The Things We Buy

My daughter was going on a school language study trip, visiting Spain from France. School suggested she buy a small gift for her host family to be given to them on arrival. There were a few other things she needed for the trip, and in true parent style, I decided I’d gather everything at a shop on my route. Nothing like being prepared. I found myself in a large store that I believed would sell everything I needed. I found the small shampoo, hair conditioner and toothpaste (and realised I need to invest in small reusable containers for future travel, crazy to use all this extra small plastic packaging); then I started looking for the host gift, something small to say thanks. I looked at candles, small robust glassware for a flower, and general small homey items. Everything had a label, and every label said… made in China. I was shocked. I did buy the toiletries but left the store feeling down. My feelings had turned from shock to total embarrassment with myself. I had shopped there many times before and had never looked at the labels. Today was different because I didn’t want my daughter to give her Spanish host a gift that was not from France. If anything I thought my error would be a gift from Spain or the Netherlands, which would not do. But imagine all that stock coming all the way from China? so unnecessarily!!! No, our planet deserves better, I will not buy items that do not need to travel. I will support local business and I will contribute to the economy of my country as well as stop unnecessary transport. I know I have a long way to go in changing my ways. Life can be fast-paced and easy shopping happens. We all know it has a cost, perhaps not to our pocket but to our planet, and people.

I found a beautiful locally-made salad bowl in the next shop I called at. That certainly made me feel better.