Postcrossing Blog

I don’t know about you, but as a member of Postcrossing, I take having an address for granted. I hadn’t thought about life any other way, nor put a lot of thought into my various addresses over the years. In the end, what got me wondering about it was helping out at Postcrossing, checking people’s addresses to make sure they were correct and learning about how different countries format their addresses.

Just at the right moment to answer some of these questions, I came across Deirdre Mask’s The Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal About Identity, Race, Wealth, and Power. Do any of her opening questions — the ones that led her into the subject to begin with — sound as familiar to you as they do to me?

I set out to write a letter. I was living in the west of Ireland, and I had sent a birthday card to my father in North Carolina. I pressed a stamp on the envelope, and just four days later the card appeared in my parents’ mailbox. I thought, not particularly originally, that this should have been much more expensive than it was. And how did Ireland and the United States share the proceeds? Is there some accountant in a windowless back room of the post office, dividing each penny between the two countries?

In case you’re wondering, Mask does include the answers to those questions!

It was pretty surprising to me how much there was to say about addresses, and how little I’d thought about it. Mask picks apart the advantages and disadvantages of having an address, and discusses how some people in areas without addresses actually oppose any change. For people in politically unstable areas, having an address can be a bad thing, because it makes you easier to find — and no one is likely to be sending you postcards!

On the other hand, it makes all kinds of things more difficult: most documents for proving your identity rely upon you having an address and a traceable history. You can end up barred from working, having a bank account and signing up for government services, and once you’ve got into that situation, it’s difficult to get out.

It’s also surprising to me how recent some of these conventions are. Zip codes in the US were only introduced in 1963, and reading in Mask’s book about their introduction prompted me to look up the system of postal codes in the UK, introduced between 1959 and 1974. They’re so ubiquitous now that I didn’t even realise my parents might not have had postal codes when growing up!

One issue that Mask discusses that was particularly relevant for me (since I’m studying for my MSc in Infectious Diseases) was the importance of clear maps and precise locations for epidemiology. Ever since John Snow (not that one, GoT fans!) made a map of London to track cholera infections, epidemiologists have used maps and addresses to try to identify the causes of infection and the sites of transmission. Sometimes they need to use addresses to contact people and do follow-up work… but often the people most at risk of diseases like tuberculosis are people who have no fixed address, or live in improvised homes and shantytowns. How do we find those people and help them access the long-term treatment they need, without addresses?

The book is packed with all kinds of dilemmas like that — many of which I really hadn’t thought about before picking it up. It was pretty eye-opening, and I won’t be taking my address for granted again! What do you think; will you be giving this book a try? Has anyone already read it? I’d love to hear what you thought of it, if so!

The next review should be about Wish You Were Here (by Rita Mae Brown and her cat), but after that, I’m not sure! The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society features high on the list, since several Postcrossing members have asked my thoughts on it. I haven’t read it yet, but it’s ready on my shelf! But is there something you’d like me to review? You can make book suggestions to me in the forum thread I set up (you’ll need to be logged in to access it).

The writing prompts invite postcrossers to write about a different topic on their postcards’ messages every month. These are just suggestions though — if you already know what you want to write about, or the recipient gives you some pointers, that’s great too!

Now that 2021's over, we’re looking to the future with this month’s prompt! This time we’d like to pick your brains about what you’re hoping for this year…

It’s tough to make predictions about what I’ll be doing — I usually take the year as it comes. There are a few sure things, like my exams, and I’m definitely hoping that I’ll pass those with flying colours! I’m also hoping to take my first trip home to Wales since 2019, and get the chance to go for some familiar walks in the parks there.

Other than that, I think I’ll keep my hopes small and cosy. I’m hoping to spend more time reading this year, if I can: I used to read about 400–500 books a year, when I was a literature student. I probably can’t manage to read that much anymore, but it’d still be nice to read 300 books or so, which is still a lot! I’m also hoping to have the time to go for walks more often here in Yorkshire, e.g. in the grounds of Nostell Priory or on Marsden Moor. We have a National Trust membership we really ought to make more use of!

