Experience: I travelled the arena turning in letters to strangers

I have at all times cherished travelling, and feature spent maximum of my grownup existence both at the transfer or making plans my subsequent journey. In 2014, I used to be residing in London when my dad, Eric, used to be recognized with motor neurone illness (MND). I right away moved again to my house the town of New Plymouth in New Zealand, to lend a hand and spend time with him.

When he kicked the bucket in October 2022, I sought after to have the opportunity to procedure my grief, and I used to be determined to get again out into the arena.

In early 2023, I took off to the Galápagos Islands for a much-needed smash. While there, I visited Post Office Bay, on Floreana Island. There’s an outdated whisky barrel there this is used as a postbox. It used to be first utilized by sailors in 1793 to ship mail again house: they would go away a letter and take any that had been addressed to their subsequent port of name to bring them through hand. It’s nonetheless utilized by vacationers. People will depart a letter and take person who they can hand-deliver to their subsequent vacation spot.

The barrel used to be complete to the brim with postcards looking forward to supply. I took a pair house with me and delivered them with glee: one to a trainer from their scholar, and every other from a girl to her boyfriend. The recipients had been extremely thankful, and it felt glorious to have introduced such pleasure.

Weeks later, I couldn’t forestall desirous about the letters. I’d already deliberate to do a little extra travelling, however then I concept: what if I spent a yr turning in extra letters from that postbox? I realised I may stay my faraway activity, and on the identical time commute the arena turning in put up, the use of air miles and dealing alongside the way in which.

I made up our minds to report my adventure on social media, partially to stay a document of my adventures, but in addition to lend a hand elevate consciousness of MND. I had watched Dad lose his skill to commute and bodily keep in touch, which used to be devastating, so I sought after to bear in mind him through making significant human touch.

In March 2024, I prompt for Galápagos. I picked out 55 letters and postcards that coated a big geographic space. I aimed to bring one every week, protecting no less than 52 international locations and spanning all seven continents, beginning in Central America and completing in Europe.

I have shyed away from the use of social media to get in contact with other people, going purely through deal with. If they weren’t there, I’d ask round in the community, then use social media, doing my perfect to hand-deliver the letter. Sometimes, pals who had joined me for a part of the shuttle may lend a hand translate, however I needed to depend on Google Translate a lot. Usually, other people had been to start with at a loss for words, however that might flip to finish pleasure as they learn their letter.

I used to be extraordinarily fearful in regards to the first few deliveries. I didn’t know the way other people would react to me knocking on their door unannounced. I’m 52 and really outgoing, however I’m mindful that these days persons are cautious of talking to at least one different.

Usually, after they understood what I used to be doing, they had been in point of fact heat and inviting, however there have been a couple of exceptions.

Delivering letter quantity 50, in Bergen, Norway, I nearly were given arrested. The girl who replied the door didn’t imagine my tale and mistook my selfie stick for a weapon, so she known as the police. I needed to display the officials my Instagram adventure to end up what I used to be doing, and all of us ended up guffawing in combination.

In Belize, I delivered a love letter to a person, simplest to search out he had damaged up along with his spouse. Weeks later, I were given a message to mention they had been again in combination.

My favorite supply used to be letter 8, in Mexico City, from a daughter to her mom, thanking her for letting her apply her goals. The mom were very sick, and her daughter sought after to return house from her travels to appear after her, however she insisted her daughter persisted along with her shuttle. I’m nonetheless in contact with either one of them.

When I ended my problem in March this yr, I held a celebration in London and invited everybody I’d met alongside the way in which. People got here from far and wide the arena – I used to be so touched and humbled. I’ve made pals for existence.

Now my problem is over, I’ve made up our minds to jot down a e book and lend a hand expand a movie about my travels, however I’m already beginning to get itchy ft. The simplest drawback is discovering a option to best my final journey.

As advised to Heather Main

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