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bbud656
Joined: 15 Jun 2010
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 Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 1:53 pm Post subject: What gifts to bring? |
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I have heard that it is customary or at least a nice gesture to bring gifts for my coteachers and principal. Can someone give me ideas? A friend told me to give my principal an expensive bottle of whiskey. Is this a good idea? Also, I have heard: 2$ bills, maple syrup, and things with my state's name on it.
Any advice? |
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oldtactics
Joined: 18 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 2:15 pm Post subject: |
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You definitely don't need an expensive bottle - any liquor will do, if you choose to bring that. I'm Canadian and I brought CC for my principal & VP, and a bag of maple syrup candy that I left with a note in the office for the rest of my coworkers. All very well received.
Food products are always a nice idea, sort of a cultural bridge - maple syrup, honey... really anything that comes in a nice package will do fine, even if it's just candy. |
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tatu
Joined: 23 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 2:32 pm Post subject: |
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| I would personally say none. You are coming here to work and being professional is the best way to gain respect. |
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wiganer
Joined: 13 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 2:42 pm Post subject: Re: What gifts to bring? |
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| bbud656 wrote: |
I have heard that it is customary or at least a nice gesture to bring gifts for my coteachers and principal. Can someone give me ideas? A friend told me to give my principal an expensive bottle of whiskey. Is this a good idea? Also, I have heard: 2$ bills, maple syrup, and things with my state's name on it.
Any advice? |
My co-teacher told me it was bad manners to buy gifts for the principal and the vice principal. Bring something for your co-teacher by all means but what is more important is to bring small snacks for the staffroom once you are established.  |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 3:18 pm Post subject: Re: What gifts to bring? |
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| bbud656 wrote: |
I have heard that it is customary or at least a nice gesture to bring gifts for my coteachers and principal. Can someone give me ideas? A friend told me to give my principal an expensive bottle of whiskey. Is this a good idea? Also, I have heard: 2$ bills, maple syrup, and things with my state's name on it.
Any advice? |
Who told you it was "customary" to buy expensive gifts for school officials before you begin teaching? Your recruiter? It is not "customary" and you should get to the school and start working before you start doing anything like that. You may find yourself in a bad school and you'll feel foolish if you've already spent a lot of money on people who are not your friends. You will have plenty of time to buy gifts later, maybe for someone's birthday or for Christmas. But see how things go, first.
The posters who are advising newbie foreign teachers to hand out hard liquor to everyone on the first day are setting them up for potential disaster. As for giving alcohol as a gift to your Principal or co-workers, maybe you should think about the message that sends. Maybe you are a boozehound, maybe you are not, but everyone will naturally ASSUME you are. Besides, don't you think that maybe it's better to wait and see if your Principal drinks alcohol? What if he doesn't drink? You will look quite the fool. Oh, and it is not 1987, and maple syrup is available everywhere in Korea. Whoever is telling people that maple syrup is unavailable in Korea should update their "Guide to Korea" to 2010.
If you still insist on handing out gifts to everyone it would be wiser to go with a safer choice and stick with something that everyone in Korea drinks in the workplace- coffee. You should be able to find Starbucks mugs with the name of your state on them or some other distinctive mugs. That'll go over much better than handing out bottles of Mezcal and shot glasses on your first day. |
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jvalmer
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 3:40 pm Post subject: |
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| If you're new to a school don't give any gifts away. It isn't customary. |
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oldtactics
Joined: 18 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 3:43 pm Post subject: |
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sojusucks, my suggestion about maple syrup had nothing to do with availability - it was about bringing something that Koreans understand as a 'Canadian' thing. Seems a more useful purchase than bringing a stuffed beaver from the dollar store.
The rest of your passive-aggressive response about my original comment is ridiculous - I brought something that people couldn't buy in Korea, the gift was well received and appreciated. No one said anything about pouring shots for coworkers, and bringing a tiny bottle of Canadian whiskey doesn't imply that anyone is a 'boozehound'.
OP, take everything you hear with a grain of salt - if you want to bring something, bring something. If you don't, don't. |
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bbud656
Joined: 15 Jun 2010
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| Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 3:59 pm Post subject: |
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| My Korean born lawyer who travels back frequently told me that I should bring my principal a nice bottle of whiskey. I happen to be able to find out if my principal drinks or not through my recruiter. So I should be covered there. Anyway, my lawyer suggested bringing gifts and even if it isnt customary it wouldn't hurt to start off on a friendly note with people who have a huge impact on my quality of life. Also, my friend (who works at a public school) said he brought some gifts for his principal and co teachers. I don't see what the fuss is about. |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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| oldtactics wrote: |
sojusucks, my suggestion about maple syrup had nothing to do with availability - it was about bringing something that Koreans understand as a 'Canadian' thing. Seems a more useful purchase than bringing a stuffed beaver from the dollar store.
The rest of your passive-aggressive response about my original comment is ridiculous - I brought something that people couldn't buy in Korea, the gift was well received and appreciated. No one said anything about pouring shots for coworkers, and bringing a tiny bottle of Canadian whiskey doesn't imply that anyone is a 'boozehound'.
OP, take everything you hear with a grain of salt - if you want to bring something, bring something. If you don't, don't. |
Looking for a "Canadian thing"? How about something from Tim Hortons? Better to go with a safe choice. |
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nathanrutledge
Joined: 01 May 2008
Location: Marakesh
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| Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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| sojusucks wrote: |
Looking for a "Canadian thing"? How about something from Tim Hortons? Better to go with a safe choice. |
I just have to say this. So, I'm an American and hadn't been to Canada until recently, so I had never heard of "Tim Hortons"
My father had an employee named Tim Horton, a big, steroid using, angry ball of rage. Every time I see someone talk about Tim Hortons on here, I just think of him, a mass of fury.
Sorry for interrupting, just had to toss that out there. |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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LeePDX
Joined: 04 May 2010
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| Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 7:15 am Post subject: |
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| Someone recommended to me that ordering a pizza and having it delivered to your school's staff lounge is a great friendly gesture for new teachers. You could have time to get settled in first and you also wouldn't have to worry about packing. |
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RMNC
Joined: 21 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 8:32 am Post subject: |
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Bring a bottle of local wine for your coteacher. That's it.
As someone else said, being a professional is attitude is all the gifts you need to bring. |
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rickpidero
Joined: 03 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 7:03 pm Post subject: i |
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| I brought a small gift and gave it to my principal. Like an hour later my coteacher came into my room and handed me my gift. The principal rejected it because he didn't want it to look like he was taking any bribes. I thought it was ridiculous, it was like a $8 gift. Still irks me to this day. |
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tatu
Joined: 23 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 10:58 pm Post subject: |
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| If you got a job as teacher in your home country would you give gifts to the principal or other teachers on your first day? |
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