A gift idea for German friends

Since you live in CA. think about a coffee table book with photos of the Coast, the Redwoods, and other typical natural scenery sites of California. Native American artwork usually goes over well with Germans too. Or, you could just take them out for a nice dinner?

I like Jo's idea... dinner is always a nice gesture. Otherwise, why not wait until you see how they live, etc. and send them a thank you gift after you return home. If you feel the need to show up with a hostess gift why not a nice bottle of wine that you can pick up at the airport, or a bouquet of flowers, then follow up with the thank you gift or dinner.

I think the coffee table book about California is a great idea. Are you aware that amazon has a German website and that you can order stuff through them? However, they will charge a foreign transaction fee to your credit card, as well as shipping. However, that is probably still cheaper than mailing something from the U.S. to Germany.

If you order through amazon.de and have a book shipped to a German address you will NOT be charged a shipping fee. Amazon doesn't charge a special transaction fee for foreign cc either, you only pay the fee your cc charges. The German government subsidizes shipping on books to promote literacy. It is very cheap so most booksellers do not charge for shipping to a German address. There are even a few that offer free shipping world wide. However, be aware that the range of books on amazon.de is quite different from what you have on amazon.com. The US are a popular tourist destination for Germans so you will find some books about California but not necessarily your favourite titles. Other popular gifts for Germans include things related to native culture, e.g. a dream catcher

We take one or more gifts to Europe every summer for our home exchange family and any other locals with whom we might interact. We try to buy locally made things. In the past we have taken flat pottery pieces (like garden stake signs), little pieces of local scenic artwork, canvas shopping bags with local things silk screened on the sides, etc. Whenever there is a local art/craft market, I buy a few flat things to take to Europe.

It's funny that a couple people mentioned Indian/Native American stuff...I've always wondered why so many Germans have a fascination with American Indians?

I don't know any German who has not read a book or seen a movie about Winnetou - THE image of the Native American as created by the writer Karl May: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_May from wikipedia: "Karl May had a substantial influence on a number of well-known German-speaking people - and on the German population itself. The popularity of his writing, and indeed, his (practically always German) protagonists, are considered by some as having filled a lack in the German psyche which had few popular heroes until the 19th Century. His readers longed to escape from an industrialised, capitalist society, an escape which May offered them. He was noted as having "helped shape the collective German dream of feats far beyond middle-class bounds". The image of Native Americans in Germany is greatly influenced by May. The name Winnetou even has an entry in the main German dictionary Duden. The wider influence on the populace also surprised post-WWII occupation troops from the US, who realised that thanks to Karl May, "Cowboys and Indians" were familiar concepts to local children (though fantastic and removed from reality).
Many well-known German-speaking people used May's heroes as models in their childhood. E. g. physicist Albert Einstein was a great fan of Karl May's books and is quoted as having said "My whole adolescence stood under his sign. Indeed, even today, he has been dear to me in many a desperate hour..." Many others have given positive statements about their Karl May reading."

We have friends in Bavaria and have given them Rock n Roll long sleeve teeshirts from musical venues in Austin and central american handicrafts- Guatemalan fabric purses and wallets, small Mexican silver dishes, local candy made with chocolate, caramel and pecans "Turtles" aka "Longhorns". We always take them to dinner as they don't eat out as often as we do. I wouldn't mail a gift though, it's much nicer to give
a gift like that in person, and you'l have a bit more space for your souvenirs coming home.

I too have given either coffee table books or books that are specifically about Wisconsin. For example, I gave my friend who farms in Scotland, a book about the barns and farms of Wisconsin. The other thing that I have given her is calendars from Wisconsin. We have beautiful WI calendars and I know you have gorgeous ones for CA as well. On the odder front, I once gave Carol a cheesehead hat. This one had a side story as we had some friends who were from Holland who kept calling themselves cheeseheads, which I thought was hysterical. ; ) I don't know if you can find something quite so bizarre and unique in CA, but I would think that you could! Pam

Rik, I wonder if that might be because of the common thread of genocide. The Holocaust isn't the only example of genocide in the history of the world, but is by far the most well known and most discussed (at least in the USA). The US treatment of Native Americans is an example of "hey it just ain't us, they did it too."

