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| | The Shang Hai Tan Network is not currently active and cannot accept new posts | | re: re: re: Overseas Gifts for Chinese | Views: 748 | | Jan 05, 2005 9:34 am | | re: re: re: Overseas Gifts for Chinese | # | 
James Huey | | Brian,
I beg to differ .. gifts are certainly NOT always expected, particularly if it is the same people you are visiting again. In fact, you are probably viewed as strange if you always rock up with something!!
And I think jars of pills or supplements are an "oddity" (and possibly insulting : "Don't you think we can be well-fed here?") and probably won't be respected.
.. and yes, Zippos are made in China (legally, and illegaly!!)
I think that contemporary Chinese people are more realistic, and probably expect just what you and I would.
Perhaps one of our Chinese friends may care to offer a comment.
James
> Brian Sutin wrote:
> In China, *ALWAYS* bring a gift for anyone you visit. It is expected. To do otherwise appears miserly. Government officials also give gifts to visitors, but as far as I know, these do not require reciprocation. We have stacks of these at home now, mostly stamp collection sets made for just this purpose.
>
>We did well last trip with multi-vitamins and calcium supplements. We also tried Zippo lighters, but apparently those are available (probably fakes). We probably spent US$300 on our last trip for gifts.
>
>This is all for social connections. Business connections get dinner, as previously suggested.
>
>BrianPrivate Reply to James Huey | | Jan 06, 2005 5:20 am | | re: re: re: re: Overseas Gifts for Chinese | # |
Brian Sutin | |
I suppose my Chinese wife and her several dozen friends and relatives beg to differ with you. And they *asked* for vitamins.
Are you sure you are visiting the same China I am?
Respectfully,
Brian
> James Huey wrote:
> Brian,
>
>I beg to differ .. gifts are certainly NOT always expected, particularly if it is the same people you are visiting again. In fact, you are probably viewed as strange if you always rock up with something!!
>
>And I think jars of pills or supplements are an "oddity" (and possibly insulting : "Don't you think we can be well-fed here?") and probably won't be respected.
>
>.. and yes, Zippos are made in China (legally, and illegaly!!)
>
>I think that contemporary Chinese people are more realistic, and probably expect just what you and I would.
>
>Perhaps one of our Chinese friends may care to offer a comment.
>
>
>James
>
>
>> Brian Sutin wrote:
>> In China, *ALWAYS* bring a gift for anyone you visit. It is expected. To do otherwise appears miserly. Government officials also give gifts to visitors, but as far as I know, these do not require reciprocation. We have stacks of these at home now, mostly stamp collection sets made for just this purpose.
>>
>>We did well last trip with multi-vitamins and calcium supplements. We also tried Zippo lighters, but apparently those are available (probably fakes). We probably spent US$300 on our last trip for gifts.
>>
>>This is all for social connections. Business connections get dinner, as previously suggested.
>>
>>Brian Private Reply to Brian Sutin | | Jan 06, 2005 6:43 am | | re: re: re: re: re: Overseas Gifts for Chinese | # |
James Huey | | Sorry, Brian, of course if you are talking about gifts for your wife's family and friends, it's a whole different ball game, and you probably needn't have asked your question. They have built their own expectations of you. And of course, if they asked for vitamins, that makes it quite a different matter too.
I am sorry, I had read your queries in a business context. If it's family, why not ask your wife ?
I'm sure it's the same China, just different circles !
James
> Brian Sutin wrote:
>
>I suppose my Chinese wife and her several dozen friends and relatives beg to differ with you. And they *asked* for vitamins.
>
>Are you sure you are visiting the same China I am?
>
>Respectfully,
>
>Brian
>
>James Huey wrote
>Brian,
I beg to differ .. gifts are certainly NOT always expected, particularly if it is the same people you are visiting again. In fact, you are probably viewed as strange if you always rock up with something!!
And I think jars of pills or supplements are an "oddity" (and possibly insulting : "Don't you think we can be well-fed here?") and probably won't be respected.
.. and yes, Zippos are made in China (legally, and illegaly!!)
I think that contemporary Chinese people are more realistic, and probably expect just what you and I would.
Perhaps one of our Chinese friends may care to offer a comment.
James
Private Reply to James Huey | | Jan 06, 2005 7:00 am | | re: re: re: re: re: re: Overseas Gifts for Chinese | # |
acseh | | Hi Everybody,
I really enjoy this topic. Since there is almost nothing what chinese can't copy I always bring some modern-art paintings or graphics to china, which is unique and has no sense to be copied! On the other side all my business friends are very happy to have some special european/american taste paintings on their office walls.
Andreas
> James Huey wrote:
> Sorry, Brian, of course if you are talking about gifts for your wife's family and friends, it's a whole different ball game, and you probably needn't have asked your question. They have built their own expectations of you. And of course, if they asked for vitamins, that makes it quite a different matter too.
>
>I am sorry, I had read your queries in a business context. If it's family, why not ask your wife ?
>
>I'm sure it's the same China, just different circles !
>
>James
>
>
>
>
>> Brian Sutin wrote:
>>
>>I suppose my Chinese wife and her several dozen friends and relatives beg to differ with you. And they *asked* for vitamins.
>>
>>Are you sure you are visiting the same China I am?
>>
>>Respectfully,
>>
>>Brian
>>
>>James Huey wrote
>>Brian,
>I beg to differ .. gifts are certainly NOT always expected, particularly if it is the same people you are visiting again. In fact, you are probably viewed as strange if you always rock up with something!!
>
>And I think jars of pills or supplements are an "oddity" (and possibly insulting : "Don't you think we can be well-fed here?") and probably won't be respected.
>
>.. and yes, Zippos are made in China (legally, and illegaly!!)
>
>I think that contemporary Chinese people are more realistic, and probably expect just what you and I would.
>
>Perhaps one of our Chinese friends may care to offer a comment.
>
>
>James
> Private Reply to acseh | | |
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