Gift-giving norms and what you should bring to your host family
Studying abroad with University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) means you’ll have plenty of opportunities to learn about cultural differences. If you’re staying with a host family, you’ll gain firsthand experience of those nuances. Many host families pick up their students at the airport, and so a common question we receive from students is “Do I need to bring my host family a gift?” The short answer is, yes!
Gift-giving norms
While it’s not always common in the United States to bring a gift when meeting someone new, the exchange of gifts is a key part of many cultures. In the U.S., we may bring an appetizer or a beverage if a friend or acquaintance is hosting us, but it is not common to bring a gift when simply meeting with new people.
Not only is it important to recognize and respect the cultural norms of your new host country, but giving a gift can be a nice way to break the ice and show your homestay family that you appreciate them inviting you into their home. After all, you will be eating, sleeping, and living with this family for the next several weeks or months.
Before you start shopping, it’s worth doing some research about gift-giving customs in your host country. You might be surprised at what you find. For example, did you know giving yellow roses is considered a sign of contempt in Chile, or that you should avoid giving four or nine of anything in Japan because it’s unlucky?
Finding the right gift
While getting a gift for someone you’ve never met before can be stressful, your gift doesn’t have to be expensive, big, or fancy. The most important thing is to be thoughtful.
We always encourage students to pack light for study abroad, and it’s no different when choosing a homestay gift. Remember that you’ll be traveling a very long way with whatever item you choose, so be cautious that you don’t choose something overly heavy that takes up a lot of room in your suitcase, or will go bad before you arrive (such as certain foods). Be sure to check the TSA website for updated regulations of food before you go.
Check out our guide on how to pack for study abroad to make sure you haven’t missed anything important as you make space for a homestay gift.
Now that you’re ready to start looking for that perfect homestay gift, here are four ideas to inspire you.
Something that represents your home
Is your home state known for something special? Dry food items such as coffee, chocolate, or tea can be a great way to share your home with your host family. Local honey or jam can be nice options too, but make sure to seal them tightly so you don’t arrive in your new home with a sticky suitcase.
Non-food items are excellent choices, too. Consider a candle, framed photo, or a magnet featuring your hometown.
Something for the family
Many homestays will include families with children of different ages. Before you head abroad, learn how many people you’ll be living with and their ages. Younger children would probably love to receive a coloring book as a gift. Older children might enjoy a baseball cap representing your favorite sports team from back home.
For the whole family, consider bringing a deck of cards or a fun family board game that you can play together during your time abroad. Gear and apparel from your home institution is another great option, and it’s typically easy to find something for any age.
Something that relates to your hobbies
Do you love to paint or draw? Consider crafting a small piece of artwork before you head abroad. A small painting that can fit in your suitcase or backpack can be both a thoughtful gift and a conversation starter.
If you love to read, gift your host family with your favorite book, or a book around your home state or hometown.
If you like to spend your free time in the kitchen, head abroad with a cookbook of your favorite recipes that you can cook alongside your host family.
Whatever your favorite hobbies may be, bringing a gift that relates to that activity can help others get to know you better.
Something unique to the U.S.
It’s possible that your host family has not been to the U.S., which means that you get to bring your home to them. Think about items that are unique to your home, and then do a little research to double check that it’s not available in your program location.
For example, peanut butter does not exist in many places overseas. Stick a jar or two of peanut butter in your suitcase to share with your host family.
Other ideas include calendars, postcards, and photo albums that you can add pictures to together.
No matter what homestay gift you decide to bring, remember to keep it simple, inexpensive, and from the heart, and soon, you’ll be off to a great start in your new home.
