tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post7174299736631208564..comments2024-03-26T03:31:06.199-04:00Comments on Ask a Korean!: Guide to Year-End Gift-Giving PeriodT.K. (Ask a Korean!)http://www.blogger.com/profile/07663422474464557214noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-67490840273679956822009-04-04T01:14:00.000-04:002009-04-04T01:14:00.000-04:00Ginseng tea. Socks and underwear for family. Spa...Ginseng tea. Socks and underwear for family. Spam gift sets.morning turtlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13886491240805195340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-41914843367348591062008-01-15T18:12:00.000-05:002008-01-15T18:12:00.000-05:00Anything "gol-pu" related is a pretty safe bet for...Anything "gol-pu" related is a pretty safe bet for a Korean "Ajushi."Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18161497068139772587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-5789406307707670122007-12-13T10:44:00.000-05:002007-12-13T10:44:00.000-05:00I usually describe Yom Kippur as a sort of super-c...I usually describe Yom Kippur as a sort of super-confessional that covers the whole year and requires fasting for 24 hours.<BR/><BR/>My cousin (a Christian) came up with "Hanumas" to describe my mixed-marriage family's take on the holiday season. I call it that or "holiday shopping season" to reflect my cynicism towards the over-consumption.<BR/><BR/>I don't see anything wrong with exchanging gifts in and of itself- it's the "spend ridiculous amounts of money for ultimately meaningless consumables" that is the annoying part. Smaller, more personal gifts (like my girlfriend's gift baskets or tkn's pear wine, which sounds tasty) go over very well since they are more personal than a readily purchased gift.<BR/><BR/>I don't know if there is much I can add. You could treat him to lunch at his favorite restaurant (not gift certificates, go with him) or surprise him with a pot luck lunch (but only if most of you can cook something decent- "pot luck" turns into "pot suck" when half of the contributions are chips and soda).Notify Grouthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05010561314347710019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-65263126201697896692007-12-12T02:24:00.000-05:002007-12-12T02:24:00.000-05:00For giving gifts, I always think about the recipie...For giving gifts, I always think about the recipient and what she/he/it likes or is interested in. For instance, my dad, a middle-aged Korean man, certainly likes scotch, but he also likes music, boats, history, and war movies, so in the past I've given him 1001 Historical Battles!-type books and CDs.<BR/><BR/>I'm a big fan of gifts that can be used, eaten, or otherwise appreciated without adding to clutter and landfills: gift cards, baked goods, sponsorships (the British Library has a sponsor-a-book conservation program), donations in the recipient's name to charities, etc.C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16697893287272340075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-72021033248441839052007-12-12T02:13:00.000-05:002007-12-12T02:13:00.000-05:00I totally agree with the Korean about Shopmas. And...I totally agree with the Korean about Shopmas. And I will defer to Rev. Billy of the Church of Stop Shopping, featured in the upcoming film, What Would Jesus Buy?<BR/><BR/>I recently gave a gift membership to the Nature Conservancy to a cousin for their wedding (very belatedly, I might add, much to the chagrin of my aunt, but thats another story). I think I will go this route in the future when some sort of gift is called for. Not only does it help do good, it gives the recipient a year long reminder (in the form of newsletters, etc.) of the giver and the giver's good intentions. <BR/><BR/>I would think a gift donation to the Korean oil spill cleanup effort would be a good place to start. Or if I might be so bold, a gift to the Peace Hospital Foundation, a non-profit started by my father to establish a Peace Hospital on/in the DMZ between N. and S. Korea. Sorry, I should have contact info, but I can't find it. <BR/><BR/>The other gift we've been giving is our homebrew pear wine, which also comes from the heart. and doesn't taste too bad, either.tknhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18428636085182583970noreply@blogger.com