I am going to Asiago for a family reunion in September, and then on to the Padua area to meet with family from my father's side. There could well be about 20 cousins and an aunt....

Any suggestions as to what kind of gifts I could bring, keeping in mind that I will have to pack all of these things and still have room for clothes, etc.! And ages will vary from the 30's to my aunt who is 95!

I'd appreciate any ideas you have.

Thanks,

Louise

I am travelling from Australia to meet cousins on my husbands side whom we have never met. I went to our Wilderness Society shop and bought lots of things to do with wildlife and Aboriginal artwork. Small model toys for children, koalas etc, scarves with Aboriginal designs, soaps made from Australian seeds and oils, caps, handtowels with embroidery of native wildlplants. All fairly exotic to Italians I imagine. Another relative told me they dont have caramels or cashews. So bags of caramels and cashew nuts! I dont know how all this stuff will go down, but I found some small gifts from a Japanese visitor fascinating because of their exoticness (?). When I visited the US 5 years ago what struck me was the physical beauty of the place - Yosemite etc and the remnant wildlife, maybe gifts that refer to this?. My sister in law who lives in Portland, Oregon, always brings salmon to us in Australia, or Native American items. My Japanese visitors were speechless at some of the Aboriginal things they saw - endlessly fascinating to them. Anyway, just a few ideas - good luck? (a relative from Turin brought us a teatowel from Piedmonte and I love using it and always look at the pictures on it - transports me away from a dreary sink to an exotic place)

Hi Phillipa,

my family in Italy go mad for... VEGEMITE!!!

Seriously, they can't get enough of it. They eat it like it's Nutella.

For the kids also take some packets of Caramello Koalas and Fruchocs.

Louise-

Have you seen the topic on the FAQ forum? It has links to a half dozen previous threads with some great ideas.

When visiting an elderly aunt, I always bring along something she can use, such as small bottle of Eucalyptus oil or as Phillipa suggested, soaps made with Australian ingredients. My aunt does not want to 'collect' anything anymore at her age, as she has started to give things away.

It does not matter what country you are from, just find some small thing, light and appropriate for packing, and relevant to your country.

Elly

Not sure you have a Trader Joe's in your area, but it's great for gifts. I always bring back beef jerky, wild rice, chai latte mix and yogurt covered blueberries for my Italian family.

I always think it's nice to bring something "indiginous" of your area as well...

Small (5X7) but tastefull picture frames with pictures of your immediate US family wrapped to include a card with an appropriate, family note in Italian.

Peter