I recently wrote of my experiences packing for Iraq. Today I had the pleasure of actually hauling my personal effects to the post office for shipment.

I had a total of roughly 60 pounds of stuff in four boxes, which all shipped priority mail for roughly $70. A few observations:

• You use the big white form, PS 2976-A. You don’t need to fill out PS 2976 at all.
• The customs form is affixed to the outside of the package by the postal clerk. Thus, you can seal your packages before you bring them to the post office
• I checked ‘gift’ as the type, and entered the ‘Certified to be bona fide gift…’ text from my previous post in the Description of Contents. Whether this will pass customs muster or not remains to be seen.

I’ve been advised repeatedly to travel to Iraq with no more than one carry-on bag. Since I’ll have to bring my laptop, this means either lugging two bags around, or getting a backpack which can accomodate a laptop. My inclination is towards the latter.

In either case, the majority of the stuff I’m bringing will need to be shipped ahead of me via APO (Army/Air Force Post Office) mail.

I’m still working on my Iraq packing list, but I’d better hurry; I have just been advised by one of the team on the ground that I need to send it ASAP if it’s to arrive before I do, on or about 16-Jan-06. It seems absurd that a shipment to an APO would take a month, but that doesn’t mean I’m willing to risk it. From the 2005 International and Military Mail Christmas Mailing Dates page, parcel post should be shipped by Nov 12 (!!) to arrive by Christmas. Priority Mail needs to ship by Dec 5; 20 days seems a long time, but oh well.