We got back from a 1 month visit to Russia last week (A Trip Report Will Be Coming Once We Get Settled Back In To Our Lives Here) and of course we arrived there for the holidays and it is Russian tradition to bring gifts along "whenever" visiting "anytime" so here's a list of some of the things we brought that went over quite well:
FOR THE ADULTS
-Several pairs of assorted reading eyeglasses.Assorted styles and strenghts from a local dollar store.My mother-in laws glasses had string around them when we arrived and she "proudly" gave away several pairs to neighbors and relatives...
-Watches and any other ithems that were stamped "made in USA" as souvineers.I had also gave my father-in-law a stack of old USA $2.00 bills and silver and gold USA dollar coins.Everyone seemed quite interested in one of these things they never saw before and proudly accepted one...
-Leather wallets and small leather pocketbooks were a big hit...
-American costume jewelry and colognes and purfumes.(Duty-free in airports have pretty good prices on the purfumes)...
-2X and 3X clothes.(For some reason it seems awfully difficult for the few larger people in Russia to find clothes at the bazzar so we brought some along and it was well appreciated.Especially the large Black Babushka Bras)...
-SEEDS of all types of flowers here from USA.I threw about 70 or 80 packs(7 for a buck at the dollar store) in the suitcase.They were looked at with some amazement and I think this spring Russia will look a little different...
-Plastic wrap for food.This was a simple revelation to the mum."Wow",she said,I can just leave this food in the plate until tomorrow???I think tuperware would have blown their minds completely...
-Zip lock bags assorted sizes and a few heavy duty contractor trash bags found many uses through-out the month...
-Leatherman type of tools and and swiss type multi-use knives found adequate work and use through-out the month on cars,in the house etc..No one ever worried again about having a cork screw for the ladies' champagne and wine bottles...
-Packages of assorted battery sizes and a MAG hi-power mini flashlight was extremely useful while there to everyone...
-An ATM card from an opened account here in the USA.This really has the possibiliy of eliminating all those nasty fees we were paying to Western Union and other Money Transfer Companies every time we wanted to send some money abroad.(You may have to take them to a hotel or bank in a larger city close-by that has an ATM machine and show them how to use one with it's code because odds are they never saw one before)...
-The kicker of the vacation was that we gave poppa $1,500.00 to go to the car auction (bazzar).His car was 27 years old and the laughing stock of the neighborhood and family.Everyone had sore body parts from it and could recall pushing this car somewhere so it was a perfect gift.He ended up coming home with a 4 year old Lada of his favorite style.Mum was so happy because they could drive at night now and didn't have to ask or pay anyone anymore or take the bus for longer rides out of the village.They also have no telephone so for medical emergencies this car is worth it's weight in gold as far as eliminating anxiety and worrying about what to do in a medical emergency especially in nighttime.My poor poppa didn't sleep with excitement 3 days before buying the new machine or 3 days after...Next we plan to send them 3 or 4 thousand dollars so that they can sell their farm and most of their animals in the spring and buy a smaller home with an "indoor" toilet and "running water" INSIDE the house.My hope is that this will add 10 or 15 years to their lives(Sheeee...The things we take for granted)...
-We just sent the parents an invitation letter to come visit us here in USA all expenses paid.I hope they have no problems getting the visa if they apply "after" they buy their new house with a fairly new car in the driveway.They are pensioneers...
