It’s my postcrossingversary! Yes, that’s a word. At least, it was in my congratulatory email from Postcrossing. I’ve been “making the world a better place one postcard at a time” for two years now. It’s probably time for an explanation and review for those of you who don’t know what Postcrossing is and what a postcrosser like me does.
About the time I started writing My Cup of Cocoa, I also signed up at Postcrossing. The website enables users from all around the world to send postcards to other users (known as postcrossers). This is done in a random way. You are not signing up for new pen pals. You are signing up to send a short message on a postcard to someone you will likely never write to again. It is a free service and was started to bring the world together, one postcard at a time. Sound interesting? Keep reading.
How It Works
First, you enter your mailing address and some basic information on the Postcrossing website. They do not use your information for anything other than randomly sending your address to other postcrossers. For more details, you can look at their privacy policy here. In addition to listing a mailing address, you can also write a little bit about yourself. This is where you can list personal interests, the kinds of postcards you like best, and some basic information about yourself. My bio says I am a wife, mother of three, and a dog lover. I love educational and historical cards as well as art and architectural ones. And if you send me an animal card, I love pandas, tigers, and hedgehogs.
Once you’ve signed up, you can send cards to up to five people. You are given the addresses and an ID number. addresses to send a postcard to. This is how the site tracks postcards. You write the ID number on your card with a short message and put it in the mail. When the recipient gets your card, they enter the card on the site using the ID number. This information allows you to send more cards. There is a limit on how many you can have traveling at one time.
Once your card is registered as received, you get to send another one and receive another one too. My first five cards went to Germany, Sweden, China, the U.S., Italy, and the Netherlands. My most recent cards were sent to Japan, Poland, the Netherlands, the U.S., and Germany. But in between, I’ve sent and received cards from all over the world.
My Postcrossing Fun By the Numbers
The ID number also helps keep track of interesting statistics. In the past two years, I have sent 297 postcards and received 291. I have sent and received cards from over 45 different countries. The majority of my sent cards have gone to Germany, the U.S., and Russia. I have received the most cards from these same countries, with the Netherlands coming up in fourth place. The shortest amount of travel a postcard has taken to get to me was 2 days from a nearby town in California. The longest travel time was 65 days for a postcard from Hungary.
I like the numbers and I’m not really a numbers person. But it’s fun to see the totals grow over time. Here’s another postcrossing fun fact: the postcards I’ve sent in the past two years have traveled over 1.5 million miles!
Travel the World
It has long been a dream of mine to travel the world. Unfortunately, I have responsibilities and a bank account that keep me from doing this very often. But postcrossing is a little like traveling the world for the price of a few stamps. It’s fun to open my mailbox and find a card from some far away place. And it’s nice to know that someone thought enough about me to pick out a postcard just for me and send it.
My bucket list of places I want to see someday has grown since beginning my postcrossing adventure. Some of my favorite cards have been of historical sites in Europe and Asia, and even here in my home country. I am amazed at the variety of landscapes and architecture that the world has to offer. Some of my top picks include the tulip fields in the Netherlands, St. Petersburg, Russia, and Mt. Fuji in Japan.
Making the World Smaller, Better
One of my favorite things about postcrossing is how it makes the world a little smaller and friendlier. It is remarkable that almost everyone who has sent me a postcard has something in common with me. The same can be said for all those I have sent cards to. Sometimes it’s our jobs (a lot of educators are postcrossers) that connect us. Sometimes it’s a hobby or interest. I get some great book recommendations from fellow postcrossers. More often than not, it’s just the fact that we are human beings wishing and wanting the same basic things…happiness, health, a little beauty and comfort in our lives.
Sure, there are some postcrossers who seem to be in it for themselves. There are those who have a long list on their bio page of postcards they don’t like, postcards they are looking for, and demands for special stamps or types of mailings. These users are usually collectors of one sort or another. I don’t take offense to their sometimes demanding voices. If I have something I think they’ll like, I send it. If not, I send something else. No big deal.
I have also had what might be considered rude messages. For example, when a recipient registers a postcard, they can send a message to the sender. Usually, these messages include a word of thanks. But one recipient wrote: “You should write clearly if you want me to register your card. The ID was impossible to read.” How did they find me if the ID was impossible to read? Sigh. It just goes to show that people are people wherever they’re from. And there will always be people who are more direct (and less polite) than others. Perhaps it a lesson on cultural differences. But even if I receive a card that is not to my personal taste, I always thank the sender. After all, they took the time and the stamps to send it to me.
Is There a Downside?
Besides the very rare rude postcrosser, I can only find one downside to postcrossing. I have developed a habit of over shopping for postcards. Whenever I’m visiting a fun place, I stop to check out the postcard racks. I am probably stocked for at least another two years of postcrossing fun. But that won’t stop me from looking for more fun cards to send!
Postcrossing is a Great Hobby
As a hobby, postcrossing is simple, fun, and can be as creative as you want to make it. I have received some amazing handmade cards. I have received objects that go far beyond a simple postcards. Once, I received the card in an envelope with some tea bags that the sender said were her favorites. I’ve also received sample of beauty products and an awesome pen! People can be so generous.
Postcrossing is relatively inexpensive as far as hobbies go. All you need are postcards and stamps. And you get as much as you receive.
Postcrossers come from a variety of walks in life. I have received cards from retirees, school children, university students, and young professionals. It’s great to use as a class project. I have a friend who teaches English to adults and they use Postcrossing in their classes. It’s also a great hobby for people who don’t get out of the house for whatever reason. Postcards and stamps can be ordered online and delivered to your door. In exchange for mailing them, you get to travel the world from your own comfy chair.
Time For Some Postcrossing Fun
Speaking of mailing out postcards, I am a little behind on sending my most recent ones. I need to go and write out five or six this afternoon. It’s always exciting to see where the next one will go and who will be receiving it.
Interested in checking out postcrossing for yourself? You can also read about my previous experiences with the site here. Or go to the Postcrossing site and check it out. It’s easy to get started and fun too!
Please note this post contains affiliate links. See disclosure page for details. I’ve listed a few great postcard sets I found on Amazon below. I’ve used two of them personally and they’re great!
