Post offices here are weird. Everything here is weird. This is the magical world of experiencing cultural 
differences.
Firstly, look for that yellow and blue symbol thing.
Secondly, the post office is a private business.
Thirdly, they speak French. C’est dommage.
Fourthly, packages and envelopes are mailed with a machine. You select your language and then what type of mail it is and where you’re mailing it. The machine takes your money and then prints a long sticker for you to put on the envelope/package (instead of a traditional stamp).
Whenever I mail postcards, however, I always go to the desk guy. I don’t know if that’s what I’m supposed to do but it’s a habit and… well why bother change it now? I mumble “États-Unis” and show the number of postcards with my fingers and he takes my money and gives me a row of little purple stamps. After I get out of the way and put on the stamps (old-school licking) I kiss each postcard and throw them in the grey bin. C’est vraiment stupide but old habits die hard. I’ve been here 9 months, people. Really.
It costs a euro to mail a postcard and a little more for letters/envelopes. I haven’t mailed any packages because it’s probably too expensive to be worth it. When my boyfriend left after his holiday visit I snuck all my family’s presents into his luggage. I recommend this method. C’était gratuit pour moi! (It was free for me!)
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