To the Post Office with You!

Christmas Postal Adventures

So School is closed for the holidays and I finally have time to sit down and write Christmas postcards and Blog entries. After putting it off for quite sometime I finally braved the pos toffice to post a few letters and Christmas parcels. It seems rather odd to be fearful of the post office, however it is quite intimidating trying to send something somewhere when you are in a foreign country and don't speak the language.
  Most Czech post offices are more like visiting a bank, with their glass partitions and money drawers. We go there to pay our bills, as well as send mail. Each window has a list of services they do and if you go to the wrong window you're in trouble. They are very particular about how things are done (especially formal forms) right down to the colour of pen you use and which direction you filled in the boxes. It can be quite the scary experience; especially when you keep filling out a form incorrectly and you don't know what you are doing wrong.
  Therefore it is no surprise that I put off Post Office visits as much as possible; when I do go I pray. All the way there I pray that I have a delightful encounter with an understanding postal worker and that I can communicate well with the little Czech I know.
  Today was one of those days which a trip to the post office was in order. Rent needed paying and parcels needed sending. Christmas time in a Czech Post Office is even more unpleasant that normal; with long lines, tired and cranky patrons and workers alike. So when I walked into the Post Office this afternoon fearing for the worst I was pleasantly surprised. NO Lines! (This I have never encountered especially at Christmas!) So I walked up to a counter praying it was the right one. Said my Dobrý den and handed my rent slip and passport to pay my large cash sum for rent. Right away identifying that I was a foreigner who most likely spoke no Czech. She rang up my rent bill and I handed her exact change (which always makes them happy) and I got half a smile. Next I handed her my letters and added my Prosím do Kanady (please to Canada) then I got a big smile. Posted my letters for under $10 stated my Všechno, Děkuji moc (that's all, thank you very much) Got another smile and left.

Although it does not seem like much, this was the highlight of my day. What a blessing. Praise the Lord for the little things like smiles from the lady at the Post Office.