Postcrossing Blog

Michelle (aka MichelleW) hails from Dallas in the state of Texas. She’s an advocate for children’s cancer research, and describes herself as the proverbial “cat lady” in her neighbourhood – with 4 cats and a cat-themed mailbox to prove it! :)

Here is what she had to say to our interview questions:

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

In 2010, I was recovering from cancer treatments and my good friend, Aurora, showed me this “new thing” she was doing. She explained the process and showed me how to set up a profile. She kept saying, “just be patient, ” when it seemed like forever for the first card to arrive. And then it come and when I got the first card and then the second…I was hooked – completely! It was only the start of what has been an unbelievable experience.

Do you have any other interesting hobbies?

Besides Postcrossing I enjoy some arts and crafts and like to find other members who like handmade cards. If I’m not writing cards, I’m reading a book, watering the plants or at the movies. I also try to support children’s cancer research hospitals by participating in walks or sending cards to kids in the hospital. I met far too many children during my time in treatment. I also have a small blog that I write mainly to show off the cards I send and receive every month!

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

I’m embarrassed to show you where I keep my cards-to-send! I have enough cards to send to the entire Northern Hemisphere. I started storing received cards in albums, but realized that was going to get too expensive – so I ended up with attractive boxes that are categorized by cards I get from the official Postcrossing site and those I get in Round Robins – my passion! The mailman was too shy for a picture.

I had fun finding different styles of letter drops during a trip to Canada this summer. And I was very happy to find my cat mailbox since I am without doubt, the cat lady of our neighborhood. My youngest cat loves to paw through the cards.

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

I have received literally thousands of cards through Postcrossing, but there is one that I will always remember and not for the front, but for the message, which said,

"Saturday, March 12, 2011
Hello from Yokohama, Japan! You probably heard about the big earthquake we had here yesterday. My husband I weren’t hurt but it was very scary and we were without power for 8 hours. I hope things go back to normal soon.

Have a great day!,
Lauren

Now Lauren is a Postcrosser. I’m not sure I’d be writing cards after a day after such a major catastrophe!

Have you inspired anyone else to join Postcrossing or start collections of their own?

I hope so – but I can’t prove it! I’ve found that you raise eyebrows in stores when you buy 30 cards or so in one transaction. I’ve had several people ask me what I do with them and many have written down the site’s address. I hope they joined. It’s amusing to have people ask, “You actually mail them…like with a stamp??”

What is it your favorite part of the Postcrossing process?

At first it was receiving, but now I love the process of reading profiles and trying to choose a card that really fits the addressee. I also print my labels with graphics for that person – whether it is their avatar or country’s flag. When it is registered, I get a truly warm feeling in my heart when someone replies, “It’s exactly what I love and that’s my picture!” I also have to admit that I get a certain twinge of satisfaction when my cards are marked as “favorite.”

Is there anything that you are passionate about?

I am passionate about children’s cancer and cancer research for “orphan” cancers. My experience with a rare form of the Big C made me realize how much is left to learn. To see a five-year-old with a shaved head, big scar and waiting for radiation will break your heart but also amaze you when you observe their determination and laughter through their pain. I still keep up with one young man who beat a very deadly brain tumor. They fight so hard and I try to give whatever I can to help researchers with their work.

This year, politics and environmental issues have been uppermost in my life. I’m a liberal tree-hugger, which is not common in a conservative state like Texas! My efforts are geared primarily in reduction of fossil fuel usage and saving native animals such as the grey wolf from total extinction in the US and Mexico by big-business ranchers and petroleum interests who destroy their habitats. I can get rather heated on the subject of conservation.

In this week’s Spotlight feature, we interview Dimitris (aka dst121gr), from Greece. Besides being the top postcrosser in his country, Dimitris is also passioned about long distance running and his local rescue team, which he co-founded in 1995.

Here is what he had to say:

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

I read an article in a newspaper and I said “Ok, lets give it a try to see what this project is about”. I was never a fan of postcards and it was really strange to use a postcard to send a message to someone I didn’t know!!! I was hooked by this feeling and even now, after a few years and more than 2000 cards (sent and received), I have the same feeling. I think it’s something magic to communicate in this way, with people you don’t know and you may never meet. To find all the differences between your character and way of life, with the others in every country in the world. Also the happy feeling to discover that there is someone in the other side of the planet, who is just like you!

Do you have any other interesting hobbies?

I’m a phonecard and euro coin collector. I’ve also start to collect Europa CEPT stamps. One more hobby I have lately is long distance running. I took part in mountain semimarathons. I’m not an athlete and I run just for the fun of it, but I always try to finish within the time limits. I also like the 4WD and I took part at races with my Nissan pick up, as a driver or as co pilot to a friends’ jeep.

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

Here is my postcard collection, and my mailbox:

What is it your favorite part of the Postcrossing process?

I really like and enjoy all the process of the project. From the first click to draw an address till the moment I drop the card to the post box. But now I think that I’m really happy when I realise that my card made the receiver happy and he or she liked it. I think it’s no need to talk about when I receive a card… :) I think the feelings are common for all of us!

Have you been surprised by any place that you have received a postcard from or sent a postcard to?

I think I was surprised when I drew an address to a school in Northern Mariana islands – but the biggest surprise was when I’ve got “thank you” cards from the kids there! I also was surprised when I receive my first card from a Greek who lived abroad and from a Russian member who learned Greek language and dances.

