It’s been a while since we’ve had a spotlight interview on the blog, but we haven’t forgotten about them! Today, we’re happy to interview Courtney (aka ColorfulCourtney), who is the from the USA but lives in Germany and is a fan of archery! If you’ve been hanging around in the forum, you might have interacted with her already, as she’s quite active there, helping newbies and answering questions.
- How did you come across Postcrossing? What got you hooked?
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I was still living in the U.S. and trying to find Christmas postcards, which are not so common there. On Amazon I saw many reviews of cards where people said “These are perfect for Postcrossing, ” or something similar. I decided to find out what this “Postcrossing” was, and signed up.
I think it was the Forum and doing tags that got me hooked, because I was able to exchange more cards while I was still limited in what I could send on the main site. Now I hardly ever do tags, because I can have more traveling than I can afford to send, and I like the random element of the site.
- Show us your mailbox, your mailman/mailwoman, your postoffice or the place where you post or keep your postcards!
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I have made my mailbox into a postcard – the last time I sent it out was as DE-6420999. This postbox is across the street from the library. There is one closer to my house, but I do not use it as often. Also unfortunately the other postbox is routinely vandalized, which makes me both sad and angry.
.jpg "ColorfulCourtney Postcrossing Spotlight")
I store my incoming postcards in boring random boxes, I’m afraid! But I do display some of my favorite current cards in a mirror in my living room.
- What is it your favorite part of the Postcrossing process?
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That is also a really hard question. I love getting great postcards and messages, of course, especially when it is clear someone put a lot of time, effort and heart into them. Sometimes people send me amazing bookmarks for the library – I recently received some beautiful handmade ones that were so creative! I also like picking out cards, writing them, finding the right stamp and washi tape, etc. Over all, though, my favorite part is when I get a “Hurray” message from someone who especially appreciated what I sent to them. Then I feel super all day, and cannot wait to send more cards!
- Show and tell us about your favorite received postcard to date, and what makes it special.
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That is a super-hard question, because I like so many cards for so many reasons, often because of what is on the back or something someone slipped into the envelope. I have some of the cards on my “Favorites” wall where I actually do not like the image at all! But I love what the person said on the back, and seeing the image reminds me of that.
If forced to choose right now I guess I would say for the front image, NL-3817868 from Aafjeknuffel. In my profile I say I like old cards and also ask people to tell me something that makes them smile. She sent me a beautiful vintage card, together with a self-painted postcard that illustrated the things in life that make her happy. It literally made me cry a little bit, it was such a happy card!
- Have you been surprised by any place that you have received a postcard from or sent a postcard to?
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I was totally surprised that my first card came from Finland! I did not know at the time how active a Postcrossing country it is, and it seemed very exotic to me.
- Is there anything that you are passionate about?
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“Passion” is a pretty strong word. Postcrossing has made me passionate about our postal system. It makes me so angry when people intentionally under-postage cards, when vandals deface mailboxes, when the government wants to reduce mail delivery, things like that.
Outside of Postcrossing, my “think global” passion is about trying to achieve what I call the Star Trek universe, where the Earth is at peace, and poverty, oppression and violence on our planet are things of the past. I am especially passionate about women’s rights and I wish that women and girls all over the world had the rights and opportunities I have enjoyed growing up and living in the U.S. and now Germany. I worry a lot about the progress we are making as a planet, and about women’s rights, and the condition of people in general, slipping away in many areas of the world.
My “act local” passion is our Gemeindebücherei, the town library. I was a librarian in the U.S. and after moving here I wanted to get involved in some sort of volunteer activity. Long story short, since 2016 I have been the town librarian, and work as a team with another volunteer assistant. We are both really passionate about reading and books, and about trying to get people to see the library as a vital resource to the community. You can see a picture of the library in DE-6500814.
.jpg "ColorfulCourtney Postcrossing Spotlight")
25 comments so far
Nice interview and nice "think global passion"! :)
What cool when life if represented in postcards. So true. So personal. Love it, specially the winter mailbox. Congrats!
