Traveling and new discoveries go together. Places, food, people, art …and office supplies?
One of our more unique habits when traveling in foreign countries is that we like to check out office supply stores. More accurately, I like to check out office supply stores, and Mr. Jones indulges my quirk.
Whether it’s a tiny stationary store in France, an airport shop in Hong Kong or part of a large department store in Bali, I love to spend a few minutes checking out office supplies around the world. Things like pens, journals, scissors and tape.
It seems that other countries always have cool things that I haven’t seen or used before – usually before they become part of the every day US office supply selection.
What kinds of things?
- The escargot tape dispenser shaped like a snail from a little stationary store in Lyon, France, found in 2002. (I have since seen them in the US.)
- The hot pink gel pen I picked up in the Hong Kong airport in 1997 – long before gel pens where mainstream in the US.
- The inexpensive disposable fountain pen in the Dymocks in Sydney.
And the Stabilo 68
pens that I found in the office supply section of a Bali department store that are currently my favorite pens.
I used to savor these “treasures” to make them last as possible. Luckily, now it seems that I can source most of these items at home after my travels via the wonderful world of Amazon.
What unusual things do you like to shop for when in foreign countries?
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