No more care packages as of January 2014! I'm at the point where I may not receive them before I COS if you send anything now. Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who spent time and money sending me goodies all the way in Madagascar. Your kindness and generosity was (and still is) extremely appreciated!
Mailing tips:
1. Customs forms: remember that you will need to fill out a customs form to send anything overseas. Don’t declare a value over $20. The form isn't complicated to fill out, just slightly annoying. You can get them at the post office or online at the USPS store. Their online store will send you mailing supplies for free (that is, free supplies and free shipping!)
2. Packaging: USPS is recommended for sending packages. If you use the USPS Priority Mail Medium Size box, it is around $60 flat rate to mail to Madagascar. The post office also told me that if you didn't send it Priority Mail, a box that size would still be around the same price. So, I would recommend sending something in one of these boxes, OR, sending in a padded envelope. If you are sending a smaller amount of stuff, padded envelopes are better than actual boxes, because they don't cost me any money in taxes to pick up from the post office. A large padded envelope should cost around $26 to mail from the US.
3. Theft/tampering with packages: If you can, put stickers around the edges for packages (to prevent/identify tampering), and include a list of what you mailed me so I can know if anything was pilfered when the package was inspected. Also, a lot of people swear by putting crosses, religious sayings, and Christian stickers on the outside, because supposedly the postal workers' fingers get a little less sticky if they think the package is church-related.
4. Write “Airmail” and “Par Avion" on the outside.
THANK YOU!!!
