How to Write US & International Addresses for Letters
We love our friends. That should be no surprise to any of you. We started this channel originally to share our adventures with our friends and family who lived wide and far. So it stands to reason that we’ve tried other ways to keep in touch with our far-flung loved ones.
Sending mail is my favorite option. Before YouTube, before cellphones, before even emails, mailing things was my jam. There’s something whimsical and romantic about mailing someone something and waiting for their response. Like I’ve said in our article about USPS shipping, sending letters is like sending love. And unfortunately for my friends, I have a lot of love to give.
Postcards are my main form of communication. My best friend Merjyl and I still have a bulk of our conversations through them after years of actual letter writing. We both still have every single piece of mail we’ve ever sent each other. There’s just some things that are easier to say in writing than out loud. I feel like the reason our friendship is so strong is because of all the mail we’ve sent each other, all the love we’ve sent in each one. She’s family, even if she is off in Boston!
She was one of the first people I really wrote letters to. As I got older, I became more confident. I used to think sending letters, cards, or postcards made you vulnerable. You’re letting someone know you care, or that you’re thinking of them, but who knows if they’ll reciprocate? I grew to realize that it didn’t matter if they reciprocated or not. If you really love someone there’s no strings attached. I don’t send letters so that people will send one back to me. Sure, it’s lovely to get a response back. But most of my letters or postcards or holiday cards go out into the world with no visible response. And that’s fine by me.
I’ve learned that you have to live life with an open heart. If I love someone, I want them to know it for no other reason than that. If they’re in Prague or Amsterdam or I’m in Australia, if I’m on a road trip and sending a postcard from every state. I want them to know. I love you. I’m thinking of you. I saw something that reminded me of that time you snorted juice out of your nose. I want them to know all those things.
So whether you’re sending letters throughout the US or internationally, whether it’s for business or pleasure, we hope you’re sending them with a little love, always.