Sending a parcel

There are many funny cultural differences between Sweden and Italy that you notice here in your every-day life. Italy is in many ways a crazy country to live in but it can also be so much fun. Like today when I went to the post office to send a parcel. That is not a hilarious thing itself but going to the post office here was a totally new experience. Firstly you have to find your way cause this place has no signs and the building is huge with many different entrances. So you get in there and notice “Wow there is a queue system!” all impressed you feel a little like being back home! Then you get to the machine to withdraw your ticket and have to face your first problem. Not only do you have about ten different queues to choose from but they are also explained in a very bureaucratic way. You are informed of that if you whish to carry out “financial investments” or “transfers” you are supposed to have this and that ticket. On the other hand if you wish to “control insurances” or “extend your permission” press this and that button. And it goes on like that forever! A little confused there is not much else to do then to ask an Italian who is standing next to you. After some time he decides that I’m supposed to go for the last button. Okay, so we’re all set you think…..but not! Then you discover that your number is not even on the display neither is your queue number which by the way is “P” (for some reason whatever). So you sit there and watch the display which goes like this: pling “A167” pling “C98” pling “H578” pling “Q122” pling “A356” pling “F1” pling “U90” pling “B45” and your thinking “I just wanna send a fu---- parcel! Isn’t that what people do at the post office?”. And then the funniest thing happens: you notice how the system is speeding up and the display goes like “pling” “pling” “pling” “pling” “pling” indicating different counters and numbers. You realize that something is wrong when you notice that the system is indicating counter number one because there is no one sitting and working there! The whole system got over-heated or something and it was much fun watching everyone running around trying to get to the right counter with the right number. But in the end I did get to send the parcel and it was very cheap as well ;)