What do you think is a unique gift that one could bring to the Czech Republic from the US?
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What do you think is a unique gift that one could bring to the Czech Republic from the US?
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There are lots of things that we take to the CR as special gifts. See’s candies are terrific, but the kids love double bubble bubble gum, tootsie pops, fruit roll ups… Hershey’s kisses and chocolate bars, flavored and regular coffees for the adults. One year we took lots of battery operated electric pencil sharpeners, and the list could go on and on…
The See’s candies is a good idea. I think something from your state would be a good idea. I’m from Texas so I would think packet of seeds from the state flower (Bluebonnet), beef jerky, pralines, peanut patties or Cowboy hat (could be difficult to pack). The US is such a melting pot that it’s hard to find something that is uniquely American.
When I visit my relatives in CZ, I usually bring small gifts representative of the the State I live in. I find souvenir shops very helpful.
See’s candies? I don’t even know what that is 🙂 I agree with Lori, something from your state would be great and also easy to get! Beef jerky, not sure if they would let you bring it to the EU, since it’s meat, same with seeds. But sweets would work, I used to bring Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups or Dove chocolates. Mugs with local pics from the state, shirts or beach towels with American flags, logos, etc. (cheesy but fun – now they have them in stores for 4th July) or logos of Superman, Spiderman, etc. Also and don’t laugh – Crest Whitening Strips for teeth (very popular gift!). For bikers – any Harley Davidson paraphernalia (shirts, gloves, scarves, mugs, etc.)
http://www.etsy.com/ features thousands upon thousands of gifts made by American artists, artisans, and crafters. Enjoy!
That is, items that can be given as gifts.
See’s candies are yummy and so is Ghirardelli chocolate. If you are looking for practical/household things, ziplock bags, swiffer for dusting, flower seeds, VS (for women), thick bath towels (hard to find in Czech), clam chowder soup, Levi’s jeans, Carter’s/Oshkosh clothes for kids, Gap clothes, coffee – Starbucks, Tully’s, travel mugs, artificial flowers from Michaels, Disney toys/clothes for kids, state specific keychains and T-Shirts …..
Wow, what great ideas! I love the idea of flavored coffees, did not know they did not have ziplock bags or battery operated pencil sharpeners in Czech! Michaels gifts are also an awesome idea. And they are inexpensive – especially when you have a coupon.
I guess it’s harder to please people who live in Prague, because they really have everything 🙁
I would buy a nice “coffee table” book on the USA or your state or city.
I have books from all over the world that I have received as gifts.
Yesss, that’s a great idea!!!! I think it would end up in a library since not very many Czechs do the coffee table books (maybe nowadays they do) but that does not mean that it would not be getting used often. I am sure they would be pulling it out, showing it to their neighbors and so forth.
PS: And you can always get them at the bargain price at the bookstores.
Actually the books are a great idea! I am running out of ideas on what to bring as presents every time I go there so you guys are totally inspiring me! 🙂
I think it’s best to avoid “big company” products, and get something from smaller, local companies.
Take chocolate for example– things like Dove/Mars, Hershey’s, and so on are pretty easy to get in Europe. But if you were to send something like an Amano Artisan Chocolate Bar, or an Askinosie White Chocolate Nibble Bar, or a TCHO SeriousMilk bar, you’d be sending something that is uniquely American, probably only available here, and really good.
Or, a cookbook of recipes from that country would also be great. We have a lot of influences from other cultures, but I think BBQ and grilling (especially if it’s specific to Texas, Kansas City, Chicago, or Tennessee) would be distinctly American.
Anything tied to arts or crafts would also be nice. I received a traditional wood carving from a friend in Suriname, and a hand painted canvas from family in Sweden. I have those on display in my house, and they are fun to talk about to my guests.
A book of American folklore (telling stories about the legend of Sleepy Hollow, Paul Bunyan, Johnny Appleseed, Pecos Bill, etc) could be good if they have children. Or maybe a picture book that shows images of the Rocky Mountains and other great scenery from the U.S.
You could send something that deals with the Old West, cowboys and Native Americans. The sky’s the limit with that, and that’s all specifically American.
Hope that helps!
