Studying in Mex.-- what kind of gift should I bring my "host family"?

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amanda6500

How about a gift basket made up of items that would be hard to find in Mexico? Maybe you could include some teas, candy and anything specific to the area you live (ie if you live in Florida a tiny palm tree, in Maine a stuffed lobster).
Bring a digital camera with you, and when you get back home, use pictures from the trip of you ad yoour host family to make a little scrap book to send back to them. I'm sure that would mean a lot to them.

Amanda

I'm a Mexican and I'm sure they will like if you bring them a t-shirt from where you live. You can bring them also a basket full of candies that you can only found in th US like sweet tarts or something like that (don't bring chips because ha have a larger variety of those here) if you bring the t-shirt I think they would not like if it was one with a US flag, you should bring one with a symbolic draw of the state you are from or something like that. You can also bring them some books if they like to reed; some classics for instance. About the answer of LOis D, don't bring gift cards because thay are charged with dollars and we don'd handle those, and I'm not so sure we handle gift cards either. Good luck!!!! :)

scrappinmomma

I have heard that some items like cake mix and icing are big there; also prepackaged candy, mints, gum that they can't get there. I would say America related item. Have fun! They will appreciate the thought.

Lalulo_Jazmin

I would not get there with an American Flag and a copy of the Statue of Liberty! It would not look nice at all...

Maybe, however, itÂ´d be nice to bring something that is typical from your area, as someone else suggested. Also, something that you love, such as your favourite sweet, etc, so that you can show it to them, it is more "personal" and would give you something to break the ice.

I would go for something to eat OR some kind of decoration for the house, but in the second case keep it simple and classy, so that they can actually use it even after youÂ´re gone...

And remember, does not have to be expensive, as long as it is something felt it would have a bigger impact. For example, if you love marshmallows with chocolate, etc, why not bring all the kit to have a marshmallows night and show them this tradition??

Hovis

a burrito!!!

Dussygirl

Actually I would seriously disagree with the candy thing. Why would a couple of grown ups (you say you are staying with a family) enjoy a basket of gum and poptarts?? i mean, you are not staying with a bunch of kids. I do not know any grow up that likes to eat candy like that, i do not do it... (anyway that is my impression) The other thing is the generalizations, I am Mexican and LOVE peanut butter.
I will agree totally with the people that suggest that you buy either something typical of the place you live or buy T-shirts or sweatshirts, people always uses them, either to go to the gym, sleep or as normal clothing with jeans.
Be careful with the food you bring, you cannot bring fresh food into any country, so skip the lobsters and fish. Also it is forbidden vegetables and fruits or anything that may bring either a virus or a contamination of the persons, animals or plants. The people in the airport are very strict with these themes. Do not buy yourself a problem. They will take anything forbidden away.
I'll stick to the t-shirt/sweatshirt thing.
Movies (like in DVDs) are not soooo special, you can get them also in Puebla. A Book, or something speciall is difficult when you do not know the family.
The thing with the marshmallows i thing is very sweet and nice, you can cook something American. It is better a nice evening than a present (material thing). That is a keeper.

lpaganus

Puebla is a big city. Check and see if there is a Home Depot or Office Depot, you could bring them a gift card and they could pick out something for themselves. Skip the candy, all popular US brands are everywhere in Mexico. If they are artists or writers, books that relate to their interests. Note: Gift cards at Mexican/US outlets are in pesos.

braveheart0714

do you have any information on the likes and dislikes of this family?
are they English speakers?
perhaps a movie with Spanish subtitles a book and ornament for the bathroom a t shirt the universe in Mexico is as big as in any other country that depends on the persons you are visiting their status and so.

suerteDperro

For those of you who haven't been to Puebla, they do sell cake mix at the grocery store and there's no shortage of gum and snickers bars here. Postcards make nice gifts for acquaintances, but for a host family I'd recommend...something that has meaning. Obviously if they're hosting you, they want to learn as well. How can you show them what life is like for you where you live, without perpetuating stereotypes or coming across as patronizing? If you have the resources, make a video of where you live. Or buy a book featuring your city (you know, the photography-type books of states or cities that they sell at Barnes & Noble). Or maybe a nice cookbook of real American food, since many people believe Americans live on hamburgers and pizza. Good agendas are nice, but not as gifts in the middle of the year, and are more for individuals than for a family. You might want to bring a couple children's picture books in English if they have kids. (They're really expensive to get here, and all the kids study English in school to some degree.) In the end, bring something that has a bit of meaning to you if you can. Even if it's not a gift, they'd probably love looking through a photo album with you.
Oh, and many Mexicans don't like peanut butter, so if you like it alot, bring your own Reeses Cups. They do sell peanut butter here, but candies with it are hard to find. Not a good gift item, though.
For background reference, Puebla is famous for its ceramics, and its candies. You can also get good coffee there.

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