MENA presents

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Ok so everytime I ask Waleed about presents for special occasions he tells me they don't really do the presents thing there. That maybe the only time there is presents done is when a baby is born and they either give some kind of gold thing or money. He says presents are mostly for kids. He tells me they don't celebrate birthdays.

Waleed and I have been apart most of our relationship hence we haven't done any sort of gift exchange. One time I got a single red rose from him for my 28th Birthday but he had to get my Mom to get it for me and pass the message on for him. I'm a presents person meaning I like to give gifts to show my love and appriciation for people. Some people do it in other ways but this is just my way of doing it.

So is this really the case that MENA people are not big presents people? I can see they don't celebrate Birthdays like we do because some of them don't even know when they were born. I know for certian they're not having the same holidays as we're celebrating here. In some of the threads I've read they are doing presents at Ramadan for kids. But what do they do about weddings and gift registrys? They don't do presents then either? When is it appropriate to give presents and not give presents?

Are they expecting presents when I come visit them this winter break or next summer?

Should I try to bring presents to make up for our anniversaries, birthdays, and special occassions that I've missed being with him?

Oh and what kind of presents do you all give your MENA SO's? I'm especially interested in what presents to give a man. I am not sure what sort of things they want.

[brnidokiegurl 0]

i always take presents when i go to visit the (just because type presents) i do send for birthdays and they do their presents for his young neice for her party. We saw a wedding party in the streets he said they were takeing gifts to the parents house, so i guess they do for that....no one got us a wedding present there but they do send me birthday and christmas usually. I like to also to see the surprise and thanks that they give, they really appreciate and enjoy.

For the brothers, dad and brother in law i think i took sweat shirts saying the name of my work on it and smelly stuff they love that, younger ones like cds, dad got a sweater once, they always like chocolates,

Edited August 17, 2008 by brnidokiegurl

[HLM 1]

This is from what i ve experienced and what i know....

Those who celebrate their birthdays do get gifts those who choose not to already show they dont want any but if they re invited to one they must bring. usually couples give gifts to eachother too if they decide they like it.

On valentine's day thats a huge thing here n we got major stores of these type of things n just a wrap can cost up to more than 1OO pounds!

On anniversaries; it really depends on the couple if they re used to getting gifts or not. Majorly in my family they still give out gifts on their anniversaries.

In ramadan where there is iftar or other occasions where there is dinner; u only bring something for the ppl of the house n usually its some dessert but lately i ve seen other normal gifts for the house like a vase or so.

On weddings; we do give gifts or money when we first visit the couple in their new home. Usually the young give gifts n the older family members give money.

On the soboo' of the baby- baby shower but after the baby is born by a week-; we bring gifts or money as u know.

I think the gifts between the couples can be discussed- my sister for example loves gifts and she let her husband know- now she always waits for an occasion to see how creative her man can be lol

Me n my husband love gifts too but we decided we re not gonna go with special occasions. whenever we feel like buying some thing for eachother we ll just do it.

so i think u shud tell ur husband u like it and its easy to get used to it n im sure he is going to love it too

Yes egyptians buy gifts to their family when they get back from travelling. i dont know in ur case but the norm is u shud get ur mom n dad inlaw.

Edited August 17, 2008 by HisLittleMasriyah

[Nothing1234 2]

Hi Olivia!

I always bring gifts when I go. Mostly tshirts, perfume, makeup or watches. They go over great!

I love Marshall's or Khols for these types of gifts!

They say don't bring things but its a nice gesture when I'm staying for free and they are treating me always! The gifts are always a hit and my hubby loved the watch I got for him one birthday!

Good luck!

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Ok so this time I was thinking of just taking my backpack only for a carry on. Last time British Air lost my luggage and it didn't arrive for two weeks. If I did bring another bag then this would be for presents. I did leave one red bag in Cairo with two pairs of sandals and some summer t-shirts and some robs and other girlie items. I thought I would be back the next summer but here it is a year and a half later.

To bring or not to bring a seperate luggage of gifts? That is the question. What to fill this seperate luggage with? Does customs have their way with it?

[Hanna&Mohamed 0]

Yes I always bring gifts to mohamed's family! Mohamed and I have always exchanged gifts for birthdays and different holidays. When he came here he bought me a beautiful gold braclet for my wedding gift.Mohamed loves to buy gifts for special occasions which Im so glad!!

When I always leave Egypt his family will buy Amir and me and my other children gifts. Amir got alot of gold when he went to Egypt at his party !

[S and S 12]

My husband and I exchange birthday gifts and it is common in his family to give gifts for family. We also gave each other Eid gifts and his family had me take Eid gifts with me to give to him and his brother since they were stuck in Syria last year and couldn't come to their family. I also bought Eid gifts for his family though it was also my first time visiting them so I would have brought gifts anyways. I got his sister a purse, his other sister sweaters, one of his brothers a Tetris game, another brother I gave him a small MP3 player (the whole family envied that gift as it turns out). I gave my husbands mother a very nice soft shawl and I got his father a dress shirt and tie. For my husband I got him a nice shirt and some expensive cologne which he loved.

