<p>I apologize for the double post, but this one’s getting no action on the Study Abroad thread.
My s turns 21 in China. Ideas for presents? So far it seems that amazon ships a limited variety of items, books, videos, CDs. However, I understand s might have to pay hefty taxes.
How have others of you figured out a way to celebrate such occasions? Should I just postpone a present (seems like such a shame for such a big occasion)
I even tried to look up Chinese dept stores online. Alas (but of course) all are written in Chinese.
Thoughts, ideas?</p>
<p>Apple i-tunes store. And a few big promises for his return!</p>
<p>Kind of a virtual gift! It has promise…</p>
<p>My daughter will be abroad in the spring during her 21st birthday and she has mentioned several times that she won’t be with family for her special day. I have a bit of time to figure out what to do and I am hoping to come up with something special.</p>
<p>Last year, someone said they have family and friends send postcards to the birthday person so that they were bombarded on their birthday, but I don’t think that would work as well when they are abroad as the mail is not as timely. I thought about having everyone send me postcards, pictures, letters, etc. and then I could maybe Fedex them together timed to arrive on the big day. Many of her friends will also be abroad all around the world, so most of these would be from family.</p>
<p>if has access to email, have everyone you know send ecards, or if has a cellphone they can text happy birthday</p>
<p>E cards and texts are a great idea. Far away, but not forgotten. Hmmm, my son turns 23 in China, quite soon.</p>
<p>Amazon.com delivers most everything they sell to China. <a href=“http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/102-5389989-3041764?ie=UTF8&nodeId=596188[/url]”>http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/102-5389989-3041764?ie=UTF8&nodeId=596188</a> </p>
<p>They have a Chinese site: joyo.com–but it is written in Mandarin and you don’t have to order from that.</p>
<p>English books aren’t that easy to come by in China–one or two would make a nice bday present. I mailed stuff to my sons and didn’t hear anything about taxes.</p>
<p>Warning: all intl shipping costs a bomb.</p>
<p>jasmom:</p>
<p>You might consider just sending money for jasmom, jr. and a group of friends go out on the town. A private room in a fancy karaoke bar, a fancy restaurant, tickets to a Chinese amusement park. Or, whatever. </p>
<p>Rather than send “stuff” that has to be lugged around, send a gift of something they can only experience in China.</p>
<p>I had the same problem last year as daughter turned 21 while on spring break in Miami. We kicked around Miami Beach hotels and all sorts of ideas. Finally just settling on a check with some “walkin’ around” money to splurge on whatever restaurant or entertainment struck their fancy.</p>
<p>A little twist on interestedad’s idea - deposit money directly in your son’s bank account along with links to possible things he could spend it on. For my daughter, also in China (!), she seems intent on traveling to as many Southeastern Asian countries that she can and each trip costs a chunk of change. </p>
<p>Great Lakes Mom - my daughter will turn 23 while in China next year! small world! What part of the country is your son in?</p>
<p>I recently mailed a birthday present to China. Used a flat-rate box, so weight did not matter; shipping was $35.00. Managed to cram in 10 lbs.!!</p>
<p>3 novels in English (v.hard to find there)
2 pretty shirts
1 pair earrings
1 pair pretty Teva flip-flops (their are rock-hard)
some home-made fudge</p>
<p>You fill out a Customs form, state that its a gift, no commercial value, I may have put $50.00. It was delivered to her room, no taxes, no hassles, 6 days!!!</p>
<p>Is he loving Shanghai, jasmom ? My D is having a blast!!!</p>
<p>My daughter is in Beijing and will turn 20 next month. Maybe your son would like some snacks that can’t be obtained in China. Even though it costs a lot to send, it will be a special treat. I had to send some other things to my daughter recently and she asked for peanut butter to be also included in the package. </p>
<p>I just visited my son in San Francisco and bought a box of See’s candy which I plan to send my D for her birthday. I also ordered some Girl Scout cookies from a co-worker and will send these. I am pretty sure that it would be hard or impossible to get See’s and GS cookies in Beijing, and I know she will like them.</p>
<p>My daughter requested Good Seasons salad dressing! Someone said that packages are often opened so I’m not sure I want to send my special cookies or not.</p>
<p>Wow is that 5 or 6 of us with kids in China? Anyone have someone in Shenzen?</p>
<p>Marvelous ideas and info! And, Chocoholic, he IS loving Shanghai (and is traveling to Tibet for their October break). Happy B-D to your daughter!</p>
<p>Can you send sealed food packages overseas? My daughter would LOVE Girl Scout cookies while in Spain this spring!</p>
<p>Sure, I just sent a package to China that had peanut butter, Planter’s almonds, pistachios, Reeses pb cups, snickers, kit-kats, and dried mango slices. </p>
<p>I sent blueberry preserves from Maine as a thank you gift to some people in Taiwan. </p>
<p>There may be a few rules on specific items, but, in general, food can be sent.</p>
<p>Snowball, I didn’t mean to mislead you, I had heard that in China packages are often opened and sometimes not received.</p>
<p>You didn’t mislead me; I was under the impression that certain foods were not allowed into certain countries. What those foods or countries are, I have no idea!! I am not a traveler!</p>
<p>Usually, no meats are allowed and no freshly baked goods. Pre-packaged goods are allowed. Packages do not arrive in Africa, which is why Amazon will not ship to Africa. Totalitarian China does not have that problem.</p>
<p>Most digital cameras now have a video option. Perhaps you could film a very short birthday message from the folks at home and email it to him?</p>
<p>We actually tried this last night, but our email system wouldn’t “send” it 
. Maybe other people would have better luck.</p>
<p>Well, my D got a package from someone else with home baked cookies, brownies and scones, mailed from the U.S. to China, with no problems.</p>
<p>Also if you have Skype and a Webcam, its lots of fun to sing Happy Birthday and blow kisses on the camera live!!</p>