EASC Study Tour 2006
Topic of the Week
Welcome to the "Topic of the Week" series! Each week we will discuss areas of interest or things that need your attention in preparing for the Study Tour to China.
Week 8: Gifts
Each of you will be asked to bring 1 small gift to be given on behalf of the group to a school, tour guide, guest speaker, etc. Your gift should reflect you or your part of the United States.
Some of the gifts will be presented to a group rather than an individual, so the gift items should be something which can be enjoyed by a group. For example, a book is appropriate because it can be shared, or a small replica of a local lighthouse can be displayed, but a shirt with your school logo is not appropriate because it can only be worn/used by one person.
Suggested items include small books about your city, state or scenic area, local craft or art items, items with your school logo, etc. Non-edible, non-technological items are best.
Gift items need not be expensive, but they should be well made. Try to avoid "made in China " items-or at least remove the sticker that says it was!
When we gather in Chicago on June 20 we will make a list of the gifts and then the staff will decide which gift will be presented when. You will be asked to carry your gift until it's time to present it to the recipient. You will also be asked to present your gift on behalf of the group.
Please assume that you will carry your gift all the way to Hong Kong (i.e., you will be the last one to present your gift) and plan accordingly! A big coffee table book is probably not something you want to haul around for 2 weeks. The gift recipient may also have to carry the item around (e.g., upon our departure a tour guide may immediately pick up another group and spend the day with them), and we don't want to burden them.
Please do not bring more than one gift! At this time there are only about 16 potential recipients—you do the math. I promise to find suitable recipients for all 20 gifts (one per participant) but not for more! If you bring 2, you'll either have to bring it back to the US or find someone to give it to yourself.
Think small, light, easy to pack, and unbreakable!
Items to avoid:
- Clocks or watches; the Chinese for "to give a clock" sounds exactly the same as "to take someone to their death"
- Odd numbers of an item are considered to be unlucky.
- Four is an even number, but the pronunciation for "four" and "death" are the same, so don't give four of an item.
- Avoid green clothing or hats for men; green is the color for hen-pecked husbands.
- Don't write letters to your host in red.
- Sharp objects such as knives or scissors may be seen as severing friendships, so should not be presented as gifts.
- Straw sandals and handkerchiefs are associated with funerals and should not be given as gifts.
Last updated: 4/17/06
URL: http://www.indiana.edu/~easc/studytour/accepted/
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