I hope you are lucky enough to have the opportunity to stay with a host family during your study abroad! I had a wonderful time in Spain with my host parents and their family. It was a neat experience to have a family offer their home and hospitality to students they had never met before.
When preparing to study abroad, a common oversight for students staying with a host family is not packing a gift. You might be saying to yourself, “but I don’t know the family, how could I know what they like?” or “I’m saving every penny for my adventure abroad” or “I’m already paying program fees to stay with them, why give more?” or “I won’t have enough room in my suitcase!” I asked myself all these questions before I moved abroad for five months. Each of the excuses are valid, however, it is still a kind gesture to give something to your host upon meeting them for the first time. Now you’re asking, “but what do I give them?”
Honestly, the hardest part is knowing what to give. I was unsure, so I talked to my mom and she suggested going to my city’s tourism information center and a popular tourism destination’s gift shop. We found post cards, a photo album, candies, magnets, playing cards and so much more. The gift you give does not have to be much at all. It should be inexpensive, small and lightweight, and resemble some part of you, whether that is your nationality, personality or a hobby. Please read through the list and tips and I’m sure you will find something on there that gives you an idea of what to give your host family.
Tips on Giving Gifts
Know the culture. Before purchasing, making or even thinking up a gift idea, it is important to understand the culture you will be living in for the duration of your stay. Quickly research and determine if gift giving is even appropriate in your soon-to-be host country. Some cultures do not value gifts or could even take offense from the offer of a gift. If that is the case, a gift is not necessary. If the culture you will experience is in the clear, keep on reading!
Contact your host family before departure. While this is not always available to everyone, take advantage of it if this is an option! You may discover that they collect refrigerator magnets or postcards or that they enjoy cooking. Get to know their interests and find a gift especially for their taste.
Visit your town’s local tourism information center. As I mentioned above, my mom suggested going to our home town’s tourism information center. Check the one in your town and look around for ideas. If you don’t find much there, go to the popular tourist destinations in your town and go to the gift shop. They always have small, inexpensive trinkets that would be perfect for your new host family!
Inexpensive. Don’t break the bank looking for the perfect gift for your host. There are so many neat, unique gifts out there for just a few dollars.
Make it generic. In this case, giving a generic gift is perfectly suitable. If you haven’t had a chance to contact your host before departure, it’s impossible to know what they like. Keep it kid-friendly if you know they have children. Also, keep in mind that generic to you will mean a thoughtful gift to them.
Make it unique. But you just said to keep it generic? Yes, indeed I did. But make your gift unique to the region you live or to the hobbies you like.
Portable. Your gift will be traveling inside your suitcase. Portability is important so you don’t get to your destination with a broken item.
Lightweight. The gift is going into your suitcase and you only have 50 pounds for everything. Choose a lightweight gift so you leave room for more of your essential items.
If you forget. Don’t panic if you forgot to pick up a gift before you left home. There are still options available upon your arrival. Flowers are always good!
Give a thank you gift. Someone offered their home and hospitality to you for the duration of your program. It is a nice gesture to end your stay with a little gift for the kind people that did so much for you. Again, keep it inexpensive, yet thoughtful.
Gift Ideas
Unique to Home Country or Town
Gifts that are unique to your hometown or country may be overlooked by some because they seem too “tourist-y”. However, think about your hosts abroad. They may have not had the opportunity to travel abroad and see the place you live. Bringing a piece of your home country or town with you will help you describe and show them the place that you are from. Give them insight into your everyday life through a simple gift.
Regional picture book. A picture book will actually show your host family familiar places from your home town and country. Some picture book options can be expensive or heavy, so you could print off a few pictures of your favorite places around town and make your own small, homemade book for them.
Trinkets from around town. If you are at a loss and have no idea what to get, take my suggestion and go to your town’s tourist information center or gift shops around town. You can find anything from the list below, I guarantee you. Postcards will have the sights your town is most known for. A magnet, pen, mug or bottle opener from your home town can be easily attainable gifts too. Many host families have housed international students before and have probably received gifts of this nature before. You would be adding to their collection! Try to find classy, artsy versions of the list below. When you present the gift to them, you will have a great conversation starter.
- Postcards
- Magnet
- Pens
- Mugs
- Collectible spoon
- Key chain
- Stickers
- Playing cards
- Calendar
Related to a Hobby
Have a hobby that could make a cool gift? Craft something for your new host family! Handmade gifts are thoughtful and immediately show your host family an interest of yours. Again, another great way to start a conversation with your new friends!
