“A Year Without Made in China”

Sara Bongiomi “A Year Without Made in China”

“A Year Without Made in China” is a true life story of Sara Bongiomi and her family. One day, in the morning after the Christmas party, gazing piles of Christmas presents on a table and indications saying as “Made in China” tagged most of the items, she slightly and wonderingly suggested her husband to stop bringing any more Chinese stuffs to their house. From the next New Year’s Day 1 year onwards, they basically accomplished the promise.

Strictly speaking, however, readers would easily realize that their real life and one year experiment is not regarded as successful. After all, she is rule book itself. She had changed the rule several times and struggled until the end of the year. Closer the Christmas season comes, especially, harder and harder to survive without Chinese purchases. Toys, shoes and glasses are closest Chinese friends as I estimated from her experience.

Although I might have said they just have obtained superficial success, the point is not whether being successful or not, but is being gradually started to pay attention toward their attitude for consumption. They stopped boycotting after survived for 1 year, because that had completely changed their own life. Still they settled more flexible rules again for trying to avoid Chinese products as much as they can, imagining Chinese workers behind the product, believing that is the good way for workers both in China and in other countries.

Standing on such viewpoint, this book would poke readers in their shoulder, those who does not have brave for China boycotting like she did, and give training opportunities so as to be good consumers.

The funniest part is when they bought monopoly, the board game. She turned it over and checked it is written as “Made in U.S” at the bottom of the box. After they got home they opened it, and found a small plastic package of pieces printed as “Made in China”. They gave it back to the store and that made their kids wondered and being sad a bit. I bet in all likelihood readers can easily be lured by the story, and to regard themselves in the end how careless when they pick something from the shelves in a store.