My son will be participating in a high school exchange program from the US to Australia. He will be staying with a family for three weeks and should bring some thank you gifts. Do you have any suggestions as to what might be welcomed? (We live in California, if that helps.) Thanks!

I always appreciate recipe books from local restaurants and 'coffee table/pictorials' from the visitor's area.

My German exchange student gave me 1 or 2 books on the city she lives. ie a pictorial book as Bokhara suggested. It's probably the wrong time of year, but a pictorial calendar is a similar idea.

A US product. I would suggest something like chocolate or locally made candies, but I personally think Hersheys is horrid.

Maybe a locally made craft. My German family gave me a leather pencil case which was a common thing over there but not here.

My friends from Florida sent me a parcel of things which were lovely - they included, three different flavours of ice tea mix ( we do not have much of that here ) two bottles of those chopped up pickles which you put on hot-dogs and which I just love ( so his new friends could eat an American style hot dog ) some lovely biscuits only made in Florida, a cute dog toy made with a Florida theme, some hot mexican relish etc. Tea-towels with a Californian theme would be nice and are always useful or oven gloves. My Californian friends gave us a FBI cap ( one of them was an FBI agent) and a cup with FBI on it.

Hi KTravel!

Gee, I love your name cuz it's an abbreviated form of my agency name!

I love taking "nifty gifties" when I travel. I'm always looking for small things, and things that pack flat! I'm in CA too (Menlo Park), and I know that people love things from your local area.

Walgreen's and Long's are a great source for keychains, dish towels; pot holders.

Chocolate - those Ghiradelli Squares are great for taking up very little room. (he can always buy a cute bag or something to put them in when he's there.)

A sourdough starter kit packet; Hidden Valley Ranch dressing packet, or even a small packet of coffee.

Hope this is helpful!

Regards

Melodie
Certified Aussie Specialist

If wine isn't too cumbersome to carry, maybe a nice Californian wine for the parents. I know that's what I'd like!

We recently took Frank Lloyd Wright notecards and coasters as a thank you gift for a family in Sydney. You can buy them on-line at

https://giftshop.mononaterrace.com/s...t.php?deptid=2

Sour-dough kit would not go through Customs as its not processed food.

I'm with Susan, one bottle of good wine from California shouldn't be too cumbersome.

Great ideas. See's Candy is also yummy and unique.

Just make sure that your son declares all food items (including commercially packaged stuff) on his immigration form. There are really strict fines. Don't bring any seeds etc.

We've had friends bring in crackers and been totally surprised to have them confiscated and be threatened with fines.

Also if he is under 18, he can't bring in wine.

Thank you all for your great suggestions. Sadly, wine won't work as my son is under 18. I think, however, I'm on the right track now with gifts. I was feeling a bit challenged since I've never been to Australia and was trying to figure out what might be particularly welcomed.
Muchas gracias!

Hi KTtravel,
I don't think Australians differ too much from anyone else in this area, so whatever you'd welcome as a gift, your son's hosts probably would, too.

Just be very careful with food stuffs and anything made from animal products. Our quarantine rules are HARSH. Declare everything food related, better to be safe than sorry. Plastic sealed biscuits, chocolates etc are fine but nothing fresh (as if you would) nothing with seeds and also honey is a no no.

Schnauzer

On the other hand we've brought tea, coffee, spices and confectionary back to Australia without a problem - other than the Chinese moon cakes, which were confiscated because they contained egg.

The important thing is to declare any food. Most are fine, but if you don't declare it, the penalties can be high.

Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions. After reading the quarantine rules, I decided to skip anything food related just to play it safe. I figured my son might forget how important it was to declare food after the killer flight. I also decided not to send anything breakable.

I was able to find a nice "coffee table" book with pictures of North America, a not-too-tacky beach bag with an embroidery of the Golden Gate Bridge, several San Francisco Giants hats and a couple of foam footballs with my son's school logo.

My son left last night and I miss him already. It's the first time either of our children have been out of the country without us. I know he'll have an incredible experience, but, my goodness, the house is quiet!

Sounds like your gifts are perfect.

KTravel I know how you feel. My daughter spent 5 months in Toronto when she was 14 - she stayed with my brother and family so that wasn't a worry, but I felt like I had lost a part of me. Next year she is thinking about a gap year and while we fully support her, I will really miss her.

Hi KTravel. What city has your son gone to and do they have any small trips planned elsewhere?

My German exchange friend came for 6 weeks to Adelaide. They also visited Kangaroo Island and took a bus trip up through the Flinders Ranges and Cooper Pedy to Alice Springs and Uluru.

Thank you for your support, Sarvowinner. We've gotten some short emails from him and it sounds like he's having a great time.

speckles, my son is staying in Sydney but I think he will be able to take some short trips to close by areas. Unfortunately, he won't have the time to really explore much of the rest of the country. He'll just have to return someday (hopefully with his parents in tow!)