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SeoulShakin
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Location: Seoul
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 Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 6:19 am Post subject: Invited to my co-worker's house |
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I've been invited to one of my co-worker's home on October 3rd, which falls on one of the red Chuseok days. However the invitation is not a for a Chuseok celebration, it is a housewarming gathering.
I've never been to this type of thing in Korea, and am wondering what might be an appropriate gift to bring. Should I bring something Chuseok related (food gift set?) or housewarming related (who knows what that is here..)
Any ideas??
Thanks  |
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steveohan
Joined: 24 Apr 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 6:44 am Post subject: |
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toilet paper
steve. |
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ChuckECheese
Joined: 20 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 6:48 am Post subject: |
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| steveohan wrote: |
toilet paper
steve. |
Are you for real or just joking?
Toilet paper to a gathering? What are you going to do with it? Wipe asses all night?  |
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shifdog
Joined: 20 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 6:50 am Post subject: |
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| Beer or soju should be fine. |
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djsmnc
Joined: 20 Jan 2003
Location: Dave's ESL Cafe
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 7:13 am Post subject: Re: Invited to my co-worker's house |
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| SeoulShakin wrote: |
I've been invited to one of my co-worker's home on October 3rd, which falls on one of the red Chuseok days. However the invitation is not a for a Chuseok celebration, it is a housewarming gathering.
I've never been to this type of thing in Korea, and am wondering what might be an appropriate gift to bring. Should I bring something Chuseok related (food gift set?) or housewarming related (who knows what that is here..)
Any ideas??
Thanks |
How about a portable heater? |
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SeoulShakin
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 7:18 am Post subject: |
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Thanks so far guys haha
Beer or Soju would not work because this man doesn't drink. He's very religious.
My other co-worker (Korean friend) said stuff like paper towels, but this just seems odd to me.
"Thanks for the invitation to your home during the holidays, I brought you some paper towels".
Uggh... guess I'll have to scratch the brain a bit. |
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Bob O.
Joined: 20 Oct 2005
Location: The 'San
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 7:31 am Post subject: |
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| Yeah, toilet paper seems to be the standard housewarming gift. Either that, or laundry detergent. |
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JongnoGuru
Joined: 25 May 2004
Location: peeing on your doorstep
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 7:40 am Post subject: |
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| SeoulShakin wrote: |
Thanks so far guys haha
Beer or Soju would not work because this man doesn't drink. He's very religious.
My other co-worker (Korean friend) said stuff like paper towels, but this just seems odd to me.
"Thanks for the invitation to your home during the holidays, I brought you some paper towels".
Uggh... guess I'll have to scratch the brain a bit. |
As an earlier poster suggested -- and wasn't making a joke -- toilet paper.
In Korea, you honestly cannot go wrong with a towering, family-size supply of toilet paper. Though traditionally a treasured housewarming gift, toilet paper is the thoughtful, simple, homespun gift-giver's gift that's always appreciated by a Korean host, whatever the occasion. Someone suggested paper towels, but that just wouldn't be traditional. Heck, they've only been available in the country since last Tuesday, so most Koreans don't know what they're for. Best to stick with the tried & true and give them the buttwipes. I am deadly serious. |
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xCustomx
Joined: 06 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 7:59 am Post subject: |
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| Yeah...get some tissue....My girlfriend's brother got me 3 boxes of tissue the first time he came to my house. I had to buy laundry detergent, toilet paper and tissue when I went to my other Korean friend's new apartment |
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SeoulShakin
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:06 am Post subject: |
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So the toilet paper wasn't a joke? Guess I still have a lot to learn about Korea
Thanks for the info! |
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rothkowitz
Joined: 27 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:22 am Post subject: |
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x24 of toilet paper.
I dunno......how do you feel about them?
x36? |
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ursus_rex
Joined: 20 Mar 2004
Location: Seoul, ROK
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:26 am Post subject: |
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| laundry soap |
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BigBuds
Joined: 15 Sep 2005
Location: Changwon
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:22 am Post subject: |
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Yeah, toilet paper or a multi-box pack of tissues is a traditional gift for house warmings in Korea.
I have no idea where that tradition comes from but then again a lot of things in Korea don't make sense . |
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JongnoGuru
Joined: 25 May 2004
Location: peeing on your doorstep
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:51 am Post subject: |
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| BigBuds wrote: |
Yeah, toilet paper or a multi-box pack of tissues is a traditional gift for house warmings in Korea.
I have no idea where that tradition comes from but then again a lot of things in Korea don't make sense . |
The tradition within the gift-giving context comes from the fact that these products were traditionally seen as high-class luxury items. They were not domestically produced (not even as ersatz Korean knock-offs for a long time), not like the products Korea makes now. And they were not easily or legally obtainable. They were procured from black markets, which consisted entirely of U.S.-manufactured items smuggled out of the PX, along with the cans of SPAM and gigagagantic containers of tomato catsup and mayonnaise. And instant coffee. So it was like "Wow!! Kleenex!!  " Or "Wowowowow!! Toilet paper that doesn't feel like woodpulp!"
And thus began a smart gift-giving tradition that continues to this day, celebrated at every housewarming party. Along with the laundry soap. And SPAM. And the Taster's Choice Instant. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 12:57 pm Post subject: |
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Once again Mr. Guru is on the money. You will seldom go wrong following his advice.
Last year at this time I moved into a new place and celebrated by buying a year's supply of TP. Shortly thereafter I held my housewarming party. Unknown to my co-workers I was already bountifully supplied with TP. I am now good to go until sometime in mid-'08.
To fill out the informative nature of this thread, the reason laundry detergent or dish soap are good gifts is because they make bubbles and as everyone who didn't grow up under a rock knows, bubbles symbolize 'good fortune'.
Further, October 3rd is not, I repeat not, part of the Chuseok holiday. October 3rd is Sky-Opening Day (also known in some more mundane circles as Foundation Day), when Tangun (or someone) created Korea, and incidentally, the rest of the world and universe, but specifically Korea. I think Bishop Usher was a secret Korean, perhaps a gyopo. |
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