Julia Romano

I mentioned my Swedish Fjällräven backpack a few issues ago, and it got me thinking about the nature of souvenirs. Why do we choose the souvenirs that we do? Is it better to buy something unique to the location or a similar object from each location to build a collection? Why bother at all, when photographs will help you remember your trip far better than anything else? I think the answers to these questions are truly subjective and reveal a lot about an individual’s values. 

I have purchased quite a few souvenirs over the years, but here are the four that stand out most in my mind:

Venice: Goto di Furnasa

I love Venice. I love Venice so much that I occasionally google “American teacher job in Venice” to see if, miraculously, a high-paying teaching opportunity in the city with easy visa access has materialized, but this has not yet happened. 

When I was last in Venice most recently, I righted a wrong from a previous trip–I purchased a goto di furnasa, a glassmaker’s tumbler. According to the associate at Carattere Originale, goti di furnasa are designed with finger-sized indents so they are easily grippable during the hot and sweaty glassmaking process. Glassmaking has an important role in Venice’s cultural and economic history; archaeological finds suggest that glassmaking has been present in the archipelago since the 8th century. In fact, glassmaking was so important to the city that in the 1200s, the Republic passed a law banning the importation of foreign glass or the employment of foreign glassworkers. Glassware as a Venetian souvenir makes perfect sense, but I chose a goto di furnasa because I loved the idea of buying something related to the process of cultural heritage, rather than just cultural heritage itself. 

England: Twinings Tea Box

I had two objectives when I visited England in 2016: see a Shakespeare play at the Globe (Macbeth!) and visit the Twinings Flagship Store at 216 Strand. The pale yellow packets of Twinings Earl Grey have always been ubiquitous in my life (I drink one every morning and have them stuffed in a commemorative Diana/Charles Walkers Shortbread tin at school), and I added the stop to my itinerary when I learned that the Flagship store has been in the same location since it was purchased by Thomas Twinings in 1706. I was surprised by how small the store was compared to the other buildings on the Strand, but I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of flavors in the beautifully staged shop. I settled on Turkish Apple (which may not exist anymore) and this display box. 

England’s tea industry is tied deeply to its imperialist history in both India and China. Tea originates from China, who, in the 1800s, was not particularly interested in trading with England for anything but silver for its porcelain and tea, much to England’s chagrin. In 1848, the British government sent Robert Fortune (an apt last name) to steal tea plants to grow in England’s nearby colony in India. The British also smuggled highly-addictive opium into China to put the balance of trade back in their favor (even if it required the extra step of paying off their trading debts with money made on the black market), leading to the Opium Wars, the Boxer Rebellion, and then a century of foreign intervention and occupation in China. Did I know any of this before purchasing the box? No! Do I think about this every time I open my Twinings box now? I sure do! Such is the life of a world history teacher. Sometimes I think there’s very little we can perfectly ethically consume. 

After thinking this through, I suppose the display box isn’t a favorite souvenir anymore, but I’m not going to delete this section because it’s important!

Canada: Snowboots

My life changed for the better when I started investing in high-quality gear for inclement weather. I haven’t had to replace my rainboots in 12 years, and I’m never cold in the winter anymore. I figured that when I visited Montreal during the month of February, it was the perfect time to invest in high quality snowboots because if there was anywhere that I would trust for high quality snowboots, it’s Montreal in the winter. I ended up purchasing a pair of boots from Timberland, which is unfortunately not a Canadian company, but I guess by purchasing them in Canada, I helped the Canadian economy, which makes it justifiable, right? Ten years later, they’re in near perfect condition, and they keep me warm (and safe from slipping!) every winter. Also, they look great. Tragically, my other souvenir from that Montreal trip didn’t last anywhere as long–the maple sugar marshmallow didn’t even make it to March. Most of them didn’t make it back to America. 

Oman: Massar

The most beautiful souvenirs I have ever bought were these scarves (massar) from Oman. The massar is a key part of the Omani man’s daily wardrobe. Omani men typically wear a “robe” called a dishdasha,* sandals (even at formal events!), and either a cap called a kummah or the aforementioned massar (which is more formal). 

While dishdashas tended to be white (although colors like grey, black, and maroon weren’t unheard of), there is enormous variation in the colors and patterns on massar, as evident in the photos above. I then spent far too much time in the Nizwa souq weighing the different options in embroidery and hue, and eventually landed on a lavender scarf and a maroon scarf. I wish I knew more about the history of the massar; there isn’t a ton in English, and while I could do some research in Arabic, I got stressed looking at my screen as soon as I put عُمان مِصَر into Google because, well, it’s been a while since I’ve had to do research in Arabic. Also massar is pretty close to the Arabic name for Egypt, and I didn’t get many useful hits on the first few pages either. 

Here’s what I’ve learned: Most of my favorite souvenirs are rooted in culture and history. Despite my brief dalliance with the Starbucks “You Are Here” Collection, I gravitate toward items unique to or at least emblematic of the places I’ve visited. The older I get, the less I feel the need to buy something for myself on every trip (my house is FULL!), but the purchases that I do make give me quite a bit of joy. But what matters most to me is what I’ve learned and the time I spent with my family. 

After writing this post, my husband and I talked about what the perfect souvenir from Columbus would be. Columbus’s largest industries are insurance, medicine, and Ohio State, so an Ohio State sweatshirt from Homage is probably the logical answer to that question.** Unless you want to gift someone an insurance policy.

*My favorite feature of the dishdasha is the attached tassel, called a furakha. The furakha hangs from the collar and is meant to be infused with oils, so you can bring a scent with you wherever you go. One of my teachers in Oman said that the furakha is convenient to have if you’re walking past something… unsavory; you can hold the tassel up to your nose as you pass by, making life a lot more enjoyable. 

**The BEST answer to the question though is a photoshoot in the field of corn.