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This swap is loosely based on the "I Got An Envelope" blog which no longer exists. The basic premise is this: you leave an envelope with your address on it in a public place with a little note on the back asking the finder to write to you.
I have been doing this in my city for a couple of years and have had some really amazing, beautiful responses from strangers. Here is what I propose for this swap: each participant writes their address on SIX envelopes, and writes a note on the back of each envelope for the finder, explaining what to do with the envelope. These six envelopes are then put in one bigger envelope and mailed to their partner. Their partner then leaves the six envelopes in places around their own town or city for strangers to find and send back to the original owner of the envelopes.
Some details:
* There is no guarantee you will get ANY of your envelopes back. This swap requires you to take a leap of faith and hope for the best. In my experience doing this, I have had about 50% of my envelopes come back. But there are many variables that affect the outcome, and not all of them can be controlled.
* That said, I have some suggestions that make it more likely that someone will pick up the envelope. Firstly, choose an envelope that is distinctive but still looks like an envelope. I use airmail envelopes with a blue and white striped border, because they are eye-catching and instantly recognisable as envelopes. If you do not have any of these, perhaps try using airmail stickers from the post office or some other kind of mailing label.
* When distributing the envelopes for you partner, try to pick places that are going to have good results. Leave the envelopes in places where someone will take them only if they are interested by it, rather than somewhere where it will be moved by the first person who comes across it. Some places I have found successful include: libraries, bookstores, art galleries, elevators, photo booths, free postcard stands, and pinned onto noticeboards. Try to pick places which have a lot of people coming through them.
* It is important to note that the person who RECEIVES the envelopes will be responsible for putting postage stamps on them. This may mean paying for international postage on 6 envelopes. Keep this in mind before signing up.
* It is up to each person what note they decide to write on the back of their envelope. I usually use a post-it note and I have written a number of different things at different times, with varying results. Some of my notes have said things such as "Hello, can you help me? I am working on a mapping project. Write down a description of where you are, an overheard snippet of conversation, a story, a poem, a memory, or anything. Then seal it in the envelope and mail it back to me. Thanks!" or "Hello. I am collecting lists. Write a list of something and send it to me" or "Tell me a secret, memory, or story". You can be as specific or as open as you want in this regard.
* Due to the nature of the swap, I am going to open this only to people who live in areas where English is widely spoken.
* As I have said, this swap requires a little faith. There will be no way to know that your partner has distributed the envelopes once they receive them, and the rating can only be given for actually sending your own envelopes. I request that after leaving the envelopes in public places that you send your partner a message telling them you have done so.
Hopefully we will all get a partner who lives in a city other than our own so we can receive some mail from strangers in another place! This swap is a bit mind-bending, so if you need any clarification or I've left anything out, please ask!
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