Valentine’s Day in Japan differs from ours. Whereas typically men give chocolate to women or exchange gifts, in Japan it is only the women who give chocolate or homemade goods. You may think this sounds unfair, but a month later on White Day men give all the women who gave them something a gift back in return. When I asked what I’m supposed to give back in return, responses were varied: men claimed the gift should be equal to 2x the price of the initial chocolate. And most women unanimously agreed that it should be about 10x. I was thrilled by the idea of receiving Godiva chocolate until I realized the financial burden implied.

Pictured here is the chocolate given to me by my coworkers.