Christmas etiquette - to give or not to give? (LINK)
December 18th 2007 01:21
I am an immigrant to Australia. Where I come from, we give presents to our neighbours over the festive season.
Since I live in a unit block, I have five neighbours in my block and five neighbours in the building next to us. Last year I bought each neighbour a bottle of wine, or a box of chocolates.
In return, we got three cards wishing us all a very merry Christmas.
I am not essentially a quid pro quo kind of gal. I love the warm fuzzy of ‘giving,’ but, at a certain point I have started to wonder whether I’m the fool here. I’m with Ghandi on the whole ‘you have to be the change you want to see in the world,’ vibe. But - and here's the thing - shouldn't I rather take the $120 and buy a goat for a village in Africa over Christmas?
This year, we’ve already received two cards. I’ve bought wine and chocolates. I'm seriously considering going out and buying some cards for the neighbours, and keeping the wine and chocolates for myself.
But that would be pathetic, right?
www.joannefedler.com
Since I live in a unit block, I have five neighbours in my block and five neighbours in the building next to us. Last year I bought each neighbour a bottle of wine, or a box of chocolates.
In return, we got three cards wishing us all a very merry Christmas.
I am not essentially a quid pro quo kind of gal. I love the warm fuzzy of ‘giving,’ but, at a certain point I have started to wonder whether I’m the fool here. I’m with Ghandi on the whole ‘you have to be the change you want to see in the world,’ vibe. But - and here's the thing - shouldn't I rather take the $120 and buy a goat for a village in Africa over Christmas?
But that would be pathetic, right?
www.joannefedler.com
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