Mrs. Radish, Chicago/Syracuse
Age and Occupation: 27, Executive Assistant/Journalism Student/Musician
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Anthropologist/Musician
Engagement Date: December 20, 2005
Wedding Date: August 18, 2007
Blogging Since: June 26, 2007
Venue: The Wellington House in Fayetteville, NY
About Me: Mr. Radish and I are both from upstate New York, so we are planning a wedding in Syracuse from about 700 miles away. When I’m not obsessing about our wedding I play the cello in my band (which Mr. Radish is in too), read as much as I can, sleep even more, travel whenever possible, and try to find time to have fun with my friends. I’m also working on finishing up my journalism degree with a concentration in environmental reporting and I’m the VP of my campus Amnesty International chapter… so I’m a pretty busy bee.
An Unexpected Gift
July 31st, 2007 @ 3:22 pm by Mrs. Radish
Mr. Radish is a volunteer ESL tutor on Saturday mornings at a place here in Chicago that helps immigrants and refugees improve their English and get citizenship. Anyway, he has been tutoring the same Chinese woman for a few months now, and she has not been having an easy time in life lately. She immigrated to America from Fuzhou, China but had an abusive husband that she had to leave, then she got laid off from a job at a soap factory. After getting laid off she couldn’t afford her apartment. Since then, she has been living in a women’s shelter. She was working at a fast food restaurant, but she had to quit because the government has not sent her work papers back. It’s been really hard for her to get by living in Chicago. On top of her other problems, her English skills are not very good, which makes it hard for her to find a better job, etc. She told Mr. Radish that she can’t easily tell people how she feels in English, so he’s been working with her on teaching her more words and phrases to express emotion.
This Saturday, Mr. Radish came home from their tutoring session with this wedding gift from her.
She told Mr. Radish that red symbolizes good luck and the boy and the girl are because she hopes we have one boy and one girl. The fish that the children are riding on is to make our family always has enough fish to eat and enough money. I’m sure there is a lot more symbolism in it than that, but she had a hard time explaining it in English to him. Has anyone else ever gotten one of these for a wedding gift? Also does anyone know what the Chinese characters on it say?
Well anyway, I was deeply touched by this gift. I know that she is someone who has almost nothing and she is in no way obligated to give us any gifts, but she told Mr. Radish that she really wanted us to have it. I guess she must appreciate what little Mr. Radish does for her by helping her with her English. This is definitely a gift that we will keep and treasure for years to come.
Has anyone else out there gotten any gifts that really touched you in a way you didn’t expect?
25 Responses to “An Unexpected Gift”
wow, that is so sweet! It makes you realize that money isn’t everything. What a beautiful gift!
This is a touching gesture. Thanks for sharing the story. Ironically, I know of her orgination. I know some folks from that province are very determined individuals, so I know she will do well. I can’t really see the characters very well, but I think it says “Wishing Much Luck”. Don’t quote me on that. The fish symbolizes that each year you will save enough money and food. (Chinese: Nian nian you yu). The boy and girl symbolizes fertility for the couple.
Thank you so much for sharing Ms. Radish! Indeed the story and gift are truly touching. Good luck!
Miss Radish - do you know if there are any volunteer ESL programs like that in NYC?
Jean - The International Center on West 23rd Street does a “conversation partner” program that’s very similar - they match you up with someone and you meet for an hour or two a week so they can practice English. Look it up online - it’s a great program.
oh, that’s so nice… i would treasure that gift much more than the china that we may receive.
Awww, how thoughtful!
Wow, I am choked up over the gift you received….what a nice story. And kudos to Mr. Radish for volunteering, how wonderful!
The typical phrase (Cantonese) for a decoration like that is “leen leen yow yue” (improvised transliteration.)
Your’s almost certainly says “[something] leen yow yue.” Can’t figure out the first character and it looks different from the second.
“leen” means year, and repeating it means “every year”
“yow” means “to have” and “yow yue” is a phrase meaning “to have more than enough” it’s is also a pun on “fish” which are “yue” in a different tone.
Thus, the meaning of “leen leen yow yue” is to wish that you will always have plenty/more than enough.
Yea, I translated the Mandarin version into Canton for my Canton brain and Miss Popcorn is right 
That is so sweet; it made me feel all teary-eyed. I know she will do well with your and your husband’s help. 
Aww…what a sweet story/gift! And your husband-to-be has a wonderful quality in him. =)
That’s beautiful - I’m sure you’ll cherish it.
I’ve never before wanted to send a thank you note to someone’s “regret” RSVP . . . until we got this yesterday:
“Dear Ones, Thrive in Love! Congrats in your union! We celebrate & honor you! We dance with you in spirit! Eternal joy. ~signature”
It’s going in a frame . . . for sure . . . .
Amanda - thank you! I am going to research it now.
Received a beautiful card and gift card from a woman I worked with only a short while (who I would not have even thought of inviting to the wedding since we didn’t know each other very well). She was so thoughtful, and I had no idea that she thought so kindly of me. Apparently I helped her get a job when she really needed it, and she was just so grateful. It meant a lot that someone would wish such happiness for us.
I’ve never gotten along with my dad’s wife and her family, but one of her brothers gave us ALL of the dishes we registered for. That’s going to be a tough TY to write…the only phrase I know will appear is “unexpected generosity.”
Wow, that’s beautiful! What an amazingly thoughtful gesture from someone that is struggling to make ends meet.
One of my favorite former teachers framed our wedding invitation for us. It hangs over my desk now and I think of her every time I see it. She had just gone through a divorce and I wasn’t really expecting to even see her at the wedding but she came AND brought a gift!
aw, that’s so thoughtful of her! I hope everything works out for her.
thats such a touching story! it makes me warm all over.
jean, have you tried dialing 2-1-1 for information about health and human services in your area? is that available in ny yet?
What a touching and inspiring story. Thank you for sharing. It’s wonderful Mr. Radish is helping this lady and others like her toward a better life. I’m sure that lady will persevere and succeed in the end.
That is so touching, and I’m sure will mean a lot to you and your husband in the future. It can serve as a reminder of how strong she has been through some of the tougher times in her life.
My uncle (mom’s brother) is also my godfather, but he is estranged from my family and I’ve never been close to him. In fact, he almost didn’t get an invitation to the wedding. He did come, and as a gift, he gave me my grandmother’s cut-crystal jewelry box that she kept on her dresser. On the card, he wrote that he’s had it since my grandmother passed (more than 25 years ago) but he’s only been guarding it for me, and that there’s no one else but me who should have it. He said he’s known since I was a little girl that he would give it to me as a wedding gift. The thought and the gesture meant so much.
Jean, also check out NY Cares (www.nycares.org). They have tons of volunteer projects, including English conversation practice with non-native speakers.
Miss Radish, what is the program that Mr. Radish is part of ? I have moved to Chicago couple months ago and am looking for volunteer project to join.
lilpetunia — the name of the place is the Southeast Asia Center. It’s in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. Here’s the website: http://www.se-asiacenter.org/. I’m sure they can use more volunteers. They help immigrants/refugees from all areas and they are a great organization.
Jean — I don’t know of any places in NYC, sorry! But it looks like Amanda helped you out. How nice that you want to volunteer!
Miss Radish,
Do you know if you need to speak another language to volunteer there?
Does Mr. Radish speak Mandarin? or another Chinese language?
veronkia– you don’t need to speak another language to be a volunteer there, but it probably helps.
mr. radish doesn’t speak any chinese languages. he speaks thai and burmese, but they didn’t have any students that speak those languages that needed help.
hope that answers your questions
