A work colleague of mine recently went overseas to an undisclosed location, only to return & Shower presents such as key rings, small bracelets (all the sorts of novelty crap that you pick up for $2 in these different areas of the world.) and gave them to pretty much everybody they lay eyes on that day (and for a week later).
My query is this -If someone gives you a gift that is not expected, asked for or useful in any way shape or form, how much etiquette is involved in whether next time I go on holiday I purchase a gift for said people? Am I obliged to actually give them anything? Or is this a choice? If it is a choice, and I choose not to, does this mean I am not friends with this person? Do i have to awkwardly try not to mention said holiday around the person because I am afraid they will realize that I did not buy them something? If I don’t buy them something & they then know I have gone on holidays, should I then make some apology about lack of funds or whatever was the reason?
I am starting to think that buying them something would be easier.
And here is the trick… Is this person just fishing? If you don’t know what I mean, I guess I am asking is this person just giving out presents on the hopes that one day someone will reciprocate?? Should I be paying this type of person a little bit more attention, because they obviously don’t have many friends? Or are they just an incredibly giving person who likes making people feel good about themselves?
Meh. Either way, I went on holiday. They didn’t get a present. Game over.
