I need your tips!
cassielin
December 19, 2008, 05:29 AM posted in General DiscussionHi guys,
I was invited to a private party for christmas this morning! They are an American couple who live in Fuzhou(my location) and teach spoken English in our college. I am wondering what kind of manners are considered nice and what kind of gifts may be appropriate. I need your tips and advices. Thank you so much!
Ps:
I am really looking forward to it! It will be my first time to visit a foreign friend's home！
Cassie
excuter
December 29, 2008, 05:30 PM肯定是啊 ^_^
cassielin
December 19, 2008, 04:46 PMxiaohu,
我觉得送大衣手套鞋子之类的礼物不保险，因为我不知道尺寸，可能会买的不刚好。 但仍然要感谢你的建议。
Uncle changye,
They are older. They just backed to the US last month to attend their son's wedding.
urbandweller
December 19, 2008, 04:53 PMTian Tian
Wine is a typical thing that we bring to each other in the US. I think i expressed that to you recently. It can used as a gift for just about any occasion...any type of party or holiday...So i would suggest doing that. It is a classy type of gift. You would hardly ever bring beer or hard liquour though.
But, I think since you are in China, it might be nice to give them something to remember that experience...specifically to remember the Fujian Province...maybe some type of trinket or memorbilia with chinese writing. Isnt the Fujian Province known for its great mountains and trees? Maybe some thing with those scenes on it...you could put it in a basket with some fresh fruit...Then wrap it nicely and include a little card expressing them warm wishes for the holiday season. I think any foreigner would appreciate that type of gesture.
Good luck my friend.
cassielin
December 19, 2008, 06:35 AMThank you pete.
You are right. Fresh fruit is the common one. I often bring some fresh fruit to my friends' home(all are chinese).送水果绝对不会出错。:-D
Actually, I thought to bring a bottle of wine before, but I am not sure whether they like it.
Besides fresh fruit, I think I should prepare another gift that has some chinese character中国特色的礼物. 哈哈
changye
December 20, 2008, 05:07 AMHi cassie,
I agree with urbandweller. Wine/fruits/flowers plus something small but "Chinese" would make a good Christmas gift. If you'd like to give something a little bigger, what about a scroll of Chinese calligraphy?
It might be just one of those things for you Chinese people, but absolutely not for foreign guys. If you gave me a gift, I would ask for a replica of a tortoise shell with oracle bone scripts on it, haha.
excuter
December 20, 2008, 02:15 PMI think chocolate is a good gift... but it would be better to know what kind of chocolate they like before buying it.
Since it´s winter you might prepare some winter drink and cookies, that´s always a great gift (especially because you can enjoy it together right away) ^_^
So with food you can´t go wrong (if they aren´t diabetic or allergic...)
cassielin
December 22, 2008, 05:28 AMHi guys ,
thank you all for the tips. I had been to my foreign friend's home last saturday night and really had fun there with other new friends.
I brought them a basket of fresh fruits and two papercuts for gift. I am going to write a blog and share some pictures with you later.
cassielin
December 28, 2008, 04:40 PMhere are some pictures that we took on Christmas day, just wanna share with you!
excuter
December 28, 2008, 07:30 PMthe ballon tree...that´s clever ^_^
cassielin
December 29, 2008, 05:31 AMexcuter,
believe me, that was a really tough task!
用气球做一颗圣诞树很难！
pearltowerpete
December 19, 2008, 06:17 AMHi Cassie,
You can never go wrong with a basket of fruit. Booze (alcohol) ;-0 is hard unless you know their drinking habits, in which case it's a great gift. In general, food and candy etc. can be good if you know they like them, but it would be unfortunate to give whisky to a recovering alcoholic, or chocolate to someone on a diet.