What a great interview. I also find it hard to chose a favourite card. So many people put such an effort into the message, the chosing of a card.
I agree that the overall situation in the world and the women's rights are important issues. With postcrossing we can improve on the image we have from each other's countries.
We are all little ambassadors.
Thank you for your wonderful profile.
Thank you for the lovely interview and the great pics - a wonderful spotlight!!!
Really nice to read more about her. I saw a Las Vegas card and it makes me smile .As always, choosing a favorite is always a hard decision to make :)
Wohoo I sent you a postcard a few months ago! And I'm also on the Forum! It's interesting to see someone on the blog that I have interacted with before!
So great to hear your story, particularly your ideas on postal systems and the way we treat other people. I must get brave enough to visit the forum.
Courtney: Thank you for your passion about libraries. I worry the place of the library in the coming years. It was such a part of my life growing up and I am so thankful to my Mother for taking me every week. Enjoyed reading your interview, and I hope one day, I might get a postcard from you!! All the best.
Hi Courtney, Would you believe that you were the received my very first post crossing card! I thought 'you' looked familiar, so I checked my sent postcards, and you were the first! I am still fairly new at post crossing, and so excited to be a part of it. I anxiously await my cards being received so that I can send another.
What a great spotlight! Nice to see you here, Courtney, and many thanks for your contributions to Postcrossing, the Forum, and my mailbox, not to mention libraries and the world in general!
Hi Courtney!
As a fellow expat, and a fellow Courtney, I really enjoyed reading your interview.
What a clever idea to make your mailbox into a postcard!
And I also wanted to say that I commend you for the work you do at your local library. Growing up in the US, I loved going to the library. You've inspired me to find out how I can visit and take out books from my local library here in Paris. While getting my Masters degree at the American University of Paris, I had access to the school library, and also the Bibliothèque François Mitterrand (although you can't take books home with you from the latter). Now that I've graduated, I can no longer go there. There is also the wonderful American Library of Paris, although there is a yearly subscription fee. Anyway, thanks for reigniting my interest in libraries. I can save money by not always buying on Amazon.
Hopefully I'll see you soon on Postcrossing. :)
Congratulation!!!!I've enjoyd reading your story, I do agree with you when you say we must do something for the world I guess we do, by postcards little by little in every corner of this wonderful Planet. I love this tiny litte Library!!!!All the best wishes.
Great interview Courtney - Greetings from the Emerald Isle
Thanks for sharing your story, Courtney.
Enjoyed reading this!! I am new to postcrossing but look forward to the day when I am a veteran and can send to my heart's content and spread smiles worldwide and know that many more are also headed to my box. Makes me want to check the mail more often than once a week!
Hi Courtney, how wonderful to see an interview with you!
And i completely agree with the library (and the world) issues you mentioned.
Postcorssing is making the world just a tiny little bit brighter; a postcard a day :)
Lovely getting to know you. Your caring ways and sending out postcards are efforts to share kindness the world over!
Yes, it is a sad state of affairs here that the postal service can now be maximised for profit and hence less and less postboxes wait for letters or cards and to reduce the delivery days from 6 days a week to 1 or 3 (as they plan) - that is just risible. I hear you, sis, loud and clear. My usual favourite postbox for postcrossing got removed because of street work - now I wonder if it will be put up again - it was an ideal place, next to a hospital, at a bus and tram station in a well used street ...
How grateful interview. Thanks a lot for sharing your story and good luck for the rest ^^
I've enjoyed reading your story!! :) Be happy! ^_^
Very interesting story! Thank you)
Enjoyed your interview. Keep up your good work!
Cool~and beautiful story~~
Nice article! Keep up the good work Colorful Courtney :)
Numai bine aka all the best in romanian!
Maybe one day I will be the post crosser to be interviewed but I doubt I'd have as many postcards as u Courtney
Thanks for sharing ur experience with me:)
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