need gift ideas

[Kali]

small token gifts needed to give to house staff (male) in rural Egypt (for an archaeology project - someone I know is going and was asked to find and bring)

need 15 to 20 easily packed (not too heavy or bulky) around $15 to 20 each

pens, flashlights and leatherman tools have been done

I suggested flower and veg seeds from the US, but was brutally rejected with the words "shiny is better"

so anybody have anything super clever that I can take credit for?

[applegrove]

1. Are there any native american tourist stores nearby? Maybe you could find a little gifts there.

[Kali]

2. not a bad idea

though the good stuff is usually way over $20 and the less expensive stuff tends towards kitsch

t-shirts are probably out too. I still think my idea of seeds is good!

[applegrove]

3. Yes. I like the idea of seeds too. But don't some countries ban the importation of seeds? Because

they are afraid of getting diseases? Does Egypt? I worked in tourist shops in Ottawa and the people from outside canada always liked the maple syrup or the little inuksuk. All things from way, way into the canadian past.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuksuk

Does the USA have anything like inuksuks? I'm thinking turquoise from the part of the USA you are in. Can you get it cheap? Maybe beads? then you could divide them up and let them make jewelry out of it?

[Kali]

6. mostly it seems like the US is the most anal about importing things like seeds

turquoise objects like key chains might be good, although I think a general US rather than the southwest is probably more inclusive of the crew these gifts would actually be "coming from"

I know that Mexican coffee was given one trip

[freshwest]

15. How about that union coffee from Hawaii?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022139355

Good stuff. I'll bet Egyptians like coffee, so they can trade it or drink it.

(Don't pay any attention to the spoil sport at the end of the thread, he was PPR'd.)

[olddots]

4. Is there a way to see what you can get into Egypt ?

The restrictions could be tuff but it will help narrow down choices .

[Kali]

8. easier to check the item

than set up a roadblock to brainstorming

[MiddleFingerMom]

5. Tri-color frozhen fusken Margaritazh.

[Kali]

7. powdered!

[Honeycombe8]

9. Chocolates. Or some other candy?

I was reading about what they eat. Chocolate isn't easily found there. They eat chocolates and other sweets.

Chocolates made in America might be considered a great treat for the family. I like jelly beans, myself, but I'm guessing they wouldn't be crazy about them, since they apparently aren't a junk food society.

No bread or grains...they have TONS of that already. It's a mainstay of their diet.

[Paulie]

10. One toy one practical

Toy: http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/8c52/

Practical: http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/ea9a/

[applegrove]

11. Here is a list of suggestions for american gifts for foreigners on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/forum/gift%20idea?cdForum=Fx1CXJAP860ADZ8&cdThread=Tx1IPO85K3GVIBE

[applegrove]

12. Salt water taffy?

[bench scientist]

13. this pry tool maybe a little outside your price range at $35

http://shop.coolmaterial.com/products/titanium-pry-tool

or there is a metal inkless pen + key ring

http://shop.coolmaterial.com/products/metal-inkless-pen-key-ring

[Demo_Chris]

14. Sunscreen, bug repellent, sunglasses, star charts, compass

[AsahinaKimi]

16. I love these..

omamori


http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2/185-9969325-4046335?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=omamori

[solemnspace]

17. The six-LED pocket flashlights are a good choice. Inexpensive, bright, compact.

I have a couple of these and I love them. Harbor Freight Tools has them on sale. They're usually $9.99 but you can get two of them for $3.49.
http://www.harborfreight.com/LED-Flashlight-Mini-2-Piece-9-LED-3-12-69112.html?ccdenc=eyJjb2RlIjoiMzc4ODcyNjAiLCJza3UiOiI2OTExMiIsImlzIjoiMS45OSIsInByb2R1Y3RfaWQi%0D%0AOiI4Njk5In0%3D%0D%0A

But check out the other offerings at the main page: http://www.harborfreight.com/#

They ship FedEx for a flat rate of $6.99 and you can just get lost wandering around the site. It's worth a look. I wouldn't reject the flashlights out of hand. The small LED ones are screaming bright compared to regular bulb flashlights.

[riderinthestorm]

18. Cologne? Handwarmers (they sell them in packs and they really work!)

but I'm not sure how cold Egypt gets in winter.

Are they tech savvy? Maybe get them memory sticks or extra memory for their computers?

DVDs of popular movies?