OFFICIAL Card - Slovakia

This is my first card from Slovakia!!! I can't even tell you how happy I was to receive it - such a wonderful surprise! Rasto sent me this card showing some beautiful views and people in traditional clothing. In my note acknowledging the card I shared with him that my grandparents came to Canada from Czechoslovakia in the 1930's. We had a lovely exchange back and forth. Love how this hobby connects "random" people together. He also used some very nice stamps and gave me information on the date of issue and details on the design. Great card and great info - thank you!

OFFICIAL Card - Russia

This card looks great! A flag that looks like it is flying as opposed to being flat always has so much strength to it. I was kind of surprised when this arrived that I did not already have a Russian flag in my collection. Happy then that Svetlana from Moscow sent this. She wrote me that it was very cold but no snow, therefore no skiing. Here we have it all - snow, skiing and too darn cold -25 with windchill as I write this. Yikes! Great stamps too. not to sure if I have seen this series before.

OFFICIAL Card - Turkey

This card proved to be an interesting challenge for my kids when it arrived over Christmas Break. My son had several very good, albeit wrong guesses - China, USSR and then several wacky ones. My daughter, first answer! And I brought the mail in that day! Baris lives in Ankara and teaches English at the university. A great flag of Turkey for my collection - thank you!

OFFICIAL Card - Russia

Andrew sent this beautiful oversized card showing St Petersburg, Russia. The building is grand and is known simply as "General Staff Building". He wrote to me about volnteering at the Sochi Olympic and Paralympic Games. I do a fair bit of volunteering so I loved to read that. Do you volunteer?

Andrew had the stamps in totally opposite corners of the card - great cancellations!

OFFICIAL Card - Australia

Robyn lives in Australia and wrote to me about her recent travels to Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. If I think they are far from me, they are even farther for her! Love the card she sent, such a simple and strong design. The text on the back discusses the symbols of the flag.

OFFICIAL Card - Estonia

Another lovely little bird flying in to my mailbox compliments of Anastassia from Tallinn, Estonia. This was her first card to Canada - lucky me! These two little Waxwings look straight out of a wintry scene. Birds, I like. Winter, not a fan!

OFFICIAL Card - Brazil

Not very often a card arrives from Brazil, this is only my third in over three years. Jackeline lives in the country side of Sao Paulo and sent this great card. It shows a view of the Liberdade or "Freedom" a district within the city which is known for having a high Asian population. To be honest when I think of "Chinatowns" Brazil is not a place I would naturally think of. So glad she sent this card and help to broaden my horizons.

OFFICIAL Card - China

Mengjing sent me this really fun card back in August. I love all of the flags, they are each so different. For me, some are so distinct and recognizable and others... not so much. How about you? Can you easily recognize some? Most? All???

Greetings from Spain - Direct Swap with Melita

Another fabulous "Greetings from..." card to add to my collection. This card from Spain was sent by Melita who responded to my post in the Spanish section of the Postcrossing Forum. I think of all the cards in this series this one might be my favourite. Not only is the image really colourful and iconic it is the only card that has a person not just a landscape/cityscape view. Lucky me I was the first person Melita had swapped this card with, probably no shortage of others after me.

Direct Swap - San Marino from Darina

This is another successful swap I did via the Postcrossing Forum.  In July, Darina was travelling from Moscow to San Marino and was offering to swap. In particular she was looking for "Where's Waldo" cards. Lucky for me, my son had the postcard book and was willing to help me out. This card arrived shortly after showing the beautiful views of this tiny country. Thank for the swap Darina!

Lottery WIn - Sri Lanka

Gayan was offering cards to the first 10 people to comment on his Facebook post and I was one of the lucky 10. He sent this card showing leopards at Yala National Park in Sri Lanka. Ayubowan translates to "Hello/Goodbye" and more, kinds of reminds me of "Aloha".

Direct Swap - Uganda from Christine

Sometimes you just have to go out on a limb and ask someone if they will send you a card. What is the worst thing that could happen? They say no, which I totally understand, regardless of the reason. Christine belongs to one of the same Postcrossing groups that I do on Facebook and mentioned that she was travelling to Uganda. So I asked her if she wanted to swap. Lucky for me she at least agreed to try. And even luckier, she was successful. Amazingly too, this card arrived in a quick two weeks. The phrase
"Muzungu" means white person. She writes it is not meant in an offensive way at all and it what the kids call out to tourists. She writes they "believe we are all celebrities". I know that experience from travelling through China. Thank you Christine, really appreciate that you found the time to do this for me. Also glad to hear you were happy with the cards I sent in return.

OFFICIAL Card - Taiwan

I do like receiving both map and flag cards. Funny thing I have received more of these from Taiwan than any other country, in some cases combined! They must be pretty popular to send or the Postcrossers must be pretty patriotic. Cindy wrote telling me the colours represent blue sky, white sun and red passion - interesting!

Direct Swap - Lebanon from Agnieska

Agnieszka posted on the Postcrossing forum an offer of cards from Lebanon. She was there on an extended visit from Poland. I was quite happy when she agreed to swap as I didn't have a card from this country yet. She had me send her card to Poland which was received without a problem. I in turn received this great map/flag combo. Another super swap, thank you Agnieszka!

Direct Swap - Dhany from Indonesia

Dhany was attending the Postcrossing Meet-up In Jakarta, Indonesia in March. They had this great postcard designed and had many people in attendance. Once again lots of signatures, stamps and even a kiss! Prior to this I was not aware Indonesia had also issued a Postcrossing stamp. Have you ever attended a meet-up?

OFFICIAL Card - Czech Republic

Dalibor lives in Ostrava with his family. I like the card he chose for me - multi view and a subtle outline map of the country.

OFFICIAL Card - South Korea

KyungA lives in Seoul, South Korea and sent me this reproduction of an old map of her country. Once again, I was lucky that she wrote some simple phrases, with pronunciations on her card. Love seeing the different languages of the world.

OFFICIAL Card - England

This flag card was in my favourites for quite awhile. It was a nice surprise when Brian sent it to me. Do you use the favourites feature? If so, how? Cards you love, you want, a bit of both?

OFFICIAL Card - England

Every once in awhile a card just makes you stop. For me, this was one of them. Alison wrote one of the longest messages ever. If she were a friend I would of picked up the phone to tell her how much she brightened my day! The image itself has lots going on - it was issued for the 2012 London Olympics and has the flag, Big Ben, House of Parliament as well as some "athletes". Super card that made my day!

OFFICIAL Card - Finland

Helena sent this card from her hometown showing the University of Eastern Finland. Her note was nice and told me a fair bit about her, hobbies, likes, etc. In it she says she has terrible handwriting (I can relate) so she types it out on a sticker. Fine by me, this way she can say more by changing the font too. What do you think? Yeah or nay to typing your note, terrible handwriting or not?