It was shortly after one of my best friends had left for America when I realized that collecting souvenirs for all my friends was going to get slightly more complicated than it used to be, because shipping to and from America is quite expensive. She went to New York at the end of May and sent us postcards from there. I’m not joking, those postcards were so cute and so nostalgic to receive. The four of us had been to New York together a year earlier, which added to the fun that receiving personal postcards gives. This first card was the beginning of something that has grown into a new tradition: sending postcards as souvenirs to each other. Instead of these disgusting fanny-packs, I think it would be so much better if postcards made a comeback. Let me tell you why:
First of all, they are cheap. Really cheap. I’ve seen postcards ranging from 40 eurocents to a euro. A keychain or some magnets don’t really go anywhere for that same price. A stamp isn’t that expensive either. I assure you that you won’t be spending much more than 2 euros on the whole gift. If you’re lucky, you might even find that same 2 euro coin on the streets while roaming – in this case – Europe.
Postcards are also the most personal gift out there on the souvenir spectrum. In case you didn’t know, people write small messages on postcards. While you’re on vacation, you can write about a highlight to the person you’re sending the card. It shows that you care and think about them, even when you’re away. Chances are high that you will run into something that will remind you of the person you’re sending the card to, which is another thing you can totally write about instead of sending a WhatsApp message.
Thirdly, if you decide on sending the cards from home, they won’t take up space in your luggage. Your typical keychains and magnets (or mugs and shirts) tend to take up a lot of space and add some weight. Postcards won’t, because they are literally pieces of thick paper with a picture on it. You can put them inside a book or in that useless compartment at the front of your suitcase and you’ll be fine.
Postcards are nice to send to people you don’t see every day. You just post them and whoever you’re sending it to will receive it within a couple days. No need to worry about forgetting to bring your souvenir with you when you finally see them again.
But most importantly, it is possibly the best gesture you can make. I have four hanging on my wall and I’m not joking when I say that I’ll cry the most about them if my house would ever catch on fire. Just looking at them can make my day, because those pieces of thick paper with a picture on them signify time, thought and love. They warm my heart and I think that that’s what souvenirs should be all about.
Writer's Block Magazine 