Birthday ideas? For new relationship under 1 yr

[FadedSunrise]

I know there are tons of these threads out, but bear with me? ^_^;

Penguin's birthday is coming up. At the end of this month on Halloween. And I'm not ready, especially given the 2 weeks+ time I usually have to leave for international shipping. Half of it is just that I've been so busy, but the other half of it is that its freakishly hard shopping for any male in my life. X_X

I'm somewhat crafty. I've tried painting in my freshman year of college, but it was mostly interpretive circles. I didn't think they were that good, but...I could try to paint him something or give him one of my old ones? Mostly because I can't actually DRAW, so my paintings ended up being mostly interpretive splotches. <_>

My mom is a master of all things knit and crochet craft, and has been making me clothes since the end of last year. From her I picked up some stuff, and I did already make him a scarf. Its got a braided pattern, quite pretty, but I'm not sure I want to risk it being lost to the perils of international shipping. China already ate the first thing I sent him-a letter with a small necklace wrapped inside. I'm not sure if its my fault with filling out the forms, or if its theirs. Nothing else was lost since, but that one time makes me sad.

I write. Mostly from the two creative writing classes I've taken/am taking. I could write him something BUT PROBLEM-we use Chinese to communicate. My command of Chinese is only adequate, and not enough to be eloquent. And let's not start on his English.

He said he wants something small-just a letter, or something I made. Or the stuffed animal that he keeps seeing me hold. Except I'm not sure I want to risk losing THAT to the perils of international shipping either! >_> Damn you Chinese customs...

So I'm completely completely at a loss. Is there a way to insure the scarf to get over to China without it being lost, or at least so that I can track it? That would be the best gift, considering I've already MADE it, and it will get freezing enough in a month for him to use it. Failing that, what else can I do for a gift?

Oh yea, and in accordance with the title-our relationship is quite young at 8 months. It would be bad to do something overboard.

Ooops edit again: He's turning 26.

[Isla]

Hmm. That's really tough. You COULD try to write him a poem. Any sort of poem, however basic would be cute. The language barrier must be so frustrating!
Maybe make a little comic strip? Draw your story out with speech bubbles and such? I'm sure he'd like that, and if it got lost you could always take a photo that you can send to him through email.

If you don't send the scarf, when would you be able to get it to him? When are you next seeing him? Because if it's a very long time away, you might be better off just risking it.

I'd be interested to see what you end up doing

[LatinButterfly]

Have you checked websites like amazon china? You can browse for stuff there and perhaps it will give you ideas of what to get him and get it shipped straight to his address? although you will be the one purchasing the item and so on... that way you avoid the worry of getting your item lost in the mail. I know you would love to send the scarf/your art... but consider the amazon or any other local website as a backup plan.

[Haley53]

I remember one time I sent something to a friend stuffed inside an envelope, and I got hassled for it. The envelope was not very thick, but it was thicker than the average letter, even a lengthy one, or card, and so I needed to switch out the envelope it was in and have it treated more or less as a parcel. Is it possible that customs could have confiscated the letter and necklace on account of it being shipped "wrongly"? I suppose it's like airport security. :P I've dealt with run-of-the-mill people doing their jobs and I've dealt with one or two bored-as-hell buttheads. xD I imagine that customs works similarily, as it's still somewhat left open to interpretation. However, I could be deadly wrong on that. :P But my guess would be that if you sent the scarf in a normal package, and labelled it properly on the form, it would be fine.

[FadedSunrise]

So, all:
I took the plunge and sent the scarf! I pray I did it right! If I did he's going to be so happy to be surprised by this gift. The image of his smile is warming my insides already ^_^