DD is going overseas and I need help figuring out a gift for the host family

[cornflake]

That's what I have been looking for, but I'm telling you, all the souvenirs in DC are made somewhere in Asia.

Do they even have toasters in Russia for pop-tarts?

I think I may go into DC tomorrow and look around the mall. How much more US can you get than a snow-globe of the White House (made in China, of course. )

Is that a joke?

What does it matter where the souveniers are made? Do you think Russian tchotchkes aren't made in China?

However - U.S. government souveniers seem... a really, really bad idea as a hostess gift. It's supposed to be a hostess gift. How about some maple syrup, American pancake mix, bottle of American vodka, a nice teapot made by a local to you artist and some different teas...

 

[Evi]

dc related souvenirs,

How about http://www.nandosperiperi.com/index.cfm there peri peri sauce is awesome.

or you could get them capital shaped pastas I've actually seen these in the airport thought it was funny. Gum you would be surprised at how expensive gum is in some parts of the world. Something fun if they have little kids in the house. I think you should try to get demographics of the family maybe you could send them a bunch of different kinds of chocolates from around the world doesn't have to be only american. Is there a meal you love at home that you can send them some of the ingredients that are dry staples that your child could help prepare for the family? something fun like iron on tshirt sheets you never know there is stuff we have access to here that you really just don't find everywhere so it all depends on exactly where your child is going.

 

[KennesawNemo]

Cooking ingredient is not good idea to me, because people cook very differently and have very different taste.

Candies are welcomed, but with your $25 budget, it's just too much candy. You could buy some nice chocolate, though, like See's Candies.

Religious and governmental items can be tricky. People might have very different cultural background, I would recommend not to buy those.

When I was an exchange student (to Japan), one thing I buy a lot is stamps. I buy those gift sets from postal office and give to my host families and they always loved those.

 

[amez]

We've hosted a few students and received things like a recipe book, candy, cookies, little native figurines, cd of a local pop band, a pretty decorative silver box, and wine (I have no idea how a 19 year old got it through the airport!)

 

[cornflake]

Coffee table book with picture of your area.

A figurine of the state bird.

A candle from a local company.

A christmas ornament from "Maryland" or some touristy place in maryland


A sweatshirt of hat from a local college or university or professional sports team

A DVD about Maryland. Something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Discoveries-A...FJRE/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1337793085&sr=8-8

That's a big thing. Same as it'd be cool here to be wandering around in a Moscow University sweatshirt, it's cool there to have that stuff from places here. When I was in Russia, more than once, kids offered to buy or trade for sweatshirts or jerseys off our backs. Everything with a town or team name got traded.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

Is that a joke?

What does it matter where the souveniers are made? Do you think Russian tchotchkes aren't made in China?

However - U.S. government souveniers seem... a really, really bad idea as a hostess gift. It's supposed to be a hostess gift. How about some maple syrup, American pancake mix, bottle of American vodka, a nice teapot made by a local to you artist and some different teas...

That's a great idea!

What's more delicious than Vermont maple syrup and pancake mix!

 

[MomToOne]

When I went to China to adopt my daughter, I brought Zippo lighters as some of my gifts. They are made in the USA. Everyone loved them. They even make some with the American flag on them if you want to go there. Now, I don't smoke and encourage everyone else in my life not to, but in Asia smoking was the norm. From my googling, sounds like it is very common in Russia too.

 

[Sagginit]

when i went to france i brought peanut butter salt water taffy and fudge. nothing went over well except the taffy. they were not interested in the PB and the fudge i think they thought was a stale spread. i also just brought taffy to the UK as they wanted something jersey shore, they loved it too so if you are going candy i would try to get some of that in a nice box. its also cute b/c everyone can't believe how they can not taste any of the salt. i then get to explain the story of why its called that.

i also love the maple syrup idea and candy idea. check out vermont country store for a variety of good old USA sweets. http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/store/jump/Food_&_Candy/1021

 

[chris31997]

I have no idea what to get. I know nothing about these people (it's through a program). The suggestion was to get something "local" from where you live and the only thing that came to mind was "Old Bay" seasoning. That's a pretty lame gift. I need some ideas (for about $25) of either Maryland specific or US specific things I can send. It seems everything nowadays is made in China anyway and is available world-wide.

