I have been trying to send a package to Amherst with a few goodies and it is turning out to be way more work than I anticipated. It took awhile to find a box to fit the stuff, then finding packing material to keep it from rattling around. I ended up with some sheets of newspaper that my produce was wrapped in to keep it from bruising. Then tape was a bit problematic because all I have around the house is Taiwan's version of scotch tape. I haven't really solved that one yet but at least the box is staying shut.

Next I had to get it to school which meant my bike basket had to be empty which meant having to put everything I needed that day at school into my backpack. At school the secretary patiently explained the paperwork I needed to fill out and where to find the post office. She talked me out of Federal Express because it's "very expensive." Part of her assistance included this note for the people at the post office:

Basically it says please weigh the package and let me know how much it costs before I have to decide if I want to mail it or not.

So with package, paperwork and pink post-it note I was finally ready to go to the post office. Unfortunately, it was packed with people waiting patiently (not something the Taiwanese normally do, waiting patiently) and it had already been a long enough day. So I checked when a better time might be to come by referring to the incredibly helpful sign:

There's more English on this sign than I have seen on anything else in the city. Unfortunately, the post office is "off service" on the weekends and National Holidays and closes at 5:00 on the weekdays, which explains why there was such a crowd at 4:30 today.

So now I have to cart the box back to school and ask about how expensive Fed Ex really is. I may also try leaving school a little earlier and dutifully waiting my turn with everyone else. See what I mean? Way more work than I anticipated.