Westsider, Thank you for the 'gifts' bookmark. I have entered it into 4 different files.
Last week I cleared out quite a few files that weren't active anymore. I am so pleased to see the ones I did keep seem to continue to appear on ST.
We took 2004 Calendars with us this past Oct.. with images of our area. They packed well, I had pre-wrapped them, but didn't tape the ends. I took tape and ribbon with us so it was the perfect 'traveling gift'. I wasn't asked to show what was behind the gift wrap at the various airports, and they were strong enough not to bend, fold, or crease.
In past years we have taken coffee table books by local photographers.
These things so far have been big hits. Just a suggestion. To those who are traveling,now....Happy holidays and safe travel.
Wendy
Posts: 3081 | Location: Monterey Peninsula, California, USA | Registered: 07 September 2003
As I wrote in the other thread, there are some very good ideas on the list but there are also not so good ideas. The best ideas are the ones I say all the time, specialty items from your home town, picture books from your area or if they are relatives, photos of your ancestors, possible scanned onto canvas shopping bags. Peanut butter is not a good gift unless the person specifically asks for it as are clothes and shoes. I know people who have been given jeans because they had read somewhere online that it was a good gift. The Italian reeiving the gift was very polite but after the guests left they compalined that they did not understand why they were given a gift that they could easily buy and were embarassed as they thought that the relative had thought they couldn't afford clothes
Also for wedding gifts, I have never heard of 4 of the 6 gifts mentioned and I have been to over 20 weddings here.
As with everything, take the lists with a grain of salt and a warning.
quote:Originally posted by Cristina: Also for wedding gifts, I have never heard of 4 of the 6 gifts mentioned and I have been to over 20 weddings here. http://www.cristinasweb.com/italy
OK I'll bite. Which ones HAVE you heard of - the money, the elephants, or the religious icons?
Maybe you are right, but let's not forget that there are Italians and Italians and not everybody has the same kind of relationship with the people they bring gifts to. What it seems to be appropriate for some, it may not be for others. I think we all should exercise our own judgement w/o following suggestions/advices by the letter. That's what I always do. I listen/read but I do what I think is best.
"Canto alla vita alla sua bellezza ad ogni sua ferita ogni sua carezza..."
"I sing to life, to its beauty, to each of its wounds and each of its caresses..."
Posts: 1831 | Location: New York, New York | Registered: 21 December 2002
Silver picture frames and money are the two but the normal gift really is just finding out where a person is registered (lista di nozze) and picking from the list.
quote:Originally posted by Westsider: Maybe you are right, but let's not forget that there are Italians and Italians and not everybody has the same kind of relationship with the people they bring gifts to. What it seems to be appropriate for some, it may not be for others. I think we all should exercise our own judgement w/o following suggestions/advices by the letter. That's what I always do. I listen/read but I do what I think is best.
Exactly but remember, if you have a relationship then you already know the person. Unfortunately many people have read that list and gone to visit relatives for the first time and have brought Wild rice with instructions in English and without bringing cup measures, peanut butter (which we have here) or jeans. If you know them then go with your gut, if you don't know them (I am not talking about someone you have met online either but a real face to face relationship) then go with the safer items.
quote:Originally posted by Cristina: ... If you know them then go with your gut, if you don't know them (I am not talking about someone you have met online either but a real face to face relationship) then go with the safer items.
I haven't met you personally, but online, unlike the many friends I already have from Andrea Bocelli forums, which I've met personally throughout all these years. Nevertheless, I already have an idea of what gift(s) I could bring to you if I ever visit you in Siena Is easy as that. Sometimes you reveal more about yourself when you are online than when you are face to face
"Canto alla vita alla sua bellezza ad ogni sua ferita ogni sua carezza..."
"I sing to life, to its beauty, to each of its wounds and each of its caresses..."
Posts: 1831 | Location: New York, New York | Registered: 21 December 2002
The list at http://www.virtualitalia.com/travel/gift_giving.shtml is pretty funny. All the brands mentioned are widely available in Italy, in fact some Timberland styles are easier to find in Italy than the US! And how on earth would you buy jeans for someone you've never met? Peanut butter is available, and not much appreciated.
Tea towels, oddly enough, may often be a good choice. My mother-in-law collects them, and I see them in many homes (can't stand 'em myself, but "de gustibus...").
Foods can be hit or miss. Some things will be appreciated, some will just sit on the shelf. But at least you made the gesture.
quote:Originally posted by Mizz Eve: ...At least she can read English.
And I am sure she has plenty of cup measures, although as she is a pro in the cucina she wouldn't need to measure the ingredients. I'm a very good cook and I use measure tools only when I make cakes or soufles. Other than that, I just use my imagination. Maybe because I am 1/2 Chinese my rice always comes out perfectly cooked. So, don't feel bad
"Canto alla vita alla sua bellezza ad ogni sua ferita ogni sua carezza..."
"I sing to life, to its beauty, to each of its wounds and each of its caresses..."
Posts: 1831 | Location: New York, New York | Registered: 21 December 2002
I take great pride in Minnesota wild rice because most of it is gathered in the traditional manner by Ojibways on tribal land. It's not like the stuff they grow in California, there's a long ricing tradition here among Native Americans.
