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PEIGUY
Joined: 28 Mar 2004
Location: Omokgyo
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 Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 11:19 pm Post subject: Meeting Korean Friend's Parents |
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| I will be visiting my Korean friend's parent's house for dinner this friday. As this will be my first time meeting them what would be an appropriate gift to bring? I remember reading somewhere that it's a good thing to bring.. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. |
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zappadelta
Joined: 31 Aug 2004
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| Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 11:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Anything is cool. A small plant, bottle of wine |
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thorin
Joined: 14 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 11:37 pm Post subject: |
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| toilet paper, spam or toothpaste. |
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the_beaver
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 11:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Most corner stores sell packs of juice and what not especially for bringing as a gift. Most people just pick up a pack at the closest store to wherever they're visiting. |
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djsmnc
Joined: 20 Jan 2003
Location: Dave's ESL Cafe
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| Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 11:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Bring a boquet of white roses and present a bowl of rice with a pair chopsticks coming straight up out of it. |
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FUBAR
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: The Y.C.
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| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 2:27 am Post subject: |
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| djsmnc wrote: |
| Bring a boquet of white roses and present a bowl of rice with a pair chopsticks coming straight up out of it. |
I took your advice and everybody gasped when I handed them the gift. I think they were so happy to have received such nice gifts. Maybe they were so shocked that a foreigner gave them such a nice present because they didn't say a word to me at the dinner table. They talked to their son in Korean for a little bit, but that was it. After dinner they said goodbye. I hope to see them again. The dinner was very nice. |
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rapier
Joined: 16 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 2:45 am Post subject: |
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| why would you give gifts to your mates mom and pop, unless you're asking their permission to marry? |
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astroboyfan
Joined: 19 Apr 2005
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| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 3:12 am Post subject: |
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| rapier wrote: |
| why would you give gifts to your mates mom and pop, unless you're asking their permission to marry? |
Maybe he was  |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 3:59 am Post subject: |
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What about an entire box of fruit--so much that it is impossible for one family to eat before it goes bad.
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why would you give gifts to your mates mom and pop, unless you're asking their permission to marry?
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In a word, courtesy. |
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PolyChronic Time Girl
Joined: 15 Dec 2004
Location: Korea Exited
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| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 4:25 am Post subject: |
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| Like the Beaver said, a box of juice will suffice. That's the common gift and a gift they feel they won't have to reciprocate with a more expensive gift. Or a bottle of baek soju. |
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PolyChronic Time Girl
Joined: 15 Dec 2004
Location: Korea Exited
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| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 4:26 am Post subject: |
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| djsmnc wrote: |
| Bring a boquet of white roses and present a bowl of rice with a pair chopsticks coming straight up out of it. |
And write them a greeting card with their names written in red ink, right?  |
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AdamH
Joined: 27 Aug 2004
Location: Bachman Turner Overdrive...Let's Rock!
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| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 6:38 am Post subject: |
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| A copy of Penthouse and the cheapest box wine you can find. |
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rapier
Joined: 16 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 6:44 am Post subject: |
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| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
What about an entire box of fruit--so much that it is impossible for one family to eat before it goes bad.
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why would you give gifts to your mates mom and pop, unless you're asking their permission to marry?
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In a word, courtesy. |
Insane. Real friends don't buy eachother gifts.
To crown it they never said a word to him either.
The OP has fallen victim to Korean cultural wierdness.
If it was a prospective matrimonial visit, why not just say? |
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FUBAR
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: The Y.C.
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| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 6:49 am Post subject: |
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| rapier wrote: |
| why would you give gifts to your mates mom and pop, unless you're asking their permission to marry? |
It was the first time I went to their house for dinner and I wanted to show them that I accepted some of the culture. |
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rapier
Joined: 16 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 7:19 am Post subject: |
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| FUBAR wrote: |
| rapier wrote: |
| why would you give gifts to your mates mom and pop, unless you're asking their permission to marry? |
It was the first time I went to their house for dinner and I wanted to show them that I accepted some of the culture. |
you just condoned that shallow part of korean culture that says 'friendship must be bought with gifts".
You went cringeing into the heart of the minguk.
What part of your culture did they accept? ..oh, i forgot, they refused to talk to you, ("but it went really well"??).
Next time give them an American flag to hang above their mantelpiece. thats the real test. |
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