A friend of ours is moving away soon, and we’re hard up for ideas for a going away gift. The particulars:
the recipient is a late 20’s female
Ph.D candidate in geology or geophysics - she studies earthquakes
moving from Chicagoland to Albuqurque, New Mexico
Has lived a very student lifestyle her adult life
preferred budget for gift is $50 to $100, but flexible
So, please any ideas based on great gifts you’ve gotten or given. Thanks.
Gift cards to restaurants where she’s moving to. A little bit of googling and you should have yourself a nice big list to choose from.
A close friend of mine moved from Austin to Denver and received a lovely snowglobe of the Austin skyline with little black bats instead of snow. It wasn’t a cheap plastic thing, but glass with a nice wooden base. Something smallish and fairly inexpensive, but is a pretty little reminder of all the good times and good friends back in Austin.
S
I always try to give something to remind the person of the place they are leaving… (like the snowglobe malita’s friend received). that way the person who’s moving has something with them that will trigger memories of where she came from and the people she knew during that time.
Perhaps a nice framed picture of the Chicago skyline, or a print featuring something notable from her neighborhood. Either could probably be found in your price range… It doesn’t have to be a big picture.
Or, if you all went to grad school together, a nice print of some campus building that holds a special place for you all.
Since chicago is a major city, you also have the option of visting ye olde tacky tourist gift shop, and getting some ultra cheesy “chicagoland” gifts… maybe a sweatshirt, or "welcome to chicago ovenmitts or something like that.
Some people appreciate the cheesy tacky, and others perfer a more subtle approach… you know your intended recipient, so just use your best judgement.
If you are looking for a reminder of Chicago, there are a number of tabletop photography books about the city. I’d suggest heading to a good sized book store and paging through several. I wouldn’t want to try to select one on-line. When we were living in Chicagoland, we gave my SO’s mother this one showing Christmas decorations in the area.
I suggest some really cool rocks. Really, actual rocks. Those geology types love 'em. You could buy them from a rock shop, or better yet go find some yourself. Paging Lieu! Assistance needed with rocks!
Alongside whatever gift you choose, start a new address book for her. Fill in all the contact information for you and your friends, as well as anyone else you KNOW she’d want to keep in touch with, and that way she’ll end up with one good address book instead of having to search for bits of paper and emails when she wants to contact you.
Moving is one of the worst times for losing contact information.