Goodies and the Post Office Debacle

Ian worked really hard to get this package, so it definitely deserves its' own post.
We just received our first package in Kenya! How fun!


The only part that wasn't fun was picking it from the customs office at the Posta down town. We went on Tuesday n our way to pick our furniture and it was a bit of a disaster. Ian took off from work early and we took a cab downtown. The traffic was a beast, but we managed to get to the post office around 3:30. After waiting in line and waiting in line we were finally told to open our package and see what was inside so that they could assess it for customs charges. We found a whole bunch of goodies from our buddy Kate Netzler complete with some treats from her recent trip to China.

After taking inventory and giving us a bill for about $5 the post office man told Ian to go to the next desk then accross the hall to get various papers stamped and approved. He told me to pack everything back in the box and re-tape the box. what? why?

Ian came back to tell me after all of his running from counter to counter that we had to go across the street to pay our fees at some bank. The Posta man said "The bank closes at four. You'll have to return." By this time it is 5 minutes past four. Argh!

Another woman working behind the counter gave us directions to try and get help so that we could get our box. No dice. The best we received was that we could send someone with a copy of Ian's passport. blerg.

So Friday Ian took his lunch to go downtown again. When he arrived at one o'clock he was told that they were taking lunch from 1 to 2 and no one could help him. Good grief! needless to say he was peeved and had to wait a whole hour just to wait in lines again.

Luckily he was successful this time and came home baring all sorts of goodies including shark fin flavored biscuit sticks, new shirts for each of us, and the Greenville College Record alumni publication.

We're excited to have a little bit of Kate here with us and also glad that we now know when not to go to the post office. (Better luck next time I guess.)

Thank you Kate for encouraging us and sending us birthday goodies! We are so blessed to have you as a friend!
B