What kinds of gifts should I take?

[caybee 21]

I forgot about the coloring books for the kids :-) My husband also suggested notebooks and other school supplies, especially if they have photos of puppies or kittens or superheroes or celebrity kids (within reason!).

[ridasgirl 1]

I forgot to mention the body sprays and lotions from bath and body works. Absolute hit!!! The faves were citrus varieties, midnight pomegranate and white tea ginger. Also I gave the fruity lip glosses...YUM! LOL

[dimanuni 1]

Depending on your price point, and the wealth of the people you're giving presents to......I was in Morocco and giving gifts to pretty poor people.But I gave the following successfully....

GENERIC: You can buy bags of individually wrapped ghiradelli chocolates for about$3 at target. They look really pretty and expensive, and it's nice that they are individually wrapped as it makes it easier to hand out among the families....

WOMEN LOVE GOLD. You can get cute real gold earrings (dangly ones), necklaces or bracelets at target and other discount stores for between $20-30. The color of gold here is different than in Morocco, it's more yellowy there. I'm not sure about Egypt. I'd advise getting simpler designs. They will love anything gold and can wear it under their hijabs...

and while they have knock-off Crocs in Morocco now, they're not as good quality as real crocs. I brought them for friends (men and women) and they loved them.

I'd be nervous buying make-up for women, but women didn't wear a lot of make up where I was from. Nice face lotion would be ok.

Kids love coloring books and I second the crayon comment. There's nothing like crayola. You can get $1 coloring books at target in the $1 aisle. In fact, most of the things they sell in that aisle are pretty good presents. I like to get presents which are quasi educational, like books, because reading is not really valued (at least in Morocco). Plus, you can color with the kids, and you can translate books into arabic with the kids. Or learn words by pointing at things in the story, and have the kids tell you what it is in Arabic.

If you're going to buy clothes for people, just make sure to buy shirts for girls which cover their butt! Really nice socks are good for everyone.

MEN:

Fleece jackets.

Nice flashlights. I dont know about Egypt, but in Morocco, there are terrible street lights. So little hand or keychain flashlights are great. Be sure to give some extra batteries, because our US batteries are better quality, and last longer. I found little keychain/flashlight/sort of pocket knife or pliers things for $5 at a sporting goods store. These are also nice because they're relatively light!

good luck and have fun!!

[sara535 15]

I agree with all the gift items - one more small thing is the big manicure-y type nail files. At my hubby's house all they had were those sketchy metal ones and everyone (men included) lined up to use my big flat ones. Also, I know its not a 'fun gift', but the most requested items from here for us are usually over the counter medications, particularly advil and something like nyquil or tylenol cold or something . another couple of items from costco but they are like GOLD, at least in morocco. maybe stick a big bottle in your bag to leave with the inlaws when you go. Adnans sister in law cried the first time I gave her some advil - she had a terrible earache and had gone to the pharmacy for an antibiotic but they had nothing for pain relief. That night I gave her 2 advil and in the morning she ran to me and embraced me with tears in her eyes. I was so sorry I had only a little travel size bottle to leave with her. Just be sure to have your hubby write the use instruction in arabic so there is no accidental OD.

[L179 1]

I always think something traditional is nice.

You can always get a t-shirt or ornament saying I love NY or something like that.

[MrsAmera 41]

OTC Meds yes! WE take - Prilosec, Excedrin, Advil, Icy Hot, Tylenol and multi vitamins

[Staashi 371]

When we go to Argentina my in-laws absolutely adore Aleve, Ben-Gay, Multi-vitamins for seniors and my MIL lives for hand sanitizer. I give her big bottles and one little bottle. She keeps the little bottle for her purse - she likes to have it for when she rides the bus.

[mahboula 11]

I agree with crayons-- big box of crayola=big hit with the kids. I had a few tins of altoids(I love the chocolate covered ones) with me and ended up giving them away because the family loved them. I also ended up leaving behind my bottle of Pepto.Not the greatest gift, I know, but I actually had a request to ship some more.

[ridasgirl 1]

Although my honey told me not to go out and buy gifts (YEAH RIGHT!!!) I went out and did most of my gift shopping this past weekend (soooo much stuff)...and was happy to use some of the suggestions I saw here. Like the keychain flashlights for the men...the ones I found were retractable but very bright. I also bought some beverage cozees that look like hawaiian shirts (Uncle drinks beer so this will be a clever way to disguise it) I bought little glittery disney fairy lip gloss, stickers, frisbees, wolverine stickers, colored pens, bath and body works hand sanitizers, etc etc...maybe I went overboard, but I want to make sure to have enough no matter who we come across either intentionally or incidentally. One of the other things I got which I LOVE is glow stick bracelets/necklaces. Don't know if they're a good idea...but they sure are fun!!!

[venusfire503 54]

This might sound weird, but my in-laws LOVE American peanut butter! I've taken and mailed some, and have it on my list for the next visit.

venusfire

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Fabric shavers were a big hit. So was the washing machine. Anything about sports for the males, especially team jerseys.

[Aymsgirl 0]

When my husband went home to EG to visit he had went to Target and had bought his mom some of the hard plastic cups and bowls. The cups were see through but colored and had designs on them. The bowls and plates were wood or oddly shaped. He said everybody wanted some of those when he came back. He said the neighbor took his mother's plates and told her that her son would buy her some more!!!

Also, he had brought home a few nice hat, scarf and glove sets for his mother and aunt and the boys.

Perfumes and body sprays as well as soaps. He said in EG bodywash and soap was kind of pricey. I was a little surprised but oh well.

A few of the things he brought for the boys were battery operated remote control cars. Those funky toys that you can make bubbles with. Nerf guns, little play men, and lots of socks, underwear and clothes with characters on them like spiderman, hulk etc.

[rclouse 0]

[sassysis 0]

OMG, rclouse. LOL

Ok, so Teto told me to please not spend any money on his family with gifts that the next time I come it is ok to bring something, but not this time. ??? I dunno. You think they would be offended if I did not take gifts?

[100% Al Ahly Fan 53]

OMG, rclouse. LOL

Ok, so Teto told me to please not spend any money on his family with gifts that the next time I come it is ok to bring something, but not this time. ??? I dunno. You think they would be offended if I did not take gifts?

DO NOT LISTEN TO HIM!!!! You gotta bring something. Everyone LOVES gifts! My husband always tell me this. "Don't bring anything...just you", I never listen.

Someone mentioned OTC medication. I think this is a great idea. They have different meds in Egypt. Simple, cold medicine is a big hit. Whenever Ahmed get's sick, he is convinced it's the flu, truly he has no idea what the flu REALLY is.

For my SIL, I too, brought bodywash, lotions, hair color, some cute tops and make up. Oh and a purses...she loves them. Which I don't know why, cause I have seen some SUPER cute (fake of course) purses in Egypt.

I always bring things to represent the Twin Cities or Minneapolis/St. Paul. Keychains, magnets, t-shirts/jerseys.

Just make sure you bring something. You can't go empty handed.