Job Discussion Forums

parrothead · Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 342 Location: Japan

I received 20 or so chocolaty snacks from students this past Valentine's Day. The acne has finally cleared, but White Day has snuck up on me.
Does anyone know the proper White Day protocol? I don't care for these passive-aggressive, guilt-infused holidays, but I gotta imagine it is a pretty big deal to little girls expecting a return on their Valentine's investments. Do gifts have to be similar in expense? Do they have to be nicely packaged? I don't really remember who gave me what.
What about the smiling faces of children who didn't give me anything? Next year I will be better prepared. It would be nice just to pass out snickers bars, but I suspect more is expected of me on this wonderfully commercial holiday.

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

One word: GIRI

Yawarakaijin · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 504 Location: Middle of Nagano

I always play it safe. Give something to every female you work with and especially every female who gave you something.

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

So, did you just blow it off, or what?

Canuck2112 · Joined: 13 Jun 2003 Posts: 239

I reciprocated and gave chocolates to students who gave me something for Valentines day. Most of them seemed kind of shocked that I felt the need to "pay them back". Some accepted, but have since bought me "White Day thank-you" chocolates.

I think that in my neck of the woods foreigners are exempt from White Day