google is the kind

I know what you mean about having books available on local bookstore shelves. The pickings are pretty slim here in Seoul.

I prefer to buy in local stores over online as I get to look at the books then and see if it's what I want. That's impossible to do online.

And customs? More like crooks. If they don't damage or lose things, they just steal it. My last few packages have gotten through ok, but my running average is about 20% or so don't arrive. But that's only low because I stopped using any postal service and only use couriers now. It's just not sane or rational to use the regular postal service for anything that is even moderately important for international shipping.

I have some documents that I need to send to Canada. They're important and cannot be replaced. I'll be taking them in person with my carry-on luggage and not even using a courier as it's just not worth the risk of them getting lost.