Contact Info & Mailing Tips


Email: tara.ann.matthews@gmail.com 

Phone Numbers: Email me or talk to my wonderful parents  

Mailing Address:
Tara Matthews, Peace Corps Volunteer
P.O. Box 96
Kitgum, Uganda

East Africa

Emergency Contact: Peace Corps Headquarters, Available 24/7, 1-800-424-8580, Extension 1470

The following are some helpful tidbits when it comes to sending letters and beloved packages to yours truly.  This is taken from my Bestie in Uganda, Sophie, who credited Rwanda PCV Nick McClure...  

- Padded envelopes are great and pretty inexpensive.  If you use a box, USPS Standard/Pre-Paid boxes are best.  FedEx, UPS, and DHL are relatively expensive and Express Mail is never "Express" when it has to travel 8,000+ miles.

- Write in red ink and include Bible verses or symbols.  I mean who would steal from God?!  You could even address it to Sister Tara Matthews.

- Use a TON of tape.  Quoting a PCV in Kenya, "Use as much tape as you think you would need if you were planning to drop-kick it into a pile of land mines.  Now double it."

- When sending valuables, AKA money or a flash drive, "Put the precious item in a Ziploc Bag and then put it inside something else... A sealed bag of food or a container that you can glue the top back on."  Thanks Candy!

- When declaring Customs, keep it short and sweet.  "Educational Materials" is pretty broad and encompasses almost anything.  Do not declare the package value as being over $15.

- If you are sending a postcard, which is awesome, use an envelope.  Post Offices here will most often mistake it for a piece of art for their walls rather than a letter.

- For letters, number them that way we can keep track if one goes missing somewhere over The Atlantic.

The Perks?!  If you send me something, I promise I will send you something in return.  There are some pretty nifty things over here!  

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