Handmade gifts. If you like to paint, draw, sculpt, use pastels, or anything artsy, create a cute piece of artwork for your host. Show your personality through it. Or if you have a passion for cross stitch, sewing, knitting or crocheting (like me!), use your talent to whip up a crafty project for your host. You might even have a specialty or something on hand to give. The important thing is to show a part of who you are through your gift so they get to know you better.
Cookbook / recipe cards. If you like to cook, what better gift to give than a cookbook with your favorite recipes? The book can be store bought or handmade. For weight and size purposes, it could be better to compile a few of your favorite recipes and bind them to give to your host mom. If you will be in a country that speaks another language, it would be more meaningful to translate the recipes and convert the measurements (if necessary). Then maybe you can cook alongside your host mom and teach her a few new recipes.
Favorite book. If you are a book worm, surely you have a favorite book that is worth sharing. Hopefully it is not the Lord of the Rings trilogy, because those unfortunately would be a bit too large to fit inside the suitcase. But, if you have a favorite book of poems or quotes or jokes, it could be worth sharing with your host family.
Yummy Food
Food is a great gift idea, but you must be cautious. The food needs to be non-perishable and not something they already have at their fingertips. A little research may need to go into the foods you want to take with you. But good choices are always local foods.
- Jam, honey, maple syrup, spice, herb. Is there a spice or herb specific to your region? Do you know a person that makes jam in your town? Maybe there is a honey bee farm close by or your town is known for its maple syrup. Anything local and specific to your area is a great choice because it will give them a taste of your world, literally. And these are only suggestions to spark your creativity.
- Peanut butter. Peanut butter is not a staple in countries other than the United States. In fact, it can be extremely difficult to find peanut butter in other countries, especially the kind you are used to in the states. Assuming no allergies to peanuts and you are from the US, stuff a small jar inside your luggage to share with your host. Give them a little taste of the American life. If they don’t like it, more for you to eat when you are missing American food.
- Soup mix, chili mix, cookie mix, cobble mix etc. If you like to cook or want to show your host family one of the meals you enjoy, mixes are a good option. I mention soup, chili and cookie mixes, but you are not limited to just those. Use your imagination! Gather the dry ingredients, pre-measure them and put them in a bag. Make sure to include the cooking directions! When you get there and are ready to use it, all you do is add the wet ingredients. Very convenient. Show off your cooking skills to your host family and make a meal or dessert for the whole family to enjoy. Be mindful of the spice factor in your recipe though. Some countries do not like spicy dishes, such as Spain, yet others don’t mind.
- Chocolate chips. I have a separate category for chocolate chips because in my research for this article, it popped up several times. Many students from the US have taken a pre-measured batch of chocolate chip cookies and wowed their host families so much they want more. So, slide in a bag or two extra of the chocolate chips (if there is room to spare!) and teach them how to make chocolate chip cookies. Leave the extra bags of chocolate chips with a recipe for the family to enjoy and remember you by.
- Coffee or tea. Coffee and tea are common household items. If there is a special type of coffee bean or tea leaf or flavor that is common in your area or that you enjoy the most, it could be worth taking with you. It’s safe to assume someone in your host home will enjoy them alongside you.
- Candy. Hard candies are best since they won’t melt or leak into your bag in transit. They are also small and can be stuffed into tiny spaces, and are lightweight. But, make sure you are taking candy that is not available in your host country. Check out gourmet candy shops or old fashioned candies. If there are children in your host home, these are perfect gifts for them!
Games
Games can be a family-friendly, fun gift option. Some games are easier than others to travel with, but I have a few options listed below. If you decide to take a football from the US, make sure to flatten it and take a portable air pump to reflate it.
- Souvenir playing cards
- Board games
- Frisbee
- Football (if from US)
School Paraphernalia
Colleges and universities love free advertisement! If you have school spirit and want to share your pride with your host family, items with your school’s logo can be good options. The list below has several ideas.
- T-shirts
- Hats
- Scarves
- Bottle opener
- Pens
- Mugs
- Key chains
- Stickers
Sentimental
Some of you gift givers out there don’t want to give a store-bought gift and that is just fine. I have a few ideas to ignite the creative juices that are a little more sentimental.
Letters. If you are super excited to meet your host family, but have not had the opportunity to contact them just yet, write down the things you want to say in a letter. Date the letters and give them to your host family upon your arrival. Definitely hand write the letters. This is probably best for those that are visiting a country that speaks the same language or the student already knows some of the host country language. It would be a super sweet gift and a perfect way to get some of those curious questions you had burning inside you answered.
