Congratulations are in order

 Yes, congratulate me. Wish me a mazel tov, for today I managed to mail two letters to the USA. I have been carrying them for six months. However, I don't have international stamps, and in Israel one cannot use domestic stamps on an international letter, even if using several of them that add up to the cost of the international stamp.  And there are no vending machines around town or stores that sell stamps. You must go to the post office. But the post office requires an appointment for which you must go online to an all Hebrew website. My Hebrew continues to be terrible, despite my efforts (don't move here after age 40 and expect to learn Hebrew), so while I probably could muddle through it, I just kept pushing it off. Also, there's the feeling of dread of dealing with the post office clerks. One time the door was opened but not all the lights on so I asked politely, are you open to which I heard, "DO I LOOK OPEN!! shouted at me. 

And then there are the grumpy customers who cut the line, which happened to me today. 

But then the local post office closed and the nearest one was across town, which required a long bus ride. So I have been carrying two letters around, as they slowly get dirty and wrinkled, hoping for a break from the break neck pace at work (another lie, that the work life in Israel is easier) so I can get to the post office. Months passed.

But then the local post office reopened and supposedly one doesn't need an appointment. However it is only opened three days a week for a few hours each and I have been having trouble finding out what those hours are because THEY DON'T POST THEM ON THE DOOR!!

But today as I was bringing bottles of liquor that I bought for the Purim seudah but didn't use, donating them to a local shul I passed the post office and saw after peering through the piles of boxes outside that it was open went to mail my letters. When my turn came after a half hour, I handed the guy the letters and had to give him as well my phone number and national identification number just to mail two letters. Feeling bold, I said to him, do you need my blood too? He said, not today.

I asked to buy a sheet of international stamps so that I wouldn't have to go through this again. Guess what? He didn't have any. 

And side note, if ever they get any and I get my  hands on them, once I put them on the letter I have to travel to the post office to mail them because there are no mail boxes in my town. There's only one at the post office.

So Mazel Tov! I mailed two letters in this alleged advanced economy and thriving society. It only took six months, which is less than a year.