# What USA-oriented gift should I bring my host family in London? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 12, 2004, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usa-oriented-gift-should-i-bring-my-host-family-in-london/268771 "2004-10-12T03:41:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usa-oriented-gift-should-i-bring-my-host-family-in-london/268771/21 "2004-10-12T14:31:55Z")
Well the assault weapons ban is gone now so how about a nice M-16 with a high capacity magazine? Nothing says America more than the gift of firepower. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usa-oriented-gift-should-i-bring-my-host-family-in-london/268771/22 "2004-10-12T14:43:21Z")
> [@hyperjes](#): > > Maybe a nice book about the state that you are from, with large color pictures? I would think that they might enjoy something like that, especially as it would allow them to see and read about the place they will be sending their child in the near future. I think this too. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usa-oriented-gift-should-i-bring-my-host-family-in-london/268771/23 "2004-10-12T14:44:31Z")
> [@furt](#): > > A Bible, a Glenn Miller CD and a .45 That combination in one place at the same time always ends very badly. Trust me on this one. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usa-oriented-gift-should-i-bring-my-host-family-in-london/268771/24 "2004-10-12T14:48:06Z")
> [@phall0106](#): > > Hershey’s chocolate (we live in Pennsylvania, home of Hershey’s chocolate). Hershey’s is now available in the UK. (And it’s nasty compared to British chocolate, IMO YMMV &c.) ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usa-oriented-gift-should-i-bring-my-host-family-in-london/268771/25 "2004-10-12T15:57:19Z")
They don’t have maple syrup in the U.K.? Man, it’s like the stuff grows on trees over here. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usa-oriented-gift-should-i-bring-my-host-family-in-london/268771/26 "2004-10-12T16:16:09Z")
I’d second **hyperjes** ’s book suggestion. Something nice and classy - maybe a pictorial history of your area, something like that. We’re not completely ignorant this side of the water, but there’s still huge swathes of America of which we have little idea of what they’re like. And also bring a few _hidously_ tasteless cheap tacky items, for a laugh. The sort of thing that you look at and think “who on _earth_ buys anything like that?” ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Norse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/big_norse/32/9954_2.png) [@Big\_Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Norse)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usa-oriented-gift-should-i-bring-my-host-family-in-london/268771/27 "2004-10-12T16:16:12Z")
My friend in London always asks me to bring giant bottles of Aleve when I visit her. She also often puts in requests for music CDs, which are usually cheaper here. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usa-oriented-gift-should-i-bring-my-host-family-in-london/268771/28 "2004-10-12T16:18:57Z")
Good maple syrup is a decent idea, as are books about your location. Political stuff will be meaningless in a couple of years. Excentric or extreme chilli sauces can be fun (ie those with rude labels, or Dave’s Insanity Sauce). Cinamon sweets like Hot Tomales aren’t common in UK. A jar of peanut butter and jelly (one jar containing both) would be of interest to Brits, but may never get eaten. Sports T-Shirts or Caps could be a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![gfloyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d2c977/32.png) [@gfloyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gfloyd)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usa-oriented-gift-should-i-bring-my-host-family-in-london/268771/29 "2004-10-12T18:31:49Z")
To epitimize fall in the North East, a book (and/or depending on when exactly you are leaving, a photo album of pictures of it) of fal foilage. And maple sugar candies. Probably even harder to get in the UK. ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usa-oriented-gift-should-i-bring-my-host-family-in-london/268771/30 "2004-10-12T18:42:18Z")
Something I learned from a similar thread here on the SDMB - when I visited a friend in London back in August, I brought a bunch of Reese’s peanut butter cups. Big Hit (and she normally isn’t that big on chocolate). I guess they’re not impossible to get over there, but very difficult. I’m sure the teenagers will enjoy them. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usa-oriented-gift-should-i-bring-my-host-family-in-london/268771/31 "2004-10-12T19:38:39Z")
You’re from Jersey? You’ve got to bring them some salt-water taffy or other Jersy shore stuff. Or how about some White Castles? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usa-oriented-gift-should-i-bring-my-host-family-in-london/268771/32 "2004-10-12T20:41:31Z")
I once sent a British Doper pal (Francesca) a pro-2nd Amendment T-shirt. I was president of the Second Amendment Student Association at my law school at the time. The front had a circular logo with two 1911s and said, “Tech Law - Get Your Guns Up” (that’s one of the school’s sorta cheering mottos). The back had the text of the second amendment. Can’t get much more American than that! And I felt quite sure that none of her friends would have a shirt quite like it. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_B.Phart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Capt\_B.Phart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_B.Phart)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usa-oriented-gift-should-i-bring-my-host-family-in-london/268771/33 "2004-10-12T21:25:19Z")
