Re: If you have family/friends outside of the country. . .

For my family in italy we always bring cigarettes - not the healthiest things, but some of my relatives smoke, so they like american cigarettes. A couple of my cousins asked for Ipods. We also bring clothes. They used to ask for CDs all the time.

Re: If you have family/friends outside of the country. . .

Thanks for all the responses! I got some good ideas and it is interesting to see what people are "lacking" where they live!

Re: If you have family/friends outside of the country. . .

So many of these things are actually available in Europe, for instance Ipods...they just want more presents!

Re: If you have family/friends outside of the country. . .

Posted by racheeeee

So many of these things are actually available in Europe, for instance Ipods...they just want more presents!

Re: If you have family/friends outside of the country. . .

The Ipods and Iphones are alot cheaper here than in Italy. that is the main reason they ask for them

Re: If you have family/friends outside of the country. . .

my family that lives abroad comes here enough that I don't need to bring anything to them.

I will tell you what was in my duty free bag on Tuesday though

2 jars of Nutella (I concur on the not sameness)
2 enormous wedges of parmigiano reggiano
salami
prosciutto
braseola
almond cookies
biscotti


I spent 102euro on FOOD!

we also pick up clothes. dh usually gets jersey's from his soccer club or other clubs that they don't sell in the states.

I like to shop on European clothing stores (I LOVE the stockings at Calzedonia!!!)

we also brought back espresso cups and demitasse spoons, and a few other housewares.

and now we've taken on baby clothes. the amount of stores and what you can buy for children there is incredible!! I plan to go there to stock up. I NEED my child to be dressed right. I am prepared to spend for it.

Re: If you have family/friends outside of the country. . .

Posted by tatuka

EVERYONE WANTS "AMERICAN SNEAKERS"(especially Niki, NB and Reebok) and "JEANS"(even if it says made in China,lol) Mostly I bring clothes for my family and candy/chocolate. they have all that back home(same brands), but for whatever reason people want them to come from America
From there I ask for Georgian wine, cheese and spices. Oh and Georgian books

Re: If you have family/friends outside of the country. . .

Posted by racheeeee

So many of these things are actually available in Europe, for instance Ipods...they just want more presents!

Re: If you have family/friends outside of the country. . .

My family in Italy:
Pancake Mix- always.. so funny
aluminum foil
gum
doritos

DH family in Poland
Gum
Lipton Tea
Pistachios
deodarant

Re: If you have family/friends outside of the country. . .

My cousin in Rotterdam asks for Hershey's chocolate syryp....when I was backpacking through europe I took several with me in my backpack and I couldnt wait to get to her place to unload it!

Re: If you have family/friends outside of the country. . .

My English cousins usually want Gap clothing. They love to come to NY and buy tons of clothes! My uncles want coffee

When i go there or they come visit.. all i want is sausage rolls, cornish pasties and pork pies. All other English grocery items i can usually find in the city (Branston Pickle, Malteasers, Bisto, Crunchie Bars, McVities Biscuits)

Re: If you have family/friends outside of the country. . .

my family is in germany.... we don't ask for stuff and neither do they.... we just give gifts...

(I am most appreciative when I receive marzipan It tastes very different from the american stuff (much more almondy and MUCH less sugar). when I go to germany, I request being served mohnkuchen (poppyseed cake with marzipan nuts and rum soaked raisins . When my aunt comes here, she wants american icecream.)

DH's family is in poland. when they come here, we ask for zubrowka (a special vodka with buffalo grass soaked in it... very herby, fragrant, and yummy). Not sure what they want from here, since we have yet to go there as a couple....

Message edited 5/14/2009 2:20:21 PM.

Re: If you have family/friends outside of the country. . .

I usually bring the following back to Ireland:

- The Financial and NY Times for my Dad
- All the trashy gossip mags for my Mother
- Large bags of hard candy (butterscotch, cinnamon)
- Medication: pain relievers, cortesone creams, etc.
- Sheets and towels for my friends
- Make up
- Handbags
- Gap and Osh Kosh clothes for my friends' kids

When I return to the US I usually bring:
- Clothes from Next, Dunnes Stores, Pennys and Marks & Spencer for my nieces
- Clothes from the above stores for my sister :)
- Anything about Rugby for my DH
- Brown soda bread
- Sausage rolls (don't tell customs)
- Good mustard
- Branston pickle
- Tayto Chipsticks

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Re: If you have family/friends outside of the country. . .

My mom asks me for Elizabeth Harden cosmetic creams.

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Re: If you have family/friends outside of the country. . .

Posted by Tilde

OMG If I brought DD coffee to Italy they would run me out of town. That is the one thing they complain about here

Re: If you have family/friends outside of the country. . .

My German relatives usually want books in English.

DH's family in Spain doesn't ask for much. My MIL once asked for face cream, but that's it.

but DH likes to bring home alot ...cured meats esp. fuet (not sure if I'm spelling that correctly), chorizo, manchego cheese, Spanish wine.

Re: If you have family/friends outside of the country. . .

I ask my family in Italy for the large Golia licorice packs. They sell the bags of small ones here but the packs of large ones are hard to find. They have a very strong flavor and are not for everyone. I love them!

Re: If you have family/friends outside of the country. . .

my family in ireland usually just wants clothes because as they are all over Europe they are expensive there and the quality not as good.

sometimes they ask for things like Advil and stuff from Costco so they'll have a lot for awhile. things we don't pay a lot for like aspirin, shampoo, deodorant, etc. is expensive there.

when they come or I go over, i usually just want the food! i love my Heinz salad cream, quite possibly the most delicious condiment on earth and all the chocolate. I LOVE Crunchies, Flakes and Aero bars. the best!

When DH goes to Italy, he loves his dried mushrooms (very popular in the sauce where FIL is from), cheese, salami, etc. unfortunately, a lot that is hard to bring back but grandpa at 88 years old always seems to get away with it!

Re: If you have family/friends outside of the country. . .

To Ireland we bring:

-Cap'n Crunch
-Bagels
-Thomas English Muffins
-Shake N Bake
-Maple Syrup


++ lots of duty free liquor and cigs

We bring back:

-Brown bread
-scone mix
-chocolates
-dunnes clothes

Re: If you have family/friends outside of the country. . .

When we see our family in israel I bring them "American" things, clothes from the gap, lucky, juicy. Gifts from Tiffany, coach, crate and barrel. They are all kosher so food items aren't really an option. Also they looove electronics from here and anything that is cheaper here.

Re: If you have family/friends outside of the country. . .

Message edited 5/14/2009 6:30:40 PM.

Re: If you have family/friends outside of the country. . .

Posted by Ophelia


and now we've taken on baby clothes. the amount of stores and what you can buy for children there is incredible!! I plan to go there to stock up. I NEED my child to be dressed right. I am prepared to spend for it.

Message edited 5/14/2009 6:30:08 PM.