December 13 , 2007 ... posted by Chad
Christmas is a great time of year. I've spent one Christmas overseas in Japan where I went to an arcade with my buddy Danny (together, as super-gaijin). I know what it's like to be away from friends and family on the big day and I can say that it's something that I don't want to experience again. Thankfully I'm coming home for Christmas this year.
This article isn't so much about this as it is about Uncle Scrooge (Eric ... a.k.a. God's Gift to INSERT NOUN HERE) and his hatred for spending money on people for Christmas. The kid makes WAY too much money to be worried about dropping a couple hundred dollars on people near and dear to him.
Case in point, this year at the ripe age of 24 I've realized the joy of shopping for other people for Christmas. Mike, Eric, Damon, and the rest of my friends and family don't know it yet, but I spent one day after work running around the middle of Osaka trying to find the perfect gifts for my friends and family. I'm buying for about 12 or so people this year, so I really want to make sure I get things that will please everyone. After all, how many times can you say "My buddy (kid, brother) got me this from Japan."? My guess is not a lot.
Maybe I've been stuck in this ass-backwards country for too long, but I've realized the importance of gift-giving. I recently found a Wii Fit game at my local Joshin (Japan's Best Buy basically), and after almost no thinking at all, realized that I had to buy it for one of my teachers that I work with at school. This is a teacher that I work with 80% of the time, and puts up with a lot of my crap, so I found no problem in dropping $75 on the gift for her. And the reason I did it? I just want to see the look on her face when she opens the present. I've joked at school about getting her Wii Fit (she really wants it for some reason), but I have a feeling she's not expecting it at all ... and that's the beauty of it.
(This is a little side-note for those of you who just think I'm in it to "get some". Hahaha, no.)
We have a bit of a get-together on Friday and I'm going to give her the present. She thinks it's something small, but I'm going to surprise the crap out of her on Friday and it's going to be great.
I happen to be a big spender on Christmas ($1,200 plane ticket home (mainly for grandma and mom) ... stuff for 12 friends and relatives etc.), and I just can't understand how someone could get so worked up about dropping a couple hundred dollars around the holidays to make people happy.
I should have a follow-up after this about how well the exchange went. Also, Mike, Damon, Eric and everyone else that I'm shopping for are going to be stoked about what I'm getting them for Christmas. Damon ... you wanted something that you can only get in Japan? Check!