Here's a quick, hopefully easy question. I need to post a tax form to the US, which unfortunately has forced me to face my greatest fear: looking like an idiot in front of a crowd of people while I struggle to understand how the postal service works.

Walking by my local post office beneath Thong Lo BTS I notice there seems to be some sort of electronic ticket machine by the door. Is this a 'take a number and wait' style ticket machine intended to impose a little order on the queueing process, or am I going to start jabbing at buttons until I accidentally pay my electricity bill?

If it is a ticket machine for queueing, are the instructions for use in English or just Thai?

To normal, well balanced people this will seem like a question that could easily be answered by pressing buttons or asking someone for help, but I'm sure my fellow maladjusted freaks will understand the fear of walking into a crowded room in which everyone else knows what they're doing while I have no clue

<p>Can you fax it?

Can you fax it?

I wish Nah, the IRS needs an original (apparently they're too good for faxes and photocopies).

However you don't mind laying yourself open to attacks by our beloved trolls?

Just do it wrong for goodness sakes, you'll find out, that's how I used to do business, and it worked. If you see a number that is changing periodically somewhere up in the ceiling, then there is indeed a ticket numbering machine somewhere, just grin stupidly and gibber, somebody will help.

Walk in - spot a cute girl, ask for her help. Post your letter and take her out for lunch. Happy days.

Maladjusted Freak !

Only joking . Brave to post such a question and 'cooked's' answer is the best - grab a ticket and bumble your way through it.

Walk in, push the button and take the ticket and wait for your turn to come up.

If there's more than one button press them all, take all the tickets and wait until the first one comes up.

Don't forget to shout 'BINGO' when they call your number.

As above, the machine at the Post Office at Thonglor only has one button, they are pretty good in there.

give the letter to a motorbike taxi...figure out what means "registered" and wait till he brings you the exchange money back

As above, the machine at the Post Office at Thonglor only has one button, they are pretty good in there.

Cheers guys There was indeed just a massive single button, which made things considerably less intimidating. 19 baht for airmail to the US, too, which is nice.

One of these days I'll work out how I can live in places like Thailand and Mongolia quite comfortably and happily without more than a basic understanding of the language, and yet fall to pieces at the prospect of looking silly in a post office.

As above, the machine at the Post Office at Thonglor only has one button, they are pretty good in there.

Cheers guys There was indeed just a massive single button, which made things considerably less intimidating. 19 baht for airmail to the US, too, which is nice.

One of these days I'll work out how I can live in places like Thailand and Mongolia quite comfortably and happily without more than a basic understanding of the language, and yet fall to pieces at the prospect of looking silly in a post office.

It would have been better if you would have sent it registered (I think +25 Baht)

There's no shame in looking stupid at such things. Everyone learns. I recall my driving test thing in Thailand. I had no idea what i was doing with those machines that test eyesight, but i just played the dumb farang in a midst of Thais doing the same test, got a laugh for saying the wrong colours and they gave me my licence and a nice round of applause.

Easy.

It's part of the fun of being here.

Self-deprecation goes a long way.

In this country the stupid are not foreigners usually :-)

OP. What's your next mission regarding queueing system gonna be, getting on a bus in Bangkok?

OP. What's your next mission regarding queueing system gonna be, getting on a bus in Bangkok?

yes, it must be great to know that you never feel uncertain about anything. I myself just don't give a flying flamingo's f*** about anything any more (apart from my wife), but I do respect people that do.

OP. What's your next mission regarding queueing system gonna be, getting on a bus in Bangkok?

yes, it must be great to know that you never feel uncertain about anything. I myself just don't give a flying flamingo's f*** about anything any more (apart from my wife), but I do respect people that do.

Obviously you didn't understand the relation with 'queueing system' and getting on a bus in Bangkok.

OP. What's your next mission regarding queueing system gonna be, getting on a bus in Bangkok?

We didn't talk about the bum gun for quite a while......

OP. What's your next mission regarding queueing system gonna be, getting on a bus in Bangkok?

yes, it must be great to know that you never feel uncertain about anything. I myself just don't give a flying flamingo's f*** about anything any more (apart from my wife), but I do respect people that do.

Obviously you didn't understand the relation with 'queueing system' and getting on a bus in Bangkok.

yes of course, I just realised how stupid I am, thanks for the reminder, professor