Things I like

Today I was at the post office again, sending the last two parcels Veronika and Linus left in here. Of going so often and for speaking such a primitve Finnish, I kind of developed a relationship with the old lady at the counter.

That kind of sweet person that succeeds easily at messing things up but that at the same time (and thank god for creating this sub-category of people) don't have problems with admitting their mistakes and laughing at themselves.

The first time I went, I had problems understanding her question about wether I wanted air or economy post.

The second time we both smiled in the part she asked me about it, but I had difficulties understanding her question about wether or not I wanted to have an insurance on the contents (she forgot to ask me last time and apologized).

This third time, everything went smoothly and I smiled proudly at how my Finnish could pass as a functional one and she probably smiled at seeing my moronic smile with every question/answer ritual.

Nevertheless, something happened. The same kind of parcel, going to the same place, was costing three times as much now. Both puzzled, we tried to figure out what the deal was.

Some why, why and head scratching took place.

Measuring the parcel dimensions again or checking their weight two three extra times more shed no light on the mistery.

Finally, she got all red in her face and turned the computer screen kind of laughing shily so that I could see the dimension and depth of her mistake:

The poor parcel was about to be sent to Australia instead of Austria.

(This reminds me the story of a young African man I met in Austria, who wondered in his first day there, why on earth people weren't speaking English in Australia, until he realized horrified that he had apply for asylum in the wrong country).

Once the mistery was solved, she offered me and my companion a bar of chocolate each for the inconveniences (I had a hell of a fun time!).

We walked out of the post office smiling and feeling light hearted, while she put the 'counter closed' sign and head towards her very much deserved and needed coffee break.

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