Taking a short summer hiatus

June is here and that means the end of classes and our postcrossing activity for this academic year.  A big thanks to all the students and teachers who so graciously and enthusiastically took part in this project.  We think it was a huge success and look forward to picking up where we left off when we come back from summer vacation (probably in late October).  Please continue to post your comments on your favorite postcards and, why not, start your own personal postcrossing account if you don't already have one.  This last post includes postcards received from Belarus, Finland, France, and Germany and China. Take a second to look at our Map Tracker tab to see just how far we have travelled the world and how much of the world has come to us in such a short time. It is impressive!. 

Sorry for the bulk post, but we are in the thick of exams and wanted to show these fantastic cards as soon as possible.  Thanks again to everyone and HAPPY POSTCROSSING!

Belarus

FInland

 France

Germany (1)

Germany (2)

China

Another card is off to Russia

Carla & Carla, have sent this original artistic view of the Cathedral reflected in a puddle of our emblematic rain to Yulia in Russia.  Nice work ladies and thanks for your enthusiasm!

This lovely postcard is headed to the Netherlands

Lucia (Basic 2) has done a spectacular job of writing and decorating this card which was posted today. The card is going to Kitty in Holland who loves trees and nature, so this is right up  her alley.  Unfortunately we had to take off the beautiful 3D flower at the bottom of the card before sending it because it wouldn't go through the mail. Take a second to read this card because it truly is impressive.   In case Kitty wants to know more about "horreos" she can click on this link.  What makes it even more special is that the photo itself is an original taken by Iain Colquhoun,  one of our English teacher's father. 

Another card's going to Russia

Fina and Bea have joined efforts to send this beautiful postcard in sepia of the cathedral.  Every day more and more English students are taking part in this fantastic project.  

Spectacular postcards from the Netherlands (2)

Judit has sent us this multi-image postcard of her small town in the north of Holland.  She also talks about a fantastic sailing event held there every year called DelfSail.  Check out the stamps!  Do you see that she has a sticker specifically to record the postcrossing information on it?  Now that's a hard-core postcrosser indeed!

Spectacular detailed postcard greetings from the Netherlands (1)

We've received this sweet postcard and amazing message from Veronique in the Netherlands. She gives us lots of information about where she lives and about her family. 

 It's great reading practice for our English students just beginning their exams!

Someone in New York will be receiving greetings from Diego

Diego (English, Basic 2) has sent this nice personal message to a lucky postcrosser in New York.  He has really added a nice touch to his greeting by including information that the two have in common.  Sheryl will love the view of the cathedral at night that he chose as well.  Good work, Diego, and great use of your English!

Emma our faithful postal carrier!

Yes, there are real live people who take our postcards to the post office!  Here's Emma doing just that at the postbox in Cervantes Square.  Thanks Emma and Bea for making sure these get in the mail every week.

Postcrossing is all the rage!

If you still think that writing and sending postcards is a thing of the past in today's digital world, you'd be surprised.  As these world statistics from the postcrossing.com website show, handwritten messages are alive and well and becoming increasingly more popular.  

Postcrossing Stats (as of April 27, 2016)

620,552 members

211 countries

802 postcards/hour

35,437,152 postcards received

454,804 postcards traveling

178,664,812,793 km traveled

4,458,261 laps around the world 

Our postcrossing map at the EOI

Our postcrossing map, located in the school lobby, is really taking shape.  Stop by and check out where the cards have travelled from and read the messages we have received from (almost) all over the world. We've received at least one from every continent as shown on our Map Tracker tab except for Oceania.  Hopefully we'll get a card soon from Australia or New Zealand.  

Beautiful card from another group of English students in Finland

Some Finnish students studying English have sent us this postcard.  They too find value in the postcrossing project and the opportunity it gives them to practice their English.  Check out the original stamp!

Another card is off to China.

Intermediate 1 students have worked together to send this original postcard and message to Beijing, China. Postcrossers who have received this series of postcards have commented on their originality and the RAIN!

 

Our first card to Greece is in the mail

Diana and Judit have written a very original text on this postcard.  They talk about languages and words that they particularly like in French and English.  The stamp is nice and reflects one of those words. What are your favorite words in other languages?  Please send us a post.

3 more advanced 1 students are putting their English to use through postcrossing

Patricia, María and Noemi have joined efforts to send this lovely message to our lucky friend in California.  Like their classmates' card, theirs also shows an original reflection of the cathedral (the bell) in a puddle of rain water in the street.  

Notice how postcrossing brings a smile to their faces! 

Advanced 1 students have started postcrossing!

Rocío and Magdalena have joined our postcrossing project with this very original postcard depicting the reflection of the cathedral in wet stones.  Gabriele in Germany is the lucky recipient of the card.  

And here are our happy postcrossers!

Our first card to the Netherlands

Olga and Jeaneth have sent this emblematic photo of the botafumeiro to the Netherlands. 

Unfortunately we don't have the backside of the card to share the message, but we do have this wonderful photo of both ladies at work.  Nice to see such enthusiastic postcrossers.

The history behind Easter postcards

Easter is around the corner and there is much to learn about the tradition of sending cards at this time. There are also lots of links like this one where you can see some beautiful vintage Easter postcards.  What about you? Do you send postcards or other types of written greetings at this time? What images are usually depicted on them in your culture?  Is it the Easter bunny?  Why not post a comment with your family's tradition or the tradition in your country.  We'd love to hear from you.

An incredibly detailed card has arrived from Belarus

Maria  from Minsk has sent us  this absolutely delightful postcard filled with personal information as well as fun facts about Belarus.  She even comments on the significance of the stamps like traditional  Belarusian costumes.  What an enthusiastic postcrosser!

Charming postcard from St. Petersburg, Russia

Today was a lucky day as we received three postcards!  This one is our first ever from Russia and depicts a charming painted scene of Saint Petersburg. 

Today we got a card written in French.

Last week we got our first card written in German and today we got the first one in French.  Our EOI students studying French will be sure to enjoy reading these as well. How wonderful to be sharing so many languages.