Korean Job Discussion Forums

jmbran11 · Joined: 19 Jan 2006 Location: U.S.

My co-worker's baby turns one this weekend and we're having a party. What is an appropriate gift? He said he doesn't want clothes and I'm not going to buy a gold ring. Have any good (not to expensive) ideas?

Juregen · Joined: 30 May 2006

Choices are limited i see

I would suggest buying them Toys. Especially ones that make a lot of noise Smile

, i bet you next time they will tell you you can buy clothes Smile

.

PS: i have a 1 year old myself, i have experience

teachingld2004 · Joined: 29 Mar 2004

Hello there. I posed this same question a short time ago. One of my adult students invited me to his one year olds party. I had a great time, by the way.

I bought a really soft stuffed animal, and 4 hard cover English books. They loved it. (I think they would havbe loved anything really)

You are not expected to buy a gold ring. They got 9. Buy a toy. You can get something really nice for around 30,000 or under. Babies loves stuffed animals also. Just make sure there are no parts that come off easily. Watch out for the eyes. SOme can pull right off.

princess · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: soul of Asia

A few years ago, back in 2001, I went to a coworker's baby's first birthday. I put 5,000 in an envelope and got the cold shoulder the following week at work. Guess it wasn't good enough. She was only a coworker, though, not a close friend or family member.

EH · Joined: 20 Mar 2003

English books are usually really welcome. Make sure they're the "board" books, not the regular paper pages, though. One-year olds eat paper, but cardboard lasts longer despite chewing. Classics are Goodnight Moon, and Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See. Other good ones are the Baby's First Words series. Try to get books with a maximum of one short sentence per page--ideally there would be even fewer words than that. The reading level should be only slightly higher than the kid's speaking level, so we're talking single words or occasional very short phrases.

-EH

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

5000 Won. That's funny. "Where can a baby spend 5000 Won? Huh? C'mon. Tell me."

teachingld2004 · Joined: 29 Mar 2004

To tell you the truth, I would be ashamed to admit I gave 5,000. It cost more for them to treat you to a meal.

Oops, forgot to say I also put 20,000 in the card. BUt even if I did not do tha, still still bought a cuddly toy and gave 4 books.

You also can give 2 wooden puzzles. Those are really nice too. Or a set of blocks. Kids can never have too many blocks. Not the "lego" type. Simple wooden ones. Little kids love to stack them high and watch them fall down.

Go spend some time in the toy section. Find something you love. Chances are the baby will too. Or the parents can save it for a year of 2. ONce again, check the safety features.

sadsac · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Gwangwang

There are many choices, aside from toys, look for some closed captioned videos. Cartoons or animated features that are visually stimulating and offer a learning opportunity as well. Smile

jmbran11 · Joined: 19 Jan 2006 Location: U.S.

Thank you for your help, really good ideas that I can actually manage. However, I'm a little surprised that we are supposed to contribute 50,000 won (minimum). It's not like I'm the god-parent!

But I was also surprised about the treating to the meal thing. They are having a large restaurant party, so I just assumed everyone would pay for their own (like always when we all go out). And so I was kind of bummed that I have to pay for an expensive meal somewhere I didn't choose, as well as an expensive gift.

But if I'm not paying for dinner (maybe), then it's all good. It's not exactly the kind of thing I can ask my co-woker, "So, Bob, are you footing the bill for this whole shin-dig, or am I paying for my own grub? I ask, you see, because I'm a total cheap-a$$ who doesn't really like babies anyway . . ."

Can someone confirm what the practice usually is.

sadsac · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Gwangwang

They will cover the total cost of the meal. Your contribution is the gift. It's a cultural thing that all the co-workers will be asked. Smile

kermo · Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 3:23 pm Post subject:

Oh, whoops. I was invited to one of those by my best Korean friend. I asked what I should bring, and she said "Oh, it doesn't matter!" So I went to a gift shop, picked out about six thousand won worth of cute accessories for little baby hair and put it in a sparkly bag.
She seemed to appreciate it at the time, but I hope she wasn't too underwhelmed. Confused

(Phew. Had to check the date there before I used that emoticon.)

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

You are not expected to pay for dinner at all.

Letty had her first birthday party held at the Milennium Seoul Hilton and we paid for everything. It wasn't cheap Shocked

.

She got given a set of wooden puzzles that she just loves, a cute wooden toy that she spins around all the time and my sister, who came over from HK, brought her a push-cart that aided her in her walking. Other people gave money and gold rings - one person gave us a gorgeous bracelet for her.

Her Godfather, who lives in Spain, sent her a CD of him playing the piano (he is a professional concert pianist/conductor etc.). He had it recorded especially for her, so we shall treasure that for years to come.

Oh, the same said Godfather got her 1 Mcdonalds share for her Christening (yeah, not very religious like.... LOL) but it's something that she'll be able to keep and remember for the rest of her life!

So the options are endless but whatever you do - make sure you don't just stuff 5000 in an envelop........

bellum99 · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: don't need to know

Just give the ring. It is cheap enough and it keeps things at work nice. The lousy co-worker will poison your relationship with the other Koreans if you cheap out. It is usually just better when they don't invite us. I always lie and say I am busy for those things and then they stop inviting me..and I am happy.

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005