Help!!!English present idears for a french boy?

Question

Has anybody got any idears for a present for a french 16 year old exchange boy to england.As he has bought some very exspensive flowers and some food from france.ANY good idears for presents maby to remember england by!! Please help

Answer 1

would help to know where exactly u r so u can get something traditional from your area

Answer 2

Ah my area of expertise!

My boyfriend (who is french but not 16) is impossible to get presents for, and I have a lot of experience with exchange students.

Firstly, dont only get for the boy, get for the parents, english tea, but remember the french do not drink milk in tea. Some short bread, and some english cheeses. DO NOT get chocolates, because ours are poor quality compared to theirs. English soaps are great too.

For the boy if he has come around already to yours, get something to remind him of his stay!

Answer 3

Try one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bridge-London-Pu...

I think they do similar puzzles of Big Ben and St Pauls cathedral but you'd have to have a closer look on the net to find them.

Answer 4

If the presents are for his parents, think about something typically British.

Here are some of the things that we have sent back to French families:

Good pieces of china from a quality manufacturer such as Wedgewood/ Minton/ Royal Worcester. They need not be large or expensive. Some outlets like TK Maxx are selling some at very reduced prices.

Piece  of good quality Scottish crystal (ditto).

Bottle of whisky in sealed box for Dad. (Not for the boy: he is under age)

Norfolk lavender cologne or box of assorted toileteries for Mum. (Look at National Trust shops for alternatives but not at Body shop because they have shops all over France)

Packs of Scottish smoked salmon.

Luxury shortbread and boxes of luxury fudge.

Model of typically English building (We sent a model of Kentish oast houses and that family was over the moon and still display it on their dresser 20 years later.)

Luxury Chocolates from Thorntons or one of the English hand -made chocolate companies.(Quality chocolates are very pricey in France, but they can get Cadbury's in any supermarché and don't rate industrial chocolate highly).

Good quality or witty mugs (They drink their coffee out of coffee cups so they are a novelty) (I bought these and filled them with Thornton truffles myself , then wrapped them in cellophane and tied this into a flower at the top with pretty ribbons).

Luxury (metal) boxes of tea such as Earl Grey or Lady Grey(better ask the boy if his mother is likely to enjoy this. It is not everybody's cup of tea...)

Waitrose/ John Lewis sell rarer British cheeses, but even English cheddar is very rare in France.

Lemon curd and marmalade are English specialities that are also appreciated because they do not have them in France.

If you have a shop that sells locally hand crafted goods, we sent a stuffed clown cushion one year and  a beautiful rag doll another that both were a huge success with younger sibblings.

One mother was pregnant and I sent a lovely patchwork quilt for the expected baby.

A British Teddy for a smaller sibbling.

I hope this has inspired you. If I think of anything else I will add it to my list later.

PS. For the boy himself, be up front, tell him you would like to give him a souvenir and ask if there is a DVD or a CD he would like or if something has taken his fancy. Boys that age like quirky T-shirts too. He might want a book in English like "Harry Potter" or a cartoon-strip album. The French love those.