MENA presents

[Nasturtium 500]

In my experience, MENA people give gifts mostly to the children on holidays. But women are given gold or dresses on occasions like births, anniversaries etc if she demands them! Buuuut gifts are excepted when visiting people, whether food items or bigger items!

That's what my husband says as well.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Yeah, some families aren't into gifts much. The biggest clue as to if it's something amiss is if they are all exchanging gifts and you're always left out. Because if your Dh is getting things all the time for holidays for family and nothing ever for you, that could be an issue... or... not... just depends. Like, I've never gotten an Eid gift from him, but since I don't believe in Eid or the preceding two holidays, I think that's kind of reasonable. I know he didn't send a gift to anyone this year since he's been gone as well, although i think he arranged for some money to be given out. He did get me flowers for our anniversary though, my birthday, valentine's day... and he's brought me really important things like chocolate covered donuts at 5am when i really wanted some, etc. He also used to give me things when I visited him and I know this past anniversary he got me the stairstepper instead of jewelry because I asked for it knowing he was planning on a blue topaz set of earrings. I would love the earrings, but I told him as long as I felt fat i wouldn't want to wear anything anywhere anyway. So you may look at it and see after you move there if you think you're being snubbed.

Ya know I think even though my Dh may not be a big gift giver he shows his love in other ways.

[Henia 11]

Yeah, some families aren't into gifts much. The biggest clue as to if it's something amiss is if they are all exchanging gifts and you're always left out. Because if your Dh is getting things all the time for holidays for family and nothing ever for you, that could be an issue... or... not... just depends. Like, I've never gotten an Eid gift from him, but since I don't believe in Eid or the preceding two holidays, I think that's kind of reasonable. I know he didn't send a gift to anyone this year since he's been gone as well, although i think he arranged for some money to be given out. He did get me flowers for our anniversary though, my birthday, valentine's day... and he's brought me really important things like chocolate covered donuts at 5am when i really wanted some, etc. He also used to give me things when I visited him and I know this past anniversary he got me the stairstepper instead of jewelry because I asked for it knowing he was planning on a blue topaz set of earrings. I would love the earrings, but I told him as long as I felt fat i wouldn't want to wear anything anywhere anyway. So you may look at it and see after you move there if you think you're being snubbed.

Ya know I think even though my Dh may not be a big gift giver he shows his love in other ways.

And that's the most important!

[polarbear 0]

I get gifts when he comes back from a trip or on b-day.... but honestly, he asks me first so I'm still getting used to it.

He has an idea of what he wants to get me and then calls me from the store to give me options He's only bought me a suprise once, he bought me an extra piece of jewlery, but asked on everything else. Example: He's at the store and calls me to ask "What kind of jewlery do you want? A ring? A necklace? Braclet? Earings? Gold or silver? Anything else?" And I will get exactly what I asked for He picks out the style at least and doesn't send me pics from the phone to have me pick!

Olivia - If you are going to take gifts of value, I would suggest putting them in your carry-on. My husband always gets things taken out of his checked luggage when he arrives in Egypt, and sometimes his carry-on, but that's bc he's Egyptian male. They usually just hassle the Egyptians from what I understand, and I never got bothered, but if they see something nice they could take it. Not worth the risk.

[Nothing1234 2]

Out of curiosity, is it just as easy in Egypt to custom-make jewelry as it is in Jordan? I know in Jordan it's easy and cheap as well, either the same price as an equivilent in the store or sometimes cheaper, sometimes more depending on what you want and how hard it is... but... generally cheaper because the mark-up for craftmanship is different and they base most of the price on weight of gold or silver.

If it is just as easy and you have the money, I would, *cough* *cough*, suggest to any Egyptian males out there you may consider doing that for your SO. We tend to like that even more than something just bought out of the shop.

Totally agree! My hubby bought me a beautiful gold necklace w/ a pink stone that has my name written in Arabic on the front of the stone for my birthday last year! I ADORE IT!! Much better than something just picked up in a shop...Although either ROCKS!

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Jewelry really makes the best gift for me personally. But what should I give his parents? His brothers and sisters? Him?

I like the clothes idea but I can't see his Mom wearing an Idaho sweatshirt. The clothes there are cheaper. I don't know if she wears jewelry? Waleed doesn't even want me to wear yellow gold and tells me never to buy him yellow gold things. I think tech stuff like a digital camera might be appreciated but that is expensive.

[S and S 12]

Jewelry really makes the best gift for me personally. But what should I give his parents? His brothers and sisters? Him?

I like the clothes idea but I can't see his Mom wearing an Idaho sweatshirt. The clothes there are cheaper. I don't know if she wears jewelry? Waleed doesn't even want me to wear yellow gold and tells me never to buy him yellow gold things. I think tech stuff like a digital camera might be appreciated but that is expensive.

I picked up a MP3 player for one of my husband's brothers for about $40 (I was trying to spend about the same on everyone). It was such a big hit that I should have just bought one for all his sisters and brothers, lol. They were jealous. I gave my husband my old Ipod so when he finally got to Jordan his sister confiscated it, lol. I didn't have the heart to tell her to give it back to my husband, but I got a free Ipod from work so I told him he can have that one. Its still brand new and waiting to be used as I have the one I like.

Perfume or lotions or soups might be nice for his mom. You might try that out.

[Nasturtium 500]

Jewelry really makes the best gift for me personally. But what should I give his parents? His brothers and sisters? Him?

I like the clothes idea but I can't see his Mom wearing an Idaho sweatshirt. The clothes there are cheaper. I don't know if she wears jewelry? Waleed doesn't even want me to wear yellow gold and tells me never to buy him yellow gold things. I think tech stuff like a digital camera might be appreciated but that is expensive.

Muslim men aren't supposed to wear gold. Whether or not they follow that is up to them

I agree with the Mp3 player idea-- I got one for Ammar and it was really great. I also got him a digital camera which i think was the biggest hit of all!

Oh, as far as the women.. try make-up, purses, lotions... you can do clothes as well!

Edited August 18, 2008 by julianna