Gifts

[david hagar]

What kind of gifts are appropriate to the ladies on your first visit to Colombia?

Beattledog

[Michael B]

... in response to Gifts, posted by david hagar on Mar 16, 2003

[This message has been edited by Michael B]

Depends...going to meet a particular lady that you've already got a correspondence releationship with? If so, no harm in ASKING her what she would like (within reason, of course). If not i.e. you're just going down to an agency or tour to "see what you can find" then I'd reserve gift giving for only ONE or TWO agency ladies that you meet on the trip and want to follow up more with just those one or two ladies. Reasons:
1) If you give just a little token gift to everybody, you look insincere and cheap.
2) If you give a big gift to everybody, you might be giving some of the woman the idea that you are much more serious about her than you really are. Or you could be placing the woman in the very uncomfortable position of feeling "he's trying to buy me". Another risk is giving them the impression that you're just a rich spoiled Gringo showing off your wealth.

Now that that's out of the way, let's assume you meet one or two women who merit a gift, so we return to your orginal question of "What is appropirate?"

Some things that women like that are hard to get and/or too expensive for them there but easy and releativly cheap up here: Most anything electronic, like a CD player/radio combo or walkman. If she already has a computer, a CD burner and a 10 or 25 pack of blank CD's is a nice gift. CD's of current US music (make sure she has a CD player, hee hee) and a CD or two of 'your' music if your music isn't current mainstream..i.e if you like big band, polka, Celtic, clasic country, whatever...this will help her get a feel of YOU and what YOU are like. Stuff (books, maps, post cards, brochures etc.) promoting your state or your town is good (hey, she wants to know about where she's going to live, doesn't she? Just be careful not to come across as "look a my FANCY car parked in front of my BIG house in my EXCLUSIVE neighborhood"--remember, you're not trying to buy her). Sport jerseys from your home town team are always a good idea, as is a small flag of your state, so are T-shirts of "I (Heart) NY" or "Somebody in Texas (Heart)'s Me" or you local equlivlent, a bottle of premium US whiskey for her daddy (if approprite, i.e she lives with her parents and they aren't teatotalers). Chocolates, US made, middle grade brand (Russell Stover, Whitman, the very large Hersey bars). Flowers are always welcome, but as a practical matter, buy them down there, don't try to bring them with you (of course when you come back to the US, order them from Edge for her birthday or Dia de Amor y Amistad). If there are young children involved, bring some strongly advertized US toys, like Barney or that stupid Squarepants Sponge Bob, or Bob the Builder, Barbie for a slightly older daughter (they've all seen these on TV, their cable system has US channels). On the whole, I'd say a good gift meets any two of these three criteria: Something that says YOU, something she (or her family) can actualy use and something that she can't get (or can't afford) down there.

[latinalover]

... in response to Re: Gifts, posted by Michael B on Mar 16, 2003

Women are women wherever they are from and their weak spot is for cosmetics-This is what I give to my novia and she loves it-I asked her what kind of perfumes she liked and from there I selected one based on her preferences for certain frangances-So, I bought her a good quality fragance kit-She tells me she has been complimented on the perfumes and she hinted at me for something like that again-One thing though, you need to ask the girl about her perfume preferences or it'll be a waste of money--

[DavidMN]

... in response to Re: Re: Gifts, posted by latinalover on Mar 16, 2003

Good advice - you certainly need to know something about them to buy an item as personal as perfume.  By the way, I'm not a frequent traveler and am wondering if cosmetics, cologne, alcohol are a good deal in the duty free shops? 10% cheaper, 20%???

[latinalover]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Gifts, posted by DavidMN on Mar 17, 2003

I wouldn't waste my time on duty free shops-These shops are analogous to the so called tourist traps except you got them in the airports-If you want to buy a gift go where the selection and prices are varied like department stores-Body Works has excellent bath fragance kits, so does Dillard's and Foley's, perfume departments- I still think cosmetics make excellent gifts because unless they are of low quality women are always pleased-Also, I usually keep the following in mind when choosing a fragance or cosmetic kit: the girl's age and her fragance or cosmetic preference-Some girls like frutty, sweet aromas while others prefer spicy ones or flowery-I also consult with the female attendant to help me choose the item because it takes a woman to understand another woman-Lastly, I wouldn't include as part of a cosmetic gift deodorants or shaving kits for a very obvious reason. Also, I have these gifts professionally wrapped.

just my opinion

[Jeff S]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Gifts, posted by DavidMN on Mar 17, 2003

Duty free shops are generally a ripoff. They may not have any duties levied on them but airport rents and big time markups make them generally more expensive than buying items off the airport grounds in local stores. Just my experience.
- Jeff

[DavidMN]

... in response to Gifts, posted by david hagar on Mar 16, 2003

This question has been posted a few times before and one of the responses went something like this:
A. You give her blankets, whiskey, refined sugar and rifles
B. She gives you wampum (glass beads) and tobacco

Another poster suggested 50 cent trinkets like key rings and pencils from your home state but was pretty much chewed out for being Señor el cheapo.

If neither of the above options are appealing - I would suggest checking out your airport gift shop. In Minnesota, they had a really cute stuffed moose with an American flag sweater that was a big hit.  Also, T-shirts or sweatshirts from your local sports teams (for brothers or children).

I also took some local food products and candy (cannot carry fresh food into the country) like MN wild rice and maple syrup and Cleveland, Ohio stadium mustard (the dark, spicy stuff for hotdogs and sausages), etc.  Take a bunch of postcards from your city or region and I would suggest duplicates if you're going to see several people.  A photography book from your region might also be a good idea - you can leave it behind if you find someone special.

David

[Michael B]

... in response to Re: Gifts, posted by DavidMN on Mar 16, 2003

much firewater, and no forgetum bullets for rifle

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: Re: Gifts, posted by Michael B on Mar 16, 2003

Gary Larson ( The Far Side )had a good cartoon.The caption said the Chief of the Manhattan Indians speaks to his tribe for the last time.The picture shows the chief with a box of trinkets.He is saying,"first let me show you this cool stuff".

Pete

[Michael B]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Gifts, posted by Pete E on Mar 17, 2003

There used to be a cartoon called "Through History with J. Wesley Smith"..where the same nerdy looking guy was in various historical events and would say something funny and/or profetic...There was one where he's an Indian. Most of the other Indians are giving food to the Pilgrams (ala Thanksgiving holiday). He turns to the Indian next to him and says "I say let 'em starve. If this batch makes good, they'll tell all their friends and next thing you know we'll have four or five hundred of them."

[wizard]

... in response to Re: Gifts, posted by DavidMN on Mar 16, 2003

wampum and tobacoo... too much...

thanks for the laugh...