Did you know that we run classes all year round at BKC? We even have summer and winter camps for teenagers to keep them busy during their school holidays. So, naturally we constantly see new teachers joining our wonderful teaching team. And sadly we see many familiar faces leaving. Diane, our beloved ADOS for Tverskaya is leaving soon and here's what she's found out at the Main Post Office, where you can send parcels overseas:

Dealing with the Международный почтамт doesn't have to be a nightmare if you know what to expect. First of all the address: It's 37 Varshavskoe Shosse (Варшавское Шоссе). Go to Nagatinskaya Metro (south on the Grey line) and you can walk. You'll come out on Varshavskoe Shosse. When you get there go to the packing window and get a customs declaration. All of them must be filled out for each package. Your package cannot weigh more than 20kg or be more than 1 metre long. Also you cannot have any books in it. Books are wrapped separately and for some reason do not need customs declaration. The books can only go in 5kg increments. So once you have all your paperwork completed head back to the packing counter. Everything must be wrapped in brown paper by them. Even if you are sending luggage, they will tape cardboard to it and wrap it in brown paper. I'm not sure what the rate is for this. We paid about 1000 rubles but we had 80kg of stuff. Then we took the books to one counter and the rest to another. No duty needed to be paid for the books but we had to pay 10% duty on the rest. She charged us 10% of the amount we said it was worth, not the amount we declared on the customs declarations. It saved us a bit of money. Also you can choose to send it by air or land. A friend went home to Australia a year ago. He sent some things by land and others by air. They all arrived at the same time. The ladies there are quite helpful and patient but you'll need to allow yourself a couple of hours. Good luck!

Diane