<p>My son will be studying in Morocco next semester and living with a host family. Does anyone have a great idea of a gift we can send along for this family? We will send VT maple candy and chocolates, I think, but would love some more interesting suggestions. We have been told nothing about the family.</p>
<p>I really think maple products are the way to go. Maybe something amusing from the Vermont Country Store? Or if your budget permits Maybe something wooden from the Granville Bowl Mill?</p>
<p>Vermont Teddy Bear</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.vermontteddybear.com/Default.aspx?bhcp=1[/url]”>http://www.vermontteddybear.com/Default.aspx?bhcp=1</a></p>
<p>bethie…lol…my VT daughter is in Morocco as I write this. But anyway, she was in France for the summer in an internship and I met her over there when it ended to travel with her for a bit. And she wanted to give gifts to certain people and I brought VT products at my D’s wish…maple syrup, maple sugar candies. I think anything from our region that is specific to our region is a nice thing to bring.</p>
<p>PS…some ideas are a Vermont photo calendar for next year or Ben and Jerry’s tee shirts, with “Vermont’s Finest”. :)</p>
<p>I was wondering about a wooden bowl too. There are beautiful ones at Frog Hollow in Burlington too, but I’ll look up the Granville ones.</p>
<p>About the calendar idea, does anyone know whether they use the same numeral system we do?</p>
<p>My nieces all fell in love with VT maple sugar and took back cans of the stuff (because cans don’t break) to France. We got a really nice vase in Putney many years ago, but I’d be leery of taking it onto a plane unless it was in cabin luggage.
Maybe some Currier & Ives print? a box of beautiful writing cards? an American cookbook or a book on American architecture?</p>
<p>It’s quite likely the family won’t speak English, so I’m going to hold off on anything with a lot of words until I know. I was thinking if I sent syrup, I’d also send a VT pancake mix, so my son could make pancakes for the family, but I wonder if they’d let him cook. My H and I will be visiting, probably toward the end of S’s stay, so we could also bring something heavier or larger, like a wooden bowl, like one of these: [url=<a href=“http://www.peggypotter.com/level.itml/icOid/1]Casamadera[/url”>http://www.peggypotter.com/level.itml/icOid/1]Casamadera[/url</a>], at that time and I could send smaller stuff with S.</p>
<p>When I brought over the maple syrup (I just got back) to the French people, I brought cans so they would not break but in the past, we have also given both syrup and VT pancake mixes too. The calendar is nice as the photos are from VT and do not rely on words (other than the names of the months). </p>
<p>I know someone locally (bethie could email me) who makes gorgeous painted bowls using bowls from Granville. These are kinda bulky to bring over but are a lovely crafted item from VT.</p>
<p>soozie–I do like the calendar idea, because VT is beautiful in such a different way than Morocco is beautiful. Are the bowls different from the ones I linked to above? I will e-mail you.</p>
<p>bethie, when I posted, I had not looked at your link but prefer if you email me about it.</p>
<p>Keeping with stuff from Vermont ( I agree with the maple syrup suggestions, too)!</p>
<p>Cheese spreaders from Danforth Pewter have been great gifts for international friends — Made in america, small and unbreakable:<br>
[Cheese</a> Knives, Blades & Spreaders](<a href=“http://www.danforthpewter.com/cheese-accessories.html]Cheese”>http://www.danforthpewter.com/cheese-accessories.html)</p>
<p>Wood bowls from Woodburys of Vermont are a little pricey, but very nice.</p>
<p>Woodburys of Vermont might have gone under. I’ve bought things from them and now the Burlington location seems to be gone. Beautiful crafts!</p>