Sunday snapshot: Gifts

Today’s Sunday snapshot is more along the lines of amusing than moving.  There will be no streaky mascara caused by this post.  I thought this post might bring a smile or even a bit of laughter–and I thought that it was preferable over the only other photo subject sitting before me: exams, papers, and grade sheets.  It’s the end of the year, so a few teacher gifts have rolled in.  Giving gifts cross-culturally is always difficult, and sometimes my students are as lost as I am. It’s always interesting to see what they pick out for me.  Before I begin, let me remind you, coveting is a sin.

This little jewelry box embodies the Chinese principle of “the more flare the better.”  I remember the first year I was in China, the foreign teachers were asked to give a performance for one of the school parties (for a peek into what a Chinese party looks like, read this post).  We practiced and prepared a glorified group performance of the hustle.  We went to the dress rehearsal and were informed we needed to add more flare to our performance.  The school found colorful flags for us to wave throughout the dance, and two teachers did an “interpretive free style” dance in the middle of the performance.  When in China, bring on the flare.

When adding flare, make sure you add a dose of romance as well.  Incorporate as many hearts and flowers as possible into designs.

Can you guess the purpose of this little Great Wall memorabilia?

It’s a toothpick holder.  Did you guess correctly?  Are toothpick holders common household items in the States?  Seriously, I’m really asking.  It’s one of those things where I can’t remember whether they’re typical in America or not.  But anyways, toothpick holders come in all shapes and sizes around here.  This one is quite formal and ornate.  Others are quite comical, like animals that shoot the toothpicks out of their mouths.

And then we have…this.

I have no idea what “this” is.  I mean, I can see that it’s a partially opened peanut.  This peanut is either abnormally large, or there is an abnormally small cat climbing the peanut. Why is a cat climbing a peanut?  I have no clue.  I didn’t even know cats like peanuts.

What is this object supposed to be used for?  Suggestions are welcome.  I thought at first it was a pen holder, but the opening doesn’t seem large enough for that.  Then I thought maybe a bank, but the opening seems too large for that.  This is one of the more mysterious…and amusing gifts I’ve received.

These lovely little ladies, to give you some perspective, are each a little smaller than my thumb.  I find them quite cute, although I’m not entirely sure what I’ll do with them yet.

Lastly, I’ve also received one of the more common and traditional gifts in China: a red knot. The color red in China symbolizes good fortune, and knots usually mean love, reunion, luck or harmony.

But I’ve also given myself a gift.  Lately, I’ve been motivating myself with carrot cake cupcakes.  “Finish grading ten more exams and then you can eat a cupcake.”  I’ve gotten a lot of grading done.  I’m not telling you how many cupcakes I’ve consumed.