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Christmas

Holiday Gifts for the Diplomat in Your Life
in Berlin Shopping, Diplomatic Incidents, How-Tos

Holiday Gifts for the Diplomat in Your Life

A couple of friends have told me before that giving gifts to a diplomat is pretty tricky. “What is it exactly that they do, even?” is a question I often get asked a lot about my husband and his colleagues. “We need to know so we know what to give him/her for ____*insert occasion here*___.” This marks the beginning of my lengthy explanation which covers almost everything I learned while being a Foreign Affairs journalist. Contrary to popular belief, gifts for the diplomat in your life are quite easy to find.

To make things more fun, I asked some friends in the field as to what they would love to receive for the holidays. Here, I’ve put together a list that can fit any budget and you can get online. It’s a week before Christmas and I know some of you are not up for braving the holiday crowd. I’m the exact opposite but I’ll tell you why in another post (either here or social media). This time, however, everything will be available online so all you have to do is get your credit card ready.

I’ll also have options both for my readers in US and Germany. Disclaimer: Most links are powered by Amazon affiliates which gives me a commission every time you buy something. This is of no cost to you and helps me keep running Almost Diplomatic. Enjoy! 🙂

Booze

Entertaining is never complete without a drink or two. So, giving your diplomat friends a bottle of booze to replenish their stash is always a safe bet. Our friend Michel from the US was actually quick to reply that this is one gift he’d be glad to receive this Christmas. He’s someone who throws a mean party that everyone enjoys so this actually comes as no surprise. Everyone who was at his last Cinco de Mayo celebration is still talking about it so we should trust him on this. 

Learn their preference or make it more interesting by getting them something that’s from your country (assuming that you’re someone who’s of a different nationality as your diplomat friend). If you’re planning on giving Champagne, check out my friend Tamas’ Champagne Therapy website for some really good deals. 

It’s no secret that diplomats travel a lot for work and these Carry On Cocktail Kits will definitely be helpful to that friend who’s still an anxious flier despite his job. Getting through major turbulence or even the stress of having to go through airport security are also things they would never get used to. So a pick-me-up should be a welcomed gift.

Holiday Gifts for the Diplomat in Your Life

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For that diplomat who is the usual host and serves up a mean Old Fashioned, why not something they can keep and use every time they host you? These mixology sets are not only useful, but they would also look good at any home bar.

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Kitchen and Dining Items

I have mixed feelings over Edward VIII or the Duke of Windsor after his abdication. However, there’s a quote attributed to him and was recently used on an episode of The Crown which resonated with me ever since I stumbled upon it on an old magazine. He once said that the most practical form of diplomacy is actually entertaining. 

Friendships, negotiations, and even networking are done best over good food and drink. Since we’ve covered alcohol by this point, let’s go over kitchen and dining. Our friend Ralf, who’s currently posted in Spain, is a spectacular host and prefers to receive such gifts this season. 

You’ll never go wrong by giving a high-quality Chef’s Knife. People who don’t have them yet will thank you for it and those who already have one (or two) can always use another one. It’s the most versatile knife in the kitchen and anyone who loves to cook will find it useful.

Buy it via Amazon in the US

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Speaking of versatility, another thing people could always use is a skillet. For all those one-pan recipes that all people do when the day gets a little too busy. 

Holiday Gifts for the Diplomat in Your Life

Buy it via Amazon in the US

Buy it via Amazon in Germany

Another thing that’s essential to a diplomat’s entertaining arsenal is good a charcuterie or cheese board. Who doesn’t love good cheese, cured meats, and wine? You? Err. Thank you, next.

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Books

There’s nothing quite like a well-thought-of book as a gift. It’s both professional and somehow personal (without going overboard) at the same time. Our friend Raisa who, aside from being a diplomat herself takes such gorgeous photos which you can find on her Instagram, says that she loves getting books about another country or a historical event. “I think in general, we love to read. So, giving us books that help us understand something about the person giving the gift would be great,” she added.

Holiday Gifts for the Diplomat in Your Life

Buy it via Amazon in the US

Buy it via Amazon in Germany

When we were posted in Malaysia, books were also my go-to gifts. I would spend hours at the Big Bad Wolf Sale which happens annually around the first week of December. Just in time for your Christmas shopping. 

Planner

Think diplomats just sit around all day and attend parties at night? Think again. My husband’s work schedule in November was so packed with work-trips, we hardly saw each other. Phooey. Help the diplomat in your life stay on top of his/her schedule by giving them a traditional agenda. Writing things down as opposed to entering it to a digital calendar even helps improve memory!

Oh, and for the love of all that is holy, don’t re-gift those corporate giveaway planners. That’s just too tacky.

Holiday Gifts for the Diplomat in Your Life

Buy it via Amazon in the US

Buy it via Amazon in Germany 

For the quirkier diplomat, may I suggest a planner made by my amazingly creative friend Ivi? She uses positive psychology and lots of creative tools to help make you more productive. You can get The Hashtag HERO Planner via this link.

Travel Essentials

For all those trips they will take, they’ll need quality items that can get them from A to B. A luggage set is a great gift for a diplomat you are very close to (think significant other) and are willing to splurge for. If you’re looking for something that’s a bit friendlier to your wallet, toiletry cases as a good option. I find high quality and roomy toiletry bags as great gifts for people who travel a lot. Once you get to your destination, it makes settling down a lot easier — even if they’re just there for a few days. They also make packing up easier. Every single traveller I’ve met has appreciated such a gift. My father – a commercial real estate guy who often travels within Scandinavia for work – included. I got him one for his birthday and he was so happy with it as he always forgets to get himself one and nobody else seems to think of gifting it to him.

