Some people develop an intimate relationship with a foreign country by going on a safari, visiting a museum, sunbathing on a beautiful beach, socializing with locals, or hiring a tour guide; however, I have developed the habit of discovering the best soap to bathe the body, clean clothing, and wash dishes. I do not know how or why I developed this custom, but it brings me great joy to discover a good bar of soap and share this information with others.
I prefer spotless and lightly scented clothing, so I determine the quality of a good textile cleanser by its ability to brighten whites and eliminate odors and stains of all varieties. Jabon de Cuaba and Omo soap reign in the Dominican Republic. A bar of blue soap – whose name I cannot recall – is effective in Jamaica. Zote soap in Mexico will make you want to slap your mother – it is that good! Duru glycerin soap, which is identical to Jabon de Cuaba in Santo Domingo, is good – you can find this product in both Egypt and Turkey. Duru and Jabon de Cuaba receive extra points because they are mild enough to use to bathe the body. Use the Jabon de Cuaba with honey as it does not dry the skin as much as does the regular Jabon de Cuaba. Duru and Jabon de Cuaba are glycerin soap, so they are easy to grate and deposit into the wash. While this soap forms few suds in the washing machine, it suds a great deal in the shower. Zote soap, which comes in bar form in white and pink – the pink color does not bleed onto the clothing – shreds easily, as well. The aforementioned bars of soap eliminate blood stains effectively. In Egypt, Ariel with Downy is an excellent clothing detergent as it suds well, eliminates stains and bad odors, and leaves a faint Downy scent in the fabric of your clothing.
I judge the quality of dish soap based on the amount of suds it forms and its ability to eliminate grease from plastic containers during the first wash. In Brazil, there is an excellent dish soap that has a medium firm, glycerin-like pasty texture and comes in a golden-yellow and red container, similar to the product on the right. I do not remember the exact name, but it is excellent and lasts a long time.
Curiosity and an appetite for risk has led me to discover, benefit from, and celebrate many wonderful cleaning products. I value these items because they make me feel more equipped to deal with unexpected circumstances and closer to the country in which I found the product. Soap is not just a cleaning agent, often its smell and texture also conjures memories of home, security, childhood, and family. My familiarity with items representative of various cultures include me in the collective memory of a larger community of people. My diverse interests and experiences – including collecting soaps – allow me to squeeze past emotional barriers, connect with people, learn about their needs, and influence their life (and vice verse). How can you use a seemingly unimaginative interest to produce positive change in your world?
Stories from Beyond the Comfort Zone 