Her writing on the top of the card reads " She's definitely mad, no?" ...
I was perplexed by the Wien (Vienna) postmark though... this package has done the full World Tour ... (George, can you translate it?) ...
Then it hit me. AUSTRIA. AUSTRALIA. Only 2 letters difference! Mad Mad got it right, of course - but some bozo in the United States Postal Service clearly doesn't know his (let's assume it's a guy called Al, shall we?) geography. At all.
But the main event is the wonderful book and card. Dotter and I both really love them, and what can I say? You are totally and completely awesome, MadMad!! We're still needing the 'pick me up' value of such a gift, and it is just perfect.
Thank you!!!
You are still belly dancing, right? that will help you both stay cheery, and it brightens up those gloomy winter days.
ReplyDeleteAustria, Australia, they both have -- hm, er, no; they both, uh, hm. Huh. Letters. In their names. Sheesh.
ReplyDeleteI have American friends here in Vienna who reckon a lot of their mail goes via Australia - don't know how the problem in the US Postal Service can be so prevalent! As for the German on the label I reckon it means that the letter was sent to the Central Post Office (Briefzentrum) because the postcode/address was not recognisable(gestellungsfrei) - but my German is very rudimentary and I can't guarantee that!!
ReplyDeleteI've had that before. A magazine subscription from the US actually had me on file as being in Austria - eventually it used to make it to me but not after going round about. I even tried telling the company I was in AUSTRALIA and they never changed their records.
ReplyDeleteAnd Rachel is so very cool.
Lovely cheering-up gifts!
ReplyDeletePenny is right about Briefzentrum, and I went to the source (Beloved) for Gestellungsfrei. It has him stumped too - he thought it might be a peculiar Austrian phrase, but now he thinks it is to with customs: "to waive requirement to submit goods". Which I think means is cleared by Customs.
Typically German - they love to use one big composite word where in english we might use 3 or 4 or more! (crosswords in german - now there's a brain twister!)
See, you have made the assumption that it was a mistake that your package went to Austria instead. As if the US education system has prepared it's students for recognizing geographical locations. Most US citizens I don't believe know all 50 states. Half the people I talk to ask if I need a passport to travel home or to the lower 48.
ReplyDeleteThat is an awesome pressie.
Hunh. My letters from California are frequently sent via New Zealand. No, I don't understand that one either!
ReplyDeleteI once had a letter that was going to England delayed by the British post who mistakenly thought my distinctly written Road was Drive (or Street, I forget which) and delivered the piece way off base.
ReplyDeleteJust goes to show ... there are dunces everywhere!
I have been telling EVERYONE this story - the worst part is the three other packages I sent off to AustrALia - at the very same time! - made it, so how could this one have gone the wrong way? It's completely nuts! Kind of like when I first moved here from South America and everyone wondered what it must be like for me "now that I had to wear clothes all the time." Can you believe it?
ReplyDelete