Regali intelligenti.

Even though any 10 year-old child doesn’t believe anylonger in Santa Claus, every body, and let me say that again, everybody is waiting for a Santa Claus bringing presents from families and loved ones. It is not simply a question of making a child’s dream come true by having what is desired from Santa but it has become a way of seizing opportunities and buying useful things to give to our friends, relatives and our family members.

Now that we are going through deep crisis, I am sure it becomes a bit more difficult to choose the right present and at the same time save some money. Of course if you read my article of two weeks ago, you would agree with me that it is time for shopping and we should just go for it, especially, if you are in the tertiary and you are an employee because definitely can afford to do so.

It could be somehow wise to ask Santa for some alternative presents. Presents which does not necessarily need to be consumed in the same place and may not be seen physically when it is been given. Something that lasts forever though not a diamond. What would that be then? Simple, a study holiday abroad. In the past people think that only students should go abroad and study. They believe that it is a thing to be done by youths and teenagers alone. But now, this act of getting to learn a new language and widening one’s perspective internationally is no longer a ‘‘trip’’ for the kids and youths only. The fact that it has become more difficult to find a job and most employees are raising the bar of qualifications for employment makes this a good present for your Christmas. Of course you can carry out your trip anytime of the year. The fact that you will come back with a certificate – apart from the real knowledge and skills – raising the level of language which would eventually help to enrich your curriculum and thus give you an edge over other candidates   in getting that dreamed job.

But you may as well decide to receive another sort of present. An eye-opener experience such as taking up a temporary job abroad. This can be your chance of not only improving or learning the language of the country where you go to, but it may also give you the chance to try out your skills on a job. You would be able to test yourself out and learn if you are a team worker or and individualist or even both. You would be able to put yourself on trial and discover your limit or lack of limit. And this would also be useful for the enrichment of your cv for international experience. Even if you go back to your studies after such an experience, it would be appreciated by future employees that you have had a work-experience abroad.

Another simple but interesting present you may ask Santa Claus to give you is just a simple travel package. Ask for the destination of your dream, provided it is not the sort you cannot easily bring to real or some kind of too ambitious one. In this case you would come back with a different view and perspective of the whole world itself. Travelling helps to understand other peoples and thus pay respect to their cultures and differences.

Some would even like to take up the idea of international exchange. You may host an age mate of yours from another country and later on pay back the visit and been hosted by him or her. In this way, you will be able to swap cultures, similarities and differences geographically, socially and culturally.

So, do not limit your Christmas present to the ‘‘usual’’ clothings and the like, but try to make it more original. Santa Claus has become more modern and he would understand that badly needed choice of yours, whatever it is.

Enjoy!