Mail!

When I was in high school, I lived in Japan as an exchange student.  Nothing – and I mean nothing – was more exciting to me than getting mail from family and friends back in the States.  It was so fun to get letters written on that thin airmail paper – there is something about the way international mail looks when it’s stamped and sent that I love.

If I were an exchange student now, I suppose I would correspond with family and friends primarily via email, but the thing about email is that it 1) isn’t pretty to look at and 2) can’t be tucked in a box for future generations to get a peek into that specific moment in time.   My family and friends doodled on letters for me, chose stationery with me in mind, brought me up to date on goings on in my hometown, and in some cases, these letters were my last communication with family members who were ill at the time.  These letters are cherished parts of my overseas experience and life at that time.  In other words, there is something to be said for putting pen to paper, people!

The lovely Sarah Schwartz of Stationery Trends Magazine and The Paper Chronicles blog is always an inspiration to us, so, when she got in touch to let us know about her letter writing campaign, I knew the Bunchers would be excited.

Petra Kern immediately sent Sarah a holiday card – here’s her “before” shot before the letter went in the mail:

 

Just a month later, Sarah got Petra’s note.  You can read Sarah’s post about it here and see what that envelope looks like having gone through International mail.  I’m telling you, there’s something chic about its simplicity!

Thanks to Sarah for a super feature on Petra and AFB!  Now go write someone a letter!