Visiting A Thai Family - What To Bring?

[thaiIand]

its easy, bring something usefull and of no value. Like whiskey will be downed with horrendous soda water or cola.

Bring the grand mother a nice decorated miror to take off her grey hair and put makeup. Bring some TOOLS to the grandfather if he is handy, otherwise maybe a fleshlight(srsly) or nice sandals/boots to impress the other old ppl.

Chrome for their car? any chrome accessory means you are hiso in thailand, penis size are small so manliness is calculated with the amount of chrome you have

Edited February 23, 2012 by thaiIand

[IsaanUSA]

From England. They aren't rich by any means but average by local standards.

I was thinking a bottle of decent whiskey for her Grandad and potentially some Thai gold for her Grandma. Nothing over the top but I do know my girlfriend has been saving up to buy her something, so we could work that out together.

!!!

[Soutpeel]

_{I notice no one has suggested the other option....dont buy them anything...lets face it you will be giving them THB 2.0 million sin-sot and 10 baht of gold soon anyway...}

[bangkokburning]

When you give a gift - it is theirs to do as they please. Of course they are going to mix the black, but it is theirs.

I learned a long time ago, if you want to give - give it.

[Greenside]

From England. They aren't rich by any means but average by local standards.

I was thinking a bottle of decent whiskey for her Grandad and potentially some Thai gold for her Grandma. Nothing over the top but I do know my girlfriend has been saving up to buy her something, so we could work that out together.

As for embittered responses I was expecting the usual responses but figured there might be some sensible ones in there too (as thankfully the ones so far are!!)

I wouldn't go with the whiskey. I once made the mistake of thinking my wife's brother would appreciate a bottle of Black Label (OK, not so fabulous by international standards I grant you but 1000 baht nevertheless) as opposed to the bottle of Sangsom she said would be OK. I then had to sit back and watch him and a couple of already inebriated farmhands dilute it with liberal quantities of Big Cola and down the lot in about an hour and a half.

Bad for the blood pressure (mine, that is).

So you gave someone a gift, and you were disappointed in what they did with it?

Who says you can't find classy anymore?

You should get a bit real - are you telling me that if you gave your wife a genuine gold piece of jewellery, complete with a real diamond, and she treated it the same as a bit of junk bought at the local market you would simply say mai pen rai and not feel the slightest bit disappointed? You may (rightly) maintain that it's hers to do with what she will but I bet you'd be re-thinking your gift list next time around. I gave them the good stuff only to realise my wife was right and they didn't seem to understand what it was - my disappointment was mostly that I hadn't listened to my wife, a valuable lesson learned.

[h90]

money

[MiG16]

I know some ideas have been put forward in jest,

but I will still try to make a point

no gold, no money, no jewelry - totally inappropriate

perfume - not totally wrong but a bit of a risk as to whether she would be comfortable to use it

a better alternative would be: creams or lotions from the UK, or even a scented room spray.....

fruits, fancy english food stuff - more suitable, and less concern on whether it suits their taste (as opposed to next suggestion)

items they can display (english memorabilia of sorts) - a wall clock with some typical english shapes/images?

whiskey - could work IF you know for sure that he drinks

cardigan or scarf - also not bad ideas. it CAN get cold in the early mornings I think

[mstribling]

From England. They aren't rich by any means but average by local standards.

I was thinking a bottle of decent whiskey for her Grandad and potentially some Thai gold for her Grandma. Nothing over the top but I do know my girlfriend has been saving up to buy her something, so we could work that out together.

As for embittered responses I was expecting the usual responses but figured there might be some sensible ones in there too (as thankfully the ones so far are!!)

I wouldn't go with the whiskey. I once made the mistake of thinking my wife's brother would appreciate a bottle of Black Label (OK, not so fabulous by international standards I grant you but 1000 baht nevertheless) as opposed to the bottle of Sangsom she said would be OK. I then had to sit back and watch him and a couple of already inebriated farmhands dilute it with liberal quantities of Big Cola and down the lot in about an hour and a half.

Bad for the blood pressure (mine, that is).

So you gave someone a gift, and you were disappointed in what they did with it?

Who says you can't find classy anymore?

You should get a bit real - are you telling me that if you gave your wife a genuine gold piece of jewellery, complete with a real diamond, and she treated it the same as a bit of junk bought at the local market you would simply say mai pen rai and not feel the slightest bit disappointed? You may (rightly) maintain that it's hers to do with what she will but I bet you'd be re-thinking your gift list next time around. I gave them the good stuff only to realise my wife was right and they didn't seem to understand what it was - my disappointment was mostly that I hadn't listened to my wife, a valuable lesson learned.

I learned a long time ago to give gifts freely, without expectations.

Why do you give gifts?

You've got the part of heeding advice of experience 100% correct.