SETTLING IN - CultureShock! A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette - page 158

office, La Poste Centrale, is open 24 hours daily: 52 rue du
Louvre, 75001; tel: [phone]
Lettres recommandées (registered letters) are routinely
used by the French, as they are legal proof that a person has
communicated with another on a certain date. There are two
types: avec accusé de réception , which has a return receipt,
or recommandée simple , which does not.
Packages mailed at the post office may weigh up to 30
kg. To determine the weight of a letter or a small parcel,
use one of the automatic coin-operated weighing machines
that issues the correct postage. There is also a machine that
dispenses the appropriate stickers for a package. To avoid
flimsy packaging that may be rejected, you can buy sturdy,
inexpensive mailing cartons at the post office. To pick up
a package or a registered letter, bring identification.
Rush Mail Options
Chronopost International, La Poste's express mail service,
guarantees second-day delivery of packages and letters to
North America and third-day service to Asia (customer service
tel: [phone]; website:http://www.chronopost.com).
The major international air couriers are also efficient and
reliable, although somewhat more expensive.
DHL; 59 avenue d'léna, 75016; toll-free tel: [phone];
website: http://www.dhl.fr
Federal Express; 63 boulevard Haussmann, 75008; toll-free
tel: [phone]; website: http://www.fedex.com/fr
UPS; 107 rue Réaumur, 75002; 34 boulevard Malesherbes,
75009; toll-free tel: [phone]; website:http://www.
ups.com; Also in Office Depot stores.
Television
There are six non-cable chaînes (channels) in France. With
cable, dozens of international and multilingual channels
are available, including the English BBC, German ZDF,
Italian RAI Uno and the American CNN. France 24 English
is a new 24-hour news channel. For information and
hook-up, call Numericable (tel: 3990; website:http://www.
noos.fr). You can also subscribe to cable at any shop that