Packages, Customs, and a Christmas Party

One of the most exciting moments for a volunteer is when they receive a package or letter from home! This week (because it’s almost Christmas) was a week of packages. When the postman walks in and one of the Polish girls calls your name, you can’t sign the slip fast enough to grab the box and see who it is from. And of course you forget about what task you were in the middle of because you are so excited to rip it open and see what great treats from home are in it. As I ripped into the one from my Mom I noticed the majority of it was wrapped, which means- DO NOT OPEN UNTIL CHRISTMAS! Luckily, my mom knows me well enough to know that it DRIVES ME CRAZY to stare at presents and not be able to open them. (I was the child that always got in trouble for trying to peek at everything under the Christmas tree.) So, there were a couple things I can have right now! :)

I also received a slip in the shop mailbox this week. I was hoping it would be the package I was expecting. (I had something special ordered from the States while I was home). I took off to the post office in hopes to retrieve my SYPHON Coffee Maker. Instead the slip was for a letter. When I got back to the shop I opened the letter and saw the invoices from my Syphon folded with an official looking letter. When that letter was read to me (my friend had to read the Polish to me) I learned that my Syphon was stuck in the post office customs. And I have to go there and basically bail it out. Well, a coffee Syphon does not exactly look like and innocent gift and it is not a cheap coffee maker. So, I knew this was a task that my broken ponglish could not explain. I convinced an amazing friend to come with me to bail it out. That proved to be a crazy task! First we went a tram stop to far and had to walk back! Then we began a game of wait and explanation. My poor friend had to explain to them what in the world I was importing because no one had seen one of these before and it looks like something out of a chemistry set. And my friend did not know what it was. She only knew it was used to make coffee! So, round and round we went until finally they said I could have it if I paid 99zl and promise it was only for personal use. Ok, I’ll pay it! Then we had to go to the cashier and pay the bill. The cashier was fascinated with the picture in my passport and told my friend, “you speak very good polish” of course my friend is Polish!!! After we finished with that crazy lady, I was told no we go to another room and you can pick it up! YES!!!! After an hour of explanations I can pick it up!!!! We walk into the room; the guy has me sign a piece of paper and says 3zl. 3zl!?! For What?? I just paid 99zl to bail this thing out and now you want 3 more?! Yes, I had to pay 3zl for the guy to stamp a piece of paper saying that I paid the fee to pick up the package! I love government processes!!! Finally I was able to carry my Syphon to the shop! And now I can enjoy Syphon coffee everyday!

Last night was our Christmas party at the shop. We had a great night! We had a concert of both Polish and Irish carols. We had an artist come and express the Christmas story. Painting and telling the story at the same time. Our conference room was turned into a shop featuring all of our friend’s handcrafted items. We also collected canned goods for Bread of Life. It was a very successful and fun night! And in true Christmas Party fashion- I danced around the shop in my Angel wings! (Some traditions you just have to keep!) At the end of the night I was asked to do a demo for all our friends of my Syphon and we all tried syphon brewed coffee! It was great successful night!



I LOVE OUR SHOP!!!!!!!