Gifts to take to Family Members

[shaun]

Rcsingle1, it is not my intent to destroy your thread but to make it easier to use, because I am inherently lazy. I thought it would be helpful to have a central list of good things to take as gifts to our ladies, their families and friends from America.

If I did not include some of your ideas it is because I am not sure and thought it was specific to an individual.  I tried to list the contributor for each item by tabbing the fields but it was all messed up when it was on the site. Sorry guys.  If I forgot something or you have recently found a great idea then post it and I will add it.

Jim Beam  (Many different brands of American Whiskey)
Moon Shine (if you can get your hands on it)
Local Wine (Bring a Cork Screw too)

American Cigarettes
Marlboro Cigarettes
Zippo Lighters  made in the US

Selected American Honey
Maple Syrup from Maine
Western Chocolate
Maple Candies
Chocolate from San Francisco (Ghirardelli Chocolate)
Big Hershey Bar
Buffalo Jerky
Jelly Belly – jelly beans
Colorful Sweets for children

Picture Book of from your Country
Picture Books of State and local area
Children’s Books  (written in English & Chinese)
Books of Poetry written in English & Chinese)
Fiction  (written in English & Chinese)

Locally made Hand Soaps   (Oatmeal & Honey,  Rose)

Yo Yo’s
Jacks
Baseball Hats   (Teenage Girl)
Ankle Bracelets  (Teenage Girl)
City Logo'd T-Shirts... like LA NYC ATL...

Facial Cream for the ladies

Vitamins
Royal Jelly
Health Tonics
Cod Liver Oil   - yech!!!
Multi-Vitimins   (Centrium)

Coins
Proof Sets
Morgan Dollars
Old Crisp Big Bills   ?


Shaun          0

[Buzz]

Like everything we seem to do here on the forum, we overthink and overlook the obvious.  I just asked my lady what was suitable.  I had heard about the vitamins, but was quickly told that their medicine was just as good and in many cases better than what I would bring.  (Different age, different part of china, the lady is a doctor).  So my suggestion is to "man up", ask for help, and then follow the suggestions.  buzz

[Willy The Londoner]

Every parade of shops in China seems to have a pharmacy type shops that are well stocked with vitamins and more types of health tonic that we in the west have ever seen.  If you take these the chances are they will never be used unless the they are labeled also in Chinese.   They customers spend a long time reading the labels before buying these and if the ones you take are only in English - well if someone gave you a packet and it was only written in Chinese would you take then?

A friend of mine was given an enema capsule because he was a bit constipated  - when he was asked if they help he said for all the good they had done him he might as well have stuck them up his butt!!!

Getting back to the thread I also found that European Chocolate bars are available in more and more stores and  on a recent visit to Carrefours supermarket in Guangzhou I was amazed at the volume of Western products they sell.

Willy





Willy

[shaun]

Willy,

I am sure the list isn't the best list in the world.  This is one of the reasons I put it up. As other comment I will update as much as possible and see if we can get a good viable list of thing to take.  Plus I am secretly preparing for my trip. (The real reason for the list.  I want to wow my woman.)

Shaun

[Willy The Londoner]

I only said what I did because before I arrived in China 6 months ago I thought like many before me, that i was going to a third world country that was far removed from the West.  
What a shock I got straight away.
In many respects they are far ahead of us but anything you take will be gratefully accepted but as a reminder to all.  
If you give a gift to anyone other than your lady the chances are they will probaby give you a gift of what they consider to be equal so bear this in mind before buying expensive items.

The items listed so far are all reasonably priced items and any gift in these price ranges would be very acceptable.

Willy

'Wowing' your woman - just your presence in China should do that Shaun.

[shaun]

Willy,

I am find that out.  She tells me every day now that I need to be there.  Sure wish my passport would arrive.

Shaun

[RegnisTheGreat]

I think what Willy is suggesting is a few boxes of Viagra for him and he will tell you what to get her.

[Danny]

Getting back to the thread I also found that European Chocolate bars are available in more and more stores and  on a recent visit to Carrefours supermarket in Guangzhou I was amazed at the volume of Western products they sell.

Willy

That might be the case in Guangzhou, but in Wuhan the standard of chocolate is pretty hopeless. The only half decent chocolate I could find was the Chinese version of "Dove" chocolate, which tastes quite dusty and unpleasant. One lucky day we found sound Hershey chocolate, which was fully imported and expensive, but apart from that it was quite dismal. Next time I come to China I am bringing my own stash of chocolate with me.  

Danny

[Irishman]

That dove stuff is awful, my Sunny's friend that introduced us goes crazy for the European chocolate.
Americans i have to say that Hersey isnt much better than that Dove stuff, its not good at all!
If you want to buy decent chocolate buy Swiss or Belgium chocolate (or even irish !)

[RegnisTheGreat]

Most of my relatives in China can read English (most are from Hong Kong). The reason they prefer Western Vitamins is that they perceive it is much better quality then the stuff in China.

[ttwjr32]

i think it also depends on where your lady lives. here in Guangzhou you can get
 pretty much everything except a good beef jerky. the smaller cities stick to pretty
 much all chinese items so if she is in a small city any of the things you bring they
will have probably not tried yet.    also shaun  "old crisp bills" are uncirculated paper
money from your country.  i brought 100  two dollar bills from the USA and everyone
i gave them to loved them. they looked brand new and they never saw a 2 dollar bill

Ted

[shaun]

Ted,  The 2 dollar bill is a good idea.  I am trying to figure out how to coordinate the list from small town to large city.  I will have to think on this a while.  --Shaun

[Willy The Londoner]

Well I have a found a supplier of Sneekers and I am getting through ten double bars a week.  Ever that or my Angel has taken a sudden liking to Chocolate!  Oh and Kinder now have their Beauno here.   Expensive but I have had a few bars.

   And for Christmas I was giving a £14.00 box of Ferro Rochea.  I know that is how much they cost as I saw them in the supermarket and my newly aquired Chinese instinct kicked in and I said I am not wasting money on them.  Luckily for me  someone had less Chinese instinct than me but I have not opened the box yet.  Now that is will power!!

When I visited Ted and his  wife in Guanzhou we when to Carrefours - I wish we had one of those Supermarkets in my City.

Willy

[ttwjr32]

Willy,

they have an even bigger display of snickers now in carrefours??
must be anticipating your return to Guangzhou next month.

 Ted

[David5o]

Carrefours bought out a supermarket chain in Cyprus about 4 years ago now....
I would say that, they are now the biggest supermarket outlet chain in Cyprus, having outlets in just about every major area/city here.
We shop at the Larnaca branch outlet which is a two story affair, downstairs is the food and usual consumables, while the second floor is the clothes, household, and domestic appliances area.
Clothes are on the whole very reasonable, as are the the domestic appliances/white goods, but you can find cheaper if you have the time to look around.


You can find just about anything you need or want in Cyprus, but the big problem here, is not knowing where to find what your looking for. So there's a lot of leg work involved!! ...lol!!
The Cypriot Stores here, just don't seem to see the advantages in advertising there wares!!!! Whereas  Carrefours have weekly flyer's that go to every household in the area, highlighting this weeks specials from every department in the store.....


David....