The mailman has always been my favorite person since I was way younger. Did you also go through that IYS (International Youth Service) phase in high school? I did. Getting those letters all over the world (France, Belgium, Germany, Korea, US, Yugoslavia, Italy etc.) from my pen friends back then was the highlight of my week. It was like having christmas gifts on an ordinary day. No wonder I got married to a penpal huh?

Living in a rich country now it always astonishes me how the postal system is so much different from a poor country like ours in the Philippines. Let me count the ways:

First there is the mailbox (top left photo). In the Philippines the postman either has to holler your name for all the neighbourhood to hear or knock on the door or ring the bell. Then the owner or the maid receives it. Here, they simply leave the mail in your mailbox. The surprising part is, if you live in a condo like us, the mailman has a key to the main door and of course the mailboxes. You can just imagine how organised it is here. Just keeping track of which key goes to where is akin to combing the haystack for a needle. At least to me. I even have a difficulty figuring my own set of keys sometimes. You can't also help but wonder at the level of security too.

Then there is the immaculately clean and loiterer-free post office (top right photo). You are given a choice of either lining up and doing it the traditional way, which means having a mailing clerk to assist you. If you decide to do this, don't forget to watch for the blinking light on top of each mailing booth, a sign that it is now ready to serve you. 

Or you can do it self-service. There is a section of the building (right side on the photo) where you can weigh your package, calculate and purchase your stamps over a machine. Better yet, do it online at home wearing your jammies.

Instead of a mailman going from house to house on foot or riding his bicycle like what we have back in PI, here they have a small van (left photo). Notice the postbag/stroller left outside on the sidewalk (right photo)? That will never happen in the Philippines. It will disappear instantly especially in a wheeled contraption like that.

On a Sunday you will notice these post vans parked in the post office compound. It shouldn't be a suprise mails within the US are delivered fast (average of 3 days for regular mail). All these vehicles for a city of 80,000 residents. In my hometown, last I heard we were almost 175,000. We don't have a single post van. That the local mails arrive after a month, we should be so lucky.

The author is in Door County, Wisconsin as of this entry's publication date. Still no internet access. Still honeymooning.

Currently listening to: 101.9 Eric and Kathy
Currently reading: Art Books
Currently watching: The Good Girl (Jennifer Aniston)