The Best and Worst Gifts We Have Ever Received

Anna

In the Soviet Union, there was a joke that the best gift you can give is a book. That’s actually true for me this year. My best friend got me “The Director Said Dress Warmly, It’s Cold Here” by Alesya Petrovna Kazantseva, a director-turned-author who’s been writing about moving to Moscow to pursue her career in the movie industry, raising a family, and traveling around Russia on work assignments. Her keen eye and sense of humor make for a laugh-out-loud read and a thrilling adventure. If you’re looking for a fun way to improve your Russian, this just might be it!

Elizaveta

So, my friend got me a box of anti-stress supplements for this New Year, and now I’m in two minds whether it’s the worst or best present ever. On the one hand, it reminds me of how challenging and emotional the year was. Also, I feel like I’m entering the adult era when you’re more likely to receive boring useful stuff like kitchen utensils rather than chocolates. On the bright side, I actually needed them, and I’m happy someone takes care of my health when I don’t. I guess I’ll be ready with the answer to this dilemma when I eat all these pills.

Catherine

For me, it’s always the thought behind the gift rather than the gift itself that makes it best. Some of the most touching presents I’ve received over the years have been things like vegan skincare products, fancy chocolate, or small handy kitchen utensils (like a frother or a silicon baking mat) that I might have raved about to my friends but never purchased because I didn’t want to splurge. The fact that my dear friends remembered me mentioning these little things and cared enough to give them to me never fails to bring tears to my eyes. Human connection is an incredible gift in itself, after all. 

Misha

What makes a gift bad? It’s hard for me to call something given in good faith outright bad – after all, it’s the thought that counts. But what if a present has zero thought put into it? Last year, a friend of mine who collects records got me a vinyl of Green Day’s greatest hits for New Year. Now, get this: I don’t listen to that band. In fact, that was the first time I heard about them! And I’ve never even owned a record player! He just randomly picked a vinyl out of his collection that he liked the least and gave it to me. That’s the thing about bad presents – they aren’t bad by themselves, it’s how they spell out “this person you trusted really doesn’t know you at all” that hurts.

Marina

I believe that the best present is the one that shows that people truly listen to you during your together-time, even if you keep coming up with weird, random wishes like a Tamagotchi or a snuggle blanket. For last New Year, I got an instant camera, and, though maybe not that uncommon and unique, it, indeed, gave me a wow effect because it was something I truly wanted but totally forgot I’d ever mentioned it to someone. 

Kseniia

The worst gifts I received were either unexpected or… too pricey. I guess that gift-giving is not one of my primary love languages. Either option just feels too overwhelming – I’m not a fan of surprises, plus, receiving expensive objects makes me feel like I owe it to return the favor. Reflecting upon all this is what inspired my story on how to give presents, which can be summed up to one sentence – know your audience.