My grandma lives in my hometown Medan, Indonesia. I don't really know her that well coz I've been living in Jakarta ever since I was 10. Then I was in Malaysia for my study and now I stay in Sydney, Australia. I pay her a visit once a year during my summer holiday in Medan. Since I started working, always manage to prepare a *red pocket* and regard myself as a good grand daughter.This year I decided not to go back for christmas nor Chinese new year. Then I was thinking, "Should I just send a *red pocket*". But the idea of sending and not giving it myself during Chinese new year is kinda meaningless. So I thought, lets buy a gift :)
I brainstorm ideas of what my grandma likes. Looking to the past, I was satisfied with my own idea of giving A$ as she would be able to buy things that she needs or likes. Now when I want to buy something she would like, I had a lot of things to consider. I need to put thought into giving!
I brainstorm ideas of what my grandma likes. Looking to the past, I was satisfied with my own idea of giving A$ as she would be able to buy things that she needs or likes. Now when I want to buy something she would like, I had a lot of things to consider. I need to put thought into giving!
Then I remember my mom always tell me how stressed my grandma was before every Chinese new year. The question of a million women, "What should I wear". Given my grandma is old and not as slim as she was, it's hard to find her clothes in Indonesia. Size above 10 is not exactly popular there compared to Australia. And so I went to a plus size shop near my office.
That minute I got into the shop, I realised how clueless I am. I had absolutely no idea of what size she should wear left alone her favourite colour. I'm truly ashamed. I almost cancel my plan to buy her clothes simply because it's pricey and I couldn't guarantee if it would fit. But then I heard a voice, "Why are you being reluctant to spend your money? Even if it does not fit, the thought itself matters." And so I bought the clothes with good faith.
A happy ending, clothes fit my grandma well. She's so pleased with the gift simply because I put more thought on giving this time compared to the *red pocket* in the past years.
That minute I got into the shop, I realised how clueless I am. I had absolutely no idea of what size she should wear left alone her favourite colour. I'm truly ashamed. I almost cancel my plan to buy her clothes simply because it's pricey and I couldn't guarantee if it would fit. But then I heard a voice, "Why are you being reluctant to spend your money? Even if it does not fit, the thought itself matters." And so I bought the clothes with good faith.
A happy ending, clothes fit my grandma well. She's so pleased with the gift simply because I put more thought on giving this time compared to the *red pocket* in the past years.
Next time when you want to give, put
your thought
into it :)
your thought
into it :)
*red pocket*
It's a chinese tradition to give “Hong Bao”, or little red envelopes filled with money, for special occasions.
It's a chinese tradition to give “Hong Bao”, or little red envelopes filled with money, for special occasions.
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