"This Is Our Procedure"

TODAY 10:35 a.m. I arrive at the Post Office with tape, scissors, packing materials and items to mail.

10:36 a.m. I get everything out of my bag, spread it out on a counter, and begin carefully wrapping and packing everything.

10:45 a.m. I carefully seal 3 packages closed with packing tape, leaving no corners open

10:55 a.m. I carefully write the addresses on the 3 packages and write neatly "fragile," "careful," and "do not bend" front and back

11:00 a.m. I approach window #5 and wait behind 4 people holding my 3 packages

11:03 a.m. I ask the lady at #5 how much it costs to mail my 3 packages to the U.S. Lady: "Do you want express mail?"
Me: "What is the difference in price?"
Lady: "You'll have to go to window #22"

11:05 a.m. I walk past all the windows until #22. Lady at # 22 points me to window #19

11:07 a.m. Lady at window #19 weighs my packages and gives me the price comparison for express mail, air mail, or surface mail.
Express and air mail cost about the same.
Lady at #19 says: "It's better you send it express mail"
Me: "Is that window #5?"
Lady: "Yes, down there..." points

11:13 a.m. I proceed to window #5...again. I wait in line behind 2 people.

11:17 a.m. I reach the front of line #5.
Me: "Can I send this express to the U.S.?"
Lady at #5: "I will have to inspect first."
Me: "You mean I have to open the packages?"
Lady: "This is our procedure."
Me: "I can't just tell you what the contents are? I spent a long time packing them."
Lady: "This is our procedure to inspect."

11:20 a.m. I withdraw my position in line and get out my scissors. I carefully re-open the 3 packages and unwrap everything inside

11:30 a.m. I wait in line behind one person at window #5

11:32 a.m. I display the contents of my 3 packages to the inspection lady. She nods and gives permission to re-wrap my packages. She fills out an inspection form.

11:35 a.m. I step out of line #5 again. I get the packing tape and carefully re-pack and re-tape my 3 packages, thinking all the while about the procedures.

11:43 a.m. I get in line #5....again.

11:45 a.m. Lady #5 "I'm going on my break now--he will help you."

11:46 a.m. I move to window #4 and the man hands me 6 forms to fill out.

11:47 a.m. I step to the side and fill out the 6 forms.

11:52 a.m. I approach window #4 to send my 3 packages.
Man at #4: "You need to pay first."
Me: "Do I pay here?"
Man: No, you pay at window #11"
Me: "So you'll keep my packages here?"
Man: "Yes, you will pay at window #11"

11:54 a.m I walk to window #11. Lady at #11 directs me to window #10.

11:55 a.m. Lady at window #10 reads my forms and creates stamps with a machine. She types the amount into a calculator and shows me my bill. I pay the bill.

12:00 p.m. Holding my official express stamps and forms I approach window #4 and submit all of them to the man.

12:01 p.m. Man #4 takes my packages one by one, places an express sticker on the front, places my stamps on front, stamps 3 carbon copies of my 6 forms and puts them in the proper piles, tapes one copy of form on to the back of my package #1 covering my "careful" labels. Repeats all steps for packages 2 and 3.

12:09 p.m. Man #4 hands me 3 carbon copies of my forms and puts my 3 packages in a pile in the office to be delivered.

12:10 p.m. I walk down the stairs of the post office....reflecting on the post office procedures.