Héléna (aka Helena2008) is a young postcrosser from the French region of Auvergne. Earlier this year, she gave an interview about her hobby to teen magazine “Trampoline”… and that’s how we knew we had a very enthusiastic postcrosser in the area! Turns out, she has a lot of stories to tell, so we invited her to the blog, with the help of her mom Marie (aka Marie007). Here they are:
- Hi Héléna! How did you come across Postcrossing? What got you hooked?
Two years ago, my mom saw an article about postcrossing on Facebook. It was the evening, and I was in my bed, almost sleeping. Mom was very excited by this project, and she thought I would be interested, too. So she came in my bedroom, turned on the light, woke me, and she asked me if I was interested in this project. Of course I said “yes”. I didn’t know it at this moment, but it was the beginning of a great adventure! :)
- Do you have any other interesting hobbies?
I collect stamps with animals and flowers. Postcrossing is a wonderful way to discover very beautiful stamps! Sometimes postcrossers use an envelope and they add some stamps inside the envelope just for me. It’s very nice and I always thank them. I’m very interested about languages, especially English. I learn English at school, and also at home with a free internet website named Duolingo. When I’ll be older, I would like to own a “learning languages store”. I’d like to be an English teacher for adults.
- Show us your mailbox, your mailman/mailwoman, your postoffice or the place where you post or keep your postcards!
My mailman has a lot of work because of me! He is so used to deliver postcards to me, that sometimes he puts in my mailbox postcards which are not for me! When it happens, I take them and put them in the mailbox of my neighbors. At home, I have a wall where I put my postcards.
- Show and tell us about your favorite received postcard to date, and what makes it special.
My favorite postcard was the one I have received from the city Helena, Montana, USA. It was so strange to see my name written on a postcard!! I also love to receive postcards of rabbits. I have a rabbit, so I’m crazy about these nice and soft animals.
- What is it your favorite part of the Postcrossing process?
My favorite part of postcrossing is to go to my mailbox and see if there is a postcard for me :) The more exciting is when I receive an envelope. It’s wonderful to open it and to discover what it is inside. Some postcrossers are very nice with me and they send to me some girly stickers, stamps, or coins from their country. It’s very kind and it makes me very happy.
- Have you been surprised by any place that you have received a postcard from or sent a postcard to?
Yes, I have been surprised many times by the places that I have received postcards. With a swap, I have received a postcard from Syria. It was from a girl who is almost the same age as I am. It’s hard to think about her and about the war in her country. I often think about this little girl and I hope she is fine.
- Have you met any other members in real life?
I also love to travel around the world with my mom. In August 2016, Jeremy, a very nice American postcrosser invited me and my mom to visit the city of Helena (capital of Montana, USA). It was absolutely wonderful!! I went in a plane for the first time of my life, I have discovered America, eaten real hamburgers, visited a ghost town, looked for gold nuggets, visited the city of Helena…
This trip was the best moment of my life! After that, I have invited this postcrosser to France. He came in my house during summer 2017. It was great to show him my country and to see each other again. We are still in touch, and my mom and I are planning a trip next summer, to go back to Helena. I already know that it’s going to be awesome!
I have also met many french postcrossers, during Postcrossing meetings. I went with my mom to the meetings of Avignon, Lyon, Ternay, Valence… It’s really good to see postcrossers in real life. They are very nice and they have become my friends. My favorite meeting was last Autumn, when mom and I have organised a meeting in our own home. There were 20 persons and we have sent 435 postcards on this day!! I live in a small village with only 550 inhabitants. I can’t imagine the face of the mail carrier the day after, when he has found the mailbox full of postcards to send!! :)
- Is there anything that you are passionate about?
I love to travel the world and discover different cultures. I hope to receive one postcard from each country in the world. I have a big map in my house, where I can color the countries once I have received a postcard. I have currently received postcards from 98 countries. My bigger dream is to receive a postcard from North Korea. Maybe one day it will happen…
79 comments so far
Oh, such a nice spotlight! :)
I hope I'll draw Héléna's address one day. Would be great to send a card to such a passionate postcrosser.
Reading Héléna's spotlight brightened my morning. It's so fantastic to see a young person take an interest in sending/receiving postcards and then go the extra mile to organize a Postcrossing gathering. Bravo! to Héléna's parents as well.
wow, very impressed! The kid got so many nice interaction with world....so nice!
