Mission Accomplished!

Last Friday we set out to pick up a box from the Post Office. From time to time Denise's friend Rick from the states sends a care package (my name for it!)...it feels like Christmas because he always sends goodies. We managed to complete every step until time to pay - which must be done across the street at the bank, which was closed by the time we were at that point in the process...perhaps I should start at the beginning...

In the first photo you can see Denise and William walking towards the City Square Post Office.

Then, of course we enter the building. You can see them walking to the counter at the far end, with our notice that we had a package, where we picked up the box (the first time!)

Once we handed over the notice we then had to open the box and empty all the contents, including the newspapers and even cookie crumbs...best to send cookies in tins!

You can see in this picture that Denise delightedly complying.

Rick was thoughtful enough to send a card expressing his desire that we enjoy all the goodies he sent to us - and we are!

The girl behind the counter meticulously listed every item that was in the box, assessing each one. Interestingly she assessed us for the food items, but put the word "free" next to the digital thermometer - go figure! Once the list was completed we had to put everything back into the box and tape it shut - securely! From this counter we walk the length of the room and up the stairs into the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) customs office.

This is where we received the first stamp on our yellow slip and two computer printouts of the total that would need to be paid at the bank across the street. Unfortunately by this time the bank was closed, which meant another trip to town on Monday morning.


Monday morning at the bank, only to discover that the system was down so they could not take our money! So back to the bank we went on Tuesday - in the rain! But, amazingly it only downpoured when we were in a building or in the car...God is so good! After standing in a long queue for an hour we paid the fees, then returned back to the post office, where we first visited the customs office next to the back counter and were told we would pay a minimum of 70 shillings 'storage fee' for the time our parcel was kept at the Post Office.

We then took our yellow receipt to the back counter to inspect our box to make sure it was still intact. Then we were directed to go to counter S9 to pay the storage fee. When we discovered they wanted to charge us for the two days the system was down, we protested. Denise discussed the situation with the Postmaster, who kindly let us pay the minimum. That is when we found out that the people at the Post Office are just as frustrated with this cumbersome system as we are - we are hoping that if enough people protest perhaps things will change...or not! Back to S9 to pay the fee, and receive a (stamped) white receipt. On the way out our package was inspected one last time and compared to the white receipt.

Then we took the box home!