the french do everything by commitee. (its understandable when you know the history, and that one in three are employed by the government, but still, at times it can be baffling). i had five little cartes postales to mail to the USA today.
step one: stand in line (with three people pressed right up against/behind you) at an open window marked 'pour envoyer etranger' (for foreign outgoing mail)
step two: wait
step three: greet postal worker behind counter, 'bonjour monsieur/madame', then ask nicely if it is ok to give him/her money in exchange for postage stamps
step four: wait while said worker inspects postcards, and thinks about your request.
step five: wait while said worker gets up, goes across room and asks another worker if said request is possible
step six: thank the worker when he says yes it can be done, but you must do it at the other window, just next to his because today his really isn't the foreign outgoing window as that worker is on vacation
step seven: wait in line at other window
step eight: repeat your request, again as politely as possible (use formal french peppered with s'il vous plaits)
step nine: wait while new worker confers with previous about your request
step ten: wait while third worker offers his/her opinion
step eleven: wait while all three wonder about the room to find the correct stamps
step twelve: pay 1.30e (exact change is a must) and take the stamps to other counter, apply them to postcards of course
step thirteen: find outgoing foreign mailbox outside post office
step fourteen: ask god why, why, why?! is the outgoing foreign mailbox taped shut with an 'interdit' sign?!?!?