About Exchange Letters
Why Did I Make This?
Almost 10 years after my exchange year, I've had plenty of time to reflect on it. Two regrets have stayed with me:
I wish I had communicated more intentionally.
Messaging apps are great and it's good to catch up with friends and family by phone and video call. But I really wish I'd have slowed my roll and been more thoughtful about what I was communicating and how often.
I wish I had something tangible to remember my year by.
A lot of my mementos were "preserved" by posting pictures of moments on social media. That was fun at the time, but now I'm older; I don't like social media and I don't use it anymore, and I lost a lot of those moments.
I built Exchange Letters to hopefully help new exchangers avoid these same regrets. I want you to use your time to communicate wisely, and I want you to have something from the trip you can hold in your hand to help you make those memories come alive again.
What Does This Do?
Exchange Letters turns thoughtful correspondence into a physical keepsake.
Choose the start and end dates of your exchange, write letters throughout the year, receive replies, and when it's over, your entire correspondence can be preserved in a printed book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my recipient need an account?
No; they are able to respond to your letters via a secure link they receive via email.
Can I save my drafts?
Yes; you can save your drafts and revisit them in the letter editor until you send them.
How many people can I write to?
You can write to as many people as you want, but you can only send to one email at a time.
What happens when the exchange ends?
After your exchange is over, you lose the ability to send letters and receive replies, and a few things are made available to you: you will be able to view all of your exchanges forever, tentatively. You will also be able to send yourself a copy of all your letters as a PDF. In addition, you will receive a link to order a physical, printed copy of your correspondence and memories.
Can I order more than one printed copy?
The link will never expire, so if you happen to misplace your copy or if you want to order additional copies for friends, family, or host families, you will be able to.
Who can read my letters?
Only you and the person you send the letter to can access your correspondence. Each letter is delivered through a private, secure link. Once a reply has been submitted, that link expires so it can't be reused.
A Thoughtful Touch
Exchange Letters isn't meant to replace the ways you already communicate. Texting, calling, and video calls are great, and they all have their place. It's designed to complement them by giving you a place for the conversations that deserve a little more thought and care.
Forgotten Memories
Every once in a while, some out-of-the-blue thing causes an old feeling or memory from exchange to resurface, and I think to myself: "If this one in a million thing hadn't have happened, I never would have thought of this again." Then I start to wonder: "How many moments have already fallen by the wayside in the corners of my memory?" At the end of the day, forgetting is inevitable. But I wanted to make something that I wish I had during my exchange year: memories. I can't do that for myself anymore, but I hope that these letters find you well and, years from now, help you remember.