Hi, Helena!
Your passion for Postcrossing is inspiring! I hope to draw your name one day and send you a lovely postcard from America!
I wish you the happiest of Postcrossing!
I'm glad to find that I've sent you a card last year. :-)
Wonderful to read your story, Helena! We hope your mailbox is always full of fantastic postcards. :)
cute story
thank you
Lovely story Helena! We are lucky to have you in Postcrossing! The world is better because you are in it!
Hello Helena, I like your story very much. You are wonderful in postcrossing. All the best ... grit1706 from Potsdam Germany
Hello Helena,
I wish I was like you when I was your age. God bless you, little angel. Hope all your wishes are fulfilled.
I wish I will host you one day
- Vardhan
Give me your address and i will be so happy and glad to send you a little package !
Big kisses <3
Bonjour Helena, what a lovely story about you. I remember I have sent you a card a while ago and I wish you all the best for the future and always a happy mailbox.
Hello Helena,
I hope you receive many postcards in the future. One day I may receive your name. I wish you well in your life.
Demaris
Hello! Thank you for your nice comments. I'm very happy to read them. Kisses. Héléna ❤️
Hello Helena, Love to see that you love to receive postcards so young but yet so dedicated. Kim
What a cutie! A really interesting, refreshing and encouraging story.
How sweet!
You have long and happy life ahead, world is big and generous. With Postcrossing things turn even better!
Such a wonderful young lady. I think, Postcrossing is a great hobby for parents and kids to do together.
This is a heartwarming story!
What a great story He'le'na, I wish you many postcards in your mailbox and many trips around the big lovely planet earth. Keep on smiling and I hope to get your address one day so I can show you my beautiful country. Love and peace from italy.
I love this story, thank you for sharing with us.
I so enjoyed reading Helena's story - it put a smile on my face & warmed my heart. This is what Postcrossing is really about!
I hope someday you can come to Australia and visit me.
What a wonderful story - Helena is so sweet! I wish her the very best and hope her name appears in my "postcards to send" basket soon!
Nearly at the same day I got a postcard from Marie, Helena's Mom, and Helena got my postcard with a rabbit. An interesting coincidence.
Cute bunny!
Hi and I think it’s great to exchange postcard with you !
Would you like to be my pen pal ?
Hi Helena, I can't wait to send you a card or receive one from you. What a great story, I love it and keep going, OK!
Hi Helena!!! My name is helena too!! You are too adorable! I love this article about you :) I'm from the United States. You are always welcome to visit me too :) I would love to swap with you sometime :) I have always wanted to visit Helena , Montana! Maybe some day :)
XOXO---the other Helena <3
Wonderful article!
Sweetness💕
All the best little girl. Keep it up. Very happy about you
this article made my day! <3 would love to send her a postcard and also receive her in India in someday
adorable !
Great article of a very lovely young postcrosser lady. I hope you will get many more postcards for your already nice collection. Fill that wall and a few more as well. I hope one day I can also make my contribution for your collection. Awesome, keep it going! :)
What a cool girl she is! I loved reading this!
Bonjour Helena, it is nice to know that you have a deep passion for receiving and sending postcards. I hope you get a postcard from North Korea very soon? May you inspire many more young people to join this amazing club. Au Revoir!!!
Hello guys!! Thank you so much for your kindness. I'm very happy to read all these nice messages from all around the world. Kisses. Héléna ❤️
What a sweet story! So glad Helena got to vist her namesake city!
Oh my god🙂
Hope one day I can send postcard to you or your rabbit 🐇.
Happy postcrossing, Svetlana aka SvetlaSeno
I adore your enthusiasm, Helena! Such and inspiration! And how fun for Helena, Montana to get to be highlighted. Montana is a wonderful place.
May your dreams come true!
Love your story Helene! And I'm thrilled that you had the opportunity cultures, beauty and friendship with those around the world. Keep on exploring!
Well done Helena, what a brilliant interview. I hope you get the north Korea postcard soon!
l like Helena's story，impressed！keep going！
Coucou Héléna, waouw tu es vraiment célèbre!! J'ai hâte que tu me montres toutes tes photos des Etats-Unis! Bisous, continue comme ça, c'est super
Alicia ta voisine ❤️
Hi, Helena! It's great that you're so small, but you love postcrossing! I also live in a small village, and no one but me is engaged in postcrossing... Our postman at first was very surprised when one of the first postcards for me came to the post office. My address was misspelled and the postman didn't understand English ... But time has passed, and now, when I receive postcards, the postman brings them to me.
