Okay–so, I’ve got a measley 9 days before I leave town. I’ll be going to Brazil.
For about 6 weeks, I’ll be staying with a Brazilian host family in Salvador, Bahia. I haven’t been told who they are, or what they’re like, or whether they have kids, or anything. I don’t think I’ll find out anything about them at all until the evening I meet them (June 30.)
I have no idea what to get this family as a guest gift-ey thing. What would you guys suggest? I’m in central Ohio, and I do a lot of work in southeastern OH. That area has quite a few Amish, and you can find pretty good bluegrass down there, too. I was thinking of getting some sort of Amish craft-ey and food things, and/or maybe a nice bluegrass CD (I’d make a bet that bluegrass is hard to find in Bahia. But, then again, you never know.)
I’m not sure that music would be such a good gift, though. I don’t want to oblige people to listen to music and smile in front of me for an hour if they hate it, or something.
So–anyone have any suggestions? Are there cool things you can get in the US but not in Brazil that almost any host family would appreciate?
It’s pretty difficult to pick a gift for someone you don’t know. I’d start out with maybe flowers and wine. Once you’ve lived with them for a while, you can get a feel for what their tastes are. Give them the big gift shortly before you leave.
Host family? That means you’re under 21, right? A bottle of American whiskey was always a hit when my parents visited Portugal, but that might be off limits for you.
I think something Amish would be nice, maybe a lap quilt. From my experience the Portuguese and Brazilians tend to like things bright and colorful, so I would try to go that way.
You could see if lobstergram delivers to Brazil.
I don’t know what’s in Ohio, but local kinds of candy would be good. In New England, we have maple sugar candy and saltwater taffy that go over well.
How about a coffee table book with American touristy things?
That’s all I’ve got.
My family has hosted many students from other countries, and you’re definitely on the right track. They’ll be most intested in something from your area. The bluegrass CD is an excellent idea. And even goofy little stuff (“Somebody in Ohio Loves Me” refridgerator magnets!) will become treasured reminders of your stay with them. And it might be a good idea to have something that would be appropriate for kids, just in case.
I’m well over 21, so I could get a bottle of whiskey.
The people I’ll be staying with in Brazil are my “host family” in that they’re putting me up for 6 weeks. They won’t have to act in place of my folks, since I’ve been on my own for quite some time now.
Then I really suggest the alcohol. It would technically be for the patriarch of the family, and maybe a more homey thing, like the Amish goods, for the matriarch. Kids would probably go for stuff like the aforementioned magnets, candy, knickknacks, etc.
(This is assuming that Brazilian culture is similar to Portuguese. Since they share a language and soap operas, I think it’s a safe assumption!)
Thanks for all your suggestions.
A friend of mine, who has done tons of travelling to Latin- and Lusoamerica and who has hosted people from various Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking places, tells me that there’s a basic rule for picking a good gift in this kind of situation. Namely, if something is kitsch in my culture, it’s an artifact in someone else’s. So, according to my friend, I should pick up the kinds of stuff Podkayne suggested.
Mithril–I like your suggestion on the whiskey. When I went to the Dominican Republic, I came back with bottles of not-for-export Dominican rum to give as gifts to my American friends and family. The gift went over pretty well. Do you have a suggestion for a particular type or brand name of whiskey?
It would have to be something totally American. Maybe Johnny Walker of some kind. Southern Comfort, Jim Beam. I’m not really up on my hard alcohols, so that’s all I’ve got. Some kind of cordial would be good as well, based on what they fed my brother and father overseas. Just make sure it’s not an import and you’ll be fine.