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SanatKumara
Joined: 27 Apr 2003 Location: Seoul Sister
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2003 6:21 am Post subject: Bring a gift for your boss or potential Korean friends. |
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I am leaving the States in a few days to do my first teaching gig. I am wondering if anyone can advise me on whether I should bring a gift for the director of the hagwon (a female) and if I should get some other small gifts for potential Korean friends. Packing everything I will need into two suit cases and carry-on is problematic enough, but I want to do the right thing.
Thanks! |
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The Great Wall of Whiner
Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Location: Middle Land
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2003 9:32 am Post subject: |
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I usually do.
Nothing fancy. In Canada, we have these little maple syrup bottles at duty-free. I get them one of those. |
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Marathe
Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Location: Spider Hole
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2003 4:29 am Post subject: |
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bring a page of canadian flag stickers
the kids love them |
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mokpochica
Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Location: Ann Arbor, MI
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2003 5:05 am Post subject: |
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Marathe wrote: |
bring a page of canadian flag stickers
the kids love them |
Maybe she should bring American flag stickers since she's from the States and they're easier to find than the Canadian ones.
I think it's a good idea to bring gifts for your director and the teachers. Something small is good. Some things I've brought that were a big hit were Russel Stovers chocolates for teacher to share and calendars with pictures of my state. Postage stamps, pennies and other coins, stickers, postcards, and small things like that are good for student prizes.
Alcohol goes over well with colleagues a lot, but be aware that some devout Christians in Korea do not drink alcohol at all. Anyway, above all it's the thought that counts and Koreans will think you are generous if you put some thought into buying them a small gift now--and perhaps once or twice while whenn you're working with them. |
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sillywilly
Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Canada.
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2003 6:16 am Post subject: |
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I brough tmaple syrup and I dont think it as received all that warmly |
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SanatKumara
Joined: 27 Apr 2003 Location: Seoul Sister
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2003 6:26 am Post subject: |
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Well, they might be tired of geting maple syrup over and over from the Canadians. I thought of bringing some special chocalates that are made by a chocalatier in Seattle. However, just a small box for the director though. To be honest, I really don't have any room left in my luggage to bring any thing for the other teachers. I am already sitting on top of my luggage to get it to zip! |
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posco's trumpet
Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: Beneath the Underdog
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2003 8:31 pm Post subject: bring whisky |
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Last edited by posco's trumpet on Sat Dec 06, 2003 7:13 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Marathe
Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Location: Spider Hole
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Posted: Thu May 01, 2003 3:06 am Post subject: |
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mokpochica wrote: |
Marathe wrote: |
bring a page of canadian flag stickers
the kids love them |
Maybe she should bring American flag stickers since she's from the States and they're easier to find than the Canadian ones.
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see what happens when you don't read the whole post and just the heading?
man i'm stunned sometimes |
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W.T.Carl
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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Posted: Thu May 01, 2003 8:00 am Post subject: |
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I would suggest a fine Californian wine or Kentucky Bourbon. Given the price of these in Korea compared to those of the States or Canada, it would very well received. If you come from the UK, bring a nice single malt Scotch. |
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SanatKumara
Joined: 27 Apr 2003 Location: Seoul Sister
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Posted: Thu May 01, 2003 1:58 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for all your suggestios! I am sitting on top of my luggage at this point and the director is a female, so I got her a nice box of chocalates from local chocalatier. It really is the best I can do! |
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mokpochica
Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Location: Ann Arbor, MI
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Posted: Thu May 01, 2003 8:44 pm Post subject: |
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Anyway...you can always buy stuff later for teachers at your school--and Western stuff is widely available, especially in Seoul. I think buying some 'dduk' (sticky rice cake) from a 'dduk jip' or some nice strawberries/fruit for all to share would be much appreciated--in many cases even more than some gifts you would bring from home.
Showing the teachers at your school appreciation like this will be warmly received. They'll probably remark on how Korean you are becoming. |
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paulc
Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Location: NOT Korea anymore.... yippee!
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Posted: Sat May 03, 2003 9:03 pm Post subject: |
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I flew out last Tuesday, and I'm currently in Thailand. I had planned to get some gifts from the Duty Free shop - like specially presented tea or coffee, mugs, pens, basically stuff with English flags on them.... and I dearly wanted to buy one of those snow-shaker toys for the daughter of the school director.
However, I had a few issues with my luggage, and had to leave half of it behind which meant that space was limited, and time was too short to go shopping in duty free....
So I guess I'll be picking up a few items from Thailand... not sure what though? Suggestions would be welcomed. |
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The Marchioness
Joined: 17 Feb 2003 Location: teetering on the edge
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Posted: Tue May 06, 2003 2:35 am Post subject: |
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Here's a funny that will crack you up: brought a bottle of Jonnie Walkers for the director; brought a jar of honey for the wife. As soon as they unwrapped it, she informed me that he adores honey - especially Canadian honey, but that he doesn't drink. Never mind, says she, I'm a dedicated drinker and get drunk regularly and sure enough, the little woman does exactly that. Not only that, but she has proceeded to get drunk every night of the few days that I've been here and makes no bones about it. I'm staying at their apartment in the meantime and have plenty of opportunities to observe.
In addition, she has informed me that she does not do the following: no cleaning, no cooking, no laundry, no shopping (with the exception of clothes and cosmetics). The ajumma comes in and does the cleaning and the laundry while the director does his own shopping, cooking, and tidying up after himself and after HER. She is the total antithesis of Korean womanhood.
Makes me crack up every time I see him carry her cereal bowl to the sink and put the milkcarton back into the fridge; she won't do it. |
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paulc
Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Location: NOT Korea anymore.... yippee!
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2003 1:49 am Post subject: |
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Well I arrived last night....
I picked up some Johnny Walker, and some big boxes of Toblorone for the director her familiy. Haven't given it to them yet, since I only saw them for about 2 minutes. |
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Starperson
Joined: 23 Mar 2003
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Posted: Fri May 09, 2003 4:44 am Post subject: coffee as a gift |
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About bringing ground coffee...do families usually have a coffee plunger in the house or drip machine in the house? |
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