USPS&I

Right this second I'm thoroughly enjoying a café au lait aka latte..it is pure perfection in a cup. I don't remember enjoying coffee this much - but this is amazing...the soft roasted flavor, covered with the sweetness of steamed milk. Perfectttt! Just like my cup of Pickwick Sterremunt tea my parents sent me 7 (!) weeks ago, but arrived yesterday.

Or 'arrived'..that's kind of an overstatement: Last Saturday I finally found a note in my mailbox saying that the mailman/woman "tried to deliver" but he/she failed (miserably - because I was HOME!! All that was needed was to ring the door bell - exhale..count to 10) and that I could pick it up at my local post office; open mon-fri 8:00-5:00, sat 8:00-4:00. But, if I didn't by the 17th it would be send back.
Taking no chances: Monday morning I will be at the post office! Leaving the apartment at 8:05AM! It's an approx. 5 min walk. Made sure I'd emailed my boss that I might be a little late thinking that I would stand in line maybe 15/20 minutes, take the train and be in by 9:15ish..WRONG..The post office is not around the block, it's 3 blocks down..one straight line though..so I arrived at 8:15..just 2 people were standing in line "Perfect", I think. After a minute I realize no one is being served. "hmmm, DR time-schedule" I think by myself (side note: our neighboring 'hood is unofficially called Little DR, referring to the - I assume - background of most of its inhabitants) which might have been a condescending thought, or a culturally conscious one..either way. Suddenly my eye falls on a note: New Hours: mon-fri 9:00-5:00, sat 9:00-4:00...What? WHAT?? Are you kidding me? So much for 'a little late'. But, what do you do? I need my package..I need to send a gift..So..as the clock moves forward more and more people show up..some leave realizing they will not be assisted for another good 30 minutes. I read a bit..try to listen in on a Spanish-with-an-accent-conversations..observe the amazing safety/protection construction of the counters. There is no, ab-so-lu-te-ly no way to get to any one behind the counter..the Plexiglas is an inch thick, what a world apart from the Dutch post offices.
By 9 the hall is packed; a door opens up and a woman appears "we're sorry but the PCs don't work. We hope to fix the problem in the next 10 minutes - crowd sighs - please have some patience". owhhhhh..GREAT..Luckily I've had a lot of patience training in Trader Joe's...see, comes in handy in unexpected moments!
9:15ish: 3 out of 7 (!) windows open and it's my turn quickly. Send my package..but for picking up I need to be at another window - AARGH bureaucrats!! "thank you," I say and smile. Next window - wait..woman disappears and I end up being assisted by the first lady..
Ooh, USPS..what to say about you.. Do basic services like mail give a snapshot impression of a country's culture? Then what does USPS say about the American culture? What does the TNT say about the Dutch?

Right before I leave a man showed the safety/protection constructions where not just decorations. He flips out about the line..being in line for 5/10 minutes was clearly too much on a Monday morning..and he demanded at the top of his lungs to speak to the manager.. "Look dude, I've been here one-hour-and-a-half..have a little patience" I thought by myself..and walked to the subway.