Postcards. Similar to the letters, but instead of writing on paper, collect a few postcards from your home town or places you traveled before studying abroad. On the postcards from your home town, describe the picture on the front. Tell them of a time you visited the place or what the symbol is for. If you travel anywhere before studying abroad, pick up a postcard and jot down what you did and why you went there. Before departure, compile the postcards and bind them together to give as a gift when you arrive.
Scrapbook. If you are into scrapbooking, gather a few pictures of your family and home town and things you like. Make a few pages with the photos you gathered and bind them into a scrapbook. Decorate a few blank pages and leave spaces for photos. You can make pages for your arrival and departure and first meal in [insert country], or whatever your heart desires. But leave a few pages at the end so you can add to it during your stay. Then leave the book with your host family as a memento of you.
Empty photo album. This is similar to the scrapbook, but for those that only want to add photos. Choose an inexpensive album option and add a few pictures from around your home to start it. Then you can give the album to your host family when you get there and explain the pictures you brought with you. Then add to it during your stay and leave it behind so your host family can remember the time you spent together.
Polaroid and cute note. This goes for those with a Polaroid camera. Take a few snaps of the people and places you love. Write the date or cute caption at the bottom of the Polaroid. Then give them as is or with some other creative display of your photos.
Photo collage. Another photo gift?! Yes, a picture is worth a thousand words. It is such a great way for your host family to see and imagine what your life is like. Take the time to find pictures that show friends, family, destinations and food. Then put them all together in a collage. Throw in some magazine clippings or photos from online that show parts of your interests and personality. Then give the photo collage as a gift for your host family and explain what each photo means to you.
Vlog. If vlogging is your thing or you have an interest in filmography, this is such a great idea! Make the video as short or long as you want. But the video ought to show the places you like to go in your home town, your school, your friends and family, etc. Your “vlog” should share “a day in the life of….” It is a great way for your host family to see your personality straight away and see your home.
If You Forget!
It’s not the end of the world if you forget to bring a gift with you. Whether you left the gift in your room at home or it completely slipped your mind, don’t panic. Take a breath and don’t beat yourself up. There are still options in the airport or on your way to your host family.
Flowers. Flowers are such a great option! They are available nearly everywhere. Just ask around to find a flower shop near you. And surprise your host with a beautiful bouquet of flowers!
Airport souvenirs. If you remember you forgot a gift while you are still in the airport, there are many options available. This would work best if you are still in your home country. The list from the top (trinkets from around town) would apply here. You could find a cute pen, playing cards or key chain.
Thank You Gift
Please, please don’t skip this gift! It will mean so much to your host family to receive a gift that says thank you for opening your house to me. This gift should be given at the end of your stay. By that point, you should know more of their interests and be able to give a gift more tailored to their likes. Keep them in mind when you travel to other places because they may not have traveled there before. You could pick up a neat gift from that place.
Collectibles. Take notice or ask if your host family collects anything in particular. Some collect magnets and keep them on the refrigerator. Others may like postcards or spoons. Then on your travels, pick up an item that they can add to their collection. And the next student they host, they can tell your story and show the item you gave them.
Bottle of wine. Either pick up your host family’s favorite bottle of wine from town, or from a winery on your travels. When I studied abroad, one of the trips we took as a class was to a winery. They had wines made from lemon and orange, not very common. I purchased a couple and gave one to my host dad. He absolutely loved it! And for lunch that day, he popped it open and shared it with all of us. Be cautious though, and know your host family.
Clothing / Accessories. If you notice your host mom wears a lot of scarves or has a lot of earrings, maybe you could pick one of these items up from your travels. Or if your host dad wears a lot of hats, ask if he collects them. If so, keep an eye out for the type of hats he collects.
Food. Maybe your host family has a favorite bakery in town. Pick up a few of their favorite items and surprise them one day!
Postcards. The last postcard gift idea, I promise. But what can I say? I like to collect postcards… If you travel outside of your host town/city (which you should!) purchase an inexpensive postcard from each place you visit. Write a special note on the back and date it. You could tell of your adventure, describe the sights you saw, or talk about the food you ate. Write what you want. But keep those all in a collection until it is time for you to leave. Then gift your host family with those precious notes for them to keep and remember you by.
Conclusion
The act of giving a gift is priceless. Seeing the joy on someone’s face when they receive a gift, no matter the size or content, is worth it every time. The best part is, your host family will not expect to receive a gift so they will be surprised!
Each person is unique in what they give and how they give it. Use the items on this list as suggestions and mix and match to create your own special gift. No matter what it is, your host family will be grateful.
Good luck and have fun with finding a gift. As always, happy travels!