Oh my, the post office again!

I knew that the first time I tried to mail something from here it would be an experience.

I was right.

Just from my experience at trying to simply find the post office, I just sensed that the next step of mailing something would be interesting.

Well, it all began last friday. I got 2 boxes together that I wanted to mail home for Christmas. I went to the post office. Our postman smiled at me and seemed very helpful. He spoke in their language the whole time ... I had a friend with me that helped me with the translation, thankfully.

There were many problems with my boxes. First, he asked what I had inside. I just told him clothes, gifts, etc... etc... He looked at me with this quizzical look and asked me where the mosquito 'bricks' were.

What? Mosquito bricks? Ummm... I have no idea. I don't even know what that is, I say.

He then points to the box and I realize that the outside of the box says 'mosquito bricks' because that was what was originally in it.

I explain that it is a used box and I am, in fact, not sending any mosquito bricks.

He then says that I have to have a cloth to cover my box. I explain to him (ha, good try!) that what he means is that I need paper to cover up the wording on the box.

No, he says I need a cloth. I finally realize through the interpretations of my friend that, yes, he wants me to get a cloth to fit around the entire box.

Where do I get that?

The tailor, of course, silly!

Have you ever had to get a cloth made to tailor fit your box?

Well I have! Never thought I could say that! Or ... would need to say that.

So off I go to the tailor. He takes precise measurements of the box and tells me it will be ready the next day.

So I return home, with my box. Somewhat unsuccessful first attempt, but I am honestly not all that surprised. Most things take a few times of trying to actually make them happen! We have all learned that here, that's for sure.

So I return to the tailor to get these custom made cloths for my box. After waiting about 20 minutes because the tailor was gone (even though the shop was open) he comes and fits the cloths around the box. He then begins to HAND SEW the 2 seams closed that were left open in order to have a way to put the cloth around the box. He hand sewed it! It's a box!!!! I barely even want to hand sew my own clothes, let alone a box. I was able to get a picture of the tailor and him sewing it together:



I had to keep from laughing out loud as I stood there waiting for my the cover for my box to be sewn. A little strange.

Ok, so we have the cloths, check. They are all sewn up, check. Addresses written on the cloths, check.

To the post office we go.

The best part of the whole story is that I actually went INSIDE the back rooms of the post office. In fact, I just kinda walked in. This is something I've been really curious about and since I knew that my box wouldn't fit through the rails on the windows, I just proceeded to walk around the back and go into the office area.

The first person I saw when I walked in was our postman. Yeah! He smiled and immediately took the box from me and offered me a chair to sit down ... that's always happening here. Wherever you go, they always want you to sit down. I don't know if standing up makes them nervous or what, but always, always, always they insist that you sit.

But this time I didn't. I very politely just said that I was fine and I would stand. After much insisting, I just continue to stand. I didn't want to sit because I know that a few boxes have been sent to us a while ago and we have yet to receive them. I was ready to snoop around a bit! hahahaha

Here's a picture of the inside of the post office:



Can anyone say, Mayberry? HA!

I didn't take too many pictures because with all the terror stuff going on and this technically being a government building, I didn't want to cause alarm ... but there are huge books (like think about the big family Bibles that some people have on their coffee tables, big like that!) all over this post office. Stacks and stacks of them. Everywhere. Papers everywhere ... stuff everywhere.

But guess what. Look closely in the bottom left of the picture, next to that guys blue pants ... guess what that is.

YEP!

Our boxes.

When I first walked in a spied them. I saw the 'American' postal box (the ready ship red, white, and blue boxes that you get at the post office) that they were in and KNEW without even looking at the name on them that they were ours.



I contained myself. I didn't run and grab them. I was proud of myself that I waited for an opportune moment to point them out to our postman. I didn't want him to think that I thought he wasn't doing his job. So I told him that I would be happy to take them now so that he doesn't have to walk all the way to our place.

He agreed!

Yes!

Honestly, I was a little tempted to only take one and just see how long it took for the other one to get delivered to us. A little quasi-experiment of my own.

But I couldn't. I just couldn't leave that precious box there.

Our postman filled out about 36 documents and then finally gave them to me ... all the paperwork certainly relates to why it takes so long to do anything here!

So I now had the boxes that were sent to us in my possession, now to just make sure the boxes I wanted to send would actually get out the door.

I explained that I wanted them to be delivered soon.

Then he asked if I had a marker.

I did, so I got it out of my purse.

He wrote, "speed post" on the outside of the boxes ... on the tailor fitted cloth!

See, there's no 'express mail' or 'priority mail' stickers, tape, or labels to fill out and adhere to the box. It's just simply written on it in kinda legible writing ... I guess that works!

So he assured me that they would go out that day. I thought it was interesting that he couldn't really tell me when they should be delivered! He definitely made no guarantees.

I was so happy to find those boxes there that had been sent to us, though! I was getting really frustrated (and honestly still am, but a little better now) with the whole postal system here. We have such wonderful people that are willing to send us stuff that helps so much, but we can't receive it? That's crazy! So, now that these boxes have been received (even if I did have to go there myself!) I feel a little more confidence. I didn't say a lot more confidence, just a little ... but still better than before! I can make it a weekly trip to go hunt down our packages if I have too! Oh, and by the way, I've been keeping our postman, and his family, supplied with brownies. He loves them! So, hopefully that helps us have some 'favor' too!

So now we wait. I wait to see if this experience ends with a successful conclusion, or do I need to find another way?

If it is successful, at least I know to take my boxes to the tailor before the post office now!