Hi, I have heard that I need to bring gifts for our visits to ancestral villages in Southern Boheima. I don't know what I should bring. I have to do this email on my husbands computer. I have AOL ([email protected]. Please give me many suggestions. Thanks alot. I have enjoyed this web page. Valerie Morris

I would try to relate it to where you live now. Where is that? Perhaps we can help you with some ideas.

Best wishes,

Rex

Oh, Those village people. I was picturing an Indian, a policeman, a cowboy, and a guy in leather roaming around Prague singing "YMCA".

A friend who travels to her family home in Romania shops at TJ Maxx, Burlington Coat Factory etc for tee tops, stockings, underwear for the women and then buys cosmetics, hand cream, hair ornaments on sale at local drug store chains. For the men she gets shirts, t-shirts, socks. She starts shopping well ahead of her trip since she is taking "gifts" to so many people. Most of the mentioned items are available there but they are so expensive the folks can't afford them. It doesn't have to be a big, expensive item .It is something for all the people she expects to see. If she has extra things and if they are not given away she leaves them with her mother. She buys an assortment of sizes, colors . somehow it all works out. She would never go home without a "gift" for everyone. It is expensive but she considers it part of her trip expense.

It is very, very, likely (though not 100% certain) that people in the Czech Republic would be extremely offended were you to take socks bought at an American discount store. Which are probably cheaper at their local Tesco anyway.

While not the richest country in Europe, Czech will be a member of the EU by the time you arrive, and offering the natives trinkets like this would almost certainly be patronisingly crass.

Why do you *need* to take gifts? The answer to that question will tell you what to take.

If you're returning a visit by a twin town, or by distant relatives, and the visitors brought presents to you - like Moravian wine - you should take a corresponding present (Californian wine, or Makers Mark, might be nice).

If you've been told there's near-universal grinding poverty in the villages, it's almost certainly untrue, and I'd first check the evidence. If undoubtedly true, then Gap-style clothes for the children, but still token presents for the adults

If, however, you've just been told that some tokens would be appreciated, then typical local products from where you live, or nice photobooks of your state, would be just fine.

Are you visiting relations? It does not sounfd like it so I would keep it a polite gift i.e. sweets, nice biscuits etc. Socks and underwear are way too personal unless you know the people. They may think you are nuts. I would if you showed up with underpants and toothbrushes it would be perceived as crass as flanneruk mentioned.

Put it this way: if those people were visiting YOU and showed up with socks and underwear what would you be thinking? If they showed up with something somewhat "unique" from where they live I think you'd like it better.
These people are not destitute and whoever told you that you are required to bring gifts while perhaps trying to be helpful, may have very well passed on bogus info.
Again, I'd take something that is a reminder of you and where YOU are from..and you'll both appreciate the feelings such a gift engenders.

Agree with the above posters. I can think of hardly anything you can get in New York and not get just as easily in Prague. I would focus on small hostess type gifts - fancy chocolates or interesting coffee table books on your part of the country. If you know the gifts are for kids you might bring a t-shirt or sweatshirt from a famous university (not bargain stuff from the el cheapo shops though).

There's a big difference between living in Prague and living in a small village. For many people in Eastern Europe, their own capitals are "foreign" and rarely, if ever, visited. The standard of living is often still poor and many people lack basic items. It's certainly not clear what category of relatives Valerie may encounter. If you don't have a close relationship with the relatives, I would avoid items that may be too personal. The following small items were popular with our numerous relatives: soft tip pens, calculators, sports caps, scarves, ties, Barbie dolls, perfume, cosmetics, sweatshirts, candy, gum, cards. Of course, large items and money were most popular!

One thing that might be fun to take to kids and teens and that would be easy to pack would be some of the colorful gel pens and black note pads. They are marginally practical, but might still be perceived as a cool, unusual gift.

For adults, I'd go with some regional food specialty (but check import regs)...for example, pralines from New Orleans, Frango Mints from Chicago.

Ladies might appreciate a nicely scented set of soap and lotion from someplace like Bath & Body Works...it would have a practical use, but the packaging is very pretty, so it would be "gift-y" rather than screaming "I think you need soap!"

How about baseball caps with sports team logos from your hometown/nearest city... When I visit the Cz Rep, I notice that women go crazy at the fragrance counters. You can buy tiny, light, spray bottles (or cans)of flowery/fruity scented body spray, etc. Wrap them in your socks, etc, and then wrap them again in plastic bags. Pack them in the middle of your luggage, for extra padding. Also, I gave my cousin in Bratislava (certainly no country bumpkin) a pin from the US, and she liked it very much. I think many kids there go for anything with American logos. Pens, which were mentioned before, might work as lightweight trinkets. I also brought a bouquet of flowers for my family, when I was invited for dinner. A nice custom, and much appreciated.

Elina mentioned on another post she received a piece of depression glass. Its a very unique gift with a story. Small perfumes caps etc are fine. Maybe a piece of glasswork for the lady of the house. Just because someone is not wlll off does not mean they will not cherish an unusual gift or token from you. You don't want to offend anyones pride.

Well there have been good and bad suggestions so far (socks! I nearly laughed) why not bring toilet paper as well. I'd like to add something and hopefully it will carry some weight as I do live in a small Czech village. Where I live it is, flowers for the lady, sweets for the kids and take the old man for a beer.
You could expand on this with info like, do my relatives in Czech speak or understand English etc. This will greatly increase your choice as I would then include magazines and books as possible gifts. A bottle of inexpensive wine wouldn't go far wrong either. A craft or art item which is identifiable as being from your own land is nice. T-shirts for kids is always a winner. Steer clear of bathroom stuff and toiletries as these are too personal. I wouldn't even offer to buy a meal for anyone other than close family as generosity can be misconstrued as "flaunting". Remember that buying a gift which is obviously expensive is worse than buying nothing.

Jason