Greetings to all of you!
I have been reading many rumbles of dissatisfied flat travelers and
some who are even quitting beacause of traveler losses.
We have been active flattie hosts and senders for about 2-3 years. I
confess we have sometimes had flats for a YEAR! Life often does get
in the way and all my aspirations and good intentions don't get the
flatties home by themselves.
As a hosting parent I am sure you had hoped your child would take on
some of the flattie responsibility, I know I have. The reality is, it
falls on me. I have to remind the kids to write, to take pictures, to
grab brochures and to compile everything and mail it. So keep that in
mind when you take on this incredible adventure.
As a matter of fact I currently have about 6 flatties that have been
here since November. I know, how naughty!
The problem was first, the holiday scramble and then this mommy got
VERY sick in January. I have been sleeping 12-13 hours a day, going
through numerous doctor visits and tests and I am sorry to say our
flattie hosting just fell by the wayside.
Yet, in spite of all that I have been met with such graciousness and
understanding. I wouldn't give up this Flat Traveling experience for
anything. And if you are one of our stranded visitors, thank you for
not sending me hate mail or in other ways getting angry.
Another tip, make color copies or digital pictures of your flattie and
mail out the copies, not the originals. Alos, it helps ALOT if your
flattie is laminated. I know our visitors are often stuffed into the
camera case, backpacks, diaper bag and cluthed in dirty hands. :-)
So anyway, if we are hosting your flattie, I apologize, please hang in
there your flattie will get home!
And if you are hosting any of our flatties, don't be embarassed about
the delay, we'll take them any way we can. There is nothing like a
flattie returning home to excite and motivate my kids!
Warmly,
CP
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