GIFTS ARE one of the many ways to show our appreciation and care for one another. While luxury, expensive presents are certainly nice, what makes a gift most memorable are the feelings and human connections behind it. Members of The Yonsei Annals recount the most special gift they have received.
Song In-jun (Reporter, Photo Div.): A Friend That “Suited” Me
In 2017, I had my first birthday as a university student. I wasn’t planning a big party nor was I expecting any grand gifts from my friends. After all, I had just started to tutor and work part-time; all I could give my friends were fried chicken gifticons, non-luxury perfumes, and other gifts under $20. So, when my childhood friend’s family took me on a drive to a suit store, I was quite surprised. I was asked two days prior whether I owned a suit but wasn’t expecting them to buy me one. My friend and I had our measurements taken, and within an hour I had a perfectly tailored suit. I’ve worn it on multiple occasions—especially for formal occasions like the Annals Anniversary Events. Since then, my friend and I started our own tradition of buying each other expensive gifts. I got him a long coat last year, and this year he is getting me a bike. These gifts are not just objects, but a show of appreciation to each other.
Lee Na-eun (Editor, Campus Reporting Div.): The Little Things in Life
While I have to admit that my laptop is rarely found closed nowadays, I still take my class notes on a separate sheet of paper. Hence, stationary shopping has been a steady ritual of mine. After becoming a complete homebody since the pandemic, however, I have not been able to get my hands on the trendiest pens for the start of the semester. My mom, realizing I was sincerely let down by this, went out of her way to buy me not only one but two 3-colored ball-point pens with fluorescent tips. Now, I don’t need to have a separate highlighter ready while I scramble to take notes as the professor’s voice drones on from my earbuds. Honestly, I owe her a 4.3 report card and a scholarship for this cute gift. Thank you, Mom!
Lee Ju-ho (Editor, Current Issues Div.): The Gift of Friendship
As you could probably tell from the title, this piece is going to sound very corny. However, beyond the boilerplate of “true friendship” that we are all familiar with, there lies real experiences lived by real people. So, to answer this question on friendship, I asked myself: What I am most thankful for daily? My friend fit the bill. His friendship is the greatest gift I have ever received in my life, and I am often thankful to him. During my military service, for instance, my best friend and I would meet up at a place that I was not barred from going to. Given that Seoul was off-limits for a large period due to my service, he would come all the way from Seoul just to see me. Thanks to him, my military service was much more enjoyable than it would have been otherwise. Our close relationship means that I find the gifts he gives me especially meaningful, even if it’s something as simple as a coupon on Kakao. That is why I consider this Kyobo Kakao gifticon to be the best gift I’ve ever received.
Jin Yu-jin (Reporter, Campus Reporting Div.): An Early Christmas Present
It was November of 2013, and I had been wanting to play the guitar for a few months, after being inspired by the world-renowned guitarist Sung-ha Jung. Growing up in a musical family, I started playing the flute in third grade, but I always yearned to play a string instrument—which is why I began obsessing over getting my own guitar. Every chance I got, I rambled non-stop about my fervent passion for playing the guitar, but I only got an immediate “no” followed by a look of disapproval from my mom. However, several days later, when I got home from school, there it stood: an acoustic-electric guitar on a silver stand. Not believing my eyes, I turned around looking for an explanation from my mom, and she said with a casual smile, “It’s your early Christmas present.” Although my guitar collects dust now and then, it will forever take up a corner of my room, bringing back childhood memories.
Qirrat Ahmad (Reporter, Current Issues Div.): Late Night Shopping
Last year, right before final exams in December, my mom suddenly announced, “We’re going shopping!” I was flabbergasted because my mom is not an impulsive person, and I had stacks of assignments and readings to complete. Before I could open my mouth to object, my mom had already emotionally blackmailed me into getting dressed and pushed me out the door. To this day, I have no idea how I ended up at Lotte Department Store at 8 p.m. But we browsed through the store, and I felt my stress melt away. Eventually, we ended up looking at purses, and my mom sneakily discerned that I was enamored with a particular bag. The next thing I know, I have a beautiful Michael Kors handbag as an early Christmas present. Sometimes, I wonder what the real gift was: the MK bag or the impromptu trip?
Lee Ho-yeon (Editor, Culture Div.): The Biggest Christmas Gift I Ever Received
I distinctly remember a particular Christmas celebration held by my Kindergarten for one reason and one reason only: my giant present that outsized everyone else’s. As a surprise, my kindergarten had decided to give out their students the Christmas gifts their parents had secretly gotten them ahead of time. As soon as I entered the classroom, I immediately noticed a mammoth-sized box standing proudly amongst all the nicely wrapped, but tiny, gifts huddled under the Christmas tree. I recall squealing with excitement when my name was called out in front of the whole class and the teacher had handed me the very box that I had been eyeing the entire time. What I found when I unwrapped the gift brought me greater joy: beneath the red-and-green bows lay the expensive junior microscope kit that I had been begging my parents to get me. Sure, I ended up completely wrecking the kit within a couple weeks—but the sheer amount of surprise and joy the gift brought me makes it my most cherished present to this day.