Hello. We are leaving for Italy on Thursday and will meet up w/ long lost family members that none of us have ever met. We were told that we should bring stuff or a gift to them, but we don't know what. Any suggestions?????????? <BR>Thanks

Make a scrapbook of your family! Do you have time to do that before Thursday? Or maybe just a nicely framed photograph of your family. Of course, there's always food items and things like that. Or if you are from a major city, a nice book about the city you are from would be nice. I hope that this at least gets you thinking about some ideas... Have fun in Italy!!!

I like the idea of a scrapbook, but include maybe regional specialties from your home area?

we recently visited relatives in italy...we brought regional foods. i.e. m&m's, hershey bars, pumpkin butter from cape cod, canned clam chowder. one of the younger girls loves american pancakes and syrup-didn't occur to me to bring a box of bisquick and aunt jemima, but i will next time!

Good ideas going here, but just be careful of the bisquick. It depends on where in Italy you are going, as we can buy bisquick in many stores. <BR>I never really saw it in the south, but have seen it all over the north. <BR>The syrup is good, as we can get syrup also, but not the brands we like at home in the US. Cities like Rome and Milan have special stores where you can get just about anything, however. <BR>

micia, <BR>we were in amalfi-that explains why it was a big deal i guess! might be helpful if you let maria know some things that you wish you could get from the states. <BR>

you are right, I doubt you can find it in Amalfi. <BR>It will be hard to find anyplace south of Rome. <BR>

Any other suggestions? <BR> <BR>If you're looking for baking things, try chocolate chips, confectioner's sugar, and corn syrup.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions. I will forward them along to my mother-in-law

Why don't you call them and ask what they want. Bringing pictures of your family is a good idea, but I am not so sure about bringing food to Italians. I only know Italinas who have lived in Northern Europe and they usually want sausages or black bread. The same with Europeans living in the US: dark bread sausages, cheese and sometimes queer herbs.

Please do not take this the wrong way, but I disagree with the idea of a scrapbook & here's why. I, too, had gone to the trouble to make a scrapbook w/ photos from home & work in it, just to give an idea of my life to my "never before met" relatives. Someone suggested that they might take this the wrong way. That they might think I was bragging about my house, my yard, etc. It really depends on the type of people they are and you are. I don't brag at all, and whether they had money meant nothing to me. I was just thrilled to meet them. After I met them, I was really glad I left the scrapbook at home. I think they were already intimidated by meeting the "American" and actually, I am better off financially than they are. Like I said, it didn't matter one bit to me, but I would never have wanted to do anything to make them feel inferior! <BR>So I might suggest other gifts, and after you've visited there, and get a good feeling for things, then you can send them the scrapbook if you so desire. Other ideas I had were small candles and candle holders, potpourri packets, picture frames and candy, Jack Daniels, a doll for a child, a calendar for 2002 with scenes of your state, etc. <BR>I found I had no room to pack half this stuff, left most of it at home and carried only essential gifts. When I was there, I bought a couple of last minute gifts. I hope this helps. <BR>

I just read my response and realized some of you sensitive types may have taken my comment the wrong way, about meeting the American, like *I* think that's a coup! I don't think it's a big deal, but apparently, they did. There were lots of comments about it, like I was special just for the fact that I am American, not because I am special just 'cos I'm me! LOL.

Definitely Vermont made maple syrup. Consider buying dried cranberries, since they are indigenous to the US. <BR> <BR>Instead of lugging a scrap book, how about just some loose photographs?

I disagree about not taking scrapbooks, I have relatives in Australia, some I have never met and its interesting , even if they have a swimming pool etc. Also pictures of the place you live,where you work, animals, your house inside etc. We are not so touchy, and the times when Europeans thought, that all Americans were far richer are gone. We travel a lot too, probably more than you. Our holidays are longer.

Years ago, on our first visit to relatives in Italy, I brought a small photo album of our family with me to give to my Italian relatives. They loved it! I noted the names of relatives and where and when the picture was taken. They especially enjoyed pictures of us at holidays and other celebrations. They asked me to give them updated pictures when we went this past summer. I would imagine, Maria, that there are other relatives they have not or may never meet but would like to see in photos. Also, you may keep in touch after your visit and this would be a great little reference book for them.

This question is a popular one on this forum and if you browse back you'll find tons of great suggestions. Some of the things I have suggested and also seen suggested are: a basket/gift box with American brand products could be quite an ice-breaker. Starbucks coffee, nachos, salsa, Cape Cod toffee (sp?), Orville R. popcorn, peanut butter, cranberry/strawberry/rasperry preserves. Why don't you bring maple syrup from Vermont, a jar of cranberry preserves from Massachussetts, a jar of aplesauce (best if homemade with NY apples!; I'll send you my recipe if you need it!), Aunt Jemmina buttermilk pancake mix and cook them breakfast one morning? What about a calendar with pictures of your town, a framed small picture of your family in a popular local spot in your town (church/school/park)?, a little toy for their pet (if they have one). A craft from local craftspeople, CD's or computer games for the youngster. Please post back and let us know how it goes

maria-those are great ideas, you articulated well what i think a lot of us were thinking of-the salsa/nachos, maple syrup, cranberries, etc. i do think some pix of family members are a good idea. <BR> <BR>as for the scrapbook others suggested-could be a bit much, but i do think various loose photos are nice.