What are some good gift ideas for my host mother?

You’re so excited to go on your new study abroad adventure! You pack the gear you need for a semester of travel and learning, you book your flights, you step off the plane, you’re ready to go. You walk into the home of the host mother who will be boarding you, feeding you, and welcoming you into the family for the next few months… With no thank you gift!

Don’t be that guy!

It’s common knowledge as well as a common courtesy to present your host family with a gift when you arrive at their home. However, this is also one of the most commonly overlooked items when starting on your study abroad packing checklist. Don’t forget! Save a couple of cubic inches of space at the very top of your suitcase, and you won’t regret it.

Remember, it’s a big endeavor to host a student for a foreign exchange program, and it’s customary to come with at least a small token of appreciation. It’s called a homestay for good reason – they are offering you a place in their home, possibly amongst their family. In some cultures, this carries even greater significance than Americans realize. Sure, you could get something there (or in another country during your travel), but the most thoughtful and appreciated gifts are going to be the ones that have some connection to where you come from.

Remember, this is the first interaction that you’re going to have with people who are taking a big chance on you, and who will be an integral part of the success or failure of your study abroad enjoyment. It’s also a great way to break the ice and get a good conversation started about your customs and life back home. Meeting your study abroad hosts can even be a little awkward at first, but a well thought out gift can alleviate the tension and get the relationship started on the right foot.

Read on to find our list of the most meaningful gifts for your study abroad host family, and make a good impression on your new hosts.

Study abroad host family gift ideas

Utilitarian gifts

Utilitarian gifts are great because the recipient will remember and appreciate you every time they use them. But that doesn’t mean that trinkets are necessarily bad gifts. The key attribute here, though, is that they are thoughtful. If there is a story you can tell about why a particular item is meaningful to your culture or your family back home, your Spanish home family is sure to appreciate this sentiment.

Sports gifts

Sports lovers may appreciate a Jersey from one of your favorite sports teams back home. Even if it’s American football and not futbol, it’s sure to be a talking point when they wear it going out. This is also a huge hit if your host family has children – just make sure you get the right sizes.

Cookbooks

Cookbooks featuring local or cultural recipes are a great way to get to know your Spanish host family. As an added benefit: if you find yourself getting homesick later on in your stay, you could request a specific meal from the cookbook, or even offer to cook one of your favorites together. What a great bonding experience!

Picture books

Regional picture books are another way to share your origin story with your host family and give them a little taste of your life back home. They make great coffee table books, and they’ll think of you every time they thumb through them.

Games

Games that you can all play together. This is another great icebreaker that will enable you to spend some additional quality time with your host family. Playing games together with your host family will also pay dividends towards your language comprehension. Guess what, you can even get country-themed board games.

Spanish film

Find a Spanish copy or subtitled version of one of your favorite films. This is another gift that can lead to some extra time spent together with your host family, and is a fantastic conversation starter.

Snacks

Your favorite snacks (if they travel well) can be a great host family gift. Bonus points if it’s something unusual in their culture (but still palatable, of course). Even better if it’s unique to your area or something that your home state is known for, like maple syrup in Vermont, cheese in Wisconsin, or something like that. Pretty much anywhere you live, you can find some local jam, local honey, locally made chocolate, or something similar. Think about what food makes your home special that may not be commonplace elsewhere in the world. Just make sure it’s something that is not a dietary restriction, either personally or in the host’s culture.
Here are some other ideas:

• Fudge
• Brownie mix or cookie mix
• Hot chocolate mix
• Barbeque sauce
• Hot sauce or sriracha
• Hot cocoa mix
• Candy
• Beer glasses from a local brewery (you probably can’t travel with the beer itself). Make sure you can get it through customs as well – your mileage may vary depending on the country that you will be entering.

Postcards

If you travel around while studying abroad, think about picking up some creative postcards and stamps that you find on your journeys. You’ll probably already want to get some for friends and family back home, but consider getting extras to leave with your host family to keep in touch after you’ve gone.

Photo album

A photo album that you can fill up together. You’re going to share some amazing and unforgettable memories with your host family, and you’re sure to want to document them. Finding a way to present them in an attractive way can be a great present. Here’s a tip: buy two and get doubles of all of your photos printed, so that you can leave one and take the other with you. That’s a unique and thoughtful gift that will let your host family know that you’ll be thinking of them.

Photos

Framed vintage photo of your hometown. This is thoughtful, interesting, and a cool conversation starter.

Gifts from home

Mug, glass, tea towel, or another household item that has something pertaining to your hometown, home state, or local culture.

Ornaments

Christmas tree ornament, if they celebrate Christmas and it’s the right time of year. You may be able to find some locally made or with a local landmark or feature. You may also be able to personalize this.

Gifts for the kids

Something for the kids. When you talk to your host family before you arrive, ask what the kids are into and get them a little something. It shows that you have taken an interest in their whole family. The kids will love you for it right off the bat, too. It’s best if the parents approve of the gift first though, so you get something age-appropriate that is also not overwhelmingly noisy or messy if that will not be appreciated. Consider a stuffed animal of a representative critter from your area, or a pet that you have back home. Coloring books are also usually a hit and it’s easy to find them with local themes. (Adult coloring books are also hot right now and may be a good ice breaker.)

Puzzle

Small puzzle or keychain with something related to your hometown, home state, or home country.

Cutting boards

Cool cutting boards or cheese boards in the shape of your home state. These can be found in slate, wood, etc. to fit any decor, and are an extremely utilitarian gift. Your host family will think of you every time they use it, and talk about you to future guests.

Something else not on this list – just ask! Believe it or not, some host families have been trying to find a particular item that they aren’t able to get in their own country. You can be their lifesaver by bringing it in with you when you come.

Gifts to avoid:
Don’t get them something that they could buy just anywhere in their own country. It’s ok to buy something online and bring it with you, but it should be something that you put some thought into and has a story behind it. If it’s something readily available, they could easily have gotten it themselves. It shows laziness, and they know their preferences better anyway.

Remember, it’s critical to understand your audience. A trinket that may seem perfectly normal and thoughtful in one culture may be considered lame or even downright offensive in another. We’re here to help take some of that research off of your plate and help with some specific host family gift ideas that will be well received by a Spanish host family.

This small token of gratitude is a symbol of your appreciation, as well as a stellar first opportunity for your host family to get to know a little bit more about you. First impressions are key; so, make your choice carefully!

Have fun!

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