Current Address:
Amanda Schulz, Peace Corps Volunteer
c/o Gitting Secondary School
PO Box 157
Katesh - Manyara
Tanzania
East Africa
(East Africa is not required but may help b/c I have been told that sometimes people in post offices don't know in what part of the world a country is...I don't want my things to come to me via the Pacific Islands)
*UPDATE* If you label packages as "School Supplies", even boxes shouldn't be charged customs. Officially I'm not supposed to have to pay (b/c I'm a volunteer) but our mail goes through Arusha and they don't know this. I have been told that the PCV before me never had to pay customs because all of his packages were labeled as school supplies. I assume the same will work with "religious books" or just "books".
FYI: The mail system in Tanzania is not like the US. Do not send valuable items. Please. Not only is it not fast, any one of the many handlers may open the mail to check its contents. If that person likes something s/he sees, it may not make it to the intended recipient. So if the package/envelope does arrive, it may be missing some things. If you want me to know what was supposed to be in it, just enclose a list of the contents it started with and I'll compare it to what I actually received.
Letters:
Put "Airmail" on envelope. It is also advised that letters are numbered but if you only plan on sending one or two, this hardly seems necessary. I will try to number letters that I send so that others may know in what order letters were originally sent. I usually date things too but numbers are quick and easy to read. It is recommended that you write letters on this blue paper that folds into an envelope. I think it is marketed as some sort of international mail paper...maybe. If I find out more, I'll post it.
Packages:
Generally a pain to receive because Customs may want fees paid on the items (except books) and I would have to worry about clearing it through (and probably having to leave my site to do it). Also, anyone may open the package and take out things they want. I have read that putting religous symbols on the outside and writing in red tends to decrease the likelihood of a package being raided. Score one for the lingering strength of animist religous inclinations :-). Also, tampons on top of the package tends to deter people (though I don't really need any more). A label stating the contents are religous literature (books) or school supplies is supposed to work too.
Best way is to send something in an envelope. I have been told that Customs does not look in envelopes, even the padded ones. It may also get to me sooner if it is an envelope and not a package. Another PCV in the area has said that large envelopes get through fast and easy but boxes are very slow (like a couple months), do not always arrive (they are "lost" somewhere along the way), and often have Customs charges that must be paid before the mail lady will hand it over. Boxes should only be sent with books, religious materials, or school supplies...even if that isn't technically stating all of the contents.
