Here is some ideas based on what my daughter took, what we sent later, what she wished she had brought, and things other people have mentioned.
- Card games that do not require English (Uno, Skip-bo, Spot-it)
- Candy: Reeses Peanut Butter cups, Hershey's kisses, fudge (the Germans had never heard of it)
- Anything locally made - in our case, sample sizes of Sturdiwheat pancake mix and maple syrup
- Taco seasoning packets (no one had ever tried tacos in her area, so these were a big hit; she bought all the spices, but the taco packets would have been easier. We eventually sent some)
- Measuring cups and spoons in standard - most countries don't have these instantly available (although my daughter was able to order them on German Amazon). If your child wants to cook or bake something, having these makes life much easier.
- A photo book (an actual physical book, not digital photos on a phone or camera) with pictures of your family, your house, your child's school, famous or picturesque spots in your town, etc. The intention is for your child to take and print out more pictures during the stay and leave the book with the host family.
I would love to hear what gifts were successful for other families!
If your child is travelling to a country where gift-giving is traditional (my experience is Japan), take many (many, many) small gifts. Postcards of places where you live or where you have visited, simple (children's) picture books, if you have any talents for crafts or friends that do, cheap pins or magnets. Also small, hard candy (fits into many cracks) is generally interesting to people in the culture because it is all different. ANY time you are going to visit a friend's house, gifts were traditionally given, so I became desperate for items after a while - and because I did not expect it. Fresh-bought food is acceptable (and common), but should probably be included in the budget.
ReplyDeleteIf you are in an educational setting (i. e. school) they are fascinated by American menus - especially with pictures (many restaurants would give them to me if I asked, and they don't take much space).
If you have any family traditions that can be shared (special food or games), those are especially nice for your child and the host family to feel like they're included in the family too. Your child is there to experience a new culture, but many people are curious about their background too. These items can open up dialogue about what is the same/different.
When I was in high school, we hosted a Japanese student as well, and many of the gifts I remember receiving from her were along the lines of special talents she had in art (she had made some and some were origami paper and paints/ink for us to work together), some small clothing items, lots of food, cultural stories and children's games.