Post Office Revisited

I’ve talked about my Post Office experiences before…(see blog 2-5-09) Well, I have a follow up. I received notices that I had two packages at the Post Office. I’ve picked up several packages since my initial encounters and now the visits are less stressful-the ‘elderly customs guy’ remembers that I am a teacher and is now happy to see me. More importantly, he has dropped the going rate to pick up a package to 3cedis (about $2) down from 30.

I was actually greeted with smiles yesterday from both the ‘document- checker/package-getter’ and the ‘elderly customs guy’ who opens the packages. After showing my passport,signing my name/date/time in the usual 5 places and , paying my 6 cedis, I went outside to where my taxi was waiting. My eye caught some roadside vendors across the street selling school supplies so I dropped the boxes in the cab and walked over to buy a few things. All of a sudden I heard “Jessell, Jessell!” from across the street. I looked over and there on the front steps of the PO was the ‘document-checker/package-getter’ waving wildly. I wondered what I hadn’t signed and walked back over.

I noticed the DCPG was standing with a young man and an older woman. When I approached he said, “Jessell, this boy says he goes to your school. He is trying to pick up a package and has no identification, do you know him?” Relieved that I hadn’t signed something in the wrong place, I looked at the boy and didn’t recognize him. (There are 1700 students at my school) I asked him the name of his math teacher and he responded “Mr. Patrick”, who is indeed a teacher at my school. Realizing that I was now acting as an official representative of the Ghanaian National Postal System, I decided I needed to probe further…”What is the name of your English teacher?”, I asked. “I don’t know but she’s ‘thick’,” he said, motioning that she was fat. “How do you not know the name of your English teacher after this whole year”, I teased, at which point his mother (the woman) hit him on his shoulder. I saw the DCPG smile so I figured I was about through with my interrogation. I asked him a few more questions about what he was studying and then, on the PO steps, I gave the OK that he could pick up his package.

I guess I’ve come a long way from paying 30 cedis to pick up some coloring books. Can’t wait for the next package to come so I can visit my new friends! (I’d include a picture of the Post Office if I could but it is illegal to take a picture of a government building . Maybe before I leave I’ll get the worker’s pictures :)

My packages' contents :