I’m leaving on Thursday for Germany–elevel fun-filled days with some family I’ve never met as part of a visit-exchange program my school has set up.
Since I’m going to be living with them, it would be polite to bring a few gifts. I was thinking maybe some candy, some Tony Chakeries spice (everyone must have some of this), and some magazines from America.
What else do you think the Germans would like from America?
Stuff from your home town/state goes over really well, especially if you take the time to learn a little bit about the history of the items, how they’re produced, etc. Shot glasses with a state motto are relatively cheap and eminently portable, I took some when doing a similar h.s. exchange thing and they went over well. I also brought boxes of Mackinac Island fudge, it’s local and chocolate, what can be better?
Were you told the ages of the family members? Might be cool to get the kids baseball caps with the state university logo, or toys if they’re younger.
Have fun and be sure to tell us how it went!
If you happen to be from a state where it is produced, bring high-quality real maple syrup. The stuff is so good, and it simply can’t be found in Europe (or at least, not for a decent price!) My german exchange family (1996) loved it!
Whatever you do, DO NOT… and I mean…DO NOT give them ANYTHING referring to Hitler, The Nazi’s or anything even vaugely referring to WWII. If you want the to become your enemies real quick, that’s the way to do it!
What Queen Tonya and mnemosyne said - something made in your town/region/state (i.e. not in China 
) would be fine. Perhaps something with your school’s logo? Not too expensive. There are some few import restrictions on some foodstuffs - see my reply in this thread.
The reason I offered this bit of advice was not to be idiotic, but mainly from experience. When I was in the Army, I was stationed in Germany for over 5 1/2 years. During my time over there I ran into many people who foolishly offered these offensive type of gifts as a joke, and thing went sour from that point on real quick. … Trust me, I know what I’m talking about. Me myself, I had a wonderful time over there and I can truly assure you that you are really going to be amazed at how neat and clean everything is and how beautiful their women are. From my own experience, Germans are a very smart and frendly group of people that you are going to really have a great time with (as long as you don’t do anything to make an a$$ of yourself)… Hope you enjoy your visit there and please remember when you get back to post her and tell us about it. 
After twenty years of going back and forth, trying to find gifts for Germans when I went there, and trying to find gifts for Amecians when I came back, I can tell you - it ain’t easy.
For the most part, thanks to pretty good international trade, you can pretty much get anything there, or here.
However, from German visitors I have had in the past two years, here is a partial list of some of the odd things they bought and took back with them to Germany:
Large bottles (500 or more tablets) of aspirin. (Aspirin is very expensive in Germany)
Padded toilet seats. (Not common over there, and people seem to like them.)
Shower curtains. (Larger variety here, and much cheaper.)
Jeans. (Cheaper, but they have to find the right, non-fat-ass cut to fit the European behinds.)
Alka Seltzer (same reason as aspirin).
Bounce or similar brand of fabric softener pages you throw in the dryer (They don’t have them there, or at least are hard to find).
Turkey baster (older German women find these an amazing invention - guess they don’t have them there.)
Microwave popcorn (only the few Germans who like the buttered and salted version, as most prefer sugar on it).
Full pages of newly printed postage stamps (seems to be a lot os stamp collectors still filling albums in Germany).
Now of course, if you were to take all of those things with you, customs would pack you off to an insane asylum. I am just reporting on what German friends were stuffing in their suitcases before they went home.
Things NOT to take - VCR or DVD’s as they have an entirely different televison system and they won’t work. Also, taking chocolate to Germany is like taking sand to the beach…don’t bother.
T-Shirts and baseball caps and stuff with printed city or state names are always safe. Take some photos of your home town, friends, local shops, etc. They like to see how others live. And pretty much anything with Micky Mouse on it is usually greeted with a smile. A few cheapo Micky Mouse watches would make you REAL popular.
But go, and have fun - and maybe after you are there and learn more about them, you can send them something from here you know they will like.
Take evaporated milk and canned pumpkin and make them a pumpkin pie. (You should be able to find the rest of the ingredients over there.) Seriously. It’s a uniquely American treat, and it’ll be particularly special since it will be homemade. (Pumpkin pie is ridiculously easy to make, even if you’re not an experienced cook.)
Pumpkin Pie isn’t that unusual this side of the water…
Definatly get LOCAL things…I consider myself fairly well-informed, but ask me about Birmingham AL and ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm blank (no offence . Ask yourself what somebody visiting you would buy themselves to take back with them.
Pumpkin Pie would be a cool thing. It is actually possible to buy the cans that come from America in at least some places. I found one in my local supermarket in the “American section” It is a cool place as they have food from various different nations. Imported, actually.
Also don’t bring a hair-dryer even if you have a plug adaptor, because its the one thing that will burn out fuses in a heartbeat.
I also second the syrup idea, because its hard to get here and it is expensive when you do get it.
If you like to eat PB&J sandwiches you better bring the grape jelly because I think it only exists in America 
A gift idea? Its a hard one, considering how many of the American things are available there. One thing I know they don’t have here is crown wiskey. If you feel like taking it. However, whiskey is kind of a strange gift I think. Wine would be good, but you’d just be giving them French wine, lol
Honestly the best thing you could cook would be Filé gumbo. Bring some filé powder, and the rest you can get here in Germany. THAT would be a treat. Being from alabama I’m sure you’ve had it before.
Funny that you should mention toilet seats as the Villeroy and Bosh seats I have sat on here were ones I´d like to take back.
OH! I just remembered. Little Mag-lite flashlights are cool too. They are American but most Germans like them because they are very high quality.
GorillaMan, since you are in the South, you can always take a box of Goo Goo Clusters. They are made in Nashville. I have had a Mexican friend who is wild for them. I am the same way about Mexican “glorias.”
My friend from Denmark wanted to take back items with a Western look to them – boots and hat.
Given we are living in interesting times, it might be a good idea to check with Customs to see what can be taken out of the US and into Germany?
How about something that is made of patchwork? I know quilts are hideously expensive (even if they are beautiful ;)) but maybe you could pick up something that is similar? Cushion, or cushion cover or somesuch? Plus, something like that can be packed easily and is less likely to explode its contents all over the rest of your luggage.
I live in a small German-American town- Muenster, Texas.
Here, you’d find traditional German food, trinkets, or you could invite them to one of the german-festiviles.
Whatever you do, don’t mention the German zombies. I mentioned them once, but I think I got away with it.
Man, you got in just under the wire. He’s leaving for Germany on Thursday, and today’s Tuesday. Hopefully that’s enough time for him to shop for traditional German trinkets and festiviles.
Emphasis added. Thanks for the morning laugh!! 
Also, don’t send them a gift labeled ‘gift.’ :eek:
I would suggest a six-pack of Coors Light, in the can, so they can appreciate good, American style beer.
Reporting post as a hate crime.