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Paper Connections in a Digital World
PAPER CONNECTIONS
in a Digital World
Postcrossings offers good old-fashioned pen pals
By Laurie Hartt
In a world of pandemics and distance, it’s no doubt that technology has helped friends and families stay connected. And, while the digital age has certainly sent many older forms of communication to their graves, could it also be a reason they survive?
Postcrossings makes a strong case for it. Blending web forums with an old-school pen pal approach, Postcrossings is an online platform offering a way for strangers around the world to send postcards to each other.
Gelbman, a food columnist for Malibu Times, began Postcrossings about a year ago, when the pandemic’s isolation and boredom began to take its toll. Looking for something “social” to do, she decided to investigate the idea of pen pals, like she had as a child. She found Postcrossings—which appealed because it’s about fun, easy postcards instead of lengthy letters.
“It’s just fun!” Gelbman said. ”It doesn’t take that much time or effort or energy. I probably like sending them more than I like receiving them because I know it’s going to make somebody happy. And I’m sharing a little bit of myself with a stranger I’ll never meet or see (or maybe have contact with again).”
The process is easy: simply sign up for an account and create a short profile. When you’re ready to get mailing, choose the “send a postcard” button. From there, the website randomly assigns you the name and address of another person who has also signed up for the program. Once a recipient is assigned, you can view their online profile and tailor the postcard to the person. Add postage and a Continued on pg. 64
—Teresa Gelbman
GELBMAN SENDS HANDMADE POSTCARDS TO HER CORRESPONDENCE. PHOTOS BY TERESA GELBMAN
registration code to the postcard—and off it goes! You’ll know they’ve received it once they enter the code into the website.
One of the most exciting parts, Gelbman said, is the ability to connect with people from so many different countries.
“I’ve sent postcards to Brazil, Portugal, Spain, India, Canada, the US, Belarus, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, England, and especially Germany and Russia. It’s all over the world—that’s what makes it so much fun!”
“I know I’ll never go to half of these places,” Gelbman acknowledged. “But I can still experience the people and the culture by postcards. Sometimes people will send postcards in an envelope with a tea packet or a little candy. Some people like to exchange little gifts. It’s another way they share their culture and things important to them.”
Gelbman is part of a “handmade postcard” group created through the Postcrossing forum option. With a moderator at the helm, she and four other members exchange postcards they’ve made themselves according to the themes they decided upon with each exchange.
“Someone might suggest: ‘I’d like to exchange postcards of birds,’” she explained. “Addresses are sent, and then we make a postcard with a bird on it.”
Sometimes it’s a freestyle choice of medium, such as watercolor, stamps, markers or collage, while other times, it’s a very specific art style.
Although most postcard exchanges are through the specialty group or automation, there are some cases where true friendships are born. Gelbman herself has two people she writes on a more regular basis: Connie in Nebraska and Dean in Florida.
Once Connie realized her pen pal Gelbman wrote a food column, she sent a gift box with recipes her family loves.
“I was just amazed at how different our states are and what we eat,” Gelbman said.
A few exchanges later, she realized the climate in Nebraska meant Connie had never eaten pineapple guava.
“I have a tree with them, and I mailed her two dozen—I was so afraid she’d open a box of rotten fruit. It was the middle of summer,” Gelbman said.
Fortunately, they survived the journey and were greatly appreciated by Connie and her friends.
Dean, retired, ex-military and living with a service dog, is another person Gelbman writes to frequently.
“He’s really interesting, and he has really cool stamps! A lot of them seem very vintage,” she said.
Any given postcard with Dean, Connie, or another one-time exchange might include a few lines about the weather, the experience of the pandemic in their country, weekend activities, a recipe, animal antics, or maybe even a poem or short story.
“It’s a good way to just connect,” Gelbman said, “Our governments and cultures might be different but we’re all just the same. We all just want to connect with each other and know we’re not alone.” ▪
Arborist on Staff
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Pretty in Pink
PHOTO BY KATHLEEN HENRY | @KATHLEENHENRY
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