Zajimave ze kazdy pise o jidle. Ja bych rekla ze unique veci jsou takove ktere opravdu ani v Praze nemuzou koupit, jako cepicka s ksiltem kde je napsane NY, nebo REd SOX! 🙂 Jako Nike veci, ktere v Cesku urcite stoji hodne, a treba flasku nejakeho localniho vina… tady je hodne vinic…to bych tedy ja kdybych jela do Evropy kamkoliv….rada bych do Parize!
Tanja,
How about some local homemade fudge or small baker items that don’t cost much or will perish on the trip over. American pies are a good treat, I don’t think they have much of that there. I know it may sound weird, but if you are visiting children or the elderly, how about some vitamins. They can be expensive over there and could be a useful gift for family members. When we visited my wifes family, we brought coffee, tea, chocolate, bakery, shampoos, perfume/cologne and other necessities that can either be costly or US brands not available for purchase.
I’d say bring some White Castles over there, they never had anything like that. =) HA!! Anyone from the Midwest knows what I’m talking about.
Whenever my inlaws come to the US, they always bring home with them packets of dry Itailian dressing. Apparently, they don’t have it over there. You could go to the myczechrepublic.com board and ask for suggestions from Czechs of things they want but can’t get over there.
I love Marika’s idea of local wine. If you have a brewery or winery close by, that makes a nice gift. I also love the idea of American team gifts such as a Blackhawks t-shirt. If you wanna get real cheese you can order online statue of liberty lighters, pens, & flashlights or I heart NY shirts.
I think that good wine is plentiful in EU, no need to bring from abroad. Plus the way they handle baggage, I’d be afraid of breakage. If you risk it, then you should rather bring whiskey or a liquor they don’t have there 🙂 I know I always have success with that!
Yes, a Chicago Blackhawks shirt would be a great idea. GO HAWKS!!! Just make sure you put Frolik on it. Sadly the only Hawk from Czech Rep. right now. Hossa is Slovak.
67 all the way!! 😉
Katkazameriky, Let’s just hope 67 keeps up his performance from the playoffs into next year or else he could be saying bye to the team. We need more Czech players on here.
Katka
Whereabouts in Chicagloand are you from? I’m down in Naperville.
I agree that Frolik needs to step up in the NHL. I was getting worried for him during reg season last year. I’m not from Chicago. I’m from a little town in Michigan which is often known as “The Hamptons of Chicago”. It’s just across the Michigan border and it’s only about 1 1/2 from Chicago. Most the homes on the lake are second homes owned by FIPs (fabulous IL people or f__king IL people – whichever you choose to use, I prefer fabulous ;-).
Frolik will be fine. Just a bad year with bad supporting players around him. You must be from around St. joseph. My wife and I go there every once in a while. Don’t own a home there because I don’t have $1 million in my pocket for play money. Nice area though. As for the Illinois people, you could classify some as fabulous or the other. Depends on how stuck up they are.
Any good Czech places in Michigan to go to?
I’m from New Buffalo but I’ve worked in St. Jo./Benton Harbor for the last 10 years. As for Czech places in the area — there’s a restaurant in Michigan City owned by a Czech person so there are some Czech dishes on the menu. There’s also Rosie’s in New Buffalo which is a restaurant open for breakfast and lunch only and it’s owned by a Czech couple so there are also a couple czech dishes on the menu, but other than that, no. We drive to Chicago usually to go out to a Czech restaurant. We also have to go to Chicago to shop for several Czech things to take back home, such as food items or becherovka or slivovice. 🙂
There’s about 5 or 6 Czech families here though so we all get together often, especially throughout the summer.
Thanks for the info. I’ve heard of Rosie’s, but never have been there yet. May I ask where you bought food items…etc. in Chicago? I can only find Polish foods at local markets and not much stuff Czech. Haralky is as close to anything Czaech, other than Knedliky as I can find here beyond going to the restaurants. If you want, you can writer me back at post212121@aol.com that way we don’t clog the message boards here. Look forward to chatting more.
Greg
As a Czech living in USA, please, don’t bring Czechs American chocolate. It’s a rare Czech who is willing to consume Hershey’s. Forget about food unless the Czech person there asks you for something specific to bring (maple syrup, for example). Bring something local, even a postcard, a pencil with your town written on it, T-shirt (“somebody in Colorado loves you”) etc. I also bring CDs of my favorite American artist that wouldn’t be possible to buy in Czech, also local earrings are great gift for my girlfriends. Bring something people might use and thus it will remind them of you.