Suggested gift to bring host family in Salamanca, Spain

Parent Cafe
1

<p>My daughter will be living with a family in Spain first semester. We know nothing about the family (the school does not reveal anything) and I am wondering if anyone has a suggestion for a gift to bring. Thank you so much!</p>

2

<p>When mine have gone on exchanges of a shorter duration, we sent small gifts from our part of the country. Ball caps with local NFL team logo, local food products like jelly, candy, nuts, unique to our region…small wooden objects from trees from our state,etc. Locally made is the criteria.
We also sent them with a small photo book to flip through with thier hosts showing scenes from home. (this required careful editing…since we live where land and labor costs are quite low, showing the facade of our house to people from far away might look like we we showing off. Instead we sent a photo of her playing her guitar on her bed, picking tomatoes in the garden, hanging out on the sofa with a group of friends, etc.)</p>

3

<p>Local food. For instance, California almonds or maple syrup from Vermont</p>

4

<p>I am afraid that Boston, Massachusetts doesn’t really have great food selections that will travel well that I can think of. We could do Salt Water Taffy, but neither my daughter or I like it. </p>

<p>Any suggestions for novelty items from Boston?</p>

5

<p>You might be able to get maple sugar candy in the Boston area. This place makes amazing chocolates: [url=&lt;a href=“http://www.burdickchocolate.com/stores-and-cafes.aspx]Burdick”&gt;http://www.burdickchocolate.com/stores-and-cafes.aspx]Burdick</a> Chocolate Chocolate Shops & Caf</p>

6

<p>How about maple syrup from MA: [Massachusetts</a> Maple Producers Association](<a href=“http://www.massmaple.org/directory.php]Massachusetts”>http://www.massmaple.org/directory.php)</p>

<p>Many of these suger houses will ship to Boston.</p>

7

<p>You don’t have to limit yourself to Boston-centric foods. You could just go “American”: Pez candies (one of the few items, it seems, that says Made in USA on it plus its always a big hit with children), chocolate-covered cranberries, Jelly Belly jelly beans, Ghiradelli chocolate, a small bag of Kona coffee, some teas from Republic of Tea or Celestial Seasonings, etc. Maple syrup is often a bit problematic, since foreign cooks often don’t know what to use it on – though if your daughter is there, she could suggest to serve it maybe with crepes.</p>

8

<p>Friend’s college kids traveled quite a bit and always brought college logo items from their home school to abroad home families. T-shirts or caps. Easy to pack (traveling with maple syrup in one’s luggage makes me kinda queasy) and a great US made treat they can’t buy in Spain.</p>

9

<p>Thanks everyone for the great suggestions!</p>

10

<p>How about a nice coffee table book with pictures of Boston and/or New England, so the family knows what the area looks like? </p>

<p>I associate Boston w lobsters, so maybe a few handtowels or potholders with lobsters pics or a bottle opener in the shape of a lobster like this:</p>

<p>[Amazon.com:</a> Unique Cast Iron Lobster Bottle Opener: Kitchen & Dining](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Unique-Cast-Lobster-Bottle-Opener/dp/B003LZ75X6]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Unique-Cast-Lobster-Bottle-Opener/dp/B003LZ75X6)</p>

<p>If you are near downtown, I would head into a souvenir shop and look for cute, yet practical items.</p>

11

<p>^^</p>

<p>I would also suggest to stick to non-food items and pick something that will survive the stay abroad. For instance, despite its name in our country, local US chocolates a la Ghirardelli or Hershey’s do not compare well to what its available in Spain and in the rest of Europe. Same thing for coffee. You might as well bring them US chorizo! </p>

<p>And, the US products that have gained some fame are not hard to find in Spain.</p>

12

<p>Our Spanish exchange student just left last week. Before he left, he requested a trip to the grocery store so he could buy “those white things that you put in the fire” (marshmallows), Hershey Chocolate Bars (must have thought they were needed for the white things), and peanut butter.</p>

13

<p>I have been given dish towels as gifts from students over the years, usually something commemorating their country. It’s been over 10 years for some, we still use them and I still smile when I see them.</p>

14

<p>FYI</p>

<p>[::</a> Taste of America :: comida americana productos americanos shop for food online](<a href=“http://www.tasteofamerica.es/]::”>http://www.tasteofamerica.es/)</p>

<p>As far as marshmallows, they probably are a tad different from one country to another, but they are hardly unknown in Spain. They are called nubes or sometimes use the french word guimauve. Do not take my word for it. Click on the link for pictures for Nubes Mercadona … that would be similar to typing Marshmallows Safeway! </p>

<p><a href=“https://www.google.com/search?q=mercadona+nubes&hl=en&qscrl=1&rlz=1T4ACGW_en___MX387&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=cXs2UNWFK8PI2gXIyoHIAg&ved=0CGQQsAQ&biw=1085&bih=523[/url]”>https://www.google.com/search?q=mercadona+nubes&hl=en&qscrl=1&rlz=1T4ACGW_en___MX387&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=cXs2UNWFK8PI2gXIyoHIAg&ved=0CGQQsAQ&biw=1085&bih=523&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

15

<p>When S went on a short exchange trip to France all the kids gave calendars with those “Currier & Ives” type pictures on them…kind of uniquely American. (One of the moms had access to a whole bunch of them) I would imagine any type of calendar with an American (Boston?) theme would go over well also…Baseball? Red Sox??</p>

<p>We also sent some Maple Sugar candy with S, and a current year proof set from the US Mint.</p>

<p><a href=“http://catalog.usmint.gov/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=16444&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=10211[/url]”>http://catalog.usmint.gov/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=16444&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=10211&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

16

<p>Here’s a funny discussion on what to bring. I love the post about mixing wine and Coca Cola. I never quite understood that.</p>

<p>[marshmallows</a> and peanut butter - MadridMan’s ALL SPAIN Message Board](<a href=“marshmallows and peanut butter | About Spain | MadridMan's ALL SPAIN Message Board”>marshmallows and peanut butter | About Spain | MadridMan's ALL SPAIN Message Board)</p>

17

<p>Thank you all for the wonderful ideas. If only I had more than five days to get this together. Why do 20 year olds think that they have sooooo much time and then rush around at the last minute! Ugh!</p>

18

<p>My D’s host was a single older woman. I sent, cape cod jewelry, and a picture book.</p>

19

<p>Somemom, I think the dish towel idea is a brilliant one. I’m going to remember that.</p>

20

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<p>Those aren’t local or artisinal chocolatiers. Hershey is pure schlock. There are many US artisinal chocolatiers whose chocolates and truffles compare favorably to European products. Such things are difficult to carry on long trips, though. Real maple syrup is a good thing to bring, and Boston is part of New England, after all.</p>

<p>If you are going to get dishtowels, remember that lobsters belong to Maine! :slight_smile: I think that a Red Sox cap is a good idea. Probably a variety of stuff would be good. Something for everyone in the family.</p>