What is a perfect gift for my French host family?

Question

I know you are supposed to bring a 'typically american item' but I can't think of much, or else I assume that they have it already. And I am scared to bring t-shirts because I don't know their sizes. Does anyone know of an American candy or anything else that they don't have in France but would love if I brought it?

Answer 1

A large jar or can of nuts (macademias, cashews, etc.).  Nuts in France are VERY expensive and they are sold in small packs, the size of playing cards.  Your French family will think that you spent a fortune on them if you bring them a large jar of nuts.  You could also bring some chocolate syrup and make hot fudge sundaes for them.  It would be a typical American treat that they'd love.  Believe it or not, you cannot get chocolate syrup (Smuckers, Hershey's or any other kind) in French supermarkets.

Answer 2

Bring a bottle of good bourbon. No kidding really.

Answer 3

Your French host family might appreciate a regional favorite.  Where do you live?  For example, you could give pretzels, Hersheys, or Peeps if you are from eastern Pennsylvania.  Think of what your region or state is known for and offer the item with an anecdote.

Answer 4

I agree with lingua06437

but DONT BRING SNICKERS OR MARS i beg you, they wont be pleased if you do, i think ^^

those kind of chocolate are almost as know in france as in US so bring something that belong to your province ^^

i dont really think that bourbon would me a good idea since we have so much wine already here xD

good luck~ ^^

Answer 5

I think you can bring them a bottle of a good American wine.

Many French like wine and they will be happy to taste American wine. But you have a risk to hear them saying that it is not so good as french wine.

More easily, you can bring them a whisky bottle or some others alcohols....

Anyway don't bring something about computer or cameras or electonic because the plugs are differents.

About chocolat, I don't think it's a good idea if is very hot and we can find in France many kinds of chocolat from France, Belgium and Swiss.

Answer 6

I agree with the person above me, a scenery and landscape book would be a great idea!! the US territory is huge, i reckon there must be a lot of different landscapes,and a lot of french people don't know everything about your country, it would be great to make them discover something they don't know!

Or bring something typical from where you come from, i'm sure they would be pleased!

But avoid mars and snickers bars, we have them in here ;)

Answer 7

A good  californian wine is a really good idea! Even if we are very chauvisnistic about our wines in France, we are also curious and can appreciate a good wine produced in another country!

I don't think that the chocolat bars would be considered as a good present... but if you can have it packed specially for the trip a cheese cake would also be a nice option!

Answer 8

America is *not* the land of chocolate -- America is the land of chocolate-flavoured wax (with the exception of Scharfenbarger and Ghirardelli.)  France is full of well-renowned, world-calibre chocolates, and taking them a Mars bar would be an insult.

Take something that is indicative of the area you live -- especially if it is not found anywhere else.  A coffee-table book of photographs of your hometown would be fantastic (doesn't matter that it's not in French), as would a  (nice...and tasteful!) souvenir of something notable near where you live.  If the area you live in produces wines, then by all means take them a nice bottle.

You don't have to break the bank, but make sure it's not cheap and plastic.  Your host family is as curious about you and American culture as you are about them and French culture, and will appreciate your gift.

Answer 9

France may be the land of wine, but America is the land of chocolate. Bring them some of the different varieties we have. You'd be surprised at the how the same name candy bar in Europe, is vastly different from ours.

The ones to get are:

Milkyway..... 3 Musketeers.... Snickers..... Mars Bar.  

Currently, I'm in the middle of a candy war with my friends in England. We're having fun sending each other all kinds of candy.

Good luck and have fun.

Answer 10

Mars and Snickers no way !!

I think yiou should bring a typiccal american product, that one cannot find easily in his/her country. I mean, Mars and M&m's are world wide cheap chocolate things...

And you should bring them a "good image" of America. It depends on how old is the host family, if they have kids and so on. Maybe American food could be a good thing, to proof that American also have home made things to eat. I am thinking of cookies, just like Oreos, but i am not so sure that it it american, in France everybody does not know it, and it is a little bit expensive. And bring American beer's cans ! We have good French wine, but no good french Beer ;) And the whole family can enjoy that kind of present !

good luck !

c ya

Answer 11

Bring something unique to your State or region of the US.  The French love regional items, they love knowing the history or charicteristics of something because of the unique charicteristics about where it is from.  They'll love that you thought to give them such a detailed, meaningful gift.

So if you are from the New England, maybe consider maple syrup, something with blueberries or a book with autumn foliage.  If you are from the southwest, maybe some salsa, a book about missions or joshua trees or something like that.  If you are from the northwest, maybe some salman, some apples or a picture book of the trees out there.  If you are from the midwest maybe some bbq sauce, a book about the plains or some kind agricultural product unique to your area.

Idealy, try and make it unique to your State.

Answer 12

I suggest a book full of american unusual sceneries and landscapes,

and also including  New York , New Orleans etc......!

Answer 13

Oreo cookies and reeses pieces are my standard.  They usually love them, and donot havethem in france.  Taco spices and shells can be a fun thing tobring and then show them how to use.  And I alwayslove to bring a can of ez cheese, just as a fun joke for them to see.  (usually they are horrified, but it is a great laugh, especially when theysee what color it is.)  Mostof the French would love a typically cheesytourist item from your hometown as well.. ( a shot glass, a bell, or a keychain.)  Just look around at the airport shops on your way out of town.