We had our Oasis Christmas Party on Thursday night. Debbie invited all the students, teachers, and teachers’ spouses over to her house. The staff brought goodies, and about 50 or 60 people with varying levels of English crowded into one small room and chatted away.
It’s not unusual for students to give gifts to their teachers. I’ve been given a Mauritanian drum, a bright yellow purse shaped sort of like a banana but with metallic accents, white shoes with 4-inch heels, and a framed olive-tree-like piece of art. Sometimes, students buy gifts for my children.
Tom, who’s about 50, taught a beginner’s class this term. As one of his students was leaving, she handed him a wrapped parcel. “Part of it is for you and part of it is for your wife,” she explained. The student had never met or even seen Tom’s wife, but it was nice of her to think of both of them.
He opened it after all the students had gone. It contained a satchel for him and, for his wife, a pink lacy bra-and-panties set!
7 comments
December 23, 2006 at 3:35 pm
meredith
Were the white shoes with four inch heels the right size?
December 23, 2006 at 3:43 pm
Owlhaven
How very funny! I remember being surprised in Korea that our son’s foster mother gave me a 3-pack of underpants as a gift. Apparently underwear is not an uncommon gift in Korea…
Mary, mom to many
December 23, 2006 at 5:13 pm
Valarie
are you sure the satchel was for him?
December 23, 2006 at 6:13 pm
planetnomad
Valarie, now that you mention it, there wasn’t a card or anything STATING it. Hmm…
Meredith, they were basically the right size. They’re sandals of course, a little small, but not bad. I wore them quite a lot last year. And shoes and a handbag are the classic gifts for White Maure women. The underwear, though, was a new one. A friend of mine here gave me underwear once, but I knew her personally plus it wasn’t pink fishnet! Too bad, eh? 😉
December 23, 2006 at 6:21 pm
Michelle
Woa. Never will understand that one. What happened to a fruit basket?
December 23, 2006 at 9:22 pm
Antique Mommy
How do you write THAT thank you note?
December 25, 2006 at 11:56 pm
Wacky Mommy
“Thanks for the panties, they’re the cutest ever!”