Buy it via Amazon in the US

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A Trip Not Related to Work

If you’re dating or married to a diplomat, you already know how much they travel for work. Sometimes, you get to tag along too. However, it’s always more work and they hardly get to know the place they went to since they’re usually in a conference, a meeting, or in the middle of helping one of their citizens who’s in trouble.

Book a holiday wherein they can actually have fun at a new place without having to worry about their next schedule. (Shameless plug: Book using the widget above for some really good deals!) Let them explore something that interests him/her at his/her own pace.

Do something new. Join an unconventional tour or go on a food hunt. There are lots of options that you won’t get from a store or even off the internet.

Thanks for reading and I hope this was helpful! With that said, I hope you guys enjoy the holidays!

Do share this on Pinterest if you found this helpful! 🙂

If you have some items to add, feel free to comment below! I’m always looking for new ideas. 🙂

More later.

 

Graf's Kontor Shares 2018's Best Holiday Decor Trends
in Berlin, Berlin Shopping, Berlin Tips, Expat Life

Graf’s Kontor Shares 2018’s Best Holiday Decor Trends

The most wonderful time of the year is fast approaching and our flat still has zero signs of the holidays. Basically, I’m coming clean here by saying that it’s the middle of November and I haven’t decorated. Heck, I don’t even have an idea what look I’ll be going for this year. For someone who’s half Filipino, this equals to sacrilege. We start decorating in September, back in Manila. My situation is even made worse by the fact that I’m currently living in Berlin – the capital of one of the most Christmassy countries in the world. I have no excuse other than my being busy with events and my freelancing. Thankfully, I was able to get some inspiration recently when I attended the holiday preview of Graf’s Kontor. I even got to chat with the people behind some of the city’s most fabulous decor and floral arrangements and asked them about this year’s holiday decor trends.

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8 Myths on Life as a Diplomatic Spouse
in Expat Life, KL Food, KL Home, Kuala Lumpur

Christmas 2016 Series: Casual Table Setting for the Holidays

So it begins. The deluge of holiday celebrations has begun! The past couple of days have been busier than ever with work and evening holiday events taking up most of our time.

Knowing that we’ll be hosting a couple of holiday get-togethers at home as well, I thought I’d do a bit of a run through with the table set-up for this season. Since I will be doing a lot of cooking, I want the set-up bit to be quick and easy. My husband and I agreed that we’ll be doing casual get-togethers this year to keep the ambiance relaxed, easy, and fun. However, I still want a touch of elegance.

It’s doable, I tell you.

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in Asia

Colmar Tropicale: Christmas Getaway Pt. 1

For Christmas, Alvin and I took a short drive outside the city to a place called Bukit Tinggi in Pahang, Malaysia. It’s a place en route to the Genting Highlands and is known for a couple of hotels and family-friendly attractions. We stayed there for two nights – one of which was Christmas Eve. We stayed in Colmar Tropicale, a French themed resort-hotel and explored other attractions in the area during our short trip.

Our trip to Colmar Tropicale was the result of my husband’s tireless research for places near the city where we can spend Christmas eve as it was our first away from family and friends. He was able to book the place long before invitations from our friends here in KL to join their families on Christmas Eve. So sweet of them! So we promised them we’ll come join them next year. 🙂

The drive took about an hour from KLCC. It is quite easy to get to with the help of our car’s GPS and Waze. Getting there is also far from boring as the drive can be quite scenic with lots of mountains and lush greenery.

French-themed resort hotel

Located 2,700 feet above sea level and surrounded by acres and acres of trees, the place is definitely cooler than KL and its surrounding areas. At night, it can even be chilly enough for a sweater or a light jacket.

The hotel’s complex is a replica of Colmar, a 16th-century town in France preserved to look the same up to this day. It’s not a perfect replica, of course. But stepping into Colmar Tropicale does feel like going back in time to a small European village where a Disney princess is expected to just come out and belt out a song at any time of day.

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in Diplomatic Incidents, Expat Life, Home, KL Shopping, KL Tips

Expat Life: First Christmas in Malaysia (Christmas Trees & Holiday Shopping Tips)

It’s 6 days before Christmas! And while I think I’ve sort of outgrown Christmas (unlike my husband who is so adorably excited for this season), I must admit that it still brings a lot of happy memories from my childhood.

But come to think of it, it’s actually pretty weird to be in a country where not every corner is lit up with Christmas lights. Not hearing Christmas songs from your neighbours’ place is also a bit disconcerting. I find myself even forgetting that it’s just a few days till Christmas. 😛

So being the Catholic Filipinos that we are, we got ourselves a plastic tree as soon as Halloween was over. No, we’re not cuckoo. In the Philippines, Christmas trees are up as early as September – I kid you not. And when people go and live abroad, we do try to make sure we settle in just fine. One of the ways to adapt to a new country is to make your new home actually feel like ‘home’. Not really a replica of your home country but you just bring in traditions and little things that remind you of where you really are from.

Where to get your Christmas Tree

At that time, my husband was sort of frantic – asking people where we can get a tree. He was so determined to bring Christmas cheer into our new home, he was asking people from the embassy who have been here in Kuala Lumpur longer where we can get our own Christmas tree as early as October. So just in case people haven’t gotten their trees until now, and for future reference to those who will be looking, these were the answers that we got:

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