Housewarming gifts
 

I am going to be traveling to Spain on an exchange trip, what should I bring as a housewarming gift to my host family?

Where are you from? It's always nice to take something from your home country.

When I was an exchange student (AFS Spain Year Program 98-99), I took:
1 beautifully illustrated book on Texas (I am from Dallas)
a Lisa Frank writing set (my host sister was 9)
a TI scientific calculator with instruction manual in Spanish (I lived by the TI plant and my host dad is a mathematician at the University)
a set of hot pads and dish towels for my host mom

Those all went over really well and they are all still in use aside from the Lisa Frank things (my little host sister is now 16 and has gone Goth. . . black everything!).

If you want to do something general for the family, a book with little text is great. Kitchen utensils from Williams Sonoma are really nice. If you yourself like to cook, take a cookbook of typical recipes (or a bunch of those your mom makes), measuring spoons and measuring cups, and cook for them. Speaking of which, when I was visiting a few months ago I took them Shake 'n' pour pancake mix and some maple syrup. They loved it and we made pancakes twice!

Claire

Some US Dollars (no need to frame) lol

I am traveling to Barcelona with friends of the family, I'm afraid that they will already know about my howetown (the friends and i live in the same town)...any suggestions for me...?

If they already know about your home town, then just take them something that they will appreciate. The US has a lot of sets (like the aforementioned dishtowels), or you could go for something that represents food from where you are from. In Barcelona, almost everything is available, but that does not mean that Spaniards buy it. If you go to a place like the DeliShop (excellent foreign foods store on Mallorca street between Rambla de Catalunya and Balmes. . . across the street from the Cerveseria Catalana, which has excellent tapas), you can get almost anything American, but you don't see a lot of Spaniards there. They do not know how to prepare a lot of it. Show them!

If they are familiar with the US, ask them what they want you to bring. Importing for friends is often much appreciated.

Does anyone know if dark chocolate covered almonds exist in Italy or France? We just found them and they are delicious! From a CA company, now available here in NY! The packaging is not that big so they'd be perfect for gifts.

Yes chocolate almonds exist in Europe, in fact they have an amazing selection of candied and silvered almonds there.But, that does not mean yours would not be welcome.
A hostess gift( its not a housewarming gift, thats a gift you give to someone who has just moved into a new home) can be anything,, flowers are even nice( and you won't have to pack them) . Good quality chocolates are always nice, even it there is chocolate there, its not like the average family goes out and buys 30 dollar boxes of chocolates for themselves, so its nice if you do.
Something your hometown is famous for,, our region is famous for smoked salmon so I bring that ( they have these really nice sealed packages ,packed in Haida ( First Nations) carved wooden boxes.

Bozama, your smoked salmon sounded wonderful but living on Long Island we do not have salmon in our waters. You must be from Alaska!! I make Beach Plum jam, from our lovely beaches, and would love to bring this but do not know if it is allowed. Contacted the TSA or whatever the initials are for the Custom Department and my e-mail was answered with the fact I had to go to another web site and same information was on it with no one to contact.

My jam safely made it to Italy when I gave my cousins two jars last September when they came for a visit. Should I assume I can get out of the USA also bringing into Italy? It will be packed in my luggage. I may also bring the the chocolate covered almonds, as you say they may not buy this for themselves and it will be a nice treat, also packed into luggage.

Your jam sounds like a great idea, and you are absolutely allowed to bring it into a foriegn country , as long as it is in checked bags, not carry on..
It is not considered a fresh fruit but a processed food made from fruit, and as a " liquid" cannot be on carry on, but can be packed. Just make sure it is well wrapped.

I think it is an ideal gift, homemade from local produce,, it would be welcomed anywhere.

PS Not from Alaska, west coast Canada, Vancouver Island, home of the " Salmon Fishing Capital of the World" ( or so we advertise,, LOL )

Yet so close to Alaska!!! We have been to your island and it is a paradise! Two summers ago we took a cruise to Alaska starting from Vancouver. That area was so clean and pretty. You live in a lovely area!

Thank you for your sound advise on my beach plum jam. I will take it and hope that they enjoy it!

Believe it or not, common grocery products are always a hit; Nachos Salsa, barbecue sauce, Orville R Popcorn, pancake Mix & maple Syrup, A can of salty mixed nuts, jams & jellies, if they have a pet do take some silly pet toy. I send a Polish friend a catnip toy for her cat and apparently the whole building came to see her cat rolling-polling playing with the toy. She had no idea what catnip was....

What you bring really depends on where you are going to be based, in a city a lot of things previously mentioned are very easily available. Most Spanish are conservative eaters.
Living in Spain myself I would suggest you think outside the box. We once had a Canadian bring some wine that is made from grapes that are left frozen on the vines. Very nice, however I now have found there is a similar product here in Spain too.