Co-worker from India returning there to get married - appropriate gift?

kranky

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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A guy from India who's been working with us here for a few months is going back shortly to get married. I'd like to get a small gift before he leaves. Any ideas what would be appropriate culturally? Since he'll have to take it back with him, it can't be very large.
 

Isla

Elite member
Sep 12, 2000
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Well, I have a lot of Indian friends and really they like a lot of the same stuff we do. I do have some good links... try eShakti.com for ideas. I like Indian clothing, art, music, food, etc (I like all things Eastern, basically) but you might just want to play it safe with a GF to a restaurant, movie theater, favorite store, etc.

Either way, I am sure he will appreciate your thoughtfulness!!!
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
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i'd get them something from here. i'm sur ethey are better at picking indian stuff then u heh.
 

aircooled

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
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hamburger? (J/K)

Find something about american culture that he likes and cannot get there.
 
Aug 23, 2000
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Originally posted by: aircooled
hamburger? (J/K)

Find something about american culture that he likes and cannot get there.

LoL, i was gonna say the hamburger thing.
Get him some Levis and he can sell them in india for some mad rupies
 

mAdD INDIAN

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
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I'd get him something him and his new wife can use in their home. Something that they find useful.
 

kranky

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Thanks for the suggestions. I was originally thinking that something Indian would be best, but maybe it would be nice to have something "American" to take back. Not to imply that would be better, but it would probably the the only wedding gift from America they get.

Oh, they will have about 1,000 people at their 3-day wedding. :confused:
 

mAdD INDIAN

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
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Originally posted by: kranky
Thanks for the suggestions. I was originally thinking that something Indian would be best, but maybe it would be nice to have something "American" to take back. Not to imply that would be better, but it would probably the the only wedding gift from America they get.

Oh, they will have about 1,000 people at their 3-day wedding. :confused:

Yeah depending on the people, Indian weddings can be massive parties. My cousin-sister (she's more like a sister) had a massive wedding. One day was a cocktail party, another day was garbha (a dance type thing), then another day was this traditional mendhi thing (for the ladies only), and then the actually wedding ceremony, and reception after.

For another aunt in teh States, for her wedding, a lot of our family came to the US from India..for many of them..it was their first time (some are elderely people..in their 60s) so it was really cool to watch them realize their dream and finally come to the US and enjoy it. Incidently, my aunt married a white guy, who was pretty cool with the whole Indian ceremony (which is surprising...I'm Indian and I still think its too long). They also performed a Christian wedding ceremony right after which was pretty cool as well (first time I saw a Christian wedding).
 
Mar 15, 2003
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Hey,
I'm indian and if one of my friends gave me a "culturally appropriate gift" (curry, one of those dot things that you put on your forehead, some deoderizer for my taxi, etc.) I'd bitchslap them and say that they're not really friends.. Buy him somethign that you think that he likes, not something "culturally responsible.".. I know you didn't mean anything negative..

Originally posted by: Isla
Well, I have a lot of Indian friends and really they like a lot of the same stuff we do.


Yeah, I like gay porn and salami rubbed on my nipples too.. wanker..
 

Isla

Elite member
Sep 12, 2000
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Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
Hey,
I'm indian and if one of my friends gave me a "culturally appropriate gift" (curry, one of those dot things that you put on your forehead, some deoderizer for my taxi, etc.) I'd bitchslap them and say that they're not really friends.. Buy him somethign that you think that he likes, not something "culturally responsible.".. I know you didn't mean anything negative..

Originally posted by: Isla
Well, I have a lot of Indian friends and really they like a lot of the same stuff we do.


Yeah, I like gay porn and salami rubbed on my nipples too.. wanker..

You do?

Well, my Indian friends are mostly moms on the PTA and I don't think they share your tastes. They do tend to like the same things I do, though.

Are you feeling well, son?



 

TommyVercetti

Diamond Member
Jan 4, 2003
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Not joking or being sarcastic. Give him a nice perfume, maybe buy the "Him and Her" pack. Good perfume is awfully expensive over there.
 
Mar 15, 2003
12,669
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My point was to cynically point out the subversive racism in your comments.. "THEY like the same stuff WE do.".. We're American, honey.. "We"="Them"..

Originally posted by: Isla
Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
Hey,
I'm indian and if one of my friends gave me a "culturally appropriate gift" (curry, one of those dot things that you put on your forehead, some deoderizer for my taxi, etc.) I'd bitchslap them and say that they're not really friends.. Buy him somethign that you think that he likes, not something "culturally responsible.".. I know you didn't mean anything negative..

Originally posted by: Isla
Well, I have a lot of Indian friends and really they like a lot of the same stuff we do.


Yeah, I like gay porn and salami rubbed on my nipples too.. wanker..

You do?

Well, my Indian friends are mostly moms on the PTA and I don't think they share your tastes. They do tend to like the same things I do, though.

Are you feeling well, son?

 

Isla

Elite member
Sep 12, 2000
7,749
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0
Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
My point was to cynically point out the subversive racism in your comments.. "THEY like the same stuff WE do.".. We're American, honey.. "We"="Them"..

Originally posted by: Isla
Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
Hey,
I'm indian and if one of my friends gave me a "culturally appropriate gift" (curry, one of those dot things that you put on your forehead, some deoderizer for my taxi, etc.) I'd bitchslap them and say that they're not really friends.. Buy him somethign that you think that he likes, not something "culturally responsible.".. I know you didn't mean anything negative..

Originally posted by: Isla
Well, I have a lot of Indian friends and really they like a lot of the same stuff we do.


Yeah, I like gay porn and salami rubbed on my nipples too.. wanker..

You do?

