One more reason...

I've always loved Starbucks, or Fivebucks, or St. Arbuck's, as some call it. We've had a longstanding relationship, especially when I was working full time. I stopped there 4 or 5 times a week, but now, I rarely go. This is mostly due to financial and health reasons, not that their coffee isn't delicious and addicting and probably laced with at least a trace of crack.

Ok, so my love of that particular company grew the other day when I stumbled upon a product of theirs I previously had no knowledge of.

A little background: I was searching for Taiwan aboriginal items: crafts made by the tribespeople, dolls in traditional dress, really anything. These things, even information, isn't plentiful on the internet, especially in English. From the sounds of it, the ways of Taiwan's aborigines are fading as time goes on. I really want L to be able to read and research where she comes from when she is older.

One of the results brought up by my search was an article written by a Seattle newspaper about the company's partnership with World Vision, a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Apparently Starbucks worked with World Vision in Taiwan at least from 1999 to 2005. They put out special items in their Taiwan stores for a limited time each year, and proceeds benefited the indigent people of Taiwan (aborigines.) One statistic that was really shocking to me: In 2006, the average monthly income for a family living in Taipei, Taiwan was $2000. For an indigent family living in the mountains and typically with more children? $125 a month.

So naturally, I moseyed on down to my favorite auction site, eBay, to search for some of these items. I found a set of little cups (like demitasse mugs or ceramic shot glasses) from 2006 for a very reasonable price and I bought them! They came a few days ago, and they are so cute!


These little guys are now on display in our china cabinet, right next to the cloisonne tea set we bought at the Taiwan Handicraft Promotion Center . They ship worldwide!