Bringing a gift in South Korea
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Koreans, like many Asians, have a seemingly ingrainged need to bring a gift to every home they visit. Here in the West (maybe it's just my crowd) we have some special parties where gifts are brought and we have B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Booze) gatherings where you tote your own 'gift' but mostly people are asked to 'just bring yourselves'. Koreans could never do such a thing. Because of this, there is are corner stores and street-sellers all over the place (hence, perhaps, why Koreans end up as store-owners when they move elsewhere). Appropriate gifts are: fruit (oranges, apples, pears, grapes); juice (same fruits); 떡/ddeok (rice cakes-there are about 100 varieties); or perhaps something (especially food) from your home country if you're from out-of-town (which you likely are if you're reading this). The important thing is to bring something.
Ziggy 20 May 2007, 09:27 - Report