I want to send a Christmas gift (maybe New Year's, it's getting late!) to two German children -- a 7-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl. I would like it to be "American" and something they might really like. Any suggestions? I am clueless is Michigan!

How about a University of Michigan sweat shirt, or something on those lines.

Oops, hit the wrong button on my computer and may have sent an imcomplete message. I once sent a puzzle of the U.S. to some British kids about the same age--the back of each puzzle piece told a little bit about each state.

About the sweatshirt -- maybe the kids' parents work for Mercedes, which owns a car company in Michigan, so may heave heard of the place, but otherwise ...

All I can do is shake my head in wonder.

The puzzle's a good idea.

If you could find a German - English children's illustrated dictionary, with US scenes and objects in it, the kids would probably find it interesting, and refer back to it years after year.

Even little kids in Germany are pretty worldly, and although they probably would not understand many of the words(the girl might) they would still like US pop music, if you could figure out what US artists sell best in Germany. (lots do sell very well over there)

Boys love picture books of animals -- a book of US animals, from mountain lions to sharks to grizzly bears to Eagles in Alaska would get him looking at the pictures, and learning a bit of English at the same time.

Clothing, once you get by silly things like sweatshirts from unknown schools, could work, along the lines of surfer shorts or even a cowboy hat for the boy. Harder to choose for the girl.

I don't know the rules for boxed food, but they might have some fun with cake and cookie mixes.

My son, who is nine, loves to get foreign coins and maybe the German boy has a similar interest. Same with stamps.

How about a single use Kodak camera (that's pretty USA, even if made somewhere else) and a stack of photos taken near your home, showing American kinds of things. (Car dealership, fast food restaurant, gas station, the nearest school that has 7 and 12 year old students, a movie theatre, etc.) Ask the kids to use the camera to take pictures of the German versions of these places and things, and send them back to you.

Have you ever seen a DVD or video called "Flight Over the USA" or some such title? I'm making this up, but maybe there is a show like this (there is a Canadian show, I know) with German commentary.

Seven year old boys love toy cars and trucks. You could get him a set of US-oriented vehicles. A Coke truck, and a Mobil tow truck, and a US highway patrol police car, and a regular CJ-style Jeep, and so on. Don't forget a Corvette.

There is probably no-one in the world harder to buy for than a 12 year old girl, except a 13 year old girl, but she might like a stack of half a dozen US teen girl magazines, especially if you find ones with lots of pictures and fewer words she probably won't understand. But she'll have fun looking at the fahsions and the photos.

Good luck.

We have relatives who live in italy with children approximately the same age. They love anything from "Disney", especially Mickey and Minnie Mouse products; that to them is very American. Some suggestions, t-shirts, baseball caps, watches, water bottles etc that have the above characters on them.

And add some American sweets (hard candy, chocolate bars) that aren't sold in Germany.

DVDs from the USA cannot be used in Europe, so don't send that. Something Disney (like Buzz Lightyear for the 7-year old maybe) or cowboy/indian related gift for the boy. 12-year old girls are not really into Disney anymore, but clothes (like a great printed Tshirt) are usually good. Children here in Belgium are always happy with Gap t-shirts or sweatshirts, since there is no Gap in Belgium or The Netherlands. Don't know about Germany though. I gave a 12-year old girl a pretty printed handbag from the Gap a few months ago, and she takes it everywhere with her. Any Ralph Lauren clothing is usually a hit too; and MUCH more expensive in Europe than in the US.
RL polo shirts are very popular.
I live in Belgium, and have children aged 5 to 11.

Acutally the UM sweatshirt is not a bad idea. I live in Europe and constantly see sweatshirts like that on the native. Gap is also good and no, there isn't one in Germany. Finally, for those ages, anything |(esp. the Ralph Lauren) with the American flag is usually appreciated. It isn't a political statement at that age...it is just a cool looking flag.

Cheers,
Jan

I think the UM shirt would be a good idea as well. The other idea might be a sports related jersey? I am having the same issues preparing gifts to take back to Italy with me when I go in December. I would suggest sports jerseys or hats from michigan or around (specifically baseball) for the boy. Also, like someone has mentioned previously, candy is a good idea. Some neat "American candy" might be candy canes (at least i am pretty sure they don't have these in Italy, but I am not sure about Germany) or peanuty stuff (I recently sent over a package of peanut brittle and reeses cups). American candy is a neat gift to get.

Good luck! Let us know what you end up sending!

Actually, DVDs from the U.S. *can* be used if you watch them on your computer--we do that all the time and have just ordered a bunch from Barnes and Noble that my husband will pick up from his family in Seattle. All our US-bought DVDs play fine on our European computers.
I would nix the cowboy hat idea; very few European kids are into the cowboy thing. Baseball caps are (sadly) pretty popular with young German males. Sports team clothes are popular too.
For the 12 yo girl, bring some American fashion mags for her age group (i.e., Seventeen, not Vogue). A silver necklace might also be a possibility. CDs are much cheaper in the U.S. than in Europe, so find out what her favorite groups are.

Boy: Knicks b-ball (or other NBA team--Lakers are probably most famous but it kills me to suggest this) and a jersey or t-shirt.

Girl: CDs

Good luck!

Every year at Christmas time, I send a package full of gifts to my pen pal in Lithuania. She has a son who is around 8 or 9 and 2 nieces in their early teens. This year, I sent her son matchbox cars, a lego set (not very American but doesn't need batteries), crayons and markers. I always get a nice thank you drawing. I usually send coloring books but not this year. You can find some good ones at the dollar store. I got her nieces sterling silver bracelets. Last year I got them watches shaped like flowers that clip. I also always include bags of candy (not chocolate because it might melt). I went with starburst candy this time. Last year was different kinds of licorice. I'm sure whatever you decide to send will be appreciated. Besides, who doesn't like gifts in the mail . Oh and you should have plenty of time to mail your package. I just sent mine last week by airmail and they should get it this week. Cost me $32 to mail a package a little over 8 pounds vs $20 by ground, which would have taken 2 months.

A Detroit Red Wings jersey for the boy and for the girl whatever you see at the top of the CD rack at FYE or Sam Goody or whoever the big record store is at your mall. Whatever the top selling CD is here, it'll be a couple more weeks or months until it catches on in Europe.

The reason I came up with the sweatshirt idea is because I sent one to a friends son (he was 12 at the time) that lives in Scotland. It was our local "University" and he loved it!Really.

I think the sweatshirt or T-shirt idea is good (I have a 13 year old daughter). You might try for one that says "Hollywood, CA" or "New York" -- someplace she will have heard of.

also what might be neat is a calendar with american places in it: more specifically michigan? maybe that is too adult though, but calendars are always useful.

For 12 yr old boy in Germany: Bazooka bubble gum, Oreos (wrap in bubble wrap),
Kettle Corn (microwave packages), candy corn; Ralph Lauren medium blue denim shirt w/turtleneck and Gap boxer shorts.

send something from your hometown which cannot be found anywhere else.

Sorry to be so late in thanking you all for your help, but for a long time I haven't been able to reply on this board. Thank heavens, for some unknown reason, I now can do so.

I ended up getting the boy a pullover fleece shirt with U. of Michigan logo. I got the girl a book of short pieces by American teen-age girls. I also sent a box of "turtles" (candy) for all. They seemed to appreciate the gifts.