Gift for a host? help please!

[bluenailvarnish]

Hey everyone

Ok, I'm going to China in a few months and I will be staying with two families for two weeks at a time.

I was wondering: What would be a good thank you gift to give them? I think money may be too crass, so I was thinking some gifts from England (home)? Unless there is another gift you should give them?

Is there a standard amount you should spend on a host family etc? I don't want them to think I'm a freeloader!!

Apologies if this is already a topic of conversation. Thank you for any advice!! xxx

[drencrom]

Don't get them junk from your homeland, Chinese don't care about that. Just bring a big ol' can of olive oil, that works great.

[Koxinga]

In many European countries there are proverbs that define a guest as someone who stays for up to three days. So I would expect anyone who stays for more than three days to contribute monetarily (gifts don't pay the rent). If I stayed for two weeks at someone's place, I'd give them my fair share of rent for that amount of time + appropriate gifts for their hospitality. In this case it would be, as you said, something native to your home country. I'll leave the suggestions for specific items to other people.

[muirm]

When I went a few years ago I brought along a nice coffe-table book full of scenic photos of California (where I'm from). I think my mom suggested it at the time.

[bluenailvarnish]

I dont know whether this changes things, But I am friends with the daughters (who invited me) of the parents, who own the house . So, I know i'm technically a stranger, but thats why I'm also a bit uncertain about money...If money is the way to go, how much would be appropriate? assuming breakfast and dinner will be provided

Thanks for the suggestions so far. (Olive oil?!? really?) xx

[drencrom]

European standards don't apply in China.

[abcdefg]

I think money may be too crass, so I was thinking some gifts from England (home)?

Giving cash isn't considered crass in China. Put it in a red envelope. Budget an amount roughly equivalent to what you would pay for simple commercial lodging for that amount of time (between 100 and 200 Yuan per night.) Then supplement it with a gift from home.

I would add that the best answer may actually vary depending on the personal details of the arrangement. For example, the equation would change if you or your family have previously befriended these folks in some similar way when they visited England.

Were these home stays arranged through an agency or school? Are these host families friends of friends? Lots of variables could affect what would be considered the most appropriate behavior. More details might help get you better advice.

[fanglu]

If you are paying the hosts (or they are being paid by someone else on your behalf), cash is probably not a good gift.

[abcdefg]

@Fanglu is right. OP, you need to supply more information.

[Lu]

Something typical for your home country: a coffee table book with pictures is nice, or a calendar, or some local specialty (check first if this is something Chinese people might like to eat/drink). I would also feel weird giving money. You could also take the host family out for dinner once you're there.

[Ruben von Zwack]

Most Chinese I've met - from Taiwan, Singapore and Mainland - seem obsessed with food, and when they come to stay with me (as my guests, for free) they would bring me food like sweets ot dried pork meat, spicy crackers, or little samples of good teas, as gifts.

Vice versa here they'll buy food to bring/send their folks home.

I don't know what you buy in England, but here on the continent, that would be for example Swiss Chocolate, and some special liquor (like Grappa from Italy) maybe.

Another trend I've seen with girls is skin care, for example, in Germany, Weleda is a popular natural brand (one of the more pricey you can find in a drugstore), so they'll get some Weleda lotions and shower gels for sisters and girl friends at home.

Another thing that seems very popular is these vitamin and mineral supplements that come in different flavours. My friends buy like 10, 12 of them before they fly back home. You add them to a glass of water and it will taste a bit like a soda drink. I was told they're expensive in Taiwan, so it's a very popular little souvenir. I've seen mainland Chinese drink the same, but I have no idea what they cost in mainland China, if they're cheap there, it wouldn't make sense as a gift of course.

[abcdefg]

If they have babies, consider bringing powdered baby milk.

http://www.chinese-forums.com/index.php?/topic/39679-chinese-trigger-australian-baby-milk-run/

[frankwall]

Has anybody ever tried giving hosts a bottle of whiskey or something like that from the homeland? Surely that would go down well...

[abcdefg]

Yes, that works well. It's a good choice.

They may put on the mantle and never open it, but in any case they should appreciate it. More so if it's a famous brand that they might have seen advertised on TV or some such. Extra points for an attractive gift box.