Posted on: 08-07-08 17:47:32
My mom visited me in canada 3 times and she buys gifts from here for each and every one in india.........all relatives and their kids and grand kids.....we hardly buy ourselves so as to say gifts...we always buy what is necessity.....and do not buy because we like it (but dont need it) .....
she feels social pressure which i did not feel when i was back home or here but if she has to go back and she feels inspite of our explaining....i do not think we have any choice but to let her buy..........
I went back to India after 7 years (in last march). I took nothing from here. Whomsoever close I met, I gave them cash (specially to kids). They were all happy. Rs 1K is still lot of money for kids and for me it was $20. I would have got nothing decent in $20 for these kids that would have made them happy.
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Originally posted by morning_rain
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Originally posted by HelloG
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Originally posted by morning_rain
Why would you spend so much money again the next time??
If next time you find yourself paying for everything and spending too much money..whose fault is it? You can say NO. You have a choice.
Oh no no! Keeping aside money so that i donot indulge again in impulsive buying and buying stuff as suggested by fellows here.
As far as saying NO goes,trust me, it is easier said than done esp when it has to do with your in-laws. Its like double trouble. Its about 'Farz' and I would say the impression, that people who put their foot outside India are 'Rich', has already been created and is beyond correction!!!
oh ok. You meant put the money away? sorry
Here's what you may want to do. Try to look for bargains year around on things you plan to buy. For example - if you want to take really nice makeup kits for the women in ur inlaws family - look for The Bay or Sears specials when you buy something and get a free bonus kit. Bonus kits are nice gifts too sometimes. You can add more little drug store cosmetics and lip glosses and tiny bottles of nail polish..
Except for really close family members, I don't carry gifts anymore when I go back home to India. Everyone else gets a box of local sweets or a bunch of nice flowers when I visit them. You save your back by not carrying all the stuff from Canada. All the dollar store stuff is available in India anyways and maybe of a better quality.
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Originally posted by HelloG
.........included branded perfumes, jackets, gadgets, chocolates and much more.
However, we didnt see the same enthu reciprocated when these gifts were given away!.............
u should not expect enthusiasm but if those village idiots doesn't not know how to behave when receiving gifts even if it is branded or cheap just forgive them and go on with u r life.
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Originally posted by Cynic
u should not expect enthusiasm but if those village idiots doesn't not know how to behave when receiving gifts even if it is branded or cheap just forgive them and go on with u r life.
This experience was with people living in major metros cynic, can you believe that!!!The surprising thing is that everyone was just fine when we left for Canada for the first time but we felt a big change in attitudes when we went back.
As very correctly pointed out by fellow CDs here they would boast of
*reduced phone rates but would still give you missed calls,
*availability of all major brands in malls but never buy you a return gift
*their luxurious life as they have maids/full time servants and we live like Sh** as we do all household chores ourselves.
May be i sound too sour coz this was my first visit as NRI and all hardships that we faced in our first year was still fresh in my mind!
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Originally posted by HelloG
*reduced phone rates but would still give you missed calls,
LOL, so true abt the missed calls. I used to call back immediately as if it was urgent. Last time when I was there, I got a missed call. A guy who was standing next to me said "dont bother to call back, if they want they will call back till u talk to them". I had never thought abt it. From there on I stopped calling back the missed calls unless it is from the mobile no I know too well.
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Originally posted by HelloG
*availability of all major brands in malls but never buy you a return gift
Dont bother. Let it go. People dont chage so easily. And dont bother to change them. Somewhere the traits will come out.
dio
I sent flowers to my Relatives in India on a wedding costing 50 $ and all i got was a casual Thankyou.
Nowadays i just send ecards for free.
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You know you are a desi when ........ You spew forth the virtues of India, but don't want to live there...............You've never had a tanning salon membership
