Rare in France, Unique and common in the US?

Question

I need to bring gifts to my French host family.

Answer 1

Actually simple things can be nice. Like the popcorn that we can do quickly in the microwave. The starbuck cup to hold your coffee while walking and to keep it warm.

It is very difficult to find something completely "american" that french people cannot find in France. Why not a beautiful book with the nicest landscapes of America ?

Answer 2

Like everyone else has said, this is actually a tougher question than it seems.  Really, the only things I can think of are food related but here they are:

Peanut butter- they don't really have any of this over there, except in specialty stores.  Warning though, your hosts may not like this.  When I went to France, I actually took my own peanut butter, because I knew I couldn't go three months without it, but most of the french people I showed it to thought it was disgusting.  In fact, the younger brother of the girl I lived with would run out of the room whenever I opened it.

Hot dogs- these don't travel well though, so that's kind of out.  But my exchange partner had never had a hot dog until she came here.  Then she was obsessed with them.

And all the things other people suggested are great ideas too.  Anything that is local to your area would thrill them, especially if you come from a well known area like New York or L.A.

Answer 3

Apparently what is rare in France is people who actually answer your question! ;-)

It's a difficult question to answer though for two reasons:

- there are very few things that are found in the US that cannot be found in France;

- the typically American things that cannot be found in France are not really gift-material for a host family you are meeting for the first time and neither are the things that are cheaper in the States (electronics and jeans for instance).

Do not buy DVDs because unless they have a multi-zone DVD player, an American DVD will not play on their machine.

If I were you I would buy something local, a specialty of the state you are from so they get to know more about your environment. If you are from a state that has nice native American arts and crafts, you can get that. If you are from a wine-making region, do not be afraid to bring a local wine. I know that France is already a wine country (and American wines are actually cheaper in France than in the US!) but it is still an appropriate gift, because it would be a local specialty, and one that the French always enjoy. If your state or city does not have any specialty that could make a nice gift, how about a beautiful book on it? With nice, large pictures. Or one showing the diversity of American landscapes: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksea...

If you are going soon, it is not too late to get a 2008 wall calendar with beautiful photos of America.

You can also bring a good quality pancake mix with a nice bottle of maple syrup. Also cranberries are not found in Europe, so a jar of cranberry jelly or jam is a nice idea. You could put all 3 in a nice gift basket along with a couple of mugs (the French do not typically drink out of mugs).

If there are kids in the family, they will enjoy a custom/vanity car plate from your state with their name on it: http://www.custom4-u.com/

http://www.customlicenseplates.com/

If you know they are interested in sports, get a jersey or cap from your local baseball or football team (since those sports do not exist in France).

Enjoy your stay in France!