Before I moved to China I asked everyone I knew who had been there before what I should pack. I got all kinds of advice – in fact that was my very first blog post on my former blog (The Shanghai Chronicle). I took the advice seriously and pretty much packed it all (and lots more). In my two suitcases I crammed all matter of things that were used for my first 9 months in China.
Five years on, some of that advice no longer holds. The number of international stores in Shanghai has blossomed – from a Marks and Spencer where I can buy puff pastry and dresses that actually fit to the chain Watsons (a drugstore) which carries Cetaphil (my face wash). More and more of what I deem to be “normal” is appearing in the shops – and I’m guessing is also purchased by Chinese customers.
One thing that I remember specifically being warned to pack was dental floss. I was warned that Chinese people don’t care much about oral hygiene and since it was small, I should tuck it into my bag. Each time I have gone back to the US, I have continued to purchase a roll or two because it was something just not worth researching. Unfortunately, this time when I was back in the States, I forgot. My dental floss ran out only a couple days after I got back.
If I asked someone to mail it to me it would probably cost more in postage than the floss itself so I started looking for alternatives. My supermarket had some “dental floss picks” – which I bought, but was not very impressed. I had almost given up when I was in a 7-11 by my office and saw that they had dental floss. In a convenience store!
I bought a roll and took it home, examining the packaging and opened it up. It was regular dental floss. Turning the roll over, I realized that it had been made in Ireland.
The global dental floss
That is a story of globalization. Dental floss purchased by an American woman at a convenience store in Shanghai that had been made in Ireland. It boggles the mind.
So now, I need to hope that American-style deoderant can make that same long trip!
Have you ever marveled at where the most basic of commodities comes from?
Yes! Like the Apple products which are made in China, technically have to “leave” the country and come back in so the govt can ensure their tax base!
That happened to me too – I got an iPad for my birthday (made in Chengdu) and it had to go through customs to be delivered to Shanghai. Crazy…
Yup, Family Mart with the dental floss! I discovered that sometime summer 2012. Awesome!
Who’d have thought? I couldn’t find it in EMART or Lianhua or anywhere else, but Family Mart!
Thank the Japanese! (Though don’t tell the Chinese that.)
Even when we were living in England, I couldn’t find American-style stick deodorant (everyone else in the world is apparently ok with roll-on or spray, yech!). I’m sure it’s somewhere in Hong Kong, but I stocked up over the summer in the US anyhow to avoid the problem….
Similar here – I prefer the “stick style” myself and don’t necessarily want the “sports scents” with lemon or really aggressive aftershave scent. I will say though, unless it’s really hot, there aren’t aggressive odors when riding the subway or in the office which must say something about its necessity.
It’s always the little things! I actually found stick deodorant at a Rossman (convenience/drug store) in Berlin, but it does not exist anywhere in the tiny town that we live in. And we also have the same dental floss, also made in Ireland
That’s funny. I wonder where else that Irish dental floss has wound up? Any other folks in the world seen it?
Hurrraaah for globalisation! Toiletries aside, I cannot even tell you how much I miss Marks and Spencers underwear. Every Brit abroad has this problem, it’s such a cliché… but one that’s actually true!
I know that when the store came to town there was much rejoicing in the expat community. It’s now a couple of years later.
I’m so jealous! As you’ll no doubt remember, there’s a dearth of supermarkets in Toledo. Things haven’t much improved in the ten years since you’ve lived here. It’s a major drawback
I do remember that. I actually lived outside the city and commuted via bus each day to classes in the old city. Seems like a lifetime ago! I remember the American Store in Madrid where we would buy peanut butter and maple syrup and other yummy things.
Reblogged this on the right smile.