Is there anything that you are passionate about?

My biggest passion is the local rescue team. I’m proud to be one of the founders and one of the 4 people who worked hard to make it known for its work in Greece. It was founded in 1995 and our members have been in Turkey and Algeria for the eartquakes, we have sent humanitarian loads from Greece to Iraq and Serbia and lot of activities like search, rescue, fire fighting etc.

This week on the Spotlight interview, we feature Rita (Gogge1), from Denmark. Besides being an avid postcrosser, Rita is also into penpalling and baking!

Here is what she had to say:

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

One of my old penpals told me about Postcrossing, and I decided to give it a try. Soon I was totally hooked on this project! And I have to admit that I just love it. To me it is not just sending and receiving postcards from all ower the world. Well of course thats a huge part of it, but at the same time, I see a lot of views from arround the world, and I also “meet” a lot of great people. And then I do learn a lot about both my own country (I love to write and tell about what’s on the cards I send out) as well as many other countries. That’s a huge part of it for me.

Do you have any other interesting hobbies?

Oh yes, I love history, which goes a bit hand in hand with Postcrossing, doesn’t it? I also enjoy penpalling (but sadly I haven’t much time for that these days because I’m studying). And I always bake our own bread, which I’ve done for ages. I also bake some cakes etc. now and then.

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

Here are my own mailbox where I pick my mail 5 – 6 days a week and the postbox where do send most of my postcards from. It’s standing just outside the local liborary in the tiny town I’m living in.

Sadly there aren’t many post offices left in Denmark. They close down, and we have to drive around 13 kilometres to the nearest post office.

I keep my postcards in albums and boxes.

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

This is difficult, because I’ve received so many beautiful cards… It’s simply sooo hard to pick one, two or even 10 cards and make them to favourites. But these are some of those I really do love (among many many cards I love):

What is it your favorite part of the Postcrossing process?

Surely it’s exciting to see which card I receive myself – I like that very much. But my favourite part is to find nice cards, and to pick them for each person I’m going to send a card. I always try to find the perfect card for each postcrosser, if its possible for me at all. And I always read the postcrossers wishes for cards and try to fullfill them.

Have you been surprised by any place that you have received a postcard from or sent a postcard to?

Yes! Places like Tuvalu, Turkmenistan, etc. I’d never heard of these places before I started Postcrossing.

Have you met any other members in real life?

I’ve meet Dorthe from Denmark and Christa from Germany several times to meetups arround Denmark. And at the Postcrossing meetup in Copenhagen in September 2011, I’ve meet GForp from Denmark, Lotty from Belgium, Ritva, Dollart from Finland and several more from Finland, Poland, etc.

On this week’s spotlight interview, we feature Wei Yi, (aka WY), from Kaohsiung, Taiwan. He’s an avid collector and also likes studying history and international relations – and has a very cute daughter who is as excited to receive postcards as he is!

Here is what he had to say:

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

Firstly, I must say thank you to whom recommended me to have this opportunity to be interviewed by Postcrossing.

I actually heard about Postcrossing for the first time while browsing a Japanese blog circa 2007. The blogger showed her postcard collection through Postcrossing. However, I formally joined Postcrossing in 2008, the same year my elder daughter was born. Since then I’ve been hooked on sending & receiving postcards – until now. Sometimes I send more than a postcard to satisfy the receivers, and sometimes I receive something unexpected including banknotes, maps, brochures…etc. That’s why Postcrossing is so fascinating. My elder daughter “joined” Postcrossing together with me when she was 2. She’s more excited than me while receiving postcards!

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

Here are some photos modeled by my elder daughter showing Taiwan’s postboxes, our letterbox and where we enjoy reading the postcards.

The green postbox is for domestic ordinary mail. The 2 holes are for local (Kaohsiung) & outgoing (other cities & counties in Taiwan). The red one is for international airmail & domestic prompt delivery. The number “812” showing on the Postboxes is the zip code of Siaogang District, Kaohsiung.

Our letterbox always brings a lot of joy while opening it. Of course, we feel disappointed in case it’s empty or bills only…

We like to read postcards freely on the floor. After reading we store them in shoe boxes and simply catalogue them by continents (Asia/Oceania, Europe/Africa & Americas).

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

It’s really hard to decide which ones are our favorite among more than 1000 postcards received. We don’t set any wantlist or preference on the profile. Every card we get are our favorites and we appreciate every sender. If I really need to pick a special one, I think the one (SI-29912) sent by Paulo, the founder of Postcrossing, is very representative and unique. It’s really my honor to receive the postcard from him while he stayed in Slovenia.

I’d also like to share some splendid postcards received by private swap. They’re from & DiannaMacau of Macau and sevvie of Finland.

What is it your favorite part of the Postcrossing process?

My favorite part of the Postcrossing process is sending and receiving. It’s also the basic spirit and principal of Postcrossing project. Waiting & cards getting expired are also important parts of Postcrossing process from my point of view. I know it makes us upset, but I think it’s also a part of our life. Nothing is always smooth and successful.

Have you been surprised by any place that you have received a postcard from or sent a postcard to?

Most of the postcards are sent/received to/from European countries & United States. However, I still had the opportunity to receive postcards from Lebanon, Guatemala & UAE and sent to Oman, the Bahamas and Brunei. They’re the special countries to me so far.

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.

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!

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: This one combines two things I’m a fan of: Paris and bridges. It’s also a beautiful one.

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: 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: 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.