When I posted about sending postcards from South Africa I was surprised how many of you, who are actively online, still like to get a postcard by snail-mail.
My original idea was to see how long it took to get mail from South Africa to other parts of the world. Surprisingly, the average was about two weeks although MB’s card made it in five days to Washington while it took three weeks for Jonker’s card to arrive and he lives in South Africa. At least it seems that most of the postcards did arrive eventually.
I sent 10 postcards to readers, plus a few to other friends, and all but two are accounted for. If you’d like to see a few of them check out their posts at Karen from FabGrandma, Diane from Life in Charente, and Alan from Yogi’s Den.
There was rumor of a postal strike in South Africa but according to South African Postal Services, “The strike is taking place only at Witspos Mail Centre in Johannesburg and Tshwane Mail Centre in Pretoria. Local mail in other provinces is not affected. The strike, which started on 14 February this year, was declared illegal on 19 February.” So I don’t think this had any impact.
Maybe this is the start of something bigger. I have now received three postcards from fellow bloggers. One from a Yankee in Belgrade plus she sent one from her recent travels to India. And Debi sent a card from North Carolina where she lives on the beach.
This was fun and I hope to continue the tradition of sending postcards from my travels.
How about you? Do you like to receive snail mail that isn’t a bill? Think about sending postcards to your family, friends, and fellow bloggers. Even to me.
Super post, Gaelyn! I have sent and received cards via snail-mail for the past two years. Every year I send traditional Christmas cards to blogger friends in the US, Canada, Europe, England, Australia and South Africa. Now I receive cards in snail mail from all of them. Always at my East African address, first Kenya, now Tanzania. I’ve also sent parcels of South African goodies to Blogger friends overseas from SA. And received same of their countries at my SA address. Since I could write, I’ve correponded with people. Before the computer, Internet, and e-mail, I was a regular writer of letters and cards via snail mail and love that I can still do it. I’d appreciate your address to add to my list of overseas friends! Hugs Jo
It’s really a different kind of connection. I too, used to, write lots of letters and had penpals.
I still enjoy postcards and written mail. There is something so nicely personal about it. The time it takes to get to you is just part of the charm. So yeah, I like em,
Nina
There really is something special about a letter/postcard you can handle.
OH no we are the only two who haven’t show pictures of our postcards and don’t really know how long it took for them to get to us. I am so sorry. We don’t keep up very well with our mail BUT mine will be here by the week-end and will be on the blog that day. Not sure about David’s but it’s coming. The cards have been hanging out in Virginia waiting for us to get our forwarded mail. Did you post an address so we could send you postcards??? I’d love to do that. I love snail mail and if I got more of it, I’d probably get my mail forwarded more often. As it is, it’s always mostly junk. Nobody writes letters anymore but me boo hoo.
You are not the only two. But I know what you mean about getting mail. These days we go paperless with our bills and not many write “real” letters anymore.
I really think peoiple should start writing letters and post cards more. Because people don’t receive that many hand written letyters / cards, its quite special when you do.
Plus it keeps the postal service in business.
I LOVE postcards!! I am a member of Postcrossing. (http://www.postcrossing.com/)
I request an address, they give me one and I mail out a New Hampshire postcard to whoever the address is!! It could be anywhere in the world including my home country. When someone registers it, my name gets put on the list of addresses and someone sends me a card!! I scan all my cards and put it on the person’s profile so when they register it everyone can see it. There is a whole section on the website that displays the postcards sent and received! I love it!! 8*)
Here is my profile info:
prpltrtl946
is a member from United States of America. She has been a member for over 2 years (832 days).
Postcards Sent: 443
Postcards Received: 444
Distance Sent: 2,988,758 km
Last Seen: 11 minutes ago
Speaks: English
Birthday: 4th September
Interested in direct swaps: No
My profile has a brief description of who I am and what I like. Addresses are not allowed to be displayed on the site.
I limit myself to 5 a week because overseas postcard stamps are $1.10 and that is a lot on a limited income! I have made some wonderful friends through Postcrossing, too!
My postcards for this week are going to; Belarus, Netherlands, Germany, Russia and Ukraine!! 8*)
Sorry to go on and on about Postcrossing, but I love it so much and want the world to know about it too!! 8*)
And I would love to send you a postcard too, Gaelyn!! 8*)
Seems that postcrossing is quite popular. One regular reader learned about it from another one of my readers.
I LOVE to hear of new people discovering Postcrossing!! Thanks! 8*)
I loved getting the postcard… but since we’re still having our regular mail (the boring kind) forwarded only once a month I forget to check the park mail box here. So I wasn’t a very good recipient, as I wasn’t sure when it arrived. Because of that, I really shouldn’t have signed up for one, but I did love getting it and have it posted on the bulletin board right here above the computer…something to dream about! Thank you again for sending it.
Glad you liked the postcard Sallie. No big deal as to when it arrived. Hope you’ll play again next time I decide to send postcards from somewhere.
I loved the postcard too. I used to be a very prolific writer but not any more. Maybe it is email or texting or maybe I just got too boring—nothing much to write about. Who knows. I do like receiving mail though. Thanks GL. MB
Glad you liked the postcard MB. I used to write lots of letters, now I blog. When writing is meant to be it will happen for you.
Hi. Just realized I was to post a photo of the card you sent….I will….hope the one I sent from India arrived, too. You said the Belgrade one did. I’ll post soon!
Yes, the postcard from India also arrived.
Postcards are fun. I’m now looking for them when I go to museums and stores and such. They for the most part are surprisingly inexpensive. I think I am going to start sending more out. I’ve also started doing PostCrossing, as I’ve posted, and that is interesting. Some people get real picky about their cards, some of them get quite creepy about what they want. I pay no attention, I put mine in a pile and they get what they get.
I can’t imagine someone demanding a certain kind of postcard from someone else. If you collect certain kinds and buy them yourself, that’s one thing.
That’s a lot of fun and it make finding postcards exciting again. I’ll keep you in mind:)
This was a great idea you had Gaelyn. Nice to kow snail mail still works in some parts of the world. 🙂
I’d send you a postcard from the canyon if you had an address. 😉