My husband just celebrated his first year living in the USA, and next week we're going back to DR for the first time as husband and wife...
But I have a little problem I need someone to shed a light on...
We were discussing whether to bring gifts to family and friends, or give them the good stuff...you know...CASH!!!
It was decided that in order to save a lot of worries with luggage and maybe someone taking something from them at the airport, the best thing and what would be most appreciated would be the CASH...
So...we started to make a list of the people we would give 'presents' to...we agreed on aunts and uncles, one cousin, and 4 friends...
For the children of these people I have already bought outfits, which I'm sure they could use...and we can't give kids money...so I think that should be fine...PLUS some candy, etc.
Ok...here's the deal...After we figured out how much money we would give each of these people, ($50, except 2 friends that want good old LIQUOR! ) Tony says to me..."Ok, then we are gonna need about another $100 or so for the unexpected ones"....
THIS made me crazy!!! (Yes, more so...!) He says that when some people see him going to visit his friends, they're gonna come up and 'ask' for whatever he can give them...
He doesn't even want to go visit his ex-coworkers because of this...
IS this the norm in DR? I know that SOME family MEMBERS EXPECT some things...but acquaintances too??? People that might have known my husband years ago?
THIS IS NUTS!!!
I think, that if things are really this bad, and we're expected to bring money and gifts to people we have nothing to do with, as much as it pains me to say it...THIS WILL BE OUR LAST TRIP TO DR!!!
Next time, I might as well go to another Caribbean island where NO ONE knows us...so we don't go broke!!!
I mean, bet. the tickets, the car rental, the money needed to have fun for 6 days, AND the presents...this is setting us back almost $3000 in LESS than a week!!
We are NOT rich people...how can we deal with this without coming into a conflict as a couple and without hurting people's feelings (well, sort of)
I am totally dumbfounded!!!!:tired:
But I have a little problem I need someone to shed a light on...
We were discussing whether to bring gifts to family and friends, or give them the good stuff...you know...CASH!!!
It was decided that in order to save a lot of worries with luggage and maybe someone taking something from them at the airport, the best thing and what would be most appreciated would be the CASH...
So...we started to make a list of the people we would give 'presents' to...we agreed on aunts and uncles, one cousin, and 4 friends...
For the children of these people I have already bought outfits, which I'm sure they could use...and we can't give kids money...so I think that should be fine...PLUS some candy, etc.
Ok...here's the deal...After we figured out how much money we would give each of these people, ($50, except 2 friends that want good old LIQUOR! ) Tony says to me..."Ok, then we are gonna need about another $100 or so for the unexpected ones"....
THIS made me crazy!!! (Yes, more so...!) He says that when some people see him going to visit his friends, they're gonna come up and 'ask' for whatever he can give them...
He doesn't even want to go visit his ex-coworkers because of this...
IS this the norm in DR? I know that SOME family MEMBERS EXPECT some things...but acquaintances too??? People that might have known my husband years ago?
THIS IS NUTS!!!
I think, that if things are really this bad, and we're expected to bring money and gifts to people we have nothing to do with, as much as it pains me to say it...THIS WILL BE OUR LAST TRIP TO DR!!!
Next time, I might as well go to another Caribbean island where NO ONE knows us...so we don't go broke!!!
I mean, bet. the tickets, the car rental, the money needed to have fun for 6 days, AND the presents...this is setting us back almost $3000 in LESS than a week!!
We are NOT rich people...how can we deal with this without coming into a conflict as a couple and without hurting people's feelings (well, sort of)
I am totally dumbfounded!!!!:tired: