The Post Office

Most things I need I can buy in China. There are a couple of things I would like, but think I can do without until there is the time when I have a package worthy of asking to be sent, or I can no longer live without.

However sending mail out is the biggest pain. China Post is so difficult to get along with.

I sent a parcel home to my nephew, Shawn, with no real drama except in China they like to pack everything so they packed a sports bag with Styrofoam. The more it weighed the more I would have to pay, right!?!

I successfully sent a lucky charm home to my Mother in ordinary post. I tried the following week to send birthday cards to two friends and had enclosed a piece of costume jewelery - Sorry can't send them, you will need to send them by parcel post. It was not worth sending by parcel post. I then tried to send a gift home to a friend and was told that I couldn't send it because it might break! I then tried to send some thermals home to my sister, Wendy, for her trip to UK with Shawn later this year. They wanted to charge me more than what the thermals cost and told me it would take 6 weeks. I wasn't having that. Then they told me that if I sent it by surface mail it would take 4 months. I was happy to accept the price but not the length of time. I eventually got them down to 6 weeks. I'll wait and see what happens!

Oh well, as they say this is China!