Omiyage

In Japan, bringing back souvenirs from a trip is somewhat of a professional obligation. If you take a vacation, move into a new apartment or attend a special event, you are expected to share a little bit of your good fortune with the people around you. Usually, people purchase the specialty food of the region they visited. Every town or area has its own signature treat, and omiyage shops are typically located in or near the train stations so that you can do your shopping on the way home. Accessories, as well as arts, and crafts are also acceptable gifts. It just depends on where you go. At least once a week, we are given omiyage by somebody who has traveled, gone to a wedding, or thrown a party. It is usually presented in person, but sometimes the souvenir is placed carefully on your desk, waiting for you to return and open it. In a large school, teachers might simply opt to put a large amount of omiyage in the center of the lounge or meeting room and trust that everyone will eventually take his or her share throughout the day. Though this ritual can become quite costly for those who frequently leave town, it is always a nice surprise for the recipients and goes a long way toward establishing relationships at work. On our way back from Australia, we filled an entire carry-on bag with Tim Tams and lamingtons, the nation's traditional tea time treats. In honor of our omiyage collection, this post is the first in what will be a new category for the blog.