OK now I have to think what to bring for people I haven't seen for 12 years.
Let say men and women 35 to 65 plus all sges kids. I don't even know some, since my friends got married overseas.
So, what could I grab in our stores like "5 of these and 10 of those" to have it as a souvenirs. I would say $15-20 apiece. Or may be something house warming ? Kids is a different story. I'll think of it myself and there is a post already, but if you know, please, share.

Thanks

how about a bottle of California wine? That would be novel.

Hi again Tat. I posted a siliar question earlier in the year - see if you can dig it up - "Host gifts" might work. What I wound up taking was American candy for the men/children (Goetze's caramel creams - yum! - and they don't melt) and picked up lots of silver-set turquoise earrings and pendants at TJ MAxx/Target for the women. I don't think they see a lot of turquoise in Europe, and the women seemed to genuinely like them. Hope this helps.

Oops - that's "similar." I must learn to edit, I must learn to edit, I must...

Something with your hometown/home state on it.

Picture books showing off the area.

Some food item of the area (Vermont maple syrup, grits, tacos, barbecue sauce, cedar plank cooked salmon, cheese curds, etc.)

Maybe t-shirts from a local college or pro team for the kids.

If you're from Texas, bolo ties, bandanas, cowboy hats, or a set of longhorns.

AHaugeto,
I've just tried but found only stuff FOR Americans. I need FROM Americans.

BTW your idea is very appealing.
Actually everyone's are good.
I would take Californian wine.
Which one would be the best ?
Does it come in plastic bottles

I would hunt for turquoise. And I would take candy.
I am still thinking about something exiting non-dominating American.
Who said illustrated book ? I think this might be just IT ...

Anymore ? Please...

Maybe Californian wine is not such a good idea. We can get lots of Californian wines here and they are even cheaper than in your country because they have to compete with European wines.

European like everything what make them think about cowboys and indians.
Or a souvenir t-hirt with an inscription, a nice cap, an alligator head from Florida, souvernir stuff...
And about food: bull's eye BBQ sauce. The BBQ sauce we can get here is not as tastefull as yours. Or root beer, mountain dew.... unknown here. etc. etc.

I agree with the photo book of one's hometown. I brought one of those for an Italian family and they enjoyed poring over it and it opened up the lines of conversation. Are your friends Americans living overseas? The reason I'm asking is that the photo book idea works best for people who haven't lived in the US--works best for people who would be curious about how the US really looks like. I'm babbling, hope this helps somewhat.

Oh yeah, Jelly Beans are fun for kids too.

I've wondered for a particular type of friend if the US state quarters in a nice holder might be a good idea. Then you have a reason to keep in touch as you send them the rest of the quarters (4 per year) to fill out the collection over the next few years.

O, thanks !
Quarters is a brilliant idea for my frien'd son.
martinewezel,
can you, please, continue ?
It is so cool to have this input from where I am going to What else is unknown ?

I have purchased book already. No, my friends never been in US. I am having kind of hard time finding US in photos
in German, like you know, English/German/French ? BN doesn't have it, who else ?
Thanks

As I am german and do like to drink wine, it's always a pleasure to have tasted new ones - especially when the us and canada have outstanding wines already produced. So I also now a lot of friends in belgium and even in the uk and the netherlands, who enjoy wine tastings a lot - so I think as it is a culturaland social thing it's a worthful gift for everyone.
P.E.: with a nice cheese buffet and french bread etc.

Ok. Here I go again : a nice belt, a country and western CD, a calendar with US National Parks views, old licence plates (very good idea!!!!), Route 66 souvenirs, "eagle" stuff, magnets for on the fridge, stars and stripes..., lays potatoe chips "Memphis" and "Cool California" (if they still exist), shewing gum with cinnamon (strange taste, but super!!!) oh yes, and the root beer i mentioned in a previous post: from A&W!

I know all this because we (we are Belgian) went to Florida last year. I could emumerate a lot more things... your hamburgers,even your coke (believe it our not)tastes a lot better than ours... we'll have to go back very soon!!!

Wine is always nice to receive, but I am sure that real "American" presents would be nicer and more original.

And I forgot this: beef jerky. We can only buy this in specialised "adventure shops" and in very little bags.

I vote for the B-B-Q Sauce. While in Edinburgh a few years ago, we had a fun experience with a cab driver. He wanted to know all about BBQ and how to make a good sauce. Gave him a recipe off the top of my head, and he wrote it down while driving and talking. This fellow was so cheerful, very funny, and it made for one of the best cab rides we had. This was five years ago, so I don't know if it would still make a good gift, but I plan on taking a couple of bottles with me this time.

Hey Tat,

So, it seems that you are really gearing up for your trip. Glad to see your pulling the trigger and getting to Europe.

The following are some of the things that my cousins seem to lean towards whenever they visit us. They usually buy a bunch of them and bring them home.

There are some American perfumes that Germans absolutely love.

Anything having to do with Levi's are excellent choices. Fruit of the Loom T-Shirts, a 3 pack would be just fine.

Anything with American trademarks on it are also big hits.

For the kids, how about a model car to put togehter. Maybe a corvette. An American puzzle might also work.

Sports stuff like t-shirts, ball caps. Stuff like that. Try to avoid anything that will take up alot of room or will break.

Check with the US Mint in your area of the country. You'll be surprised what can be bought from them for $10 or so. Maybe a nice, mint set of American Coins.

I am hearing from Germany that they want nothing to do with the terrorism thing. Nothing to do with 9-11.

Have a great trip. I'll be in the Rothenburg area from the 23rd of May to July 19th. I just hope that the Euro has gotten a bit better between then and now.

Happy travelling.

Thanks so much.
magnets for on the fridge was brilliant and I would never think of it and BBQ sause, really ? I am glad i asked
Please, continue.

Winnepeg,
yeap, I got my tickets and I am gonna be gone April,1 for 12 days ... and it better be good, otherwise I'll hold you, fodorites for everything you have

Thanks for ideas,
I am really ticked but Germand don't want to do with 9-11 ... What is it ?
Like my stupid relatives overseas who said that we deserved it ? I am stunned, really. Should I skip Germany and go to Paris right away

Just me again,

Forgot to mention, flowers. Germans absolutely love flowers. Very affordable comared to American prices for flowers.

I did check the US Mint website for some info. I thought I'd pull up the USMint.com website to see if there is anything available for $10 or so.

Just to give you a bit of info, they are advertising a 2003 Half Dollar commemorating the Wright's First Flight for $10.75. Comes in a nice protective tray. Not a bad gift as a souvenir from America and it'll keep inside of your budget.

I think I'll do the same for the owners of the house that I am staying in. The woman that owns the house has the same birthday as mine. May 25th. In fact, when she found out that we have the same birthday, she invited me to her birthday party.

I'll have to bring her something.

Winnepeg,
another Gemini Salut (May,26) !
I am off to check USmint ... see ya

When I was a kid, we loved the round patches to sew on jackets from the Apollo space program.