Souvenirs
After returning to the States after more than two months in the Middle East, I remember going through US Customs at JFK (New York) airport. Here’s how it went:
He waved me through, but I had a sneaking suspicion he thought I was trying to sneak something illicit into the country. How could someone spend two months traveling without buying a single souvenir? Easy: travel light and make memories your souvenirs rather than material possessions. Now, I’ll admit every once in while I purchase something overseas (usually for someone else). But there are tricks to buying stuff and still traveling light.
“Where have you been?” the Customs Officer asked me.
“Umm, let’s see…Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Cyprus, Greece, and Turkey—I loved Turkey,” I gushed.
“How long have you been out of the country?” he said in a stern tone.
“Oh, a few months,” I responded.
“Where’s your luggage?”
“Right here on my back, sir,” I replied.
“Bringing back any trinkets? Any souvenirs?” he said, eyeing me.
“Just pictures, memories, and my travel journal,” I said.
For example, if it’s a large purchase (a Swiss cuckoo clock or Persian rug, for example), mail it to yourself back home—so it’s waiting for you when you arrive. Most shop keepers can help you with this, and may even ship it straight from their shop to your address! If it’s a smaller purchase (like English toffee or an Inca bracelet), pack it in your bag. And if you buy lots of things—like, if shopping is your reason fro traveling—consider buying an extra bag while you’re traveling, and make that your “checked” baggage at the airport. (But it sucks to lug around an extra bag full of goodies…talk about a target for thieves…)
Another tip: while souvenir shopping overseas can be fun, be sure you will actually use what you buy. Sure, that gold-plated replica bust of Nefertiti looks swanky in the shop, but unless you’re an Egyptologist who really needs it for your collection, it will become a simple dust collector (and probably broken by the time you get home).
