A blog entry about unusual souvenirs from LandLopers inspired me to share my exotic treasures.  I can do without keychains, t-shirts, models of tourist sites such as Big Ben, Parthenon, or Eiffel Tower, and all the junk.  Although, I am not going to deny that I am the world’s biggest snow globe collector as I purchase snow globes from every destination I visit.  To hear my reasons for collecting snow globes will have to wait as it’s a whole another entry.

However, that does not mean that I only come back from trips with same old clothes, toiletries, a camera and some snow globes.  Shopping is an integral part of my traveling experiences as materials open me up to greater knowledge about the cultures of the countries.  Every country has its own unique products that cannot be found or are very rare to find in the US.  When I examine products in shops or on streets or even in homes of host families, I am learning about the culture of the country.  For example, when I was in Peru, I saw a ton of brightly colored woven cloth not only in shops, but also on the streets as I saw women utilizing them to carry children or items behind their backs like backpacks.  I also saw them in restaurants being used as table clothes.  When I was in China, I saw many beautiful tea sets with unique designs in shops and through staying with a Chinese friend, I learned that tea is an integral part of the Chinese life as they drink tea everyday.

Cloth from Peru

Tea set from China

Because I rarely purchase household items back home in the States as I rather save my money to purchase goods abroad, I find that bringing back exotic souvenirs and placing them in my home provide me with memories to cherish.  Every product has a story.  When I look at the beautifully sculpted driedel from Israel, I remember the joys of going to the arts and crafts fair in Tel Aviv and enjoying observing all the artwork and talking with artists.  When I wear flats from China, I remember the moment when I brought it in Zhujiajiao, an ancient town near Shanghai, where I was enjoying the sunny day by the river, observing the architecture and sailing on a boat.

Driedel from Israel

Flats from China

I want my home to serve as a place not only for comfort, but also for memories of my travels.

A Boomerang from Australia with Aboriginal Painting

Embroidery Wall Art from an ethnic minority group in China

Towel from Provence, France