His family bought me a gold bracelet, some shirts and other clothes for a wedding gift. They wanted to buy some other things but I really felt bad to let them buy more knowing their situation as refugees. I thought they were so generous for what they did get and I was actually frustrating them with picking the smallest bracelets, lol. Some of his other family has since bought us gifts he will be bringing with him since none of our families could come to our wedding because it was in Syria. His family couldn't risk not getting back into Jordan and my family was not willing to go to Syria. Ironically, my family didn't give us any wedding gifts except my grandfather who paid for my plane ticket over there.

[Nasturtium 500]

My husband is a gift-giver, but not like we usually think about it... he does do it on holidays but it may not be expensive at all. he puts thought into things. When I went to see him I would bring things for his family, but I was concious not to make it too expensive as that way there wouldn't be feelings of indebtedness.

As far as your carry-on, have you flown since the liquid/gel thing happened? If not, you have to remember to account for that. Also, I'd pack a lot of your underwer in your carry-on. I can wear about anything, but I have to have my underwear! So if all my clothes were lost, I'd be ticked, but I could go get new stuff alright as long as I had a pair of pants I liked (which i would be wearing already) and that underwear.

[S and S 12]

My husband is a gift-giver, but not like we usually think about it... he does do it on holidays but it may not be expensive at all. he puts thought into things. When I went to see him I would bring things for his family, but I was concious not to make it too expensive as that way there wouldn't be feelings of indebtedness.

As far as your carry-on, have you flown since the liquid/gel thing happened? If not, you have to remember to account for that. Also, I'd pack a lot of your underwer in your carry-on. I can wear about anything, but I have to have my underwear! So if all my clothes were lost, I'd be ticked, but I could go get new stuff alright as long as I had a pair of pants I liked (which i would be wearing already) and that underwear.

I totally agree with you about what to carry on the plane. Underwear is always a must. One time I had something happen where I didn't have my underwear for two days while traveling and that drove me crazy. The liquads thing sucks, but at least they allow small things like a small tube of toothpaste now.

[Nasturtium 500]

I totally agree with you about what to carry on the plane. Underwear is always a must. One time I had something happen where I didn't have my underwear for two days while traveling and that drove me crazy. The liquads thing sucks, but at least they allow small things like a small tube of toothpaste now.

Yeah, I really thought about it last time I went and I cut down my liquids to the essentials.. I had my contact case with solution in it already, I had toothpaste ON my toothbrush in the bristles, a small thing of lotion, I brought on a bar of soap instead of liquid, some deoderant in a travel size... what else did I have? Oh! lipgloss! I would take a baby-wipe bath and totally do everything in that tiny bathroom about 2 hours before landing in Jordan... shave, wash, put on make-up, the whole deal. I had switched over to bare minerals makeup by then (which meant I brought moisturizer on the plane too) so I didn't have liquid base or anything. I felt worlds better after I did that too. I still felt kind of travel-grimey, but at least I knew I wasn't totally gross.

[S and S 12]

I totally agree with you about what to carry on the plane. Underwear is always a must. One time I had something happen where I didn't have my underwear for two days while traveling and that drove me crazy. The liquads thing sucks, but at least they allow small things like a small tube of toothpaste now.

Yeah, I really thought about it last time I went and I cut down my liquids to the essentials.. I had my contact case with solution in it already, I had toothpaste ON my toothbrush in the bristles, a small thing of lotion, I brought on a bar of soap instead of liquid, some deoderant in a travel size... what else did I have? Oh! lipgloss! I would take a baby-wipe bath and totally do everything in that tiny bathroom about 2 hours before landing in Jordan... shave, wash, put on make-up, the whole deal. I had switched over to bare minerals makeup by then (which meant I brought moisturizer on the plane too) so I didn't have liquid base or anything. I felt worlds better after I did that too. I still felt kind of travel-grimey, but at least I knew I wasn't totally gross.

I was flying during the total ban of liquads as well. I managed to remember to pack all my liquads in my checked baggage but somehow totally forgot my lipgloss was in my pocket. I flew the whole trip not even remembering it was there until I had made it to my destination. They never caught it because it isn't metal and wouldn't set off the metal detector and it didn't go through the x-ray machine, lol. I felt like such a naughty person, but I swear I didn't do it on purpose.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Yep I'm conscious of all that. That's why I just thought to bring a carry on and glad I left the red bag. This time I'd just stuff the carry on with under garments and a pair of pants and a change in top. I figure if I want more there I can purchase it but this way it's just easier. Even if I come back with a bunch of pix where I am wearing the same items for 21 days.

[S and S 12]

Yep I'm conscious of all that. That's why I just thought to bring a carry on and glad I left the red bag. This time I'd just stuff the carry on with under garments and a pair of pants and a change in top. I figure if I want more there I can purchase it but this way it's just easier. Even if I come back with a bunch of pix where I am wearing the same items for 21 days.

Olivia, you truly amaze me at how patient you have been. Its been such a long wait for you. I hope the time passes quickly until you see your husband again.

[Nasturtium 500]

Yep I'm conscious of all that. That's why I just thought to bring a carry on and glad I left the red bag. This time I'd just stuff the carry on with under garments and a pair of pants and a change in top. I figure if I want more there I can purchase it but this way it's just easier. Even if I come back with a bunch of pix where I am wearing the same items for 21 days.

LOL! Now we'll all be watching for outfit changes

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Patience is a virtue so I'm told but I was never one before to behold it.

We might be having 100 pix of me doing outfit changes if we go buy clothes. Knowing Waleed!

Edited August 17, 2008 by Olivia*