Suitable Gift

[Ben W Bell]

With any luck in the next few months I'm off to Japan for a 3 week intensive language course, should help a bit. Anyway I'll be staying with a Japanese family and was wondering what would be an appropriate welcoming gift for when I arrive. I was thinking of a photo book of Kent (where I live) and the local towns and countryside and was wondering if the likes of that would be appropriate. Not too expensive but local to me. I can get ones that are actually in Japanese (they produce them for the tourists in Canterbury).

Also when would I give it to them? As soon as I arrive on the doorstep, once settled into my room, one evening or before I go.

[changedonrequest]

Ben that sounds like a great gift idea, might I also suggest a package of some kind of cookies or candy that is from your area.

Food products that you can carry on the plane are also great ideas for suveniors. Cookies, candies or cakes would also go over well, particularly ones that have your "local" flavor.

Good luck.

[Silverpoint]

There's no need to hand over gifts on the doorstep. Perhaps when you have your first dinner together you can give it to them. A nice touch would be to take a second small gift, which you could give shortly before you depart, as a memento for them to remember you by.

[nice gaijin]

Alas, this is exactly the kind of question for which I created This Thread (http://www.jref.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24728). Unfortunately, either no one checks for similar threads before asking their own gift-related questions, or everyone wants their own thread for their inquiries.

Sorry for taking things off topic; local items are definitely a good choice for gifts. I like Stinger's point about properly timing the gift-giving, and having a smaller parting gift as well.

[JimmySeal]

It would be easier for people to find those things if this forum had an operational search function.

I've been told that usually when you stay with a Japanese family, they lead you to your room and settle in, and usually the time to give a gift would be after that, but that's not written in stone. No need to hand it over at the doorstep though.

[Ben W Bell]

Apologies I didn't notice the other thread to be honest.

Local sweets, in my area that's really fudge. What are the levels of lactose intolerance in Japanese people. I know it is an issue with Chinese, Thai and some other eastern Asian peoples but I'm unsure as to whether something as high in dairy as fudge would be an issue with Japanese people.

[undrentide]

Local sweets, in my area that's really fudge. What are the levels of lactose intolerance in Japanese people. I know it is an issue with Chinese, Thai and some other eastern Asian peoples but I'm unsure as to whether something as high in dairy as fudge would be an issue with Japanese people.
It is true that in Japan some people have lactose intolerance of various degree, but normally it is only with fresh milk. (And from the fact that milk is served for school dinner, I'm sure it is not really a big issue.)
So you should not worry about fudge.
:-)

I've been to UK many times, and fudge is one of my favourite souvenirs for my parents, friends, colleagues... I've never heard of any problem with fudge.
But if you still have doubt, how about some biscuits instead?

And in any case, I believe your host family will be very happy with such a gesture from you (i.e. bringing something from your own country.)

[Cue]

I've never been to the UK... boo hoo :(
If I were your host family, I'd definitely love to have some postcards of your town, too!
Preserves, short bread or tea leaves may make another good sourveniors.
(Only if it's not too expensive...)

oh...btw, my favourite cigarette brand is Kent Ultra Menthol...
Is it related to the place where you are by chance?? xD

Q

[Mycernius]

I have heard that the Japanese are fond of a good malt whiskey. There are plenty to choose from at your local Sainsburys (Tesco, Asda, I just happen to shop at Sainsbugs). That's if you are feeling plush.

[ghettocities]

Take more than one thing and after giving them the initial present wait a few days after that and then be like "Oh here is more presents I forgot to give you all..." even if they are something small and inexspensive their (the Japanese family's) brains will register it as something of a Christmas calibur and then the fun part, after that they'll take you out to dinner, nights drinking and whatnot (especially if they have daughters,) take advantage of that and you'll practically have made the cost of your presents back plus $300 - $500 dollars in food and drinks, I don't know what your flag is and as far as I know Kent is in Washington but you know, just turn it into like 2,000frankies or 80,000lbs whichever your currency is.


I'm from Oregon and we have this sort of gift shop here in my city that has like fine wines from the Northwest and whatnot, I usually buy packaged in plastic/elegant case of dried salmon and then chocolate covered hazelnuts if not wine and other stuff that I feel will get me more in return.


