“That’s Not My Box.” – An EMS Delivery Story to the UK

This has nothing to do with tea, but something funny happened recently, and I thought I’d share it.

It’s just a little story that might make you smile. 😊

One spring day, I sent a package to my daughter in the UK filled with traditional Japanese sweets and miso-paste.

Actually, the address she gave me didn’t include the city name. I sent it off as it was, hoping that the ZIP code alone would be enough to get it there safely.

Still, since the shipping cost was more than the value of the sweets (of course!), I kept nervously tracking the parcel…

And then—it arrived in just 5 days!

EMS really does get the job done.

…Or so I thought.

Along with the delivery notification, Parcelforce (the UK-side carrier) sent a photo as proof of delivery.

But when I looked at the image, I froze.

• “Hmm… this box does look familiar, but… something feels off.

  It’s not mine… I think… but it kind of looks like it… wait—

  nope, definitely not mine!!”

After a moment of panic, I messaged my daughter:

“That might not be my box!”

She immediately went to check with the reception desk—and sure enough,

my real parcel had arrived separately and was waiting for her! 📦

Inside were Japanese sweets and miso.

Then she said, “Oh? I thought you’d include some matcha, too.”

…Well, young lady…

You’ve been in the UK and Italy for five years, and every time you came home, you brought back a brand-new, unused tea whisk.

I figured you still weren’t using it—so no, I didn’t include any matcha this time!

But I swallowed those thoughts and simply replied:

“Alright then, I’ll send some tomorrow.”

And so, under the spring sky,

I’ll be sending off a second package full of the taste of home.

These gentle exchanges between mother and daughter continue, one parcel at a time.