This is a typical example of how difficult a very simple task can be made: trying to mail some clothes to someone as a baby present.

Found correos. Tried to buy box for clothes at correos. No boxes at correos. Woman at correos said something something blah blah caja al floreria. Went to floreria. No cajas there. Woman at floreria said something something blah blah el fundo dereche. Went to the end of the line of shops and found cajaria (why don't they just have them at the f'ing correos???) Told woman that the caja she thought I needed was too big. She proceeded to cram stuff into caja and in doing so ripped the card. I tried to tell her that I should get the caja for free because she ruined my card (no quiero pagar porque TU molestared mi tarjeta!) Of course, she no intiende. i said I wanted to organize the stuff before I taped it up. She said a bunch of stuff-possibly her family history-which was then translated for me as "not in here, not enough room." Okay. Went outside to organize stuff. Bought box, but found out they have no foam peanuts or other stuff. I asked (with gestures) if they tape it there. Yes. She handed me a role of tape. I sighed. I then realized that I didn't have the address anyway, so I would have to go home, then come back. Walked home, via the swings and panaderia. Got home, got cute blonde baby out of stroller. Cute blonde baby drank some milk, then spit up on clothes I was going to send in the mail. Put clothes in laundry room and told nana they needed to be washed but not put away. Sighed again. Ate some chocolate. Got misty eyed at thought of going to UPS store with nice chinese guy, boxes, and foam peanuts (and cards) all together. Sighed.


For those readers who are not as fluent in Spanish as I am (ha ha), here are some definiitions: cajas = boxes, dereche=right (well, it's either dereche or derecha or derecho. whatever), correos = post office, nana = maid,