NEVER Trust the Spanish Postal System

^(MY PRECIOUS GIRLSCOUT COOKIES!!)

As the title suggests...NEVER trust the Spanish Postal System. EVER. Who knew it would be so hard to receive packages from the USA here? It wasn't this hard in Greece or Australia, and Willa says that it wasn't hard at all in the Czech Republic or The Hague.

My dad sent me a package in November when I got my phone stolen, and it took me 2 weeks to call UPS, write notes and send emails just to receive the replacement phone AFTER it arrived in Spain. While frustrating, the package did get to me.

HOWEVER, this time around, my dad and Julie sent me a surprise package from the USA in February (for Chinese New Year). It took me almost 2 MONTHS to get the package. I received a notice in the mail and went online as instructed. I created an account, filled out paperwork...scanned, sent, check! I even sent a hard copy by mail just incase. Then I got more notifications to scan, fill out, and upload files. THEN I am informed that I have to pay 48 euros for PROCESSING HOLDING fees -- because apparently letting a box of cookies sit on a shelf is really hard and costs oh so much. After paying that money, I was told to upload proof I had paid (I also had to go to the bank to pay and get a special form, which was also a pain because I can only go to the bank on Mondays -- my day off -- or Thursdays because they are open late on Thursdays). Then I was told that my papers had been processed and to wait. I was under the impression that once I paid and the slip was processed, the package would be released and sent to me. WRONG. After paying the fee, I was then informed that my package was being INSPECTED and they would tell me my email when it would be released. So, they had held onto my package for a week, letting it sit on a shelf, and then took one and a half MONTHS to inspect it. Why couldn't they have inspected it while it waited all alone in the darkness for me to get the paperwork in? No sé.

Then I waited...my dad messaged multiple times asking if there were any updates...there weren't. FINALLY I arrived back from Spring/Easter Break/Semana Santa...and in the mail was a letter saying that I need to pick up a package (never got that email though saying it got released).

In the end, I did end up with 8 boxes of Girlscout cookies from my family! It was the best present ever! Of course I was impatient to get 8 BOXES OF GIRLSCOUT COOKIES (the best cookies)! My dad and I have learned our lesson...never shipping to Spain again. Too long, expensive and inefficient. And this is a PSA to anyone thinking about sending packages to anyone in Spain!

And lastly, I found out Julie had been the mastermind behind the Girlscout cookie care package! Such a sweet sister (although I definitely planted the idea in her head awhile ago...Inception? Haha). I've got a pretty nice family if I do say so myself.