My wife’s Japanese teacher said not to give them omiyage and instead just explain the trip in words. She’s been learning with the teacher for about 4 months.
Does it really mean not to give them omiyage, or is this just a polite thing to say?
I don’t want my wife to come off as KY, but here we are asking..
15 comments
Just being polite. You can get around it by giving something and saying it wasn’t expensive/got it free etc.
Please don’t think too much about it and take it literally.
We don’t bother to say such things in a roundabout way.
I don’t know how to put it this way, but it is more likely to be annoying to give a souvenir to someone who says they don’t want it.
(& If that person receives something, it also creates pressure to give something back.)
I think they will be happy if you(r wife) show them some nice pictures of your trip and explain it to them.
Take the teacher at their word.
Your wife should just follow the simple instruction her teacher gave her.
KY would be not listening to that simple request.
It’s complicated but your wife doesn’t have to buy anything, in short.
It means like “you don’t have to, are not forced to, are not under pressure to buy any souvenir but it’s also fine to give some souvenirs”.
It’s usually morally not acceptable to give some “expensive” souvenirs to a client in business but some people give some cheap souvenirs(snacks, chocolates)for greetings as well.
It’s totally fine to give some souvenirs to your teacher but it’s not necessary either.
There’s something called “omiyage-banashi” which is basically what you described. To tell someone stories about your trip as “omiyage” – it’s a totally normal thing to say and a considerate thing to say. Besides I’m sure it’s best to talk about the trip in Japanese to the teacher to show commitment to the class. Nobody needs souvenir presents. Seriously.
Do what the teacher says. When I worked in Eikaiwa I often got omiyage, which were thoughtful and that but the learner didn’t really improve during their stay. This teacher asking for an explanation is them knowing that your wife is taking on board the lessons and making a solid effort. I wish I had a teacher like them.
Not to say she can’t get omiyage full stop, but she really shpuld complete the teacher’s brief first.
Companies tend to not allow their employees to accept gifts from their clients. I wouldn’t bring anything.
Bring omiyage to class, but open it so everyone can get some. Win win.
Maybe just get cookies to eat while talking about the trip. Also explain the cookies in Japanese. Or take pictures to talk about, sounds like the teacher is looking for materials to discuss other then boring book stuff.
Hopefully, this trend picks up.
I hate omiyage.
Teachers (by virtue of knowing a lot of people) are often swamped with omiyage. The first box of macadamia nuts is fun. The hundredth? Less so. It creates a reciprocal gift expectation as well. Expensive and hard to pack a hundred boxes of cookies to return gift the students. Like others said: take them at their word.
If someone tells you to do something, do it.
Just do as the teacher says. Younger people, especially those working with foreigners will not be speaking in tatemae about those things. They are being straightforward.
If still in doubt, get a box of snacks to share with the whole class.