> [@Captain Lance Murdoch](#): > > They don’t have maple syrup in the U.K.? Man, it’s like the stuff grows on trees over here. 😃 (but yes, we do have it here - in any supermarket, it’s one of the things I _must_ know i’ve got in stock) > [@cormac262](#): > > Something I learned from a similar thread here on the SDMB - when I visited a friend in London back in August, I brought a bunch of Reese’s peanut butter cups. Big Hit (and she normally isn’t that big on chocolate). I guess they’re not impossible to get over there, but very difficult. I’m sure the teenagers will enjoy them. Seconded, Reese’s peanut butter cups is what first came to mind when I saw the thread title (I’ve never seen them for sale here) ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usa-oriented-gift-should-i-bring-my-host-family-in-london/268771/34 "2004-10-12T21:46:22Z")
Billy the Bigmouth Bass. Also, I bet saltwater taffy dipped in real maple syrup would taste _gooooood_. ---
**Author:** ![rivulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usa-oriented-gift-should-i-bring-my-host-family-in-london/268771/35 "2004-10-12T22:10:25Z")
> [@Bippy the Beardless](#): > > Sports T-Shirts or Caps could be a good idea. I second that. Also, college or university related shirts and so on from your area. Things like that are light, easy to pack, non-breakable, and don’t look suspicious in luggage. (For example, the University of Saskatchewan sweatshirts and shirts I brought from Saskatoon and gave to college age friends in the USA went over really well.) ---
**Author:** ![Francesca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Francesca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francesca)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usa-oriented-gift-should-i-bring-my-host-family-in-london/268771/36 "2004-10-13T18:24:22Z")
> [@Max Torque](#): > > I once sent a British Doper pal (Francesca) a pro-2nd Amendment T-shirt. I was president of the Second Amendment Student Association at my law school at the time. The front had a circular logo with two 1911s and said, “Tech Law - Get Your Guns Up” (that’s one of the school’s sorta cheering mottos). The back had the text of the second amendment. > > Can’t get much more American than that! And I felt quite sure that none of her friends would have a shirt quite like it. I still wear it all the time. As a nightie 😃 You didn’t think I’d wear it in public, did you? ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usa-oriented-gift-should-i-bring-my-host-family-in-london/268771/37 "2004-10-13T19:36:03Z")
How about a cowboy hat or boots? I don’t know if it’s the same in England, but folks in France were crazy for American cowboy culture. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usa-oriented-gift-should-i-bring-my-host-family-in-london/268771/38 "2004-10-13T19:43:08Z")
Can you get Girl Scout Cookies this time of year? They always go over pretty well for me. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usa-oriented-gift-should-i-bring-my-host-family-in-london/268771/39 "2004-10-13T19:52:56Z")
> [@Francesca](#): > > I still wear it all the time. As a nightie 😃 You didn’t think I’d wear it in public, did you? Good thing you don’t. It would start with that, and then all you Brits will have guns again, and next thing you know King George would be back over here pushing us around. ---
**Author:** ![Racer1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee59a6/32.png) [@Racer1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Racer1)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usa-oriented-gift-should-i-bring-my-host-family-in-london/268771/40 "2004-10-13T23:59:07Z")
> [@Capt B. Phart](#): > > 😃 > (but yes, we do have it here - in any supermarket, it’s one of the things I _must_ know i’ve got in stock) > Seconded, Reese’s peanut butter cups is what first came to mind when I saw the thread title (I’ve never seen them for sale here) You can buy them in many newsagents in London just in case you wanted some. Two definite examples in central London are the newsagents on the corner of Cheapside in the city (just opposite St Paul’s), and in the West End they are sold in a large general store/newsagent type thing along Davis St off Berkeley Square (it’s the only one there so you can’t miss it). I only notice these things because I think they are disgusting. 😉 As you say, maple syrup can be bought in most supermarkets, but you can even get the real Canadian brands in the Canada shop just off Covent Garden. I’d go with the scenic book of where you live. That’s what a Canadian brought my parents (showing the Rockies) and they loved it. I don’t know what you have in your area, but we don’t have many mountains and glacier lakes in London so that went down really well. At their request, I took Canadians Thorton’s toffee and real Cadbury’s Dairy Milk chocolate. They just get crap made by Hershey’s disguised in a Cadbury’s wrapper over there and it tastes completely different. This is only my opinion, of course, but chocolate over the other side of the Atlantic all tastes like that really cheap stuff in novalty Easter eggs to me. Good luck! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usa-oriented-gift-should-i-bring-my-host-family-in-london/268771.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-usa-oriented-gift-should-i-bring-my-host-family-in-london/268771.md?page=3)