What gifts to bring to my German Host Family from USA?

Question

I have a host mom, dad, and 3 host brothers (ages 18, 16, and 11). I also have a host grandmother. I need ideas and quick, i leave in a few weeks! Thanks for the input!

Answer 1

ummm dunno

Answer 2

nothing, anything from america is inferior...

Answer 3

My my I feel old, but I was working on this very same question 21 years ago (ok just call me overthehill). I had two host brothers and a host sister, though. Had to think of that female element too.

First off, I hope you have a good family and you all get along well! Quite honestly, if they are good people, they will be happy with just about anything - it is true that it's the thought that counts.

Try to think of something really local to your area. If you're from New England, say, bring your mom's recipe and the makings for clam chowder. Bring chocolate chips and bake chocolate chip cookies! (Note - you may want to also bring some baking soda, too, it's a little harder to find because they tend to use baking powder). Local baseball team paraphernalia would go well by your brothers, but don't expect the teenagers to wear a baseball hat (they might, but they might not... ). If you're from the west coast, bring things with a Pacific Ocean theme - they will probably never see it, it is half way around the globe. A "coffee table book" with lots of photos of your region would also be a hit with Mutti and Papi and/or Oma.

Hope I've helped --

Also -- viel Spaß und viel Glück!

PS - Speaking of "also" (as in al-zo, German), give yourself a gift - print out "The Awful German Language" by Mark Twain and take it with you. It makes great reading when you feel like you're just never, ever going to learn German.

Answer 4

mom:

inexpensive jewelry

dad:

tee that says USA

bros:

football and candy

grandma:

lotion or an inexpensive tote

Answer 5

Bring them some typical American food that won't die on the plane (i.e. not a hamburger...) this is kind of a hit or miss, but you could try flowers too.

Answer 6

Listen you can have a cute handmade painting of some great places in the US made just for their living room.Its a gift everyone is bound to love.This can be done at http://www.paintyourlife.com  for a reasonable fee and according to your specifications! They also make wonderful photo prints on canvas in various designs. Check it out at http://www.photo-print-on-canvas.com

Answer 7

give them candy

Answer 8

A Luger.

Answer 9

Tough one since they have everything we have...

Maybe like a cool t-shirt or shirt for the dad from a sports team.

For the mom something like bath salts or lotion. For the brothers t-shirts from Abercrombie or Gap... they love American brands in other countries! For the grandmother maybe same things lotion or bath salts or maybe some nice chocolates from Godiva...

Just my .02

Answer 10

America are amazed by pretty much anything diffrent from the american culture wich means. Brig them something that is very true to the german culture. Except the flag because everyone knows what a german flag is.

Answer 11

Think about things that are typically American, that they probably don't have over there. The trouble is, almost everything American is really Chinese.

You'll love it! Have fun, and be clean!!! :-)