Well, my Indian friends are mostly moms on the PTA and I don't think they share your tastes. They do tend to like the same things I do, though.

Are you feeling well, son?


Boy are you being silly and petty.

I've endured racism all my life. You are being pedantic.

He asked about people in a different country's culture... I emphasized that we are not so different really. So sorry I used pronouns that offended you.

Now get rid of that chip on your shoulder and don't be talking ugly.
 

Red Dawn

Elite Member
Jun 4, 2001
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Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
Hey,
I'm indian and if one of my friends gave me a "culturally appropriate gift" (curry, one of those dot things that you put on your forehead, some deoderizer for my taxi, etc.) I'd bitchslap them and say that they're not really friends..
Damn I hope I can get a refund for all that stuff :frown:
 

Red Dawn

Elite Member
Jun 4, 2001
57,530
3
0
Originally posted by: Isla
Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
My point was to cynically point out the subversive racism in your comments.. "THEY like the same stuff WE do.".. We're American, honey.. "We"="Them"..

Originally posted by: Isla
Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
Hey,
I'm indian and if one of my friends gave me a "culturally appropriate gift" (curry, one of those dot things that you put on your forehead, some deoderizer for my taxi, etc.) I'd bitchslap them and say that they're not really friends.. Buy him somethign that you think that he likes, not something "culturally responsible.".. I know you didn't mean anything negative..

Originally posted by: Isla
Well, I have a lot of Indian friends and really they like a lot of the same stuff we do.
Yeah, I like gay porn and salami rubbed on my nipples too.. wanker..

You do?

Well, my Indian friends are mostly moms on the PTA and I don't think they share your tastes. They do tend to like the same things I do, though.

Are you feeling well, son?


Boy are you being silly and petty.

I've endured racism all my life. You are being pedantic.

He asked about people in a different country's culture... I emphasized that we are not so different really. So sorry I used pronouns that offended you.

Now get rid of that chip on your shoulder and don't be talking ugly.
If he did that he wouldn't be so special!




 
Mar 15, 2003
12,669
103
106
Haha.. Nah, I'm sure you can sell that stuff for a massive markup to some of those cute raver chicks that try to be indian :) Actually, I wouldn't exchange the items for money....
 

mAdD INDIAN

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
7,804
1
0
Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
My point was to cynically point out the subversive racism in your comments.. "THEY like the same stuff WE do.".. We're American, honey.. "We"="Them"..

Originally posted by: Isla
Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
Hey,
I'm indian and if one of my friends gave me a "culturally appropriate gift" (curry, one of those dot things that you put on your forehead, some deoderizer for my taxi, etc.) I'd bitchslap them and say that they're not really friends.. Buy him somethign that you think that he likes, not something "culturally responsible.".. I know you didn't mean anything negative..

Originally posted by: Isla
Well, I have a lot of Indian friends and really they like a lot of the same stuff we do.


Yeah, I like gay porn and salami rubbed on my nipples too.. wanker..

You do?

Well, my Indian friends are mostly moms on the PTA and I don't think they share your tastes. They do tend to like the same things I do, though.

Are you feeling well, son?

this is in reference to freedombeats:
There was no racism in her post or any of the posts in here so far. Even though Indian people are brought up here, they still may have different cultural tastes than others. Hell everyone has different tastes! I've been living here for half my life, and I still believe in things differently (different morals/habits/etc..).

Also the whole gay porn and salami thing was uncalled for.
 

kranky

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
21,014
137
106
Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212
Hey,
I'm indian and if one of my friends gave me a "culturally appropriate gift" (curry, one of those dot things that you put on your forehead, some deoderizer for my taxi, etc.) I'd bitchslap them and say that they're not really friends.. Buy him somethign that you think that he likes, not something "culturally responsible.".. I know you didn't mean anything negative..

Was I not clear? I'm talking about a wedding gift. The guy is from India, he lives in India. He's only here in the US for a few months. Don't make it sound like my first thought is to give him a take-out dinner from the House of Namaste.

The reason I asked in the first place is (1) I am well aware I don't know much about Indian culture; (2) I would like to get an appropriate gift; and (3) I would like to avoid any unfortunate selections due to my own ignorance. I considered the possibility that what might be a very typical wedding gift here could be unwelcome in a different culture. That may or may not be the case, but since I don't know, that's why I'm asking.

For example, he has a small icon of Ganesha on his desk. I do not know the significance of that, but it obviously has importance to him since he brought it with him. The link that Isla provided (thanks, Isla) has a crystal one. Is that appropriate? Or not?
 

dabuddha

Lifer
Apr 10, 2000
19,579
17
81
Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
Originally posted by: aircooled
hamburger? (J/K)

Find something about american culture that he likes and cannot get there.

LoL, i was gonna say the hamburger thing.
Get him some Levis and he can sell them in india for some mad rupies

Not really. Levis are cheap as hell in India (read Black Market) :D
 

dabuddha

Lifer
Apr 10, 2000
19,579
17
81
Originally posted by: andy2812
Shampoo for his greasy hair

Or a boot for your stupid ass? :)

kranky: I'd personally go with the gift certificate thing. That way he can get whatever he likes and he won't have to worry about returning something he doesn't need or want. Both parties are winners.
 

chughsima

Member
May 4, 2003
41
0
0
i just went through the wole thread and feeeling really sorry for people who dont think teice before hitting their fingers on keyboard
Shampoo for his greasy hair
.
Myself being Indain women i would say a gift certificate would always be appreciated( e.g macy's ) where the couple has a wide selection or something nice in cryatal ( e.g crystal bowl)/ crystal is really expensive in iNDIA and would be really appreciated ( :D especially by his wife).