Gift Idea for Spanish Host Family

[thismortalcoil]

Hola foreros,
I depart for Granada exactly one month from today! ;D
I will be living with a host family that consists of a señora, her two sons (ages 23 and 19), and their dog. I would like to bring a gift for them, but I am not sure what would be appropriate. Any suggestions??

On another note: I've started a scrapbook about my life, (pages with pictures of my friends and family, my city, favorite foods, my pet, symbols of American culture, etc.) to bring with me. I think this will be a good way to share my life with my Spanish friends. If anyone has any ideas for this, that would be great too!

Thanks!!
-Blair

[Jimmy]

Hi Blair,

I've had a few exchange students from South America, and also returned the visit myself. I guess what always works best is something natural from the country you come from that can't easily be found anywhere else. Maybe a great book on your surrounding landscape and fauna. Or some artwork done by a local artist in a native theme. That way they alway remember you when they look at it. Clothes, CDs etc are pretty hard to choose for someone who's tastes you do not know & food stuffs disappear pretty quickly.

Another thought, if you have the time and resources, maybe a home movie, like a fun little documentary on your life in the US - showing friends, family, culture, what your life is like etc.

Anyway, hope it all works out for you...another great thing is to compile a scrap book or similar during your time with the family (not sure how long you are staying with them)...and then presenting it to them when you leave as a great gift to remember all the cool times you had (will have I'm sure).

Good luck,

[Flexichick]

I second Jimmy's suggestion. I try to bring things from NYC or from the US that they can't readily get wherever they live.

Some of them are cultural, and others are food/products. My friend in Spain loves receiving cinnamon Crest toothpaste, a brand of incense that she can't find there and some hair straightening products.

You may also consider doing that as a follow up thank you gift....it can be easier once you know them a little better - what style their house is, etc.

[richardksa]

In France the visitor gives the gifts on arrival. What is the tradition in Spain?

[Brian]

Nothing says "thank you" like a Chia Pet! ;)

http://www.ninjabilly.com/images/chia_pet.gif

[Flexichick]

I think that a gift on arrival is appropriate, but perhaps a gift after leaving (once you know what they like) would be nice too.

Just don't give the Chia Pet to a guy who has fake hair plugs. I think that would be a mistake in any country ;D

[Brian]

I think that a gift on arrival is appropriate, but perhaps a gift after leaving (once you know what they like) would be nice too.

Just don't give the Chia Pet to a guy who has fake hair plugs. I think that would be a mistake in any country ;D

Don't give a Chia Pet, period. Es más cutre que cutre. :D

[thismortalcoil]

Thanks for the suggestions! I found a couple of neat items that represent my hometown, although I will be skipping the chia pet...haha!

[Marina]

Hi Thismortalcoil,

I think that something that represents your area will be truly appreciated... and I agree as well that it would be good to give it on arrival.
¡¡¡Buena suerte con los preparativos!!!

[cubix]

well Brian Chia pets are only available starting in around October for the Christmas season since they are hand made and have a high demand

When I went to Salamance last summer, I brought my spanish mother some Candles from where I live. My brother brought when he went to spain a few years ago some peach salsa(Specality from where we live) and something else I don't remember

[Brian]

well Brian Chia pets are only available starting in around October for the Christmas season since they are hand made and have a high demand

Lol, no kidding? How do you know this? ;D

[cubix]

Hah interesting story, my brother wanted the Clapper Thing(you know the clap on clap off light control thing for his birthday(typical college student) so I looked them up online to find where they are available.

Well the clapper company also makes the chia pets, so I was looking at them last week thinling how cool it would be to have one..

[ValenciaSon]

How :rolleyes: about the mounted singing fish?

[Brian]

How :rolleyes: about the mounted singing fish?

Billy Bass! So integral to Alabama culture! You gotta bring one of those, Blair.

[thismortalcoil]

Billy Bass! So integral to Alabama culture! You gotta bring one of those, Blair.


