Connecting moms in Polk County, Fla.
I Need Suggestions for an American Gift For a Host Foreign Exchange Family
My oldest son, Ethan, will be going to the Netherlands as an American foreign exchange student this Spring Break. While there, he'll be living with a host family. I want to gift them for opening their home to my son with a token of my appreciation.
I've known about this trip for months, racking my brain with wonder,"What should I get this family!?"
Ideally this gift would be budget friendly, easily packed in luggage for him to take with him on the flight over, and something that speaks of, unique to America, Florida specifically would be even better.
I need your help. Let your ideas flow, please!
Have you ever had a child as a guest in a foreign country? Have you hosted a foreign student? If so, what are some gifts you've received?
Tags: American, Bartow, Eichar, Ethan, Haven, High, IB, Netherlands, School, Winter, More…
Views: 296
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by mom x 4 on -
Try Brooke Pottery in downtown Lakeland. Most of their stuff is made in America. They have the swan items representing Lakeland. They also gift wrap and pack for shipping, so it should be safe on the flight.
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Permalink Reply by Kathryn on
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Another option would be Tervis Tumblers. They are made in Florida and have many different designs from which to choose.
Europeans do not often wear school (college) T-shirts from their own universities, but college shirts from UF, USF, Univ of Miami might be fun as well. Guy Harvey T-shirts or Salt Life T-shirts for the kids in the family would possibly work too.
A book on Florida with pictures of the Everglades, etc. and/or chocolate alligators would definitely be American.
I think it depends on whether you are sending individual gifts for the each member of the family or just one. From personal experience, little things that each person can enjoy (T-shirts, cups, chocolates) are fun and easy to pack.
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Permalink Reply by Shawn Spivey on -
Fantastic suggestions so far; thanks, ladies. :) I didn't even consider a city angle in this mom x 4. That would be an interesting spin as well. I don't know that I would do Lakeland, since we live in Bartow and this is a BHS IB trip. Bartow is known for Oaks and Azaleas. I wonder if I can run an angle with that.....hmmmmm?
Alligator chocolates sound pretty awesome, too.
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Permalink Reply by HEATHER SCHIRMACHER on
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My family hosted exchange students for about 8 years. I too got the chance to be an exchange student myself, in Germany for my senior year of school. The exchange students would always give us candy, who doesn't love candy from another country?... Just don't give them American chocolate, it isn't as good as European chocolate (in my opinion). I would just go to a kitschy souvenir shop and see what is there too offer. Some things that I can think of would be like a spoon, towels (we actually got towels w/ our names in them from an exchange student from Brazil), maybe a nicknack that is for Florida. The one item that comes to mind is the coconut patties that you find at Bealls. That would be neat, because when you see those candy's it makes you think of FL. T-shirts are nice too. Or something that has key lime in it, or a key lime pie kit. Key lime and FL go hand in hand. When I was in Germany my host sister (who had spent time in the US) loved Skittles, that is def. an American gift. I wouldn't get any magnets, the frigs over there aren't like ours. Or maybe something beachy? It is always nice to give them a gift from where you live, Lakeland. We are known for our strawberries, maybe something to do w/ that. Another idea is to go to Wal-greens and check out their "tourist" section....LOL Even if you get something that is FL Gators, that would be fitting for both a FL theme and a Gator theme....LOL I hope this helps and doesn't make it harder on you. I have been an exchange student and this is going to be a wonderful and everlasting experience for your child.
I didn't know, until a few seconds ago, that you live in Bartow....sorry!! A book about Bartow, Lakeland, or even Polk county would be an awesome idea. I know that we have books from every country of every exchange student we hosted.
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Permalink Reply by Shawn Spivey on
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Checking out Bealls and Walgreens are great ideas. Thanks Heather! :)
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Permalink Reply by HEATHER SCHIRMACHER on
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I was in Starbucks yesterday and they had really cute coffee cups (hot and iced) that had said FL on them. The hot coffee cup even had an alligator on it, I thought they were super cute. And for being Starbucks and a coffee cup not to overpriced....$9.95.
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Permalink Reply by Shawn Spivey on
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Thanks for keeping up the ideas. I love this, too.
HEATHER SCHIRMACHER said:I was in Starbucks yesterday and they had really cute coffee cups (hot and iced) that had said FL on them. The hot coffee cup even had an alligator on it, I thought they were super cute. And for being Starbucks and a coffee cup not to overpriced....$9.95.
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Permalink Reply by Beth North on
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I've taken gift boxes of Jelly Belly's. Sometimes you can find them at Beall's Outlet. Some boxes had an American flag on them.
The Starbucks's Alligator mug that someone else mentioned is a nice idea too.
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Permalink Reply by Athena J. Mann on -
Hello,
When my x was stationed in Germany, we took a trip to the ZandVoort, & AmsterDam Netherlands with a German couple who had been there before. The bed-n-breakfast hosts collected memorabilia from their guests. Part of their collection, was autographed 1st Edition Books. I am supposing that anyone who is being an exchange students host family would value educational books especially of such a nature. My 1st book is about to be published by Publish America. In their own words, they are "chomping at the bit" to get into print my "Wielding the Future... a Concept Anyone Can Learn". "Written in the unique styling’s of Athena J. Mann; this is a must read for anyone who knows they need just a little help in life. It is a concise guide, written as a self-help learning tool and is the first of its kind, introducing her own unique blend: NLP Master Life Coaching. This book, can be used as a personal stepping stone complete in itself, or be used as a guide by clients and life coaches alike." If you wish, I will autograph a copy for you to send... it took me a year of intensive work and it is expected to go 'viral'. It would be cost effective, meaningful, valuable and valued as well as durable for a trip and he could even read it on the plane... as I know how long flights to central Europe are, he might enjoy transporting it.
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Permalink Reply by Shawn Spivey on
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I wanted to give you all an update to Ethan's very soon to come trip.
Ethan's step-mom came up with what I thought was a pretty clever idea. I hope it turns out cute.
Her brother is doing a woodburning scene depicting our area on a piece of cypress wood. That is certainly unique to our area. I just hope he'll be able to finish before Ethan embarks this Friday. I am so excited, yet nervous for him to go.
Here is a picture of the group of students going. I snapped this at our last parent meeting.
The students are
Jeremy Mooney
Terrence Commons
James Harmer
Hunter Ryan
Aaron Presnell
Ethan Eichar
Garbrielle Dilullo
Nicole Radivilov
Courtney Floyd
Garbriella Liwanag
Matthew Hewett
Not Pictured, but attending the trip are Kimberlee McMillan and Rachel Glogower
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Permalink Reply by Over-wrked Momma on
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I know it's getting down to the wire, but I would visit Davidson of Dundee or Webb Candy Factory on 27 - both have unique Florida candy and suveniers.
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