I almost bought some Minnesota honey from a guy at the farmer's market until he told me that Italian honey is superior to most honey found in the States. I also considered syrup, but that's more of a Vermount-thing.
I have to bring some gifts for people on my next trip and I am now at a loss.
Mizz Eve
summertime and the living is easy....... (it may not be summer where I am, but it's always summer in my mind)
I have to bring some gifts for people on my next trip and I am now at a loss.
It depends on the person for whom you're buying, how much you want to spend, etc.
However, I'll mention that some friends who came to visit with us from Iowa, where they were living at the time, brought us a small woollen blanket from one of those colonies where people wear old fashioned clothes (Amana? Shaker?). We've always liked the blanket. We used it as a baby blanket when our sons were infants. Now my husband and I use it to throw over our feet if we're feeling a little cool while we're watching television.
Anyway, if you have those kinds of colonies in Minnesota, I think people in a foreign country would regard goods from them as truly American.
When I was in Rome, the people at my local bar were so nice and friendly that I would love to bring them something when I return this coming September. Would California/Santa Monica tee-shirts and/or baseball hats be too tacky for words? Any other ideas? Yrs, Robert
Posts: 827 | Location: Santa Monica, California | Registered: 23 March 2002
Eve, I think the rice was 0perfect for Judy. She speaks English, knows how to cook and knows that you brought her something special to your area. I just believe that an Italian would not know what to do with it and as has been said over and over, Italians normally do not think foods form other countries are as good as thiers so you always run up against negativity. Anything else though from your area is perfect. Keychains, spoons, mugs all with MN on it (a picture of the state or the owrd or whatever). These are things that most will display proudly and point out to all of their visitors "look what my American friend brought for me!"
Robert, tees and caps sound PERFECT. I am sure they will love them. To be quite honest when we have gone stateside to visit the folks I have always gotten tee shirts for everyone from the different places we have stayed and everyone loves them. Funny as you can tell who are friends are during the summer as they are the ones walking around in San Francisco, Colorado Springs and Disneyland shirts
The gift that all the men ask us to bring them back is the Leatherman tools. Our electrician lost his and is begging for a new one - he promised to even show on-time in the future.
I loved the wild rice! but I do have emasuring cups.. and know what to do with it!
I ahve mentioend on previous thread, that little things they can use everyday are great. yes guys now do wher t-shirts with printing on them and baseball caps, for ladies cloth shopping bags printed with some fun stores..make conversation pieces.
quote:Originally posted by Cristina: Silver picture frames and money are the two but the normal gift [...]
May I add one thing? Being thirty(sh), I happen to have lots of friends whuo are getting married. During the past year I went to four weddings, and not one of the couple actually _craved_ for a silver picture frame. Rather, all of them were nicely scared of having to face such a gift (along with silver trays, silver or crrystal bowls or vases and similar items). Now, I am conscious of the fact that some like silver frames, but I would not bet my money on the fact that the young, rather cultured couple you to whose marriage you are invited will _certainly_ like a silver frame just because it is a rather common marriage gift. By the way, all of the couples to whose marriage I went actually received one of the items listed above. All of these items were honestly HORRIBLE and ended up being stashed in a drawer in the darkest ald least used room of the house. And one of the many reasons I decided a long time ago never to get married is that I do not want a darn silver frame stashed in some drawer in some dark and little used room!
Alice Twain -- I don’t want to take what you can’t give / I would rather starve than eat your bread I would rather run but I can’t walk / Guess I’ll lie alone just like before Pearl Jam, Corduroy
quote:Originally posted by Cristina: I just believe that an Italian would not know what to do with it and as has been said over and over, Italians normally do not think foods form other countries are as good as thiers so you always run up against negativity.
Cristina this is absolutely not true (I wanted to write "this is complete b******t", but than I noticed that it sounded a bit too harsh - or maybe not?). It is true for people from Tuscany (except Florence) and, genellay speaking, for people who live in the countryside. City people just love such stuff, and especially here in Milano you may easily find people who have not eaten a single dish f pasta in weeks, having fed themselves of Japanese, Indian and Turkish food all along. Besides, the Italian people are usually interested in what pother people eat, they may not like, but they will have a taste just for the experience, so bring the food, bring a large selection of foods in small amounts, so that we can have our taste and not bother on how to finish the stuff if we don't like it. Actually, the only Italians who are barely starting to accept the idea of Chinese food (chinese resataurants have been feeding us for nealty fourty years) are the Tuscans.
Alice Twain / who just had her Japanese lunch -- I don’t want to take what you can’t give / I would rather starve than eat your bread I would rather run but I can’t walk / Guess I’ll lie alone just like before Pearl Jam, Corduroy
(**astericks** added by Amy, and a few letters deleted, per Message Board Rules)
[This message was edited by Amy on 13 December 2003 at 06:56 AM.]
Alice I never said that all Italians felt this way and I never said that they would be offended if you did bring it. What I am trying to say is that not all would know what to do with it . I am not talking just about Tuscans either as I have friends and family from the north to the islands and all have made comments to me on my gifts from a long time ago (before I lived here) and from gifts they have recieved from others. Certainly those in Milano, Rome, etc. have a chance to try new things so they think it is great when they recieve food gifts.
Topic Closed
Is easy as that. Sometimes you reveal more about yourself when you are online than when you are face to face 