HA! The funny/sad thing is, I can think of at least two households in my family who indeed have a Billy Bass mounted on the living room wall. But one of those is in Georgia, so we can't blame it all on Alabama. ;D

[Brian]

HA! The funny/sad thing is, I can think of at least two households in my family who indeed have a Billy Bass mounted on the living room wall. But one of those is in Georgia, so we can't blame it all on Alabama. ;D

Lol, well, I always held the Bammers in slightly higher regard.

[Jules]

I will be living with a host family that consists of ...

Can someone tell me how to find host families for short breaks (up to a week or thereabouts) in Spain?
Most language schools will set up their own students with one but I doubt they would be keen to release their names to non-students.

[Acosta]

Hah interesting story, my brother wanted the Clapper Thing(you know the clap on clap off light control thing for his birthday(typical college student) so I looked them up online to find where they are available.

Well the clapper company also makes the chia pets, so I was looking at them last week thinling how cool it would be to have one..

When Brian mentioned Chia pet the clapper was the next thing I thought of. The worst of USA commercials ala Waynes World.

Oye Vey :D

[cubix]

When Brian mentioned Chia pet the clapper was the next thing I thought of. The worst of USA commercials ala Waynes World.

Oye Vey :D
Haha, my brother got me a Chia pet for Christmas because I made fun of his clapper. I've acutally started to grow it too, how lame am I....

[greytop]

Haha, my brother got me a Chia pet for Christmas because I made fun of his clapper. I've acutally started to grow it too, how lame am I....
I'd never heard the term Chia pet but after looking at them on the Web I see they are foam "pets" with growing fur. We used to buy them from a market stall, made from old nylon tights stuffed with sawdust and grass seed. Some were sheep, some heads. The cat loved them as a source of grass to nibble! Looks like someone has turned them into big business.
Enjoy your gift - later you can practise hair cutting on it;D
http://z.about.com/d/inventors/1/0/U/9/ramchia.jpg

[Ben]

Thanks for clearing that up Greytop, I had no idea what a Chia pet was either!

[Dave_K]

Some things my in-laws have received (often on request) when my wife and I have visited them in Spain:

--a jumbo-sized bottle of aspirin (it's because it's a lot cheaper here, not because we're bad houseguests [I hope])

--Polo shirts (have to be Polo brand, with the horse logo prominently displayed:rolleyes: ) and Calvin Klein underwear (for her brother)

--duty-free cigs & liquor >:D

--bags of snack-sized Snickers, Milky Ways, Three Musketeers, etc (my elderly aunt-in-law especially likes these)

--whatever new electronic gadget might be out here now, but not there (e.g., my wife has plied at least three Spanish households with the iRobot robotic vacuum cleaner). I'm on the lookout now for some type of magnetic, floating pen (not really sure what this is, I'll have to check Sharper Image).

One thing that I may be bringing when I leave for there tomorrow is an iPod (wating on word my sister-in-law who has been thinking of buying one for her husband for Reyes.) An entrepreneur (of the Trotter's Independent Traders variety) could make a killing now on the price discrepancy between what the iPods are selling for here vs. there at the moment. The 30GB video iPod (the one I may be bringing) is going for $250 + $15tax = $265 here, while El Corte Ingles is selling exact same thing for $386 (279E). Similar discrepancies for all other models.

[ValenciaSon]

Some things my in-laws have received (often on request) when my wife and I have visited them in Spain:

--a jumbo-sized bottle of aspirin (it's because it's a lot cheaper here, not because we're bad houseguests [I hope])

--Polo shirts (have to be Polo brand, with the horse logo prominently displayed:rolleyes: ) and Calvin Klein underwear (for her brother)

--duty-free cigs & liquor >:D

--bags of snack-sized Snickers, Milky Ways, Three Musketeers, etc (my elderly aunt-in-law especially likes these)

--whatever new electronic gadget might be out here now, but not there (e.g., my wife has plied at least three Spanish households with the iRobot robotic vacuum cleaner). I'm on the lookout now for some type of magnetic, floating pen (not really sure what this is, I'll have to check Sharper Image).

