Tiff and Robyn inspired me for this post - about Christmas and gifts.
It isn't really customary to give out presents in China for Christmas; although we are here in Canada, my family still doesn't celebrate Christmas thus I never get presents from my parents - but that's fine, they've been constantly giving for 17 years. What I really hate about giving presents is that most people do it i) initially because they want something in return ii) passively because they are 'supposed' to return the favour. I don't see any sincerity in giving presents in such way, things you give out are supposed to be the token of your thankfulness for what people have done for you or love towards people, not some compelled superficial 'kindness'. I'd rather not be given a present without sincerity than given an expensive present being expected to return the favour. Thus, if you get a present from me, please don't feel constrained to give one back and don't give me a present out of expectation of getting one in return. As Tiff said, it's a big waste to spend money on something not practical, and to avoid such extravagancy, here's the list of what I want:
* Chopin Piano Sonata score
* Tchaikovsky/Grieg piano concerto score
* Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho
hmm...there isn't much of what I want when I come to think of it...
things that I don't really really need but would be lovely gifts to me
* funky rings, skirts, shirts, necklaces
* the designer necklace at the AGO store
* philosophy/music/art/Harry Potter (not the 5th one) books
* tickets to Cats/Lang Lang's concert in March
* or simply cards/hugs
I love buying presents for people; it makes me so happy and contented especially when people like my presents. I'm actually planning to spend a decent amount of money to buy poeple presents this Christmas, because it's my last year of high school (yay!) and so last chance for buying Christmas gifts for school friends... after that, I'm not even sure if I'll see them for Christmas anymore =( and it's also the last year of the underaged me, I shall spend it away. Heh...
Some tangential remarks: I'm getting a Yamaha U3! and selling my old Apollo =[ It's the first piano we bought after we landed in Toronto, and it's been with us for almost 4 years... I'll miss it so much...