[Zgarbas]

Right. So, I've packed up on omiyage (dozens of instant soups & some lotions) and i just realised that I have no idea how to actually give one.

Do I carry them around with me and when I meet someone I just pull out my omiyage and say つまらないものですが。。。 or is it given at the end of an encounter? Should I give them to basically everyone I meet at first? Should I maybe pack them nicely, or just give them as they are?
Pretty much all my omiyage-receiving experiences have varied tremendously so I'm not sure how to go about this.

I'd give them to people you are going to be involved with pretty regularly. The language doesn't have to be perfect, its the gesture and thought that counts more in my opinion. If you run out of omiyage and you find someone you have to give someone too, just go to department store and get something from their food floor.

Packaging is typical. There's even a term for unpackaged gifts: 剥き出し. However, I don't think anyone will mind if you give an unwrapped gift, but they might be surprised or impressed if you do.

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I don't really know the answer to your question, but other people seem to. I just wanted to mention, that if I ever get the chance to reside in Japan I would give out 引っ越しそば to my neighboors or floormates depending on the case. I guess it's a dying tradition but it seems to me like a fun way to meet people. (Plus I'm a professional cook, so, whatever, I'm big on food traditions. I'd do homemade soba but if you're not big on cooking maybe storebought would be better.)

SomeCallMeChris Wrote:I don't really know the answer to your question, but other people seem to. I just wanted to mention, that if I ever get the chance to reside in Japan I would give out 引っ越しそば to my neighboors or floormates depending on the case. I guess it's a dying tradition but it seems to me like a fun way to meet people. (Plus I'm a professional cook, so, whatever, I'm big on food traditions. I'd do homemade soba but if you're not big on cooking maybe storebought would be better.)

This mention of 引越し蕎麦 reminded me of what くま from 神様 by 川上弘美 had done:

ちかごろの引越しには珍しく、引越し蕎麦を同じ階の住人にふるまい、葉書を十枚ずつ渡してまわっていた。

Maybe you could get yourself a stack of post cards for gifts as well? (No, I'm not serious )

kind of a tangential question...
Why is it that when presents are given, the recipient will often not open it there, but rather say thank you and take it away someplace, then return like nothing happened...?

[Zgarbas]

Arupan Wrote:Anyway, good luck. I hope the joke (the day of your flight) isn't on you

The fact that you know this concerns me . I got a 29-page step-by-step guide on how to reach my drom from the airport (with pictures), so at least that part will be ok .

Thanks for the tips, guys ^^.

SomeCallMeChris: I was thinking of making cookies and taking them to the people on my dorm floor as a way to meet them . Still not sure whether to go through with this or not ^^

Zgarbas Wrote:Right. So, I've packed up on omiyage (dozens of instant soups & some lotions) and i just realised that I have no idea how to actually give one.

Do I carry them around with me and when I meet someone I just pull out my omiyage and say つまらないものですが。。。

Lol, I'd be a bit frightened and confused if someone who I just met pulled out some instant soup and lotion from their pocket and gave them to me.

[Zgarbas]

Me too. But then again I always found receiving omiyage a bit awkward.

Japanese don't received expensive presents, pack is much better. A pair is nicer. Tell them that I prepare some presents and then give it to everyone/the whole term.
Date above come from Internet.