Ok whats the deal with americans and... [help me out]
 

gifts

You guys asked bout dutch habits some time ago due to the webmaster access show, well heres mine: whats the deal with americans and gifts.

Told a gf I was gonna get her something nice and she said why. Here if you show up empty handed its considered rude. So flowers, chocs or a more personal gift. Bdays mean gifts. No gifts and youre basically a cheapass.

Gimme your 2 cents :)

Keep that girlfriend :2 cents:

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh


about the question... i dont know, different customs... if you give me a gift then i have to give you one and the cycle gets out of control and INSANE!!


spaz

my dog leaves me little gifts around the yard everyday

what's with those dutch ovens??:winkwink:

hmm thats kinda true sometimes, Im talkin bout small stuff though, you dont wanna get a Rolex from your neighbour thats too weird

For instance my neighbour grabs my post when Im in the US next month - Im sure he expects me to bring something along for him

That's pure love :thumbsup

did I miss something? dutch ovens?

Birthdays, anniversaries and whatever other "Holidays" you agree to recognize, gifts are pretty much standard. Then there's the other crap...housewarming, weddings, baby showers etc etc. that gifts are pretty much expected.

In our house for example, we do the birthdays, anniversary and Christmas. Oh an Easter Egg hunt for the kids too.

But we don't recognize Valentine's day, or the myriad of other Hallmark holidays for the sole purpose of getting each other gifts. It's much more appreciated by the other party when the gift arrives for no apparent reason other than you care, and you can do that ANY day of the year without a corporation telling you that you should.

Keep in mind we've been married for 16 years though. If you're in a new relationship and you don't get the little lady something for Valentines day, "No head for you". BUT, if you just send her flowers or something to work one day out of the blue or cook her a romantic dinner for absolutely no reason, she'll probably do anything you want to do that night...anal included.

Lol well I was talking ANY girl not a particular gf - so even when its not meant in a romantic way, bringing something small is pretty normal

I know ppl bring booz in the US and call it a dutch party - weird cause we call that an American party lol

But Valentine yes ppl give gifts on Valentine, more younger ppl, older ppl give flowers, its pretty common here to bring flowers home like every week or so. Just as a token of appreciation.

So, do you mean to say that if you and a group of friends go out for the night you have to bring them all a gift? Or a "Community" gift?

if you go out no - noone brings stuff then, you might treat them on beer or liquor in a club but normally everyone pays for themselves. If you throw a party though and say 100 ppl come over at a local club or so, theyll all bring something yes.

typical occasions where you would give something small to someone here - aside bdays etc here would be

lookin after someones house when hes on a holiday
when someones sick
as a youll be fine when someones relation is over
plus in the south here theyll do that on funerals as well

Ah okay. I think for the most part your gift protocol is similiar to ours.

I understand everything except the funerals though. You buy the guy something and put it in his coffin? :winkwink: j/k

funerals are weird in the south - been to one and its freaking weird cause Im not from here

normally its a handshake coffee and leave, here they bring cake gifts for the widow etc, dinner, the whole works - its weird

so how much do you normally spend on a gift for someone?

lol oh man. That's a HUGE question.

It depends entirely on the person and the occasion. Anywhere from $50 for a housewarming gift for an "Associate", to a few hundred dollars for a Christmas gift for our kids.

yeah its hard isnt it

xmas gifts were smaller here but nowadays xboxes and dvd players are pretty common too, we have another xmas alike days Dec 5th where ppl give stuff as well packed as surprises, so more n more ppl here do either xmas or sinterklaas (the other day)

girl-gifts are a pain I know you dont wanna show up with crap but a diamond rings might be a pain as well lol