Meet Vladena (aka ybur) from Czech Republic. She was a bit hesitant about Postcrossing at first… but quickly warmed up to it and is now an enthusiastic member! We were very happy to meet her and her daughters in Prague some weeks ago, where she amazed us with stories of her long-lasting penpal friendships :)
Here is what she had to say:
- How did you come across Postcrossing? What got you hooked?
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I’ve collected touristic postcards since my childhood. One day in September 2008 my older daughter came home from school and said: "Mom, I have something interesting for you. It is a site on internet, where you can receive cards from the whole world.“ Then she showed and explained Postcrossing to me.
I thought it was nice, but the language of communication was English…and my English was not very good… First my younger daughter registered, then my older daughter. And after 14 days hesitating I registered, too.
- Do you have any other interesting hobbies?
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I think my other hobbies are usual – reading, travelling, walking, history, foreign languages… and penpalling. Me and my first penfriend celebrated 50 years of our friendship this year. Thanks to Postcrossing, I got two new penfriends: one from USA (the recipient of my first sent card) and one from Belgium.
- Show us your mailbox, your mailman/mailwoman, your postoffice or the place where you post or keep your postcards!
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Unfortunately I don’t have any picture of mailbox or mailwoman. I buy stamps and sometimes send my cards from the Main Post office in Prague, and its picture was already presented on Postcrossing.
But I can show you a gift that I’ve received from my daughters for my birthday last year: small box with stamps for one card for every year of my life :-)
- Show and tell us about your favourite received postcard to date, and what makes it special.
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It is very difficult to choose one postcard, each one has its own story and beauty… Here are some of my most rare ones:
Greenland with a Finnish Postcard ID
Palau (Micronesia) with a Japanese Postcard ID and American stamp, which arrived after 166 days
A beautiful autumn scene, from a 92 year old lady
New Zealand, Christchurch – view before earthquake in 2011 (buildings are either damaged or exist no more)
- What is it your favorite part of the Postcrossing process?
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I like the surprise of the mailbox opening and also searching the place where the card came from. I like to choose the postcard for every recipient, translate information about places or things on the card – and I’m happy when the Hurray e-mail confirms that I’ve sent a card they enjoyed.
I would like to send more cards, but this hobby is a bit expensive. Postage to Europe has increased by 47% and to overseas by 66% since my registration on Postcrossing. Another comparison: stamp for postcard to Europe costs now 25 CZK (= 0,92EUR) in our country, 0,80 EUR in Austria. However Czech salaries are about a third of Austrian ones…
- Have you been surprised by any place that you have received a postcard from or sent a postcard to?
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Geography was one of my favorite subjects in the school, so I basically know where the most of countries are located. Only Palau I had to search :-)
Although I was surprised: I confess I’ve never though about Germany as a country to go for my holiday. Now, after receiving many postcards from there I often have to say: yes, this place in Germany is worth to see… and this… and this… and this…
- Have you met any other members in real life?
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I have two other postcrossers at home – my daughters! :-D Besides, I attended most official Czech Postcrossing meetings. I met there a lot of new friends, and not only from Czech Republic.
I also participated in international meetings: we met girls from Finland, France, Turkey and Netherlands in Prague. Eight of us were guests at a meeting in Dresden in March 2014. Also, my Belgian Postcrossing penfriend visited me 4 years ago.
27 comments so far
What a lovely interview and nice photos. Great to meet you, Vladlena!
Hi Vladlena,
I very much enjoyed reading and watching your interview.
Greetings from Holland, Hetty, (Noetnik)
As a new postcrosser, it's fun to read about dedicated ones like you :-)
Greetings from Denmark, and ghostly hugs from Cipho the Wandering Ghost.
Your daughters are dear for giving you such an original birthday gift.
Waw, a penpal for 50 years! I have one for 30 years and I felt proud but 50 years is something else!!!
Enjoy Postcrossing and penpalling!
Mapa
hi, dear, your story was so nice to read! thx for sharing!! me, too, I've a penpal in NL since just 50 years ago!! since we have internet, me up from 2001, we are writing e-mails! it's a pity!!!! but I have more other actual postcard-penpals!!! me, too, I took part in so many meetings, even when I went to prague I met a nice postcrosser there, too!!! so called mini-meeting!! *smile* hopefully you'll enjoy all the other cards waiting for you in future!!!
Nice :) I can see myself on the meeting photo ;)
Vladena is such a wonderful, open hearted person... I was so happy when she came to the Dresden meesting last year, and since this, she hosted me several times at her home when I visited the Czech Republic for meetings or private holiday :) I am so thankful that Postcrossing gave me the chance to meet such a nice person, who is now a dear friend of mine. :) Thanks for the wonderful spotlight! :) Anni
Lovely story. I also know postcrossing by my oldest daughter. And i never stop !
Wonderful words Vladka, also your daughters are nice and kind. I am very glad I can meet you from time to time :) (And I can also see me on the photo :) ) I wish you to learn more nice people through postcrossing :) Zuzana
Moc hezké Vlaďko :)
Nice to meet you all three again in this article.
Dear Vladena, it is so great to see your here and I am looking forward to our micro-meetup today :) See you!
Thank you for sharing your story, Vladena. I enjoyed learning about you and your daughters.
Glad you joined despite your doubts! I think initially we all had our doubts. Does it work? Is it just another scheme to get my adress? Who will write to me? Will I be welcome or stand out because of age/language/country/the way I write?
*Spoiler: Nobody stands out, this project embraces differences*
Glad you stayed along! Some users find out they even don't like Postcrossing quite as much as they thought they would - and give up after the first 5 cards or 50 cards. Others just find their life-circumstances changed and they cannot go on with Postcrossing any longer.
Glad you found out for yourself that nobody has to be perfect to have fun and cause some joy! That is what my profile is all about - no matter what your card is, who you are, if you make mistakes - I will be grateful you sent me a card. And I think most on here think that way. If we want to read polished English literature, there are always books to read ;-)
Very human and sincere talk,congrats for allowing yourself to have this fun and joy!
Thank you for sharing your Postcrossing story and a bit of your life. I am new to it and also find it a bit expensive. I think it is a worthwhile and interesting hobby - I am enjoying the slower pace of it.
Super! :)
Thank you for your story....
Thank you for sharing ... it is really uplifting to read about your postcrossing experiences and the wonderful support you are receiving from your daughters.
I am 4 months into my adventures with postcrossing.
Lovely interview & lovely cards! :)
thank you for sharing. I hope I can celebrate more than 10 years of snailmailing with my penfriends too. I am not betting on 50 yrs already.
I enjoyed reading this. Thank you!
It was lovely to have meet you and the girls back in April 2015 when I was visiting Czech Republic and meeting my friend Petra Petula_07 :-)
Very nice story, full of interesting things and thoughts. I love people who like meet new people,. I think Vladena is one of them. Happy postcrossing for all.
Know this has nothing to do with the topic but I love your daughters hair cut. I too am a girl who rocks a partially shaved head <3 very cool!
What a wonderful story! Thank you for sharing.
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