Hi, hope you can help. My 20 year old son is going to brazil for 4 months /semester. He will live with 3 different families in Belem, Manaus, and ?. Can you suggest some hostess gifts that would be appropriate, tasteful and would be fun or helpful for his families and their children.
Also, if anyone knows that region, can you reassure a worried mom about safety, transportation etc.
THANKS so much in advance.

Is there anything your area is particularly known for? I know people often bring something that's particular to their region, so it shows the host family a bit about where they come from.

thanks volcanogirl>
We live near Philly so my son is going into town this week to check that out. But with restrictions on food and weight and the fact that he has drag his suitcaase around as he travels across the amazon, we're a little stumped. Are there gifts that folks in brazil really appreciate getting?

Any other suggestions-PLEASE?
My son leaves next week for the amazon and I/he would love to cross this off his list
thanks in advance!

Hi, oz - a few things I've seen suggested on other threads are a local cookbook, a coffee table book with pictures of Philly, jerseys or sports memorabilia from your local team - things like that that are from your own area. I hope someone else chimes in for you.

Thanks volcanogirl-I really appreciate it. It is so difficult because he will have 3 homestays and one is with a very poor family. I would love to give something that is nice and perhaps helpful at the same time. I feel an obligation to present my son, and the country, in a most appreciative way. thanks again

When I've stayed with families in Central America (short-term for language school), the schools have suggested things like small bottles of hand or body lotion, pretty dish towels, small packaged food items from your region (like a local chocolate or dried fruit). I've also brought picture books in Spanish of Chicago (where I'm from) purchased at a local souvenir shop downtown. I've heard of people bringing coffee mugs with their city/state/area on them, t-shirts of their city, etc.
Good luck (and let us know what you get!)