What else, oh yeah this one time at the family who has adopted me in Japan's house my sister (who to this day I try to get drunk and mess around with,) wasen't feeling so hot so I told her other sister that I was going to go on a midnight mission on my skateboard to find her flowers right? Well so I left their mansion, got on my skateboard and made my way through the city looking for flowers and I couldnt find any! Then around 2am or 02:00hours I found this like closet size door leading to a slightly larger closet size door room with flowers in it! I could see all different kinds but there was a sign on the door that said "CLOSED" in english, then I looked down and like I don't rob people or anything but I checked to see if it was unlocked and it was and not only that but it was opened a crack so I took that as an invintation to go inside but rather I opened the door and peered into the dark room. In the back of the floral shop I could see another room with a light and someone watch TV, I called out excuse me in Japanese and this old Japanese man got up from where he had been sitting to see what was going on, I smiled as big as possible with a ton of money in my hands to show I came in peace, he then smiled back and I asked if I could buy all his exspensive flowers, he got a bunch, asked me what I thought, I bought them all and it was only like 26.00 dollars, I then went back on my skateboard, got back to the mansion and everyone was of course still awake, here is the good part, I then put the flowers at the front of their house, I rang the intercom, they opened the door and the one sister asked if I had found flowers and I shook my head. So I get to the living room and the really really fine Japanese sister of mine was all you know looking good and as predicted the one sister had told her that the reason I had left was to find her flowers and so the really good looking sister was like "Joshu... arigatou." Sooooooooo sexily, if sexily is a word. I then asked her what for and she said that me going out for her made her feel better even though I couldn't find flowers at this hour, I then excused myself, went down the stairs to the ground floor, opened the door, got the huge thing of flowers, went back upstairs and they were like ".................................................. ........................" followed by everyone crying.


Josh

[persil]

ghettocities, you're one weird guy.

I just can't believe what I read. It's just like a mountain of good intentions and stuff that makes people happy, but wrapped around an unhealthy dose of hypocrisy... ow...

Then, the second part, which is slightly off topic, is a touching story, I would've liked to be there to see that.

But... I mean, bringing/giving gifts... it's not to take advantage of people...

You're paradoxical. :souka:

[JimmySeal]

$300 - $500 dollars in food and drinks, I don't know what your flag is and as far as I know Kent is in Washington but you know, just turn it into like 2,000frankies or 80,000lbs whichever your currency is.
You can't identify this flag: http://www.jref.com/forum/images/flagloc/United_Kingdom.gif? Is that because you live under a rock or because your head is up your ***? $500 equates to approximately £250, which can't be abbreviated as "250lbs."

[doinkies]

ghettocities, there is one word that adequately describes you:

doink.

Actually, two words describe you even better:

egotistical doink.

To the OP, I like the fudge idea, or maybe some nice tea would be good too. The photobook is also a good choice.

[Ben W Bell]

I can do local shortbreads and postcards as well, Kent (in England, United Kingdom) is very picturesque so there is no shortage of nice photos. The thought of malt whiskey is another tempting thought, I could always take some Bushmills from my actual homeland (Northern Ireland) across.

[Dutch Baka]

Keep it nice in here guys! thank you

[Mike Cash]

Putting moves on the daughter of a family that has done you the extremely large favor of trusting you enough to take you into their home is not only unethical, it is despicable.

[ghettocities]

Putting moves on the daughter of a family that has done you the extremely large favor of trusting you enough to take you into their home is not only unethical, it is despicable.

Not this family! I was spending the night with my other Japanese sister every night in her room and what I found really strange was that like on the top floor of the house it was where two other siblings had rooms next to the girl's room I was spending the night in and the next day I'd wake up for breakfast or lunch if I slept in and everyone was acting like they wanted me (to go out with me, spend time with me,) and I was all thinking, "Hello did you not hear us from the hours of 11:00pm - 4:00am?" That's Japan though and that's why Visitor Q by takashi miike is my favorite movie of all time and that's why you should take LOTS OF PRESENTS (to stay on topic,) heh.

Josh

[Ermac]

Like most people have said, buy something from your home town that will not be found in japan. its unique and heartfelt.

a nice gift overall, no matter what it is.