If you ever feel so inclined to send me a letter or a care package, this page will help you out!
Mail can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple months to get to Mongolia, or it just may never arrive! Yay!
Letters
If you plan to send me multiple letters during the 2 years I’m gone, be sure to number them so that I’ll know if one never arrived.
Do NOT send money in envelopes! Many envelopes arrive with clipped edges because people will peek into them to see if there’s money inside to steal.
Check with your local post office for weight and size limitations for international envelopes.
Include the word “Airmail” on the envelope, and do NOT use a bunch of cool, interesting looking stamps. It has a much better chance of getting to me if it looks as boring as possible.
Packages
The cheapest way to send me packages is to use the USPS Priority Mail International Flat Rate boxes (unless the package is very lightweight; then it’s cheaper to send via USPS Priority Mail, but NOT in the flat rate boxes). Anything via FedEx, UPS, or any other shipping service will cost much more and I will have to pick it up myself in the capital (which is an expensive plane ride or a 30-50 hour bus ride away).
Remember that you will have to fill out a customs form at the post office as well in order to send packages internationally! And if you’re sending food items, list them last on the customs form or else the package will be more likely to be opened and searched.
Make sure the box is taped well in order to prevent tampering (although boxes are often opened over here anyway to make sure nothing illegal is being sent).
The following items cannot be mailed internationally: aerosols, alcoholic beverages, fresh fruit and vegetables, lithium batteries, nail polish, and perfumes containing alcohol.
Mailing Address
Include both the English and Cyrillic addresses! The easiest thing to do is to copy and paste the address below into a Word doc (you may have to fix the formatting), print it out, and tape it to the envelope/package you’re sending. I don’t expect you to attempt to write the Cyrillic!
Melinda Dolphyn, PCV Melinda Dolphyn, PCV
Health Department эрүүл мэндийн газар
Uliastai district Улиастай сум
Zavkhan province Завхан аймаг
Mongolia Монгол улс
Special Requests
If I have any specific requests, I will list them here, but feel free to send me anything (unless it’s illegal, or food that will spoil during the months it may take to reach me).
- hot cocoa mix
- any kind of seasoning
- Kraft macaroni & cheese
- Cheez-its
- nuts (pistachios, peanuts, cashews, etc.)
- fruit snacks
- candy (sour gummy worms, Sour Patch Kids, gummy bears, etc.)
Min in Mongolia 