π Presenting nations
The Netherlands and Ukraine do not share a lot of history, so I feel I have to make a good impression on behalf of the Netherlands. One way to do that is by bringing presents!
Souvenirs
Like last time, I brought goodies β a bottle opener, some key chains, some tulip-shaped pens. They were actually great hits and some foreigner co-students also took some.
Interestingly, I had a few Ukrainian teachers/staff ask what those wooden clogs are supposed to be. Do we really walk on them? They were utterly surprised to learn I once had a pair too. I actually was a bit surprised clogs (or some equivalent) weren't a thing in Ukraine, but I suppose differences in soil and circumstances may not have allowed clogs to be a useful invention in Ukraine.
Candy
Like last time, I brought candy from the Netherlands as well. Fun fact is that Dutch cookies and candy are really well-received β not just stroopwafels, but also gevulde koeken and more.
In fact, a Ukrainian friend sent me a grocery list of candies to bring to Ukraine. That's a separate box. Luckily, at the border control, the officer already asked if these were presents.
I'm particularly happy I bought kruidnoten in December, as they aren't on sale in spring or summer. My Ukrainian friend even asked for these, so I'm clearly able to see the future. One bag of chocolate-covered kruidnoten is already consumed, I believe.
I haven't had the pleasure of dropping drop (liquorice) onto the group, but I'm eager to see their faces again as they try it. Perhaps I should award the person daring to eat a handful of drop with a pak hagelslag?
Office utensils
What I really missed last year was a mechanical pencil. Writing in those books we get is finicky, and we make a lot of mistakes we must erase. The campus shop didn't have mechanical pencils on sale, so I brought a packet of 24 mechanical pencils and some packs with refill leads. I forgot to buy erasers, so I had to do that in Ukraine.
Most of these utensils are gone by now, so they clearly fill a need. I'll still need to get the campus shop to stock up on such things for next year.
I don't think I'll play Santa every year to this extent. But as I drove here by car, I feel obliged to use this opportunity to our benefit. And who knows: perhaps there'll be multiple Santas next year!
