Made In America?

The customs officer looked at me suspiciously.

There were four large suitcases and I had informed him that all of them contained gifts for my family members.

“What kind of family is yours? It is hard to believe in today’s times that you have a family large enough to fit a state?” said the customs officer sarcasm writ large both on the face as well in the words he spoke.

I was about to lose my patience. After all, the gifts have been bought by me from my hard-earned money after a long stay in America! I said controlling my raising anger. “With due respect to you sir. I am the first person in my family, belonging to my generation to visit the USA, and also, I happened to be the youngest in a family of 10.”

The officer‘s eyebrows went up northwards, steeply.

Grudgingly, he waved his hand and allowed me to pay the duties for only a few of the items.

Heaving a sigh of relief I stuffed all the goods back into my bag and ventured out to greet my family members; they must have booked a bus to come to the Airport! All my elder brothers and some of their sons and daughters were peering over the crowd to trace me.

The minute I waved and caught their attention, they scooped up all my luggage within a fraction of a second, and dragged them towards a minivan; they almost forgot me in the bargain!

One of my brothers gracefully waved his arm beckoning me to get into the van.

After reaching home, as agreed, all the items were to be neatly kept in a separate room for the arrival of my mother who had insisted to have a look at everything brought by me, before distribution.

After a heavy lunch, everyone assembled and sat on the floor in the room leaving space for the mother to sit on a chair.

My mother aged 85, walked slowly towards her chair and ordered me to start the proceedings.

I took out the long list containing names and the items I had bought and started explaining to the mother.

The first item was a jogging suit for my elder brother. My mother asked me, “where did you buy this from? America?” I looked at her and turned the suit in my hand to observe that it was actually made in Taiwan. So I told her, “Yes mom. I bought it from the US but it is actually made in Taiwan.”

My mother scorned at me and said, “ You were supposed to buy from America. When did you go to Taiwan? Anyway, show me the next one.”

The next one was a dress material for my eldest sister-in-law and yes, it was made in China.

It so happened, that item after items I took out and showed it the grand old lady of our family and she, insisted on knowing the country of make; and it turned out to be Sri Lanka, Malesia, China, and even India!

My mother threw her hands and in a voice that showed very little interest in all the items and asked me. “For haven’s sake, haven’t you bought anything that’s actually made in America? You have brought items which are made in other countries, including, god forbid me, even India?”

How I could tell her that the US of A is very famous for importing virtually everything from outside, even those items that they  themselves could manufacture in large quantity, if they desire! 

This was not the time to explain to my exasperated mother, ‘the law of comparative advantage!'. Not knowing what to do or say, I made a long face and started thinking; how do I come out of this? 

Suddenly, ‘Eureka’! an idea exploded in my mind.

I took out my wallet and removed a hundred dollar bill – which I had preserved as a souvenir for myself – and dangled it in front of my mother and said smilingly. “Mom, this one is for you. This is, without doubt, made in America!”

Even as my mother looked at the dollar bill and started to smile, my elder brother chided from behind. “Bro, don’t be so sure. I read somewhere that lots Russian  counterfeit dollars are floating in America!”