Gifts for Mama and Papa - Russian Ukrainian Belarus Travel Music Woman Dating News

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Gifts for Mama and Papa
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Posted by: Keystone

I am going to meet my fiancee's Parents for the first time in June. I understand that it is customary to bring gift. Do you get one gift for both or seperate gifts for each? The only help I have recieved from my fiancee is that Mom likes the color blue and dad likes to fish. Any help in this would be appreciated.

Keystone

Posted by: Jill

I would probably go with separate gifts. You don't need to get anything extravagant or expensive--it's more of a symbolic gesture.

Maybe for mom something for the home. A vase, for example, or a nice picture frame (maybe with a picture of you and your fiancee in it--you could take such a picture while you're there and give the gift at the end of your stay). How about a pretty (blue) scarf? That's always useful. Just don't buy some that's going to take up space in their apartment gathering dust. My mother in law always likes perfume--but that's rather individual and you have to know someone's taste fairly well. Maybe your fiancee can suggest something there. Does dad drink? A bottle of something tasty is usually a pretty good gift for a man. Good cognac, for example. I don't know anything about fishing, so I can't help you out with that. Maybe something like a reliable watch? Good watches here tend to be expensive, so maybe he could use one.

Posted by: Keystone

I have decided on what to buy her parents. I spend a couple hours looking last night, but mostly everything made in Asia. I wanted to buy something made in America. I ended up buying vase from Lithuania....pretty funny. Dad gets a pocket fishing tool thingy. I don't fish either. Anyway thanks for the suggestions. I will wave to you in June as I pass through Kiev.

Keystone

P.S. I like your quote.

Posted by: Jill

Well, I'm sure they will appreciate anything you give them. I know it's a cliche in the US, but here it still really is the thought that counts.

Oh, I realize it's too late now, but I did think of one more "guy gift." A Swiss army knife. I gave one to my husbamd once and it went over REAL well--not TOO large, but with all the gadgets. It would probably be especially useful to a fisherman. Just a (belated) thought.

Posted by: Keystone

Thanks Jill I almost bought a swiss army knife last night I think I will go and get one anyway. As mom is getting vase and a picture frame. How's Kiev? I spent a week in Kiev this past January. I had a great time. Saw the ballet a fiist for me. Survived many cab rides. I meet a wonderful woman and our relationship is progressing. She is from Mariupol and that's where I will be in June for two weeks. Passing through Kiev 9 June and 22 June for a couple of hours.

Keystone

Posted by: Jill

Well, you can buy Swiss Army knives in Ukraine--they're just rather expensive for most people and anything purchased in the States is automatically assumed to be of higher quality. So I think he'll like it.

You can always give one gift when you arrive and one at the end as a "thank you." The picture frame would be good to give at the end since you can take a nice picture (perhaps you with the family) while you're there, get is developed, and slip it in "na pamyat." And since I'm sure you will be filling the vase with flowers while you're there, just a reminder to always purchase an ODD number of flowers (even numbers are only for funerals), and it's better not to give yellow flowers (according to superstition, yellow flowers symbolize seperation).

Kiev is great. The weather was pretty lousy yesterday (rained all day), but today it's nice--just in time for Easter weekend

But after surviving January in Ukraine, I think you will be very pleasantly surprised by June--that's the perfect month to come.

I've never been to Mariupil--that's in the Donetsk Oblast, right? I've been to Donestk a few times. There's a good Mexican restaurant there called Tequila Boom. Are you planning to visit any other cities, or will you be in Mariupil the whole time? I guess two weeks doesn't really leave a lot of time for travel/siteseeing. I'm sure your lady and her family will keep you VERY busy