I'm compiling a list of things Lane must buy while in China but feel like I'm forgetting things or there might be things I don't even know about. Here's what's on the list so far:
- chops
- chopsticks - regular and jade
- tea/teapots/tea sets
- pearls - LOTS of pearls (smile, wink)
- squeaky shoes/sandals
- chinese silk dresses for Miss Emi in various sizes as she grows
- granite etchings
- jade - jewelry & figurines
- wooden puzzle of china
- silk jackets for moi
- coin purses
- Hello.Kitty utensil sets (friends bought them in GZ and they are really cute, really cheap and would make nice gifts)
- placemats/table runners (? - still not sure about these)
- Children's books that have both the Chinese & English
So for the BTDT people, what did you buy? What do you wish you had bought more of? Lane's leaving in just over a week and I want to make sure there isn't something I should buy that I don't know about.
5 comments:
-Chinese hackysack (weighted feather toy) - Lane will see all the vendors playing with these in GZ
-Jade Happiness Ball (carved ball w/in a ball) - tradition to give to your child on their wedding day (have one for each child)
-handmade crocheted (sp?) doll from Charity Shop in GZ with a couple of outfits (Trust me on this one!)
-Child-sized chopsticks!!!
-Province Doll (wish we had one) - these dolls are dressed in the traditional costume of each province
-silk scarves/shawls (wish we had some)
-DON'T buy Chinese baby toys!!! Not safe!
-Chinese doll with baby and passport
-little silk bags for gifts (VERY CHEAP!)
-glass ornament (painted from the inside and rests in a display holder) - My brother LOVES his.
-LOTS OF PEARLS, BABY!!! (bought some really cheap ones on Shamian Island) - Get all colors and pearl sizes and lengths! (got a 20" seed pearl necklace w/ bracelet for $14) Lane needs to know how long you need.
-Bring back some stones from your daughter's village or SWI. This will be important one day...
That should give you something to go on!!! If you buy any DVDs, most are bootleg copies and won't work well unless you get them from a specialty shop. (Our Harry Potter reverts to speaking Chinese half-way through it!!!) I hope Lane has a wonderful trip.
Definately get things from the providence your child is from. Mattie is from Hunan and they are know for embrodery so I bought a few beautiful embrodered pictures. When Mattie got home he would point to one of the pictures hanging in my room and say picture from China like me. Beth
I agree, find out what the province is known for and get it. Also take a picture of the three of you, Lane and Eriks and a picture of Emi and give it to a store very early in your stay in province or in GZ, we did ours in GZ and they will make you the nicest etching that will look like all 4 of you are in the picture.
One of my most treasured buys was what are called "wedding boxes". They are square wooden boxes with designs, what you do is save them til your wedding day, and then on the day you give it to your child with little trinkets and memories of their childhood, I gave one to Rebekka when she got married and I have one for the other girls too.
Wall hangings are wonderful, they also make wondeful cheap slippers for adults.
If you get Lane to buy you anything send your measurements with him, because if you wear a size small in the US it is a XXXL in China, so you might need to have him get you something custom made.
Music ~ wonderful chinese music on cd's.
Chinese dresses for her come in all sizes, a size 2 in one store is totally a different size 2 in another store. So he needs to try to buy alot of the traditional dresses from the same stores.
He will save $ and spend so much more for his $ in GZ on souvenirs.
Lots of tshirts for Emi and Eriks to wear through the years with panda bears, etc. on them. The kids love them !
Have Lane bring a baggie and get some dirt and rocks from her province to keep. Also her entire gotcha day outfit he needs to remove from her when he gets her back to the room, and store it in some gallon ziplock bags. I still even have the lollipop Raeghan was holding on gotcha day !
Lots of little piddly gifts ~ hairbows, panda purses,etc, etc. So much, so cheap !
I have what we call memory boxes for all the kids at home, they are those huge storage plastic boxes and all their China treasures are in it for when they get older !
If I think of more, I will tell you !
I am getting so excited for you !
Charlotte
Don't know what I will be buying but I agree on the Mahjong set...
My MIL wants a pearl from there... and I want a jade bracelet... have always wanted one... a purple one... I will wait until I get there...
We made sure that we bought a gift for each forever family day until the girls turned 18. These are as simple as a t-shirt, a beaded purse (A-M's is a ladybug & S's is a panda bear face), Chinese Barbie and clothes, soft dolls, bracelets, fans, kites, glass globes painted on the inside w/a one brisel paint brush with their zodiac sign, etc. . . . We also bought pearls to give to them at Graduation and a Porclein figure as a wedding gift.
Pearls are much cheaper at the Pearl Market across the street from the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. (3rd floor, stall #117. June is GREAT!) There are many other things in this building that are interesting to look at. It closes @ 7 PM.
The Charity Store Sam spoke of is call A Gift from China. Love this shop! Sherry's and a couple of the other shops were moving into buildings near this shop.
Best laundry service in GZ is Dragon's Hometown. They also do the best etchings on the Island. OH! Don't forget the name paintings. The artist at Dragon's Hometown is very talented!!!
A-M is also from Hunan, which is know for it's embroidery, especially the double-sided embroidery. Looking back, I wish we'd bit the bullet, spent the money, and bought a piece of double-sided embroidery. We did buy 2 outfits (1 dress & 1 pants outfit). The quality was 100X better than the silks you buy in GZ, but the price was also 7 - 8X higher. The Embroidery factory is a must see on a tour of Changsha!
When another friend's husband traveled to bring their daughter home, he took pictures at the shops in GZ and of the stuff he purchased, and emailed them to her every night. She then emailed him an updated shopping list. :-) Worked for them, as they got stuff neither one of them would have thought to purchase.
Will continue to keep you all in my prayers!
Blessings,
Kim
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