Generosity

Every few months, my company gives every employee a gift bag filled with household items. It is the kind of generosity that you hardly ever see in the United States; at least I know I never saw it at any of the places where I worked. Each bag contains everyday, practical goods like dishwashing liquid, hair shampoo, and hand sanitizer.


These bags are extremely popular with the workers. I think it's part of what the Chinese have learned from experience. Only a few decades ago, goods like these were only available through a system of rationing. Now, of course, you can find them in all of the supermarkets, but they aren't exactly free. And, to be honest, some of the low wage-scale employees at my place still find it hard to afford a few of the items in the bag. It's a luxury for them.


As for us foreigners, we also happily acknowledge the company's spirit of giving. But in the back of my mind, I can't help but recall the news stories from back in the day about Chinese-made goods like these: the toothpaste which contained a strange chemical additive that might be dangerous, the laundry soap that didn't really get clothes clean, the toys coated with lead-based paint.


The first thing I look for when open my gift bag is the item whose label lacks a single word of English. Nothing but Chinese characters. I have no idea what it is, absolutely no clue. Just opening the cap sends me on an adventure like a kid with a brand new chemistry set. Is it solid? Liquid? Will it kill bugs? Should I wear eye protection? Should I keep it out of reach of children and / or pets? Is it edible? What is it really used for, anyway?


Maybe it's a setup. After a few days, some guys in uniforms will get into my apartment when I don't show up for work: "Stupid foreigner. He should have known better than to let the Traditional Chinese Herbal Milk Whitener Body Wash mix with ordinary bath water. OK, let's take him to the hospital and clean out his lungs."


I mean, how else will the other 1.3 billion consumers know if it's safe?