My daughter is going to Pueblo Ingles this summer in Spain and wanted something "American" to give out to other teens. Has to be light and small since we are travelling for 2 weeks before, and cheap because, duh, there are 60 of them. Any ideas?
Hmmm, that is a tough one. Maybe magnets or pins from your city?
Keep 60 magnets well they away from your ATM and credit cards, if you want to be able to use those cards on your trip!
Seed packets, picture post cards, your state quarter (the ones with each state's design on the "tails" side", Cds of traditional TN or Memphis music, local candy, Vols memorabilia, state or National Park decals or stickers. Anything your daughter would like if it was from somewhere "cool" (as in not from home. Have a great time.
Don't spend much money for it. Some health food stores in the U.S.A. have a high quality candy : individually wrapped pieces. (I forget the brand name). A bag of mint candy, and a bag of butterscotch flavor candy. Give one piece of candy to each person.
I like the seed packets idea. My daughter got a couple from France recently, and she was thrilled. Waiting to see how the flowers do in a pot :-)
What about a patch with something from your State on it? Pins might be a nice idea too. I am trying to think of small, cheap items that are not Chinese made! Local candy (saltwater taffy), mini bars of candy. Think Halloween size.
Not sure if it's true of Spain or not, but many times seeds and other plant products not allowed to be brought in to the country. If you want to do seed packets you might want to find out whether it is permissible.
Original Jelly Beans are known to Europeans but not overly much so and they're very, very expensive to get over here.
Postcards of your hometown would be great - and some of the local retailers might even cut you a discount if you got a enough for 2/recipient. I've been able to do that with cards that I was purchasing to send to the troops in Iraq.
IF seed packets are legal, then how about a packet of state flower seeds? Carrying 60 CD's would be a pain, but if you're taking a laptop that can burn CD's, load up local music on the laptop and buy the CD's at your destination. Burn them and have fun watching the kids with their entirely new tunes - perhaps something that isn't known world-wide, more regional from your area (which is quite rich musically!) Interestingly enough, there is a following for American folk music abroad.
Stickers. Kids love them. Find them for skateboard companies, snowboard or ski companies etc. Very light weight, and not too expensive if you have to buy.
Think of American companies like K2, Keen, Life is Good, Teva, Timberland, DC, Burton, etc.
Very collectible. They can put them on water bottles, notebooks, their Vespas!
What about an assortment of pins from our presidential candidates?
If you're from Tennessee, may I recommend a few bottles of barbeque sauce (enough for 60 kids to try a little bit)? I brought some barbeque sauce to my in-laws in Belgium, and it was a big hit.