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The follow
are standard recommendations from Travel Agencies in China.
Your final
travel invoice will note if tip money has been collected for
your group's basic travel schedule in your child's province and
in Guangzhou.
You are
responsible for tipping in the following situations:
In
Beijing:
Tips for your stay in Beijing have not been included.
Tipping is not required for the Tour Guide in Beijing
because we use our own staff.
In
Guangzhou:
-
Guangdong Group families' arrival in Guangzhou (Please
tip your local guide, local driver and luggage van
driver from airport to hotel.)
-
All
families upon departure from Guangzhou at end of trip
(Please tip your local guide, local driver and luggage
van driver from hotel to airport.)
In Province
for families not arriving with their Group:
In
all cities:
Standards for tipping for small group or traveling on your
own:
Local Guide (tip at the end of each
day) $5 per person per day
Local Driver (tip at the end of each
day) $3 per person per day
Luggage Van Drivers to hotel and to
airport $1 per person per trip
Standards for tipping for larger group* for the basic travel
schedule:
Local
Guide
$3 per person per day
Local Driver
$2 per person per day
Luggage Van Drivers to hotel and to airport
$1 per person per trip
*Groups
with 5 or more families will be assigned a "Group Leader"
and the leader will be responsible for tipping the local
tour guides & bus drivers in the province and in Guangzhou
(see exceptions listed). We try to anticipate all tips,
but there may be an instance or changes in the schedule
where the Group Leader may request some additional tip
money.
Please do
not tip (in cash) the CHI coordinator, any Chinese Officials, or
orphanage staff.
-
A
surcharge is already included in your bill at restaurants,
so tipping is not needed.
-
When
taking a taxi, pay the driver the amount on the meter.
Custom of
Gift Giving in China
It's the established custom for adoptive families to present
some gifts to the officials for Adoption Registration and Notary
Paperwork. The officials are pleased to have the gifts and they
share them among their colleagues, so it doesn't matter if gifts
are for male or female. It's also a tradition to give gifts for
practical use as well.
The Chinese do
not generally open gifts publicly and you should be prepared for
this cultural trait.
Wrapping gifts:
Can be done before you travel or you can take wrapping paper,
small scissors and tape along with you and wrap in China.
Gift bags with tissue paper are a great time saver instead of
wrapping.
CHECK LIST OF
GIFTS TO TAKE TO CHINA
-
1 gift for
orphanage director (cost of no more than $15)
-
2 gifts for
notary and registrar (cost of no more than $10)
-
3 gifts,
tokens of your appreciation to some of the aunties
-
If your
child is in foster care, you may want to give a gift to the
foster mother.
The foster family may be pleased to have a
photo album.
-
A gift for
your CHI Coordinator - The coordinators in China are
part of our agency and are paid employees. Families will
bond with their coordinators in China during this very
emotional and life altering event. Some families like to
show their respect and appreciation for their hard work with
a small gift and thank you note.
GIFTS OF CASH
ARE NOT APPROPRIATE AND ARE INTERPRETED AS BRIBES AND ILLEGAL.
We understand
it's hard for a family to prepare gifts for people they have
never met. The following are our suggestions for gifts for the
people in China:
-
Art and
craft items from your area ● Purse
-
Cosmetic kit
w/lipstick, etc. ● Chocolate
-
Stationary
● Scarf
-
Perfume ●
Picture Frame
-
Special
sports item, baseball hat, T-shirt from your favorite team.
American Basketball is big in China.
-
"Save the
Children" design items, tie, necklace, or earrings.
-
Jewelry
(pin, earrings, bracelet, necklace)
-
The
Director of "Love Without Boundaries" posted the following gift
ideas and suggestions in August 2006 and we are including this
list to help you.
I would not
stress AT ALL about the gifts. It is the thought that counts.
For Directors and Officials:
-
I know
it is so controversial to many people, but if you want a
gift for a man, you cannot go wrong with Marlboros. I am
completely against smoking, but it is still the most
appreciated gift I take. I think directors like being
able to go to meetings and other functions and offer
their friends these. Yes, you can buy them in China but
they are more than many people can afford. I really
stressed about buying them the first time, but once I
saw how truly appreciated they were, I got over it.
-
For
officials, just remember that many times the gifts you
give will be given to their friends and relatives, so
you can do any gender (male or female). I really have
given just about everything you can think of, including
penlights, pocket knives, golf shirts, bracelets,
scarves, binoculars, and CDs with showtunes. I do not
do t-shirts as most officials I have met dress very,
very nice and would never usually wear something like
that. But that isn't to say they couldn't give them to
teens in the family. I don't get a lot of feedback on
these gifts, except I was told once that some really
nice disposable razors I took were much appreciated (the
top of the line ones here).
For
Aunties: Here is what they have told me specifically
that they love from parents:
-
potpourri envelopes (they are great because they pack
flat). They CANNOT get anything like that in China and
it makes small apartments smell great.
-
They
also like the pretty room fresheners (like the glass
ones) but they are heavy to pack.
-
Jelly
Bellies (again, not usually found in China. Nestle and
Cadbury chocolate is everywhere now and easy to buy, so
this is more unique)
-
Anything
"pretty". Gifts do not have to be expensive. Simple
things like postcards of flowers, sunsets, etc are so
popular because they can be hung on a wall. Similarly,
books of flowers, gardening, etc or calendars with
beautiful photos are great as well. Postcards from your
home state are always fun, and can be given to their
children or relatives to collect. They should be nice
scenes, however. I remember taking one of Oklahoma with
a tornado on it and no one wanted it. Too unlucky I
guess! Just remember that aunties get paid minimal
salaries and so they often do not have the funds to buy
pretty things like this.
-
Deodorant. Okay, I have to admit that I was stubborn as
all get out on this one when asked to bring it. I kept
saying "there are so many rules about gifts and there is
NO WAY I am taking deodorant because I am afraid it will
imply that I think someone smells." My Chinese friends
in China kept saying, "trust us...you cannot buy this in
China and they will LOVE IT." So finally two trips ago
I took Secret deodorant that smelled great (the flower
ones). I took a whole basketful, along with other gifts
and presented a basket to aunties saying "pick what you
want". The deodorant was the first to go and they were
all standing in the orphanage learning how to use it and
laughing and smelling it, and now I have been asked to
PLEASE bring more. You really cannot buy it there! On my
last trip I gave it to both men and women and they loved
it.
-
Wrap
around ear muffs. The flat kind that go behind the head.
Most people in China ride bikes or scooters and in the
winter it is COLD. These have been an enormous hit and
I have been asked to bring more the next time I come.
-
Make up.
Soft colors, any type.
-
Lotions.
You don't have to spend a fortune on these. The Wal-Mart
kinds are fine (the pretty ones with flowers and good
scents). I take travel size ones, along with travel size
luxury soaps.
-
Local
treats. This is always fun for them to try. If your
region has a specialty like pecans, walnuts, Frango
mints, a certain cookie, etc....this is a great gift
with a note that it is from your hometown.
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