South America: The Post Office (Day 24)

One thing I'm learning on this trip is that when you're in a foreign country, sometimes it's nearly impossible to perform even the simplest tasks. For example, how hard is it to mail a postcard? Apparently, on Easter Island, this task is comprised of at least five steps.

(Note: I absolutely LOVED Easter Island. Once in a lifetime. You will cry when you see the pictures. Now, back to my post.)

Step 1: Drop by the main post office in the center of town. The clerk will tell you that postcard stamps are either 320 or 390 Chilean pesos, depending on the destination. The clerk will tell you that it's 320 pesos to send a postcard to the U.S. However, the clerk will also tell you that they are out of stamps for the day, and that you will have to come back in the morning.

Step 2: Return to the post office in the morning, where a different clerk will be assisting a customer, who also appears to be a tourist. The clerk will dutifully take this other customer's twelve postcards to a small adjoining room and pound her cancellation stamp loudly on each one. She will do this in plain view of you and the other customer. When she finishes, she will bring the postcards out and hold them up to the customer to show him her handiwork. The customer will extend his hands in front of him, palms up, and ask, "Is that it?" The clerk will smile and nod, and will carry his postcards gently to the other room and place them in what appears to be a pile of "mail to be sent." You will be heartened by this display of postal competency.

Step 3: When it's your turn, show the clerk your own twelve postcards and tell her you want to send them to the U.S. She will tell you it's 390 pesos each to send them to the U.S. You will quickly decide that despite the discrepancy between what she's saying and what the guy said yesterday, you should overpay just to be safe. You will pay the money and receive the stamps.

Step 4: Tear off the first two stamps along the perforated lines, lick them, and apply them to the first two postcards. At this point, the clerk will admonish you for your stupidity and will point to the wet sponge on the counter. Be sure to use the sponge to wet the adhesive and apply the rest of the stamps, or risk being shunned by the clerk forever.

Step 5: By the time you finish stamping your postcards, another customer will come in - this time a local - and the clerk will turn all her attention to that person. Due to this unexpected turn of events, you will not receive the same competent, personal service as the first customer. Instead, when you gesture to the clerk that your postcards are stamped and ready to be sent, she will point to the red box in the corner and gesture for you to drop them there. You will comply, but you will be confused.

Step 6 (optional): You may feel the urge to continue to hold your postcards out to the clerk and smile, and gesture like you're saying something like, "Now? Ahora? Can you do...ahora?" You should probably resist this urge.

Who would have thought that in South America, mailing a package would be easier than mailing a postcard? There are vendors outside and sometimes inside the post office who are there specifically to help you bundle up and send your package. Granted, in Peru the girl at the kiosk sold us used banker´s boxes that obviously contained paper or computer parts up until just a couple of hours before, but hey, I'm not complaining.

Chile is fantastic. In Valparaiso right now. More when we get further south.

D