help from parents whose kids did foreign exchange programs

[Kteacher]

My daughter is going to France this spring as part of her HS's foreign exchange program. We received the info packet, and there is a list of gifts to bring for the kids they will be matched with, but nothing suggested for the parents of the host family. I'd like to send something, after all, they are taking care of my child . Any ideas?? It needs to be something that can be packed easily, and won't take up too much space-the kids are being told they can take one suitcase and one small carry on.
Any other tips would be great too-this is our first time sending a child on a foreign exchange program

 

[dolphinrescuegirl]

bumping for you. sorry but I don't have any advice

 

[pyrxtc]

As a former host, I ahve received a gorgeous hand sewn tablecloth from vietnam and from Serbia I have some beautiful things for my mantle of Madonna or the Virgin Mary. They ahd no way of knowing that I was Catholic and I don't have alot of religious things around but the images are wonderful and I proudly display them.

Perhaps something homemade for the house ? Or something special that is made only near you that they can't get in France? I love my tablecloth and it even perfectly matches my special occasion dinnerware. Maybe a nice frame or some special Boston items ?

There a lot of people who love to have Boston only items but will never go there. Growing up just outside of Boston I was spoiled by them but I have met quite a few people that think of it as almost as big a place to go as NY City.

 

[Sonya]

Yes, something regional would be very nice. I don't know what you could bring from Mass., but I am sure you will know something. Here in KC I usually tell my students that are going (I teach French so I have some go from time to time) to bring BBQ sauce and fix a meal for the family when you get there. Local recipes are great, especially in France where they love food so much. Also local wines, art, or if you can get to a craft fair you can pick out something nice.

How exciting for your DD!!!!!!!! This is one of the best things she can do to learn a language!

 

[merrily]

How about some maple syrup or some maple sugar candy?

 

[scrapquitler]

I was an exchange student when I was in high school (I went to Ecuador for a year with Rotary International, not that it matters). What we were told in terms of bringing gifts for the host family was to think about things that are made or produced in your local area or which are unique to your area of the US. And we were also told that FOOD is always a great option! So start thinking about your state/town/region and you can probably come up with some unique ideas.

I brought a bunch of things: I brought postcards and a small book with pictures of Connecticut (my home state), I brought a small figurine of a Robin (Ct's state bird), I brought some candy bars (mounds and almond joys) which were produced in my hometown at that point, I brough Pez candies and Pez dispensers (made in CT), Silly putty (invented in CT). I also brought pancake mix and maple syrup (they had Never had that!) I also brought a small desktop flag stand thing that the mayor of my town gave me to bring as a gift which had a base with the name of my town on it and it had a US Flag and CT flag that stuck in the base.

I think it would also be nice for your daughter to bring several pictures of your home, your family, your town (the school, your church, a local park, a touristy thing in your area, etc) they make good conversation starters to use to talk and get to know the host family. If you have some touristy place around your area, maybe you can get (ask if they will donate) some refrigerator magnets, engraved pens or pencils, keychains or stuff like that for your daughter to take and hand out to people she meets. In the Rotary Program, students are encouraged to make their own pins for trading which they usually wear on the Rotary Blazer...maybe your daughter can make some pins with your state quarter glued onto a pinback, or something of that sort.

Hope this helps, if you have any more questions, let me know, maybe I can help!

 

[scrapquitler]

Now I notice that you are from MA, and I had a couple of other suggestions:

Have her bring a christmas ornament for them from somewhere in MA...they will probably save it from year to year and will think of her every year when they use it.

Since you are from MA, a couple of small votives from Yankee Candle and a votive holder might be nice (go for a maple flavor or autumn spice or pine, something 'new englandy')

Be sure that in the pictures or postcards she brings to share that there are fall foliage pictures. I know that in Ecuador the whole fall foliage thing was a total unknown to them, I'm not sure if that would be true in France or not, but hey, doesn't everyone associate those fall foliage pictures with New England?

 

[Kteacher]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I live very close to the Yankee Candle flagship store, so I may take a trip over there and pick something out .

 

[DVCLiz]

Now I notice that you are from MA, and I had a couple of other suggestions:

Have her bring a christmas ornament for them from somewhere in MA...they will probably save it from year to year and will think of her every year when they use it.

Since you are from MA, a couple of small votives from Yankee Candle and a votive holder might be nice (go for a maple flavor or autumn spice or pine, something 'new englandy')

Be sure that in the pictures or postcards she brings to share that there are fall foliage pictures. I know that in Ecuador the whole fall foliage thing was a total unknown to them, I'm not sure if that would be true in France or not, but hey, doesn't everyone associate those fall foliage pictures with New England?

I wish you had posted this three weeks ago when my daughter was trying to decide what to take HER host family in Ecuador!!! She is in Quito for the semester!! I think she ended up shopping at the airport gift shop and found some "local" things - also she has asked me to shop at Target and see if a sweater she has is still in stock - her host mom loves it!!!!

 

[DisneyMomOK]

We hosted a boy from Germany. He gave us a coffee-table book of his region of Germany and a beer stein. When he left, I made a scrap book for him from the pix my son took, while he was here, as well as, a few small local things. I think he really appreciated the scrap book of his visit here.