posted by Fimafengur on 19 Aug, 2012


joanneleslie, United States of America
Thank you for sharing your postcrossing story! I am just beginning my postcard journey to meet people from all over the world and learn their stories! Happy Posting!
Posted by joanneleslie on 19 Aug, 2012


amit19, India
This was a great post! I really love his views and opinions. I think we all should take inspiration from him and try to deliver happiness to people around us in the best way possible.
Posted by amit19 on 20 Aug, 2012


nboliveira, Brazil
Nice interview! Love the Tina card :)
Posted by nboliveira on 22 Aug, 2012



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