Back in February, I found a link to a project called "Postcrossing". I have had so much fun and satisfaction participating in it. I suggest you do it too, if you can afford it. Most of the cards are going overseas and so it is $1.05 a card, plus the cost of the postcard. I sent a lot out at first, but after the first bit of excitement and the cost, I backed off and send out cards a little slower now.
How it works:
You send a card to an address provided somewhere in the world. It has a number that you put on the card and when the recipient gets it, they register the card number and that puts your name back in the system to have a card sent to you.
I have had cards from all over the globe. The majority are Netherlands, China and Russia. One of them must have started the project. I have told friends at work about it and Terri, Adrienne and London and her daughter Amber, are all postcrossers now. It is fun to compare with each other the cards that we received. I just received one from Transylvannia!
You can direct swap with people also. On the home page, it updates the users as they send or receive cards or if they just signed up to participate. It has their user name and a flag of their country. I get curious sometimes and click on them. One day I clicked on the Australian flag because I have been to that country. The person happened to be a man in his 50's from Melbourne. I just wrote him and asked if he would like to swap cards. It has been really fun. I have about 3 from him so far and several messages back and forth. I know I will never meet this man, but it has been fun to correspond with someone my own age.
It got me so excited, that I did something that I never said I would do. I signed up on LDSSingles.com! I got a message from someone and I thought I would reply until I found out you have to pay a monthly fee. That stopped that real fast. I can't see paying to reply to a person that only asked for a picture. I think that is pretty lame. First off, I would never like a guy that would only be interested in me if he had to have a picture first. And second, I was looking for a penpal more than anything. "And third....well one and two are good enough." (Quote taken from the movie Beautician and the Beast).
