What is American?

Question

I'm going over to Germany on a foreign exchange program and I would like to get the parents of the kid I am staying with a present.. I want it to be "American" whatever that is.. I mean it is common over there to get someone a gift when you visit and I am staying at there house for three weeks so I think a gift is a good idea LOL

Answer 1

Well....if you wanna make it as tacky as possible, bring a small, novelty American flag. This is a tough question because America is compromised of so many different cultures that it's hard to say what is distinctly American. You could bring them something representing your home city/state or something that symbolizes one of America's major cities...NY for instance. More cheesy stuff...a bald eagle statue. God...I'm all out. Good luck!

Answer 2

I'll tell you what would be cool...A baseball jacket...the kind with the leather sleeves. I wore one of those to Frankfurt, and people were asking where I got it, etc. etc.

Answer 3

America is a mix of many cultures so get them wahtever you want and just say well i found it in america....

Answer 4

American souvenirs

Answer 5

i am a german now living here in the U.S and i do believe your host parents would enjoy something that describes where you are from,something unique to your town,county or homestate,for example,i'm in maryland and i would take along something with crabs and/or local lighthouses on it.Have a great time in germany!!!

Answer 6

I had a friend who got a job in Germany and as a gift his new boss sent him a book about the city he was going to move to, to see what it was like there.  It might be nice to get the parents a book about your home town so they can see/learn about where they're sending their kid and so they know a bit about where you come from.

Answer 7

i suggest a baseball cap or basketball logo or some american food baseballs etc. oh and ill think he'll love a soccer ball knowing the fact that the fifa world cup is hosted in his country rite now. A model Car? flag? i dunno its ur choice

Answer 8

I would get an illustrated Book of the United States with pictures that covers all the  beautiful sites in the US, such as the Niagara Falls, Grand Canyon, The Alamo, Santa Fe, San Diego, Yellowstone Park, Seattle, a little bit of everything from East to West and North to South !!!

Answer 9

Nuclear weapons or other WMDs

Answer 10

Get them an american flag or t-shirt. Anything that has america on it.

Answer 11

Your gift should be for the boy/girl of the family.  Good suggestions from "Blue".  My tip:  bring FLOWERS (but NO roses!) to the family's mother when you arrive.  Always take them out of the paper/foil and give them to her on arrival.

Sounds kinda corny, but it's important.

Answer 12

American clothes and baseball caps are just about as available in Germany as they are in the USA... So unless it pertains to your city or is in some way personalized, it would be a nice gift but not all that "exotic".

I'm German currently living in the USA...

Some "typical American" things that come to mind:

Novelty snowglobes

Novelty mugs

Anything Disney

Personalized license plates

Cowboy hats & those things that are used like a tie

Dreamcatchers, anything originating in Native American cultures

Cajun/Southern/Soul food and BBQs (cookbooks?)

Dr. Pepper & Root Beer

Butterfingers

Tshirts with a message

Maple syrup

Also... Impress them with some German phrases, people there love it when you actually make an effort to learn the language. Have fun! =)

Answer 13

You have a problem - just about everything you buy nowadays is Made in China.  In the State of Washington we have some special stores called "Made in Washington Store".  If your state has that - you could look in there.

Answer 14

baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and the flag....that's American

Answer 15

Hmm...thats a toughie. I sat here for a minute or so and nothing came to me. Maybe a baseball cap or hmm...this is tough! Maybe instead you could just bring some certain foods with you (ones you're allowed to bring...maybe if you're good on the BBQ you could bring some spices, etc) and cook for them while your their. Everyone loves food =)

Answer 16

get them either ;a maple leaf - or beaver  (north american)

                               a statue of liberty or an eagle (United states of North America)

Answer 17

Try giving them a novelty of a city you live near. For example, George Eastman started Kodak's film empire in Rochester, NY, so you could get him a disposable camera.

Otherwise, try like a book or something about the area you live in. If all else fails, use the good ol' American  flag. I have a British boyfriend and I can almost bet that he would secretly love to have a giant one in his bedroom...

Good luck!