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To live and enjoy every day to its fullest, use my gifts to help others, I travel to wherever passion finds me.

What Will She Paint?

So many friends I met here...!

Monday, February 22, 2010

AM I DREAMING?

A few weeks ago we came to our previous house, because I had to be there in the neighborhood. The new owners had done all kinds of improvements. Our old next door neighbor questimated that the new neighbors had spent about 20 K's on it and was at first worried that it would be used as a half way house. We assured him that was not the case.
We had a little chat with the new owners and then wanted to leave. But she still had a Christmas present for us. When we opened it at home, we were speechless. 

Talking about culture difference! I had not expected anything. Then when she handed me the package, I thought it would be something generic, because we had met them only twice.

 a lined batik shirt
But no! A very nice batik shirt for hubby. Even though I've been born in Indonesia, and he had Indonesian friends in college, he had never received a gift  that was typical of the Indonesian culture. So that was a special gift to him. Since I'm not used to photograph clothes, the pics do not justice to the beautiful material they are made of.

And this top fits me perfectly! The darker border of neck and sleeves is made of small perfect pleats. All the finishing touches inside are sewn with painstaking accuracy. Wow, is all I can say.
I am blown away. I feel blessed! I need to ask one of my Indonesian bloggie friends (Eki) what is customary  when someone gives you a gift like that (of course, I already sent an e-mail thank-you).
I am looking for an opportunity to wear it  - to a Hawaiian party maybe or a garden party or a walk along the beach?


21 comments:

DUTA said...

Asian people are known to be more warm and generous than europeans ,for instance, when it comes to hospitality and presents giving.

Enjoy the beautiful gifts!

rainfield61 said...

You were born in Indonesian!! You must have some knowledge on Malaysia.

Malaysia does have its beautiful Batik.

Kat Mortensen said...

That is a gorgeous kimono-esque blouse, Jeannette. How nice of them to present you with such a beautiful gift.

Kat

Zuzana said...

Beautiful gifts. I love the colour! There is something about the combination of red, green and gold. I would so wear that beautiful tunic.;))
xo
Zuzana

Stephanie V said...

What a stunning gift! Your jacket has such beautiful colors in it.

Rudee said...

What a surprising and generous gift. I don't know how you should reciprocate, but how about a piece of your very special art for their new home?

I wouldn't worry about where to wear such beautiful articles of clothing, I'd just wear them. They're gorgeous.

Jeannette StG said...

Duta,
Tend to think you are right, Duta. Maybe they are less self-absorbed? I know it's also a learned thing...

Rainfield,
Sorry to say, I don't have much knowledge about Malaysia, or the rest of South East Asia, because I was 5 years old when we moved to Holland.

Poetikat,
Their traditional clothes are very graceful. If I would have stayed throught my childhood, I probably would have learned to batik!

Jeannette StG said...

Zuzanna,
Just was thinking before I saw your comment, that I haven't seen much batik with green in it -which confirms my thoughts that it must come from a shop with unusual clothes!

Stephanie,
Thank you, I'm still kind of blown away:)

Rudee,
Piece of art might be a very good idea! She had heard that I painted and wanted to know all about it. Blogging is great to get all that input from a variety of people:)

Midwest to Midlands said...

What thoughtful people you sold your house to, my goodness. My cousins live in Indonesia - Jakarta. I have wanted to visit there, maybe someday. Enjoy wearing your gifts. Maybe you should have an art showing of your paintings and you can both wear your special apparel then. Just a thought.

Angie Muresan said...

That is indeed a beautiful present, Jeannette.

Unknown said...

Yes indeed, Asians are know for that kind of thing, but so are some South American cultures. I have received things because and no other reason that have left my mouth hanging open. I usually find a way to respond a bit differently than they do, but I do always give bake...sometimes it is something special from me, a house plant or a painting etc...

Jeannette StG said...

Wow, your relatives have the same taste for going international:)
What a splendid idea!

Angie,
Thank you, friend! Very unexpected too:)

Jeannette StG said...

Joey,
Yes, I was planning to give something, a painting sounds like a good idea (didn't see any plants in her house, or something I baked... thanks!

Suburban Girl said...

They are both beautiful, but I really love yours! I would be blown away too. And speechless!

Clytie said...

What a wonderful gift! And how neat that you got to see your old house under different circumstances! When we sold our house, I never saw it again - we moved halfway across the country. I looked it up on Google Earth, and it still looks the same - from the top!

knittingdragonflies said...

Wow that is beautiful. What a wonderful thing to do!!
Vicki

BryM said...

That was a very nice gesture of the new owners! :)

PJ said...

That was very sweet of them, you must have left the house in excellent shape for them to want to give you something so special.

Jeannette StG said...

Rebecca,
Thank you, Rebecca! Yes, speechless because saying "Thank you" does not seem enough (I know it is, but you know what I mean)

Clytie,
Yes it's a strange feeling, for the first time, I live close enough that I can visit my previous house.

Vicky,
Maybe it's because they felt close, since I've been born in Indonesia, and that's where they came from.

Brym,
Yes, they found a great way to say that they like the house!

Paula,
They knew hubby did a lot to bring the house in shape:)

Eki said...

Those are indeed beautiful pieces of Batik! That inspires me to take some pictures of beautiful batik from here.

Jeannette StG said...

Eiki,
So my big question is Eki, what would be customary and/or appropriate as a thank-you gift?

Yes, I like to see some more batik on your blog!