And, of course, I’m hoping for more postcards! Now it’s your turn: share what you’re hoping for this year in the comments, or write it on your postcards this month!

Agapi (aka agapara) hails from Greece and came to Postcrossing during the pandemic, as did many other members. She started the lottery chains in the new forum, which has led to hundreds of lotteries popping up, one after the other, and many happy postcard recipients. We were curious to find out where her love for postcards came from, so we asked our usual questions.

How did you get started sending postcards? What is your earliest memory of them?

My family always bought postcards from souvenir shops when travelling, but we always postponed or forgot sending them to our friends, involuntarily creating a ‘collection’ of postcards back home. I actually started sending out postcards when I was 17 years old and a friend of mine that travelled a lot decided to send me postcards from his trips abroad. I liked the idea, so I started doing the same when travelling. At that time, I had already started collecting postcards from every place that I visited in Greece and hanging them up on my wall or organizing them in albums.

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

Three years ago, I was introduced to the project of Postcrossing by a friend who used to be very active in Bookcrossing and had also joined Postcrossing for some time; but I didn’t feel like joining, as I thought I didn’t need a new hobby at the time.

Fast forward to September 2020: we were already 6 months into the pandemic, travelling was not the same anymore and we had to spend more time at home. So, while I was re-arranging my postcard albums, I remembered my friend telling me about Postcrossing. That was it! I drew my first address, picked a nice postcard from my collection and headed to the post office. The months that followed were pretty hard for me (and for lots of other people too, I’m sure), as the pandemic took over our lives. Postcrossing was like a window to the outside world – a reminder that I am not alone and that we’re all going through this together.

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

This is the post office in Karpenisi, the place where I have temporarily moved because of work. The Greek Post Office logo features Hermes, who was the messenger of the Olympian Gods, according to the Greek mythology.

Also, here’s an old postbox I spotted in a village near Karpenisi. So small! And look how different Hermes looks in the old logo.

What is it your favorite part of the Postcrossing process?

I love reading people’s profiles and trying to pick a postcard that “fits”. I’m also very curious about how long my postcards will take to arrive at their destination, so I always keep an eye on the traveling postcards page and try to guess which postcard will be delivered first.

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

These postcards have got to be my favorites of my officially received postcards up until today. On my profile I state that I am a big fan of Alfred Hitchcock’s films, so the sender decided to send me not one, but two postcards of “The Birds” and “Psycho” posters, designed by two Czech artists. So unique!

What’s one way that postcards have changed your life for the better?

Sending and receiving postcards during the pandemic has definitely helped me maintain my sanity and cure my wanderlust. It has led me to do things that I probably wouldn’t do otherwise, such as finding penpals and trying out various DIY crafts; I’ve started to use my hands more. Also, creating an online map of my postcards has significantly boosted my geography knowledge.

Do you have any other interesting hobbies or collections?

I have a small collection of four miniature houses, a hobby that I also took up during the pandemic.

Thank you Agapi, for sharing your Postcrossing experience with the community! While we are at it, happy holidays, everyone!

Erik (aka flamey) is an adventurous postcrosser from Sochi, in Russia. Sometime ago, he heard about a mysterious postbox on top of a mountain nearby and decided to go check it out — here is the report of his cool adventure, which was first published on his blog and is reposted here with permission.

"As a postcrosser – and in general – I’m lucky to live in a city that is beautiful, touristy, hosted a wide variety of World class sporting events, interconnected with a UNESCO WHS, and borders a “rare” country. There were also many postage stamps issued dedicated to our city, events that took place here, our flora and fauna, which is also nice. All this is a great basis for postcard exchanges!

Last year I discovered yet another interesting and cool way to postcross: a postbox at the top of Black Pyramid mountain in our city! And a year later I decided to try it out.

