What would you send well to do french people?

[Deleted]

Our first exchange student The Frenchcan, rocked. As does his family.
We exchange Christmas/New Year's (we're both lazy on the shipping) gifts.

Thing is, compared to France, everything in America sucks. Literally. The booze, the linens, the clothes, the chocolate, the perfume, the toys, the food..you name it's all better there. Frenchan used to joke about this all the time, but really he's right.

Frenchcan's family are the greatest people ever. However, they're very well off but simple all the same. The trinkety, novelty, souvenior-y stuff isn't them at all. So going with local stuff doesn't mean much either. The Mom is also the health police, so fun junkfood American treats are a no go as well.

I already did buy them a cut glass Christmas ornament with swirling colors and their initial. It's beautiful and cost me like $25.00. I'm thinking of this year just letting that make a statement by itself. I know they'll love it.

But if you girls can dream up any other great suggestions I'm game!

[mrs.jacinthe]

I'd probably stick with just the ornament.

Unless there's something they legit can't get there. What about a small bottle of maple syrup?

[tarheels]

I was going to a say a really gorgeous Christmas ornament, so there ya go.

[peach]

I was going to suggest a super expensive ornament...but I see you thought of that already.

[peach]

Um.....they probably live in the maple syrup capital of the world if they are French Canadian. I would not send them that.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Dec 4, 2012 20:39:27 GMT -5 peach said:

Um.....they probably live in the maple syrup capital of the world if they are French Canadian. I would not send them that.

I thought they were France-french. Now I'm confused.

Dairy, if they're french canadian, please ignore my stupid suggestion of maple syrup. LOL

[pumpkin]

The times I studied in France I took my exchange families smoked salmon and that went over really well. Then again I'm from the Pacific Northwest....

The ornament sounds lovely.

The maple syrup is a good idea. Also, I know you can't buy peanut butter in Italy, but I can't remember whether or not you can in France...not sure I'm any help at all.

ETA: ignore me please if we're talking French-Canadian

[Deleted]

Thanks girls for justifying me. I don't want to be lazy or cheap.
But since 3 of the 4 most honest girls on here responded ;P, I might just call it a day!
Sometimes the beauty is in the simplicity your know.
And I hate sending sticky, spillable stuff anyways. I haven't had anything break yet but you never know. I'd hate to have them Skype me and say, "Dude. Thanks for the Syrup. The Littlest One, licked it all off the envelope and I pulled the glass shards out so we could put it on our Christmas pancakes!"

[Deleted]

Frenchcan is French French.
Frenchcan was a Nutella all the way fan. He thought American PB was the grossest thing going...so that's probably out.

Like I said, they're pretty fussy.

[peach]

Why did I always think he was from Quebec?

[Deleted]

Dec 4, 2012 20:46:54 GMT -5 peach said:

Why did I always think he was from Quebec?

Hmmm...I don't know.
We call him Frenchcan, which I suppose comes out like French Canadian but that was all a running joke. He was so hip on the ways of the world, but he wasn't really French becuase he wasn't in France for awhile but he'd never want to associate with Americans either..lol.

[pitterwoo]

I get not wanting to ship sticky stuff, but those are my top suggestions: maple syrup and local honey.
:/

[emjacobs]

My suggestion is the awesome ornament.

[Deleted]

Dec 4, 2012 22:36:29 GMT -5 @callmefia said:

4th honest person has arrived. And basically just came to nod. My first thought was "hey they don't have peanut butter in France!" And my second thought was to get a super fancy American handmade ornament. Lol.
I do love the maple syrup idea, and our local area is known for it - plus they sell in plastic containers, so no shards of glass to pick out!

What about an American maple & cherry butcher block cutting board? Made by Amish people? www.hardwood-lumber.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1 (I know the Amish guy that makes these - I don't think they advertise as Amish made because its not an Amish owned company) or anything else "amish made" ?
I have been buying a lot of cutting boards for gifts because they are really pretty. They can be left out to display on your counter.

Fia! Those cutting boards rock! I'm adding those to my wants list. I'm sad...I don't even want to know much it'd cost to ship that to France. I sent a board game he asked for and a craft kit for the little sister last year and it cost me like $55.00 to ship..lol. Intense.

[auntie]

DH has a couple of French business associates he's friendly with. Some gifts we've given-

MY best buddy in France always begs me to "breeeng ze nacho cheese". He means Velveeta- he bacame addicted in grade school.

Good California wines- if they're open minded they'll enjoy something they can't easily get and if they're the the type who think France is the center of the universe, they'll enjoy thinking it sucks. I would include a review from the Wine Spectator or Wine Advocate.

Single barrel bourbons are appreciated in most places as well. DH used to gift these in France as well as Japan. Years ago the French who came here for meetings bought a lot of Harley Davidson stuff.

[ssmjlm]

Ornament and some finger painting from Rubes? I feel like kid stuff always wins.

[floridakat]

High end stationery always makes a nice gift. Particularly if you get it personalized!

[peach]

You could go with the tacky theme and do a box of cheap American crap as a haha/don't you miss it here sort of thing. Kraft dinner, cheese in a can, etc. Maybe they would get a kick out of it.

[peach]

You could put little labels on everything. Kraft dinner - "Our finest entree"
Spray cheese "A finely aged cheddar" etc.