@ ed - no, no, no, no, no.
Where in the world would you get such an idea? That is horrible. Please, who would identify with something like this? People in Europe and especially Germans enjoy the thought of the Native Americans having all this open space, a life of freedom, hunting, being creative with their artwork and being one with nature. Were you not a boyscout? Did you not enjoy camping under the stars, cooking over a fire, making things out of leather? Well, Germans like to do this too and they also have Boy Scouts, but they are called Path Finders. This also introduces lots of information about life in the Americas and all the crafts and joys of living in the woods. Beatrix gave a very, very good explanation about Karl May and it is absolutely true what she said.

@ ed I'm with Jo on this one. The image of Native Americans as created by Karl May might not be a very realistic one, in fact it is a very romanticized version. But it is one many many Germans feel an emotional connection to. On a more academic level you can link a number of genocides across the world with each other, incl. the Holocaust and the Native American experience. Read Bernhard Schlink's "Guilt About the Past" which explains that very well in an extremely readable form. But it is NOT an issue that's on people's mind when dreaming about a trip to America. Few would want to talk about it with their guests visiting from abroad.

Pamela said: "I don't know if you can find something quite so bizarre and unique in CA, but I would think that you could!" Isn't all of that 'Ah-nold' memorabilia on sale right now? ;-) If I think of any other ideas, "I'll be baaack"... (if you make it to the Sacto Helpline gathering this Sat, you both can slap me)

Thank you for the interesting ideas. I had no idea about the interest in American Indians, and everyone gave me some great things to consider. I appreciate the help.

Thank you for the interesting ideas. I had no idea about the interest in American Indians, and everyone gave me some great things to consider. I appreciate the help.

In addition to Native American themed gifts, you might consider something realted to the California Gold Rush. Isn't gold country right in your backyard in Granite Bay? I have friends who visit from Germany and they are always quite interested in the history of California, Sutter's Mill, Barbary Coast, etc. Just a suggestion...

Calendars! I also found some local (blank) greeting type cards at my local Borders book store to write thank you notes.

Someone mentioned a bottle of wine, but that is about the last thing I would give to a German friend or acquaintance. I did this only once, and then found out that the Germans I know are much more knowledgeable about wine than I am, AND they have their favorite vineyards where they buy their wine every year. My gift was gracefully accepted, but I won't do it again. I like the idea of a book, and in theory a calendar would be nice, but keep in mind that their weeks on calendars start on Monday...

Check out the travel section at Barnes and Noble. The name of the book escapes me (senior moment) but it is beautiful book that shows all the countries of the world with a beautiful picture or two of great sights and information about each country. I bought one, my son has one and we love it. Just an idea. Maybe I will remember and if so will let you know.

I have received through the net that photo gifts are a great idea to be sent by mail. :D

Maybe a picture book of a U.S. National Park - Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, etc. Many people I have met in Europe are fascinated by our parks. Whatever you decide give them, just don't tell them you are giving them a "gift." It means "poison" in German. ;)

(Checks date of OP) Now realizing that Susan & Monte have likely taken care of this by now. Doh!

You can put together photos of your area of the country and your house, etc. and put together a personalized coffee table book at Shutter Bug (the website). Since you are friends with them, maybe something a little more personalized would be good.

I don't understand how so many OLD posts get dredged up. Don't people pay attention to the dates? Yes, Susan & Monte have been back from their trip for over 2 months. I think this matter has been resolved.

Out of curiosity I went back to where this post was last replied to, March 22, that is 27 pages back! I guess some people really really like to peruse the board!

Well, we had a wonderful trip! We ended up buying a picture book of California, some Sees candy, and a few other little things, and arrived with flowers. I think it was more of the thought than the actual gift. I just didn't want to show up empty handed and wanted to show our appreciation for their hospitality. They were very welcoming to us and made us feel at home. They will be life-long friends. We are so lucky!

Well, has anyone clicked on the link that is in the post of the person who dredged up this old post? I know I haven't. Makes me suspicious, when posts like these appear, with a link to something else.

Good point about the link, I'm staying away from it, never know to where or what it will lead.

What's wrong with the link? It's just a suggestion. People. Tsk. Tsk.

The problem marieeileezha is this thread is about 6 months old and was 27 pages back, there has been history of people opening old threads and placing ads and potential viruses on links. And it just didn't make sense to respond to a post that old, they tend to send up red flags.