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This is hardly what I call "gift giving"
We're leaving in a week and I've been stressing out about the gift thing.... this morning, I decided that the reason I can't make up my mind is because it really seems wrong to me.
These people are doing thier jobs and I'm pretty sure that the money I've sent there covers our expenses and then some.
Don't get me wrong... I think it's wonderful if people "want" to get something extra for someone that was especially kind or helpful to them during the process but when I see people on these boards that are obviously stressed like I've been about what to get and who to get it for (and in some cases for people they will never meet) it makes me angry... this isn't gift giving. This is what leads to corruption of a system that was meant to bring families together.
The salary paid to the FMs, as low as it may seem to us, is inline with a typical salary in Guatemala and it is an agreed upon amount between the FM and the attorney. If you think that the FM is really getting a raw deal, then fight to fix the system... to increase the lawyers fees upfront with a minimum pay clause for the FMs. Then, families can deside up front if the fees are within their means before chosing a country vs feeling pressured at every visit to cough up more and more money; for reasons that may be very unclear to them.
I have personally decided to take some "charitable" items for the waiting children ... they are the ones that really need it.
I've never met our FMs; if they are particularly helpful and kind to us on our visit, I may consider something reasonable for our pick up trip.
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