It looks like the Nabis will definitely visit Korea this fall. Yes, we're excited. Even Little Nabi runs around talking about "going on the airplane to see Halmoni" - usually, she hooks her chubby toddler legs through one arm of our living room accent chair, leans back on the other arm and declares, "I'm driving the airplane. I'm going to see Halmoni from the airplane!" Of course, she also thinks Halmoni is right outside the door... ah, 2-year olds.
Even Papa Nabi can't help bragging to his friends and co-workers about our upcoming travel across the Pacific. He's been to Europe many times but never to Asia.
And yes, I, too, am excited - my grandmother doesn't have long to live (or so my mom says - could be Korean melodramatics, though) and would like to meet LN. Yet... despite the fact that it's at least 3-4 months away, I am already stressed thinking about what gifts we will bear.
Yes, gifts. Presents. Just something little, big, souvenir, something American, something midwestern, and even something alcoholic.
Have you noticed that Koreans don't travel light? Whenever my mom comes to visit, she comes bearing suitcases full of gifts. Gifts for my friends. Gifts for my co-workers. Gifts for PN's friends. Gifts for my sister's friends. Gifts for the dog down the street that she didn't even know about. You get the idea. Add to the mix her only grandchild. They're not all gifts from her either. She brings gifts from her friends to us. Me. PN. LN. My sister. Her husband. Our in-laws. Our in-laws' long lost cousin several times removed. You get the idea.
When she returns, we help her stock back up. Gifts for her dear friends. Something extra for the ones who sent us gifts. Gifts for her because we don't get to shower her with gifts often. Glucosamine for my grandmother - apparently it's really expensive in Korea.
She brings eastern herbal supplements, mostly ginseng, and she takes back western herbal supplements. It's exciting, this flurry of gift-receiving and gift-giving. Even I get into it whereas I am usually reticent about shopping in general. And, for some cultural reason, none of it feels obligatory - as long as it's American, something they can't get in Korea, it can be a $2 hand lotion, it's appreciated and received with much enthusiasm.
So why am I stressing 3-4 months ahead? Ah. Here's where I need your help. I haven't been back home since 1997. It seems anything you can get here, you can pretty much get in Korea. Before, cosmetics like lipsticks, night creams, rouge, whatnot were pretty easy gift choices for all of my mom's ajumma friends. Not so anymore, says my mom. Korean cosmetics have improved so much that imported cosmetics are not as coveted any more.
My mom tells me not to worry - just pick up some glucosamine bottles, maybe some whiskey from duty-free store... yeah, right. She knows and I know that we're not going to do that - I mean, what kind of a Korean would I be if we didn't show up bearing several suitcases of gifts bursting at the seams?
Any suggestions? What do you buy as gifts when you travel abroad? What would be great gift ideas for Koreans?
-Mama Nabi
