An Indonesian guide to gracious gift giving
An Indonesian guide to gracious gift giving
By Sneha
JAKARTA (JP): Most of us will have experienced the pleasure of
receiving and giving gifts. A gift is a token of goodwill,
affection and friendship. A gift received when least expected
evokes even greater joy because the element of surprise adds to
the pleasure.
A gift must be tied with heartstrings. Do not give just for
the sake of it, and don't expect a return from it. Knowing the
receiver's likes, dislikes and needs is a must when searching for
a gift. For example, paintings, garden tools or accessories would
not be appropriate for a person who likes reading. That person
would rather get an interesting magazine or book.
Giving presents is a real pleasure when the following is
remembered:
1. Do not give a present with the price tag still attached. It
tells the person to note the price and to reciprocate when she or
he decides to give in return.
2. Do not give a gift to anyone because you've got to. If you
do so, it looks as if it was a mere formality you had to fulfill.
Remember, in this case neither party is happy.
3. Do not give a gift that has already expired, such as old
chocolate or canned food. It creates a bad impression. Sometimes
it spoils good relations.
4. Always try your best to give a gift which is suitable to
the recipient.
5. Do not give a gift unwrapped or without a name card. It
never reaches the right person or might get misplaced.
In return, the recipient should show graciousness while
accepting the gift, indicating his or her pleasure in a few
appropriate words. If the gift received is not to your liking, do
not make the person feel it is a total waste.
You can express your feelings if the sender is a relative. You
could probably tell him or her that the gift does not fit you
properly or the color is dull or the design old. It probably
could then be exchanged.
Sometimes people don't know what to give a friend and spend
two to three days looking for an appropriate gift. When receiving
it, the recipient is expected to say that it is just the thing
they need. That fulfills the other's objective and makes him or
her feel that the effort was worth it.
Acknowledging a gift is important because it helps the sender
confirm that you have received the present. People who
acknowledge a gift and send a thank you card do their part, but
the ones who don't leave the giver wondering whether the presents
reached their destination. Therefore, it is very important to
graciously acknowledge the receipt of a gift. Expressing
gratitude may not seem important to the receiver but failure to
do so could hurt the giver.
Nothing on earth can be one-sided, so gift giving must be
reciprocal. The gift need not be worth an equivalent amount but
must be sent sooner rather than later. This maintains your self-
respect and leaves you under no obligation.