good gifts to bring to Japan from Florida?
Jun 15th, 2006, 08:06 PM
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good gifts to bring to Japan from Florida?
I'm taking college students to Japan this summer - we'll be meeting with professionals who will be kind enough to meet with my students (60 minute meetings), and we'll also be doing a homestay. What type of gifts would you recommend, both for me to give to these professionals and for the students to bring for their homestay? Of course we are going to find out what the homestay families are like - if they have kids, we definitely want to bring something for them as well. We'll also be meeting with an atomic bomb survivor and would like to have something special for him/her. I know the advice is to bring something from your local area ... any good ideas about Florida? Thanks for any advice you can provide.
Jun 15th, 2006, 10:31 PM
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This past winter I brought back Florida fridge magnets with me...they were a great hit. Something like this may be good for token gifts. Things with the University logo and name are all good as well.
For the professionals who will devote a lot of time, you need something a bit nicer. Locally produced food products, or gourmet style ones are good. Beware of chocoloate...it's too hot to have chocolates outside for even a minute. Designer handkerchiefs are always a hit. For kids, seashells or stones...we have stone chocolate in Japan so don't bother with that. Kids always like pencils and pens and paper with designs on it. Disney and Universal Studios goods are always a hit.
For the professionals who will devote a lot of time, you need something a bit nicer. Locally produced food products, or gourmet style ones are good. Beware of chocoloate...it's too hot to have chocolates outside for even a minute. Designer handkerchiefs are always a hit. For kids, seashells or stones...we have stone chocolate in Japan so don't bother with that. Kids always like pencils and pens and paper with designs on it. Disney and Universal Studios goods are always a hit.
Jun 16th, 2006, 04:39 AM
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We brought post cards (for a small gift to someone who helped us out) various key chains from Wisconsin.
For our bigger gift we brought a lb. of high quality coffee that is roasted here. I didn't realize what a nice gift it was until I was there and saw how expensive coffee is.
Whiskey is also a good gift.
For our bigger gift we brought a lb. of high quality coffee that is roasted here. I didn't realize what a nice gift it was until I was there and saw how expensive coffee is.
Whiskey is also a good gift.
Jun 17th, 2006, 01:37 AM
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Thanks everyone. I was wondering about Disney World since they've got the Tokyo Disney World ... I was worried they would be like, "Um, you're not the only people with Disney World!" Is that fear misplaced?
Whiskey would be easy to bring but I have this nagging worry that not everyone would drink whiskey ... but then I have to remember, it is Japan.
Someone told us that Japanese children would appreciate stickers. Any reactions to that?
Finally, I saw an "Uncle Sam" beany bear in the post office ... would that be a good gift or is it too "American"?
Thanks for your help again!
Whiskey would be easy to bring but I have this nagging worry that not everyone would drink whiskey ... but then I have to remember, it is Japan.
Someone told us that Japanese children would appreciate stickers. Any reactions to that?
Finally, I saw an "Uncle Sam" beany bear in the post office ... would that be a good gift or is it too "American"?
Thanks for your help again!
Jun 17th, 2006, 02:32 AM
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Disney is popular, very popular. Something exclusive to Florida Disney would be perfect. Stickers are popular, yes, but they are widely available. I know that I would secretly let out a big sigh if someone gave my daughter stickers...she has a drawer overflowing with them. The kids trade them and stick them on their cell phones and notes they write to each other. Just in our house alone we have enough to open shop though. I don't doubt any other household is the same.
Not everyone drinks whiskey. It may be a good gift for a businessman, but not for a woman or family. I tend not to give anything alcohol unless I'm sure it will be liked.
Anything that screams American would probably not be a huge success. Beany Babies are sold here and are not popular.
Not everyone drinks whiskey. It may be a good gift for a businessman, but not for a woman or family. I tend not to give anything alcohol unless I'm sure it will be liked.
Anything that screams American would probably not be a huge success. Beany Babies are sold here and are not popular.
Jun 17th, 2006, 10:11 AM
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Besides small things you can give away to every one, how about a photos books of your area in US? I'm sure the Japanese (especially the college students )are curious to know where the vistors are from. One of them can keep it (maybe the professor, or it may end up at the college's library) for anyone to see. I can imagine your students and the Japanese students can start some coversation over the images of Florida.
Jun 19th, 2006, 04:12 AM
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"uncle sam" is a particularly poor choice. this image is often used overseas when criticising america...for example, in political cartoons. i don't know this as fact in japan but internationally it generally conjures up imperialistic and aggressive images of america. likewise, the image has a strong US military connection and, therefore, is most inappropriate especially considering that the programme includes contact with an atomic bomb survivor.
Jun 19th, 2006, 08:53 AM
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When I visited Florida, I bought a book about the Everglades, with lots of large color photos of the wildlife and plants. People also associate flamingoes with Florida, so something with a flamingo motif might also be fun.