I live in Japan now, hubby is military, and chocolate is expensive here. When you buy something sweet, it is not very sweet. They also love anything with US flag, USA anything on it. Anything with a US company logo on it is big here, gotta be a brand name. But that is Japan. Russia could be differant.

I would go to the local tourist area, and take a walk put together a little food/soap/lotion basket. You never know what they will use. I am sure they will be thrilled with whatever you get them.

 

[ziggystardust]

when i stayed with a family in Nice, I brought them a snow globe with the NYC skyline in it. They seemed to like it.

After I typed this, I realize this probably won't help you b/c this was pre-9/11 and I was able to carry it on to keep it safe. It also had the twin towers in it

 

[punkin]

Is that a joke?

What does it matter where the souveniers are made? Do you think Russian tchotchkes aren't made in China?

However - U.S. government souveniers seem... a really, really bad idea as a hostess gift. It's supposed to be a hostess gift. How about some maple syrup, American pancake mix, bottle of American vodka, a nice teapot made by a local to you artist and some different teas...

Why would this be a joke? Do you think they eat toast in every country? I have no idea if toasters are common in Russia.

...and yes, I do think that many Russian souvenirs are made in-country (like nesting dolls and painted eggs) and it matters because I am trying for something uniquely American. Otherwise, what's the point?

 

[Mrs.Malone]

I'd send a couple of USA Olympic team items (sweatshirt, backpack) along with some food items. Check customs to be sure whatever food items you're sending are okay to take into the county.

 

[cornflake]

Why would this be a joke? Do you think they eat toast in every country? I have no idea if toasters are common in Russia.

...and yes, I do think that many Russian souvenirs are made in-country (like nesting dolls and painted eggs) and it matters because I am trying for something uniquely American. Otherwise, what's the point?

I think they eat toast in every country that has yeast-risen bread loaves, yeah.

They do have toasters in Russia and surrounding former Soviet nations, just like toasters here.

Also, plenty of nesting dolls, eggs, etc., that you buy in Russia and surrounding are made in China, same as mass-produced tchotchkes everyplace. You can find nice hand-painted ones and all too but they're more expensive, same as nice stuff here.

There's a difference between stuff you can buy only some places (though given the Internet, this is pretty much gone except in the Amazonian jungle), and stuff that's made only one place.

Like I said, people like local sweatshirts but no one was checking to see where they were made. If you want uniquely made in Maryland stuff, I'd look for a local artist who throws teapots or what have you.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

It's funny that you mention this. We are currently a host family to a girl from Germany-- she'll be leaving in a few weeks after being here for almost a year

She had never had peanut butter before and she has taken a PBJ to school for lunch every single day this year. She absolutely loves anything with PB-- especially ice cream and chocolate. We were teasing that we were going to have to send her back with a whole suitcase of PB, but she had her mom check and they do now carry it at their local grocery stores.


As for the gifts, did they give you any info about the family? We had to submit a detailed profile and photos and our "German daughter" selected gifts from there. She brought DH & I books that related to our interests (I got a German cookbook and DH got a book about modern/industrial architecture in Germany), the kids each got water bottles with German cartoon characters (they use them all the time for hiking and car trips), and she also brought a beer stein (which is what we all think when we hear "Germany" ) and coffee that had a picture of a fair that takes place in her city. Oh, she also brought candy

the German kids who came to our school on exchange wanted Reeses Peanut Butter cups and Reeses Pieces! They had heard from prior exchange students to be sure to ask for them here in the US. It's amazing how something so small and a quick trip over to Target can make some kids sooooo happy! Oh and Dr Pepper. They wanted to try that.