Gift

Good Kentucky bourbon is universally understood as thank you.

Something from your 'home' area. A nice photographic calendar or 'coffee table' book with pictures of your area, handcrafted items from a local market- lace, table cloth, napkins, or placemats, dresser scarf, pot holders or trivets, etc. With TSA on high alert these days, I can't recommend bringing food items- especially cheeses and meats (TSA says they look exactly like C-4 explosive material on x-rays). Or pick up something once you arrive- a good bottle of wine and flowers and/or chocolate are always nice gifts.

I'm with Toni on this one. Take some pictures in a book or calendar that highlight Minnesota scenes. Take some small hand crafted item from your region. The relatives in the Netherlands may want to see something about why their common ancestor chose to settle in your area and what makes it beautiful or unique to you.

We met some 5th cousins from Shetland Islands on one of our trips a few years ago to Scotland. I ended up making a small scrapbook. I took pictures of my house and my sister's house, where we worked, our cars. Went to Stillwater (OSU- college), took pics of our campus and dorms, streets of Tulsa, Ok where we live, favorite fast food we like (taco Bueno). our elem, junior high and high school where we attended. Our favorite convenience store (QT), sites around Tulsa area, etc. You get the jest! They never have been to the states. We thought it was a neat little book of our home area

Kim

kprater:

That is a great idea! We have been to visit relatives in Italy many times and have always racked our brains for gift ideas. I never thought of a scrapbook of our life here!

Well, the scrap book idea and the coffee table book and calendar are fine if you think they would be interested. If they aren't, the items will end up in a desk drawer and never looked at again. I agree with Perry (above) in that you can never go wrong with a bunch of flowers and a bottle of good wine.

I agree that a bouquet of flowers is always welcome when visiting a European home. A food item from your hometown also would be appreciated--chocolates, dried cherries or blueberries, smoked salmon, etc.

If you know the family tree from the departure of the mother land to this date, have it done nice and present it to them so they will have a record of their reach into the new world. If you know who the first immigrant was, take them a photo of the grave (unless he is still kicking)