Balikbayan box

Do you know what one of those is?  I didn't either.

As per Wikipedia:

"A balikbayan box (literally "repatriate box") is a corrugated box containing items sent by overseas Filipinos (known as "balikbayan's"). Though often shipped by freight forwarders specializing in balikbayan boxes by sea, such boxes can be brought by Filipinos returning to the Philippines by air."

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As per this image this is what could be inside of one:

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I was reading an article in our newspaper about how there is a new school curriculum that engages Filipiono-Canadian students with lessons on immigrant life and culture.  They watched a documentary by Alex Humilde entitled "Balikbayans."  I tried to find information on this documentary but came up empty handed.

I know many immigrants send money back to their home countries to support relatives, but didn't realize there were businesses set up especially for sending boxes back.

When we first came to Canada we used to send gifts via mail for all special occasions.  However due to the rising price of shipping I don't do that very often now, I tend to order online and ship directly from the UK.  However I did send a package over to my mother last Wednesday and she got it in Britain on Saturday morning.  Fast or what!

So this was my new thing I learned about on Monday.  Always good to start your week off by learning something new, right?