One thing that I may be bringing when I leave for there tomorrow is an iPod (wating on word my sister-in-law who has been thinking of buying one for her husband for Reyes.) An entrepreneur (of the Trotter's Independent Traders variety) could make a killing now on the price discrepancy between what the iPods are selling for here vs. there at the moment. The 30GB video iPod (the one I may be bringing) is going for $250 + $15tax = $265 here, while El Corte Ingles is selling exact same thing for $386 (279E). Similar discrepancies for all other models.

What, no more Levi's Jeans? That was the rage when I was last there (in'77):rolleyes:

[Katie L]

Thank you so much for posting this! I'm going abroad and have been wondering the same thing myself. I am from Michigan, so I was thinking about bringing them some type of food (jam/jelly maybe?) made from Michigan cherries or apples, or something representing Detroit in some way.

My dad and I also joked about bringing his over-the-top tacky American flag pajama pants that look just like the ones in the movie Napoleon Dynamite (One leg red and white, one blue w/white stars) Hideous!! But funny ;)

Keep giving me ideas!

[Dave_K]

What, no more Levi's Jeans? That was the rage when I was last there (in'77):rolleyes:

No, no Levis this time, but a Lacoste shirt or sweater would not be turned down (but that's because my brother-in-law is stuck in 1985).

It seems to me that now fashion flows only from Spain to here (e.g., Campers shoes are big, we just got a Zara store in Washington) and not vice-versa. Though I'll be the first to admit that I don't really keep up with current style (t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers work for me!)

[natalia]

lol I brought my Spanish exchange stuff from Greece (I'm 1/2 Greek) and some Flakes because apparently they don't exist in Spain?! Good luck choosing. I'm sure they'll love anything though.

[Edith]

No, no Levis this time, but a Lacoste shirt or sweater would not be turned down (but that's because my brother-in-law is stuck in 1985).


I still see lotsa people wearing Lacoste in Spain, they have even got entire stores selling only Lacoste. :)

[ValenciaSon]

My sisters lived in Madrid one year and went to grade school there. Their school required for the uniform that they wear a yellow Izod Lacoste polo. It had to be an Izod. This was back in 1972.

[Brian]

My sisters lived in Madrid one year and went to grade school there. Their school required for the uniform that they wear a yellow Izod Lacoste polo. It had to be an Izod. This was back in 1972.

Wow. Wearing Izod when Izod wasn't cool. :D

[cubix]

I still see lotsa people wearing Lacoste in Spain, they have even got entire stores selling only Lacoste. :)

There was one in Salamanca, but the prices where through the roof!

[Katie L]

Wow!! Now I know why my Spain-born Spanish teacher literally wore a Lacoste polo and Levi's every single day to class this semester! I feel so enlightened.

The polos are really popular here in the US, but mostly for the younger/richer crowd in a trendy (not classic) way. We have a super-chic Lacoste store in our local high-end mall.

[ProfeDeEspEnWisc]

Thanks for clearing that up Greytop, I had no idea what a Chia pet was either!

Clearly we need to talk to Bush about this. While we are exporting freedom and democracy, we should also send Chia pets. ;)

[Paco]

I usually give small mineral coal sculptures, typical of my area, I give them away and is something so typical of pennsylvania, also I give away Amish crafts, People love it! and if you really wants to spend your money, give them something Shaker, a basket or something like that, but I only did one time and they loved it. But thoses pieces are very costly. Just suggestions.

[Edith]

Wow!! Now I know why my Spain-born Spanish teacher literally wore a Lacoste polo and Levi's every single day to class this semester! I feel so enlightened.

:D

I don't think Lacoste is really considered a posh thing to wear in Spain, hence the Lacoste-Levi's combination.