Gifts for the French
 

I read somewhere that it is a neat idea to provide a small American type gift to people who you may meet during your stay in France, especially in the Normandy region. Good idea? Any suggestions?

A couple of American cigarettes or a piece of chocolate is always greatly appreciated.

Hey rc,

The devil made me do it.

You don't give gifts to strangers.

If your hosts at a B&B have been particularly helpful, you can give them some flowers just before you leave.

((I))

A few times I have sent my hosts a postcard with a nice picture of my home city and a thank-you note. I think they appreciate that as much as anything.

Bourbon. A great many French like bourbon... a small bottle of Maker's Mark?

Do you mean just random people you may strike up a conversation with during your travels? Or hotel or B&B owners? And why "especially in the Normandy region"? Because of the Americans' involvement in WWII there?

It's a quaint notion, but I don't think you need to act on it, unless random acts of kindness are part of your usual style, and even then the French probably won't know what to make of it. If you run into someone who particularly captivates you and you feel the urge to splurge, take them to a café and buy them a coffee. If a hotel or B&B owner or restaurant worker or someone is especially kind to you, send flowers or a postcard, as others have suggested, after you leave.

I don't think this is something you need to plan for ahead of time.

Well duh! I didn't read the original post correctly. I thought you were staying at a home in Normandy...

The folks in Normandy received the most precious gift from Americans, Brits, Canadians, and Polish and Free French forces in the summer of 1944.
Here's what the editor in chief of "Stars and Stripes" wrote on the road to Avranches on Aug. 2,1944 (retranslated from French to English): "We passed down streets and roads literally paved with flowers, through crowds of French people clasping our hands and hugging our necks, and we returned the welcome, shaking hands to the limit of endurance, and were offered so much wine that we wondered how there could be any left in this astounding land."
All the rest is a postcript, and a pleasant one indeed. In Normandy, many kindnesses still exchanged. And nothing forgotten.

Dave

I left a thank you note and also a nice Calendar from Texas to my CT landlord.
I stayed there for 8 days,but of course, I felt like a knew her for a longtime, we sent many e-mails to each other prior my coming to CT.
I was surprised to find a nice bottle of Limoncello with a nice note from her.
Otherwise, I never brings gifts to a hotel or a B&B owner.

Flowers are universally appreciated. They are a true gift in that they are not "useful", "practical"..

When French fiends sent a gift to our New York City home they sent flowers.

Anthony

I don't understand what this is about, but it sounds like when people give trinkets and candy to kids in third world countries on the street. I don't like that whole thing nor what it presents as an image of the American.

YOu wouldn't give gifts to people you meet on the street or in a cafe for a few minutes, and you aren't an American ambassador, just a tourist on vacation. No European gives me gifts whom I run across in the city casually where I live, and I do from time to time because there are a lot of tourists here (Wash DC).

I think that is a very thoughtful idea. A postcard of your town would be a nice idea. You could even make them on your computer with your own photos. You could put your name and email on there and instantly have a pen pal!
I think people are too unfriendly in this world and it's nice to see someone like you who wants to meet people.
When we lived in France, we went to a Bible education convention in Paris, where 110,000 people from 23 countries were attending the 3 days there. EVERYONE brought little souvenirs of their home country. It was so fun! I have a whole bag of things that I will treasure for years.
I received homemade type postcards of their town/village/country, store bought postcards, little trinkets specific to their country, pictures, even a floppy disk of scenery of one country. Some Japanese made us an origami thing right in front of us and gave it to us. People from Canada brought little tiny bottles of maple syrup. Pencils with the city name, etc, etc, etc, etc.
It was amazing what doors a little kindness will open.
And that is NOT like handing out candy to 3rd world children. Sheesh.

Forgot to add: After that convention, I have taken the tradition now of doing that when we go places. I have not had one complaint.

A convention where everyone has a common purpose and interest is one thing; a random tourist quite another.

I can imagine a lot of gifts/trinkets going into attics and trash cans.

Christina,
Quite honestly I'm not really concerned about whether you like it or not. If I ever post another message, do me a favor. Don't reply. I'm not interested in your miserable opinion. Thank you to everyone else. Dave in Paris, I couldn't agree with you more. This is the first time for my family traveling in Europe, and I had done a good deal of reading about France. I know somewhere I had read about a small gift that someone had given to the owner of the B&B where they had stayed. Thought it sounded like a nice idea.

rclark,

If you happen to go to Honfleur, Liliane Giaglis has a wonderful bed and breakfast there in the historic district, www.giaglis.com, or Google on Giaglis and Honfleur if that doesn't work. We were there on the D-Day anniversary last year, at a gathering of guests, friends and acquaintances -- French, British and Americans -- and Liliane's husband, Antoine, gave a very gracious speech about about how much the Europe of today owes to the events of 1944-1945. Just be yourself, and have a wonderful time in France!

What trinkets should I hand out to B+B owners in California?

Beads? Wampum? Tobacco?

The key is the sentiment. If it's true, it won't be misunderstood. Sophisticates be damned! Trinkets? No one is proposing to seize any land.

Rclark...

sorry for the rude and condescending responses that you got from a few of the regulars here. they are americans but they are ashamed of regular americans who go to europe and do something that they consider to be goofy. they are constantly trying to put people in their place and act like they own europe because they have been there a few times or own a house there or whatever.

Speaking from the other side of the pond, I can assure you that we are much more relaxed over here. You should be yourself when you come here and not let these people try to teach you how you should act when you visit europe.

hi there !
I'm French , not from Normandy ? so I'll put in a word about it:we all love presents , of course , but some things we enjoy more:to help you enjoy your stay , share a moment like buy a coffee or "une tournée" of white or red wine at the local pub , or a beer....no tobacco , people here smoke less and less!
If the people you want to thank for their hospitality have children or grandchildren , candy from the local bakery will win their heart!
And the postcard when you get back home will always be appreciated , of course , and if you stop by next year , it'll probably still be on the wall behind the bar!
Not only Normandy folks but every French had the gift of a lifetime , what am I saying , of centuries , in 1944.
Whenever we go there for a day with my 83 years old granddad , we don't need to speak too much , he remembers , and I look at his face.