<p>My daughter leaves in a few day for a semester in Madrid. We thought we knew what to take as a gift for the family she will be staying with, but now we are not sure. I tend to over think things instead of going with my gut, so I thought I would get your opinion.</p>
<p>My daughter thinks she is staying with a single widowed woman, but isn’t 100% sure. We are from the south and thought about biscuit mix and some peach marmalade. We also have a history of Coca Cola table book, but realized the woman might not be able to read English. There are plenty of pictures, but I don’t know if it would be appreciated; of course she may speak and read English. Other thoughts were Grits Bits, vidalia onion dressing or sauce. My daughter wants to take a food items along with the book.</p>
<p>Any ideas what items from the south are not available in Spain? I think my daughter wanted to go with biscuit mix so that she could make them for the woman. She likes to cook, assuming she will be allowed to do so in the home.</p>
<p>Also, will she have a problem taking food in her checked luggage in Spain? Are there items that aren’t allowed to leave the US or go into Spain?</p>
<p>I always bring maple syrup, but the peach marmalade sounds great - similar idea. My husband brought back quince and tomato preserves from his last trip to Spain. If it’s in a bottle it’s not a problem - but it will need to be checked. It’s usually less of an issue bringing food to Europe than bringing it back to this country. How about some southern sweets? Something with pecans perhaps - which aren’t available in Europe.</p>
<p>It can be hard to do any baking recipes because of the need for metric conversion. The measuring cups, etc., that your daughter’s host has will not have US markings. </p>
<p>I have family living in Spain, and the older ladies do like chocolates and other sweets. I’m sure jams and things with nuts will be fine. The book about Coca-Cola would not be my choice - it sounds rather heavy, among other things. A magazine or postcards about your hometown will be helpful in illustrating things that can’t be explained in limited Spanish.</p>
<p>Don’t worry too much about gifts. Especially in Madrid, apartments can be quite compact and there isn’t space for a lot of trinkets.</p>
<p>Regarding what things aren’t allowed to travel, meat and fresh produce are usually the main offenders. (This may sound strange, but Spain is famous for expensive hams though travelers will learn the hard way that they can’t be carried into the US.) Of course, you are aware of the strict restrictions on liquids in hand-carried luggage, but do think very carefully about storing liquids in checked luggage. Baggage handlers can be really tough on luggage, and a whole suitcase of clothes can be ruined by a bottle of something like salad dressing.</p>
<p>Have your daughter practice the typical double-cheek kiss greeting to avoid those awkward, head-smacking moments. Kisses are very airy, with little or no lip-to-cheek contact. She should also work at paring down the number of clothes she brings. It is possible that her apartment will have only a washer, not a dryer, so keep that in mind when packing and consider clothes that don’t have to be washed so frequently. Jeans are absolutely required. Also, I have it on good authority that brightly-colored Keds sneakers are popular this year!</p>
<p>Of course you can get pecans in Europe. They’re just not that popular and people don’t like them very much. Ditto chcolate. Do NOT bring American chocolate as a gift. Everyone hates it (you probably will too once you’ve tasted non-US made stuff).</p>
<p>In at least some parts of Europe, American macaroni and cheese is quite exotic and appreciated. Nuts seem less universally liked in Europe than here, though for those that like nuts, pecans can be especially appreciated. I have carried pecan Kringle, a Wisconsin specialty, to other parts of the world, to much acclaim. </p>
<p>My D has taken cheap measuring spoons and measuring cups on exchange, so she can bake overseas. Buy at a dollar store, plan to leave them there. </p>
<p>I’m going to remember that COKE book for abroad presents. For those tuned into American popular culture, it sounds a great idea.</p>
<p>If you have avlaable a church or women’s group cookbook, the kind where everyone puts in thier favorite recipe, those can be nice gifts, as it shares some of the culture, but is also a little personal, especially if your daughter might know some of the contributors.</p>
<p>When I was first married, I took a container of California wildflower seeds to my Spanish mother-in-law. She enjoys gardening and kept the plants alive for many years. People in apartments often have container plants on their balconies, so even if the host doesn’t have a yard they probably have plants.</p>
<p>Of the food items you’ve mentioned, I bet the vidalia onion dressing and the peach marmalade would be big hits.</p>
