Yesterday I reviewed one of my favorite 2014 titles, The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith.
It’s a really cute story with an emphasis on written correspondence.
Before starting the book I already was pen pals with my lovely friend Kaila. And I already knew about Post Crossing.
The book, however, inspired me to finally give it a try.
So PostCrossing.com is a site where users join, share their preferences for correspondence and some information (website, twitter) as well as their mailing address.
Then you request to send a card (this will either be international or to your own country–more often international, at least for me). You get a username and address as well as a code to write somewhere on the card. (In fact, here’s my profile so you can see what I mean (and recognize me if you join and we’re matched! http://www.postcrossing.com/user/missprint)
You also have the option to be open to “direct” swaps which are not registered through the site but allow users to message each other individually. I haven’t done this yet because I have other people I know that I can send to without PostCrossing’s help but it’s a nice feature.
Then you send the card and when it arrives the user on the other end registers it and might add a little note thanking you for the card.
Once that happens, you are eligible to receive a card from another random user.
On and on. Plus you can upload the image of the postcards and have a “virtual” record of the cards as well.
I’ve been having a blast with PostCrossing. I bought a bunch of postcards on sale online. I have international stamps which are about 1.15 a pop and can be used to mail anywhere. I keep my cards I get in a special box and have not one but two special stationary boxes.
It’s been great getting and sending cards. (It might be too much to hope for but I think it’s even improving my handwriting.)
Inspired by the site I also sent up an exchanged between myself and some online friends which was also fun.
Basically what I’m saying is go and mail a friend something. You won’t regret it.
Miss Print 