by Theo Chester

Created on: August 06, 2009

My background is in the gift industry. Frequently, I would make trips to the Far East to export products to the U.S. I would go to visit antique dealers along with a guy that worked for my agent. He was an American, spoke fluent Cantonese, and he happened to be an antique collector.

During a trip to Taiwan, I accompanied him to visit one of his antique resources outside the city. Windblown from the trip on the back of a motorcycle, he and I entered the antique dealer's home/warehouse. The antique dealer's wife greeted us and almost at once, she and I had a strong sense of having known each other.

Although this woman couldn't speak English, and I certainly couldn't speak her language, we were still able to communicate. The American who had brought me translated our conversation. He informed her about what I did and he told her that I was a pioneer for women in my industry.

When we left the home/warehouse that day, the American told me that the antique dealers wife had asked that he bring me back to visit on my next trip to Asia. She said that she wanted to honor me by cooking a traditional banquet. Six months later, I returned to Taiwan. The American told me that the wife had asked about me, and that she and her daughters were preparing the banquet she had promised for me. The banquet was an amazing experience, it was especially unusual for a woman traveling in Asia, alone, to be honored in such a way.

As we were preparing to leave, the wife handed me a beautifully wrapped gift. I opened the delicate package carefully, trying hard not to tear the handmade paper that had been used to wrap it up. As I opened the small box, I just couldn't believe what I saw. She had gifted me with a pair of antique baby binding boots. The significance of that Asian tradition, the history of hindering women by binding their feet, came as such a profound item for me to receive as a gift. Only in Asia, could a woman truly appreciate the independence of a woman from the U.S. It reminded me of the old advertisement slogan, saying "You've come a long way, baby..."

The meaning behind that gift was universal to all women. I had received a treasure that would always make me feel that I had met someone special who in turn appreciated and understood what I was doing. It just so happens that my great gift, the one that I'll always remember, came from Asia.

Learn more about this author, Theo Chester.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.