I’m a little bit annoyed right now. I know everyone thinks that everything is made in China, but when you live there it doesn’t seem like that’s the case. You probably have no idea, so let me share my insight with you.
I have been living overseas for a short while now, just over 2 years. I have come to understand that the local markets are not going to carry the western food items my family likes such as, coffee, Mac n cheese, Italian spices, tortillas, and other things we eat. But what about clothing? The fact that I wear a size 9 women’s shoe and they don’t carry that BIG of a size is a bummer. Ok so I am considered huge in the land of Asia, I will let the clothes slide. But then how about decoration items, table place mats, picture frames, plastic plates, or scented candles. You name it and most likely you will not find it in China. I can however find cheap items like, pens, paper (not lined, they write characters after all), toilet paper, dish soap, etc.
So here I am back in America for a visit and of course I have a few random items to buy before our return to Asia. I never knew how annoyed I would become as everything I purchase really is MADE IN CHINA! For goodness sake! Really? From size 9 shoes, to Crayola products for the kids, I have found this to be true. I can’t believe I am going to fill a suitcase full of things from my list that are made in China. I am literally purchasing them here for a lot higher price and then flying back to where it was made. Give me a break!
But then again, we are guilty of the same thing…our baby on the way was MADE IN CHINA.
As I consider this thought, I find myself thinking about the silly things Americans fill their houses with. Americans really do have more than enough and then some. I guess looking at my Asian neighbor, they just don’t care for the same things and therefore it doesn’t make sense to sell 25 different colors and patterns of bath towels. I then look at the temptations and wonder, do I really need these things? Honestly, probably not. The shoes I do need, but the trap of the Target “dollar spot” items are probably not on my list. It’s amazing how quickly I feel the need to have something. So here goes one more month of just getting what’s on the list (like children’s medicine) and returning with a healthy amount of what we can carry.
So now I agree, everything is made in China, but you won’t find it for sale there. I guess that means I don’t need it in the first place.
Lori~