<p>I’d be more in line with getting them something that they can keep for years to come. BUT, if a food item is on your list, here’s a suggestion. “PEANUT BUTTER”. I lived in Spain (Madrid) for quite a while. They had no idea what peanut butter was. My wife actually developed a lucrative part time job baking. Peanut butter cookies; Peanut butter candy; hell, we had neighbors who visited us a lot and liked having peanut butter sandwiches. I worked with the embassy and other government agencies, so I had access to the military commissary and was able to get peanut butter. Anyway, never saw it sold there and didn’t meet a spaniard that didn’t like it. Now, it’s been about 10 years since living there so I’m not sure if peanut butter has made a presence there yet.</p>
<p>On a side note; you could go with a “Southern” non food gift and wait for your daughter to get there. You can always send her a care package a month or two later with anything she thinks they would like.</p>
<p>Every American study abroad student seems to bring and entire suitcase full of peanut butter because they all believe it is unobtainable. Then they find out you can buy it in every supermarket (it’s not a sweet as in the US though). My grandma remembers first getting PB from US soldiers in WW2. It is in no way unknown. I lived in Ireland when I was little and we had it there. That is how I come it like it. Had it in Switzerland when i lived there too. Can easily get it in England now. I don’t know specifically about Spain, but I bet you can find it in any major city supermarket. I know Carrefour exists in Spain, and they sell PB in other countries. Perhaps bring things with peanut butter in like Reeses cups? You can buy then in lots of places that are touristy, but they’re there purely for American tourists. Generally I’d advise against food. Either it will be easily available in Spain, or they won’t like it.</p>
<p>I do a lot of international gift-giving – here’s what’s worked well in the past, in no particular order</p>
<p>Coasters – you can get them with pictures of where you live, artistan ones, etc. </p>
<p>Goodie bag with typically american treats – chocolate covered cranberries, Pez candy, teas from Republic of Tea, Jelly Bellies, a bag of Pepperidge Farm chocolate chip cookies, almond roca, Ghiradelli chocolate & whatever ‘southern’ treats you can think of ;)</p>
<p>Silver/turquoise Native-American jewelry or pottery – a lot is avaialbe online </p>
<p>Quilted pillow covers </p>
<p>Photo calendars are always good – ones with pictures of where you live or ones with photographs of the American west (Europeans love the very exotic landscapes of New Mexico, Utah, Arizona etc.)</p>
<p>– Cupcake, no need to be so snarky. No one here is being arrogant.</p>
<p>Cupcake, so you’ve seen the Fluffernutter in Fortnam and Mason’s? Would have thought that product wouldn’t be of interest outside the shores of the USA.</p>
<p>S is homestaying for a week in London (this week) and because it’s a choral music thing, he took the family a brand-new CD made by a New York City choral group he is acquainted with–and a small box of my homemade chocolate-cayenne cookies. Not that you don’t have cookies in England, it’s just that these were homemade and delicious! Probably illegal, but he had no problems at customs.</p>
<p>Don’t think peanut butter will be on our list; my daughter has a life threatening allergy to peanuts!!</p>
<p>I see nothing wrong with sending a food sampling from our region. My daughter thinks it would be special to share some of her favorite items with her host, just like her host will be sharing with her. The other student staying with this host is giving some type of ceramic piece, so we figured a book and some food would round out the gift.</p>
<p>I will not be sending anything to Spain after my daughter arrives if I can help it; the cost of shipping will be more than the package cost!</p>
<p>Not sure how much you consider too much. I recently sent a package to spain. Weighed about 2 pounds. Cost about $15. As far as peanut butter goes, allergies would definitely not go well with that. But to respond to the other poster; I lived in Madrid. About the largest city in that part of Europe. They didn’t have it. As I said however, that was 10 years ago since I lived there.</p>
<p>But I do agree that food items aren’t that good. 1) They may not like it. 2) It is temporary. A small gift that is regional might be nice. Coasters is a good idea. As are other kitchen or (Dust Collectors). I’ve lived in 15 countries and I have at least 1 think in my house from each place. My landlord in Amsterdam asked me when I came back from the USA on vacation if I would bring him a Salt and Pepper set that had something American on it. He liked those kind of thinks from different countries. Anyway, she should have a blast.</p>
<p>Coasters are a good gift. Come to my house, do I have coasters. Japanese, Korean, Australian. But they are small, cute, useful and culturally interesting. I’m a host mom. Salt and pepper shakers are nice. Personally, I love food, because it is also representative of a culture, can be shared and talked about, and once gone, leaves only a pleasant memory. Received a little host mom gift today, a spirit catcher from a trip to the southwest. Very sweet.</p>