Sochi, which is squeezed between the Caucasus mountains and the Black Sea, has several great skiing resorts. One of them – “Krasnaya Polayana” (formerly known as “Gorki Gorod”) – has a postbox at the top of the mountain the resort is based around. It sits right at the top of it! You need to hike and climb to it from the highest lift station. Not far, but still, it’s probably not for everyone. At first, it felt like a tourist trap: its pricey to get there, and why else would it be up there?! But then… there’s very little info about it online (and none on the official site), resort’s staff knows about it, but, as it turns out, doesn’t even know where exactly it is located, and there are no postcards or stamps sold anywhere near it. So, it’s a bit of a mystery why it’s there exactly, and who picks up the mail from it. But the staff assured me it’s being serviced, so let’s do it.

I live in Adler – a seaside part of the city. The trip starts with a picturesque drive up to Krasnaya Polyana town area, where all our skiing resorts are located. While grabbing some food I looked at the thick clouds covering the mountain, contemplating if going up actually makes much sense that day. When buying lift tickets I asked about the postbox, where it is, and if it is hard to get to. The answer: not hard, it’s up there, on our territory, just ask the staff when you get to the last lift station. Something similar I heard from the customer support rep when I called in advance.

The lifts start at 540 meters above sea level. The gondola lifts take you up to 960m, then to 1460m, then to 2200m. From here you have to take two short (but really slow) chair lift rides. The line to the first one was so long, I decided to follow the staff’s suggestion and take a walk to the next one, because it was actually downhill. The line to the final lift was short, the ride was steep, and after a little while I was at the highest lift station on the Black Pyramid mount.

It was windy, and cold, just 10C, compare that to cozy 24C I left in Adler. I looked around, but saw no postbox anywhere near. I asked: oh, it’s at the top of the mountain! you have to hike up there by this trail. The trail looked easy, and had a safety rope set up along it, but I could not see past the nearest turn. It costs additional $7 to go up the top. They dressed me up for a climb, and instructed on use of the safety lines, and rules on passing other people — seemed excessive at that point, but turned out to be needed beyond the closest turn.

The easy trail turned into some mild climbing very quickly. It was fun. It probably took about 15 minutes to get up there. The postbox sits right at the top. The views are fantastic! Clouds just highlighted where I was, and did not spoil anything.

I took a few photos, a selfie for a “proof”, and dropped the postcards into the box. The sound of cards hitting the bottom of it told me it was empty. Who picks mail up? How often? And, again, why is it here in the first place? Mystery. But I hope somebody does pick it up, and all 15 people will receive their cards!"

Hurray for nice postal adventures! Erik was very kind to mail a postcard to Postcrossing’s PO box from this excursion, and it arrived some time ago. So the mailbox works, and reading his report of the trip made us appreciate it even more.

Are there any special postboxes where you live? And what kind of postal-themed adventures would you like to embark on?

The writing prompts invite postcrossers to write about a different topic on their postcards’ messages every month. These are just suggestions though — if you already know what you want to write about, or the recipient gives you some pointers, that’s great too!

Here in the UK, it’s already started to snow, which to me means it’s the ideal time to wrap up warm inside and do some daydreaming. So here’s a suggestion from Isaac (aka whitefroststreetboi) from our forum topic of suggestions for the monthly prompts:

As usual, I’ll go first! I have all sorts of dreams about what I’d do if I won the lottery! Most of them are sensible ones: buy a house, invest, put money into my pension fund, pay off my student loans, and donate a good chunk of it for people less fortunate. But let’s say you have plenty of money to do all those sensible things and do something a bit wilder, or fulfil a secret dream. What would you do?

I think my main indulgence would involve that house I mentioned after all, though. I have a lot of books already, and you can be sure that I’d buy more if I won the lottery! So I think I’d build myself a library, with plenty of room for expansion. I’d especially like to finish up my collection of British Library Crime Classics (I love the cover designs—wish I could send those as postcards!) and display them all together… and then it’d be nice to have a little reading nook or two in that library, to hide away and read.

So, what about you? What would you do, if you won the lottery? Do you have any big dreams you’d try to fulfil? You can tell us about them here, and use this as a prompt for your postcards this month if you’re not sure what to write!