Bravo ma puce, en plus c'est une petite fille adorable. Contente de te voir sur le site :)
Great spotlight!
great, sweet, lovely story from you. will send a swap postcard to you later...greetings from Malaysia!
Truly this is the path to world peace! Thank you for posting such a happy story!
Delightful! <3
A great post, perhaps there is hope for the world after all?
Hi Helena from Florida! I loved reading your story. It is a fun hobby. Glad you joined us! France is a pretty place! I will also be happy to send you a card. Happy Postcrossing!
I love this post from Helena! Many years ago, I studied in Auvergne (Clermont-Ferrand) and I hope to visit again some day. I hope we can trade cards some time!
Hi Helena
Nice to hear your story and your love for post crossing.I wish you all the best. Would like to send card and stamps to you..Continue to enjoy post crossing..
I love this spotlight, because I used to live in the area of Lyon and unfortunateky did not know that postcrossing meetings find place there... If I would have known that maybe I would have had the possibility to meet you! Big kisses anyway, Helena, and also greetings to your Mom!
Hi Helena! Thanks for your interview. You are such an adventurer! Congratulations on being so brave, curious and passionate - I bet you will be for the rest of your life and will continue to have amazing travels and experiences. Keep enjoying life to the fullest! May all your dreams come true.
aw this is precious ♡ ♡ ♡
Hello to Helena, your Family and your Postman. I am delighted your mom woke you and told you about Postcrossing. I especially like the way you display your postcards with clips...I began collecting postcards when I was about 12 (decades ago) and would pin the cards to my bulletin board before I acquired albums. (I can always tell which cards were among the first because of the pin holes) I am confident you will enjoy your postcard hobby for many years to come. You are a ray of sunshine!
Wonderful story. Wishing you a full letter box!
Wunderful story. I will visit den Auvergne soon
Love this spot light interview!
I loved reading your post and I am also a little post crosser like you trying to collect stamps from each country in the world. Wish we both reach our targets soon in a fun way!!
Interview full of love! Happy postcrossing Helena from France! =^.^=
Loved reading this! I'm so happy she is enjoying Postcrossing!
Hello!! Thank you so much for all these nice messages. After the publication of this spotlight, I receive more postcards in my mailbox. I 'm going to answer to all of them. You are all very kind with me. Thank you! Kisses. Héléna :)
Amazing! I wish you everything best and a lot of beautiful postcards!
Hello Helena I read your story now its really good you 're amazing
trop mignonne elle dans la photo devant de la poste!
I am very fortunate that I drew Helena's mother's name today, only a few days after reading this interview! I am sending one to Helena and bunny Neige, too! Wonderful story, and what a great way for children to learn all about the world...
Thanks to this post, I just bought myself one of those scratch-off world maps to document all the postcards I receive! What a fantastic idea! :D
This spotlight made me so happy. I love the enthusiasm!! Happiest of Postcrossings, Helena!
A wonderful story. If we could invite more children to postcrossing I believe this world will be a better place soon. I too learned so many new things about other people. And I think this could make the world better.
Bonjour,helena :) thank you for writing this article. I hope I can send you a postcard from South Korea. I'll be super appriciated to send to passionate postcrosser. and it's sound so interesting to invite postcrosser to my home. and I will keep in cross for your dream. I'm sure you will be good english teacher for children :) ^^
What a serendipity! I read this article et voilà, I withdrew the address of Helena :)) Lucky me :)
What a delightful story! So encouraging to see a young person have such positive views of the world and the people she may meet. I also love the idea of using a scratch-off map to show the countries from which I've received a card! <3
Aww!.. What a sweet girl.. What a kind story (˵¯͒〰¯͒˵)
Dear Helena, hope you make lots of amazing memories, and we look forward to hearing the stories of your wonderful journey. Let the world unfold in front of your eyes!
Be Happy and Happy Postcrossing 📝📮😍✈️🌍❤️
Thank you guys!!!!!!!!! I'm very happy that everybody is so kind with me. Have a great weekend. Kisses. Héléna :)
Hèlèna! You are an inspiration to us all!! Keep up your amazing hobby and follow your dreams! <3
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