Mail Problem In South America

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31645, 3 April 1968, Page 2

Mail Problem In South America

Friends back home did not appreciate how difficult it was to get letters away to them from some foreign countries, said Miss Margaret Cradock on her return from a recent overseas tour.

Posting a letter to New Zealand from some South American towns could take all morning, in addition to writing it, she said. It could be one of the most frustrating aspects of visiting a strange land where Spanish or Portuguese waft the national language.

•■First you have to find a post office and this is not easy in towns where the buildings are not clearly identifiable,” she said. ‘Then you guess which is the right queue for outwardbound air letters by observing the addresses on mail other people are holding. There is a 50-50 chance you will find yourself in the queue for inland air mail stamps. “When your turn comes at the counter, you will probably find the clerk cannot speak any English (and why should he?) or know the value of stamps required for a letter to New Zealand. He may not even know where New Zealand is.” Having bought the stamps and affixed them, the next problem was to decide which was the right posting box for the letter.

“If you go wrong in any of these processes, your letter may never reach its destination,” she said. “Then friends wonder why they do not hear from you more often when you are away in non-English-speaking countries.” Miss Cradock, who is matron of the School for Dental Nurses, said she did not find it satisfactory to leave letters for posting at her hotels. Receptionists in South America, or other foreign countries, seldom knew what stamps were needed on mail

to New Zealand. Many of the hotels did not sell them as part of their service to guests. Public Transport Though she enjoys taking an organised tour round a new city with an Englishspeaking guide to explain the sights, she prefers to make her own way round by bus or other public transport. “In a public bus you see the local inhabitants and feel you are one of them. You get more idea of their way of life and customs,” she said “People on a crowded bus will be most helpful in telling you where to alight or the quickest way to your destination—and there is usually someone who can speak a little English—but there can be a few misunderstandings.” At airports Miss Cradock found the announcements in English spoken with a strong accent and often impossible to understand. She developed

the habit of finding out which passengers at the terminal were travelling on the same air liner as herself and moved towards the tarmac when they did.

All these frustrating situations arose because of a traveller's lack of understanding of the language and customs. They pointed to the need for at least a smattering of Spanish or French. “English - speaking people expect to be able to converse in their own language wherever they are. Wrong Attitude ‘This is quite the wrong attitude. Why should South American clerks, saleswomen and airport officials, for instance speak our language, when we cannot speak theirs?” She visited 24 countries in her nine months tour, and spent two months in South America. She travelled by herself on an itinerary she planned for herself and set her own pace. “Travelling alone is the only way for me," she said. “You see more, make friends wherever you go and learn about a new country firsthand.” Mis Cradock said she never felt apprehensive about being alone In a foreign country nor about acepting invitations home from people she met when travelling. “When you are older you can assess whether or not a person is genuine,” she said. “By getting into a conversation with strangers in a city or on an aircraft I made some wonderful friends. I was invited to birthday and anniversary parties, to many homes and on outings.” When travelling with a companion or in a party, a tourist did not have the same opportunities to talk to local inhabitants and to get to know