What are some popular American items that you cannot get in France?

Question

I'm going to visit my host family from, whom I lived with for 6 weeks in 1990, for 3 days this Sept. What are some American things I bring them? The host parents are still living (in mid-60's), my sister is 35, married with 3 boys ages 8, 5, and newborn?

Any and all suggestions welcome!

Answer 1

Mountain Dew and bad coffee !!!!

Answer 2

Peanut Butter is always a hit...especially with the kids! Also baseballs or any little fun toys (especially some with electronics in them) that you could pick up at a wal-mart

Answer 3

I'm French and i used to live in the US. I was often sending packages to my nephews...  and when i came back i brought lots of stuff...

what they liked, it was the marshmalow eggs bought in the dollar shops. (since I was not very wealthy, I only went in this kind of stores, also in target ans wall mart...)

I brought back a baseball set, somme funny hats.

We now have oreos in france, but PB is a good idea. I also miss the M&M's, but those with the peanut butter, we have the regular ones...

I also loved the marshmallow cream, to put in hot chocolats... mmMMM!!!!

then you can buy tshirts from the city you come from, or pens or stickers... the children will be proud to wear them at school in september ! or a fairy tail book (if there is a girl), since they now the story in french, it can be a good way too read english... or a book of american animals... those thant we don't have in france...

for the grand parents, un cd of country music or jazz should be good...

Answer 4

Chips Ahoy cookies, Oreos, Levi jeans, anything from Abercrombie and Firtch, etc.

Another big thing is electronics -- since the Euro is so favorable, I have had many requests from French friends to send them digital cameras, i-pods... pretty much anything they can just buy a plug for and use.

For the kids -- typical American toys... anything with cowboys, cars, or disney characters...

HAVE FUN!

Answer 5

I was thinking for the 8 & 5 year old boys.. perhaps some American "Hot Wheels" toy cars.  They would be predominantly American cars and what boys don't love little cars?  The baby you could just bring Osh Gosh overalls in denim.  Levis are very popular! Although getting the right size might be difficult!

I've always given my exchange students pictorial books on the US as a momento of their trip here.  Perhaps a beautiful calendar of the US for 2009?  It would be different because it's in English & a bit of a novelty.  

Maybe a CD of some nice American jazz or classical music for the host parents.

Answer 6

Name brand things such as Tommy hilfiger and Gap stuff if really expensive over there.  People are also really facinated by native american art and jewlry as well as most western stuff.

Answer 7

Statue of Liberty

Answer 8

I'm from California so I tend to get gifts from the West Coast not available in France. I live in France so I try to buy gifts for friends and family that they can't buy here.

For the kids, I would get T or sweatshirts with some American team on them. Try to get ones with the name of the city written out, not just the team. For babies, I buy clothes from Gymboree a lot, or one of the major department stores.

French baby clothes are cute but not very practical so I look for clothes that have matching panties, for girls, and/or snapable crotches for both sexes. I know that sounds amusing but for a mom, it's very useful! French baby clothes always ride up and the shirts pop out. Don't buy Gap because they have that in France but I often get nice clothes as gifts cheap places like Penny's or Target. I just bought a gorgeous outfit for a newborn in Paris at Nordstroms.

Peanut butter, by the way, is now available in France so don't bother. As a pp said, it's not really understood or even liked here so that's a risk.

I often give coffee table books of San Francisco but that's kind of a no-brainer for me. That's not an option of you're from a lesser known area of the States but a great idea if your region is a popular tourist destination.

Kitchen stuff can make good gifts. I have trouble finding vegetable peelers in France so I bring some over for gifts, nice ones with swivel heads. Wine stoppers, fancy tea infusers, quirky aprons, pot holders, nut crackers, etc. Go to Crate & Barrel or similar and get nice, small, novelty items that they can use or not. If it's a clever design, even better...

One total hit is to bring chocolate chips and make them while you're over there. The French love chocolate chip cookies and at every school function, I step up to the plate. They even ask me "Do you have those cookies with the chocolate pieces again?" Bring pecans if you want to add them as they are expensive and hard to find in France. Walnuts are available but not pecans.

I used to bring Macademia nuts but those are more common. If you go for this, they are appreciated but buy fancy ones, maybe chocolate covered and/or in nice packaging. Make sure they're from Hawaii (many are from N.Z. these days, as are those found in Europe).

C&H brown sugar is not available here. The brown sugar is more common but from elsewhere and they have very different tastes. If you don't have C&H brand where you live, make sure it's pure cane sugar from Hawaii.

See's candies are a brand sold on the West Coast which has been a hit in France. Bringing chocolate to France is a bit like taking coal to Newcastle but seriously, their filled chocolates are very good and not like anything found in France. They also have other novelty goodies like peanut brittle you can offer and see if they like. The lollypops are a hit with kids.

Jelly Bellies are from California originally (I went to school with one of the founder's daughters) but can be found everywhere in the U.S. now. They are sold in France but I've only seen them in kosher stores. I buy the big package of small packets, which I use for birthday parties, etc. French children also love Reeces peanut butter cups. I buy the bags of the small ones. Tootsie rolls get mixed reactions but novelty points.

Cranberry juice is now sold in France but other cranberry items aren't. Same thing with maple syrup. Other maple syrup products aren't available.

Hope that gives you something to work with!

Answer 9

Oreo cookies are probably the most frequently mentioned items not available in France.  Peanut butter is taking a chance-- I have seen French ppl eat pb for the first time.  Some say it's great.  Others had the look of sheer horror on their faces.  Smucker's hot fudge sauce (or any other brand) are not available either.  I am sure that your host family will love hot fudge sundaes.  Cashew nuts are available in France, but they are very expensive and sold in boxes the size of cigarette packs (as you probably know).  If you get them a large can or jar, they'll love'em and they will think that you've spent a fortune on them.  Action figures would be great for the 5 and the 8 y.o.  They can be found in France but at double the price as in the US.  You might ask mom and dad what kind they like (Batman? Star Wars?)So, you do have a lot of choices. Bon voyage!