Did you know that before 700 BC, in the Roman calendar, March was the original beginning of the year, and the time for the resumption of war? Possibly, because March signifies the beginning of Spring, when trees and plants begin to bud again and awaken from the slumber of Winter.
In the Western hemisphere, the world appears to come to life again in March, with the first spring flowers pushing their heads through the thawing soil, adding color and inspiring hope for warmer days ahead.
For us, at the Consima Protocol and Finishing School, coincidentally, March also marks the beginning of registration for the various courses. We have a rich selection lined up, so please check-in, take a look and make your choice.
Interestingly, on the fashion scene this Spring and Summer 2011, the 70’s elegance look is back! Just as the ’50s and ’60s are back, so too are particular elements of the ’70s. There are two main aesthetics: 70s bohemian and ’70s sophisticated glamour. When it comes to the latter, think about dresses that fall like shimmering water in the evening and high-waist pants with elegant blouses by day. While we do not advocate trends and trendiness, we do encourage timeless elegance and classic ‘chic’. The same goes for “proudly Nigerian” dress sense. Especially female dressing has become very innovative in this regard, with well tailored African fabrics gradually finding their way into the Board Room.
On the social scene, we see a plethora of caps to grace both formal and smart casual traditional wear for men and an interesting mix of textures and fabrics for ladies. The watchword is: avoid being too loud or garish; otherwise, there is plenty of room to give your creativity free reign. Cross-Cultural Gift Etiquette this weekend, I enjoyed the pleasure of visiting my mother. She enthusiastically showed me two gifts she had recently received.
One was a jar of incense and some pellets of coal from her former neighbor, the other was a packet of tea leaves, my son had brought back for her, from a trip to a friend from one of the West African countries. We were eager to try out both. The first one we tried was the tea. As there were no instructions on the packet, we proceeded to brew it as we know to brew tea. Disaster! The whole house was filled with an exceedingly foul smell, which sufficiently frightened everyone in the house. Having barely recovered from that experience, I decided that it might be nice to perfume the house with fragrant incense.
After having lit the coal on the gas until it turned a pleasant orange, we put it in an aluminum receptacle and popped some of the incense on top. Nothing prepared us for the cloud of smoke that immediately billowed through the kitchen. In a panic, we threw the whole affair into the back garden. What happened? The whole house smelled of smoke without even a hint of fragrance. Where did we go wrong?
The conclusion of the matter is that when we give gifts, it is wise to remember that our perception of value is not necessarily that of the receiver. When we give gifts that are not culturally universal, we must not automatically assume that the use of the gift is understood. It is always helpful to give clear explanations and precise instructions, in order to assure that the gift conveys the desired effect. You may say that it’s the thought that counts. True, but if the gift also gives pleasure, the additional appreciation is achieved.
I close with this quote from Pindar: “Every gift which is given, even though it be small, is in reality great, if it is given with affection. Your gift to us is when you recommend us to others.
Consima Protocol & Finishing School wishes you an excellent month!