What gifts to buy for a German teen girl?

Question

I'm going to Germany w/ my family this summer, and we're staying w/ one of my mom's friends, who has a daughter my age (14). I want to bring a gift for her, but I'm not sure what to get. Any ideas? Preferably something that doesn't exist/is hard to get in Germany or something that is classically American.

Answer 1

I have been ask to bring American Indian Jewelry....like the silver/turquoise stuff.......like a necklace or belt with Navajo Indian belt buckle.........also an Indian leather jacket.....!

don't ever bring any chocolate, coffee, candy etc....because that goes right out of the window!!

Answer 2

puma shoes!

they cost an arm and a leg over here.  Buy some off the wall color, she will love it.

Answer 3

see if she likes tees(buy a shirt that says i like wiener dogs or i love cali). I think she would like tat cuz she can brag 2 her friends and be like"guess wat my friend form THE USA gave me a t-shirt and like its like a one of a kind"well  she might say something like tat.but just try 2 give her something u would like

              

depending if she speaks like regular german and if u get her a shirt say wie findest du das hemd.and if she says ich finde es sehr schick then u did a good job but if she says ich finde es sehr scheuBlich then u kinda screwed up but u probably wont.

                

o and u can awlays go shopping with her and if u find something tat she likes tell her not to buy it and sneak bac and buy her it and surpise her

Answer 4

when i came from the u.s. to live with a german host family i had the same problem, but i bought my host sister a photoalbum which we filled with pictures of us when i was there. she loved it and gave me one in exchange when i left, its something we bond with.

Answer 5

As Binie said, you can get basically anything these days over the internet.

All basic American stuff can be bought in every supermarket: cookies, brownies, marshmallows, peanut butter, Canadian maple syrup, etc.

JellyBeans might be an option - they look awfully artificial and American - but even they can be found at some German department stores.

DON'T bring DVDs or VHS tapes, because of the format differences.

I see two possiblitites:

apparently, Yankee Candles are rather popular with some people of the female persuasion.

The other thing would be: think of a list of some of your favourite soaps, shower gels, shampoos, etc. - stuff like that - things you really like and think are nice. Then come back here and ask specifically if those products are widely available in Germany. I'm sure some of the girls here know.

PS: don't bring Hershey's chocolate, it tastes like ****   :-)

Answer 6

Although you can buy Levi jeans on the internet, that´s what I would buy for a teenage girl living in Germany.

I´m an American living in Germany with my German husband, and when we visit the States he buys 5 pairs!  If you buy them here, they are about $100!!!  You can find a pair of Levy´s for around $20-25.

Answer 7

Nowadays, you can get everything that is sold here in the US also in Germany. Try to find out from your mothers friend what her daughter is interested in, at least that will give you an idea what she likes and dislikes.

I wouldn't buy her clothing, you never know what she likes or dislikes.

Answer 8

I would go either for the Jeans, as stated before they are very expensive over here, or some CDs.

Maybe the best is to ask about her personal preferences.

Answer 9

Brands are found every wehere dear , you can think of something memorable , you can get her something like a painted picture for both of you , like this picture of the two girls in the garden (in the color pencil section) http://yourartnow.com/gallery.php?osCsid... , also it is not expensive at all and they will do the shipment process, I can see it is a stylish idea

Happy Trip!!

Answer 10

Just giving you another thumbs up on Levis - I have never met a young German who didn't buy some when they were visiting! Apparently prices here just can't be beat :D

CDs are also v. good, but you would need to ask her what she might like, that she can't get over there (the biggest American artists are all available over there). DVDs *are* an option, but only if you ask if they have a region free DVD player or a patch on their computer to view any region DVD.

Back in the Stone Ages when I went to Germany (LOL), all my friends liked Eastpack backpacks... bringing one couldn't hurt. They're very trendy there, for some reason (or WERE... check?). If she's sporty, she may even like a baseball cap -- Red Sox and Yankees caps seemed to be strangely en vogue when I was there last June.

Answer 11

A very nice pair of Levi's jeans. ;)

Answer 12

Nice handmade portraits or paintings made from photos are always a good gift idea, so get some classically American photos. You can find more such ideas at http://www.paintyourlife.com

They make all types of personalized and unique portraits on oil, pencil, charcoal or on canvas.

This company also has a studio for oil paintings reproductions. In case you are looking for an affordable gift urgently, you can take a look at their 'stock on sale'. Visit http://www.oil-paintings-reproductions.c...

Answer 13

That will be very difficult since Globalization of the world. In Germany they have the same stuff as in the US, or almost the same stuff.

My German niece who is 14 came to visit us here in the US last summer and she bought VANS shoes here. They were cheaper she said. Otherwise she did not buy anything else even though she had lots of cash to spend for the summer.

Ask your Mom's friends what they would like. Every family has their preferences. If you have something favorite here in the US then the 14year in Germany might like the same stuff...

Answer 14

How about sportswear from the University of "Wherever you're from"? This kind of thing has always been popular with my friends in France. (But they DID pronounce UCLA "ucklah"!)

Good luck! (OR e-mail & ask her what she'd like from the States--14 year olds often have a lot of ideas!)

Answer 15

I've been thinking about your question for a while (I'm a bit older than 14, actually), and reading the answers so far:

> DON'T bring DVDs or VHS tapes, because of the format differences.

That's true, but music CDs have the same format worldwide, so if you could agree on a common taste of music, maybe she'd appreciate a CD or two from the US. Sometimes the booklets / inlay cards differ from those published in Europe.

Also I could imagine that some movie merchandise (preferrably clothing, like a t-shirt) would be welcome. Of course it should be about a movie you both like.

But, after all, I wouldn't be too afraid about getting the gift right or wrong. You know, it's not important. And there's a thing you should know about Germans, before YOU get disappointed: We do not react so "overjoyously" (so it seems to us) like Americans when we receive a gift. So if she says "thank you" and gives you a smile, that means she really likes it.

Answer 16

I am German and moved to the States, here I can´t stop buying clothes from Hollister, I love that brand and we don´t have it in Germany. Abercombie and Filch is nice but I don´t like it so much, I am not sure if we have it in Germany, I heard it but I have never seen it.

Have fun in Germany I hope you enjoy it!

Answer 17

They don't have A&F or American Eagle, but also Converse shoes are really pricey there and quite popular! Definitely clothing or CDs of popular bands--CDs are pretty pricey by comparison...