You should be thinking about gift items for host families and people who will be your host for weekends and other special visits. The gifts need not be expensive but should be thoughtful and something distinctly American, preferably local to your community.
- Stamps, stamp pins, key chains, buttons, pins
- Refrigerator Magnets
- T-shirts, all kinds
- Note paper with regional art scenes, etc.
- Picture postcards
- Craft show items
- Tapes or CDs of music (make your own)
- Flags
- Jacket patches – national, regional, local
- Books or magazines
- Christmas stockings and ornaments
- Calendars with cultural scenes
- Commemorative spoons, plates, etc.
- Small children’s toys/USA Beanie Babies
- Bumper stickers
- Posters/USA Map
- Coins
- peanut butter, candy with peanut butter, root beer barrels, stuff for smores, chocolate chip cookie/brownie mix
- a cookbook with common foods (select one with lots of pictures and also bring cheap measuring cups and spoons as not everyone measures ingredients the way we do)
- Advertising and commercial freebies (from local industry, chamber of commerce)
- Items from locally-focused industries
- Items from local tourist locations
- Sports logo items
- a print of local scenery, painting from a local artist, or a wall hanging depicting something from your area
-  And especially Banners from your sponsoring Rotary Club
You should have a special present to give to each of your host families soon after you arrive. Also, remember birthdays and holiday presents for all the members of your host family. You don’t necessarily need to take all such gifts with you when you leave home (and often will need time to learn what will make a great gift for members of your host family), and parents back home can help with this. These gifts need not be expensive but should be selected and given with warm thoughtfulness.
