Presents

Last weekend we had that party of the little girl of one of KK's cousins. I did want to write about the presents after but with the last week of school and me taking my fourth graders for a sleepover at school, it just didn't happen...

Last week when we wanted to go to the party, I realized we did not have a present for her. And I thought we should have one. It was too late to go to the shops and buy something, not to mention that in general the quality of toys here is beyond appalling. Most of it is cheap junk from China.

I remembered that Xenne had a book in Myanmar that we happened to have twice. Both KK and I had bought it since it is such a nice book (translated of course without paying copyright but that'll be for another post). I wanted to pack the extra copy. KK said that he tho ought it wasn't a nice present. Parents here prefer clothes or cheap stuffed toys for their children. For me that was all the more reason to wrap the book. The girl might like to have a book, at least one, right.

Later that even in g I remembered we had had had a similar conversation before. That time I didn't give a but a small kitchen set for a 5 year old girl to play with at home when she went back to the village.

Now I am resolved to keep a small stack of suitable books on the side for whenever we need a present. If parents are reluctant to spend money on a book for a child then we should do so. A household without a book, as is very common here, just doesn't feel right. So, if I can remedy it a bit by giving a nice book for a present when appropriate.....