Exchange Student Gift

Unless you know what his interests are, I would stick with a gift card, that way he could go shopping and get what he wants. Another option would be to ask his "exchange student parents" to see what he likes. Perhaps even some stationary to write home with? Good luck

google traditional korean holidays and see what their gift exchanges are and pick from there. I did that for a traditional korean wedding for gift ideas and it was a big help. good luck!

How about a gamestop giftcard? Or a giftcard to the local mall? Or maybe something with the Eagles, Phillies or Penn State on it. Since he's only here for a year it will be something nice to have to bring home.

If he has an MP3 player, how about an iTunes gift card?
I would think something non-bulky for packing purposes and what teenage kid doesn't love music?
I also really liked the idea of tickets to a local event/venue for a nice memory of his time here.

I might have some experience in this area. I had a Korean boy live with us for 5 years. In fact, we were his legal guardians. In our area, there are a lot of Korean students, so our foster son had a large Korean community to interact with, especially through Korean church congregations. He usually spent most of his winter school break on a retreat with his Korean church. He went home every summer to visit his parents, and he is now a student at Rutgers Univ.

This might sound a little strange, but I can tell you that one thing our foster son told us, and his friends told us as well, is that blatantly American items are not received well. For instance, I made a mistake once of giving him a Christmas ornament that had Santa dressed in red, white and blue and holding an American flag. The Korean boys told me that those were things that they'd be teased about if they displayed in Korea. I was offended at first, but I got over it. (Later I had a whole world of things to be offended about in our situation, but that's a long, off-topic story.) Our foster son's sister lives with a family in our area, as well. I tutor her. She was born here and so is an American citizen, but she lived in Korea from the age of 8 until 15. Emotionally and culturally she is Korean. Even though she travels back to Korea on an American passport, she plays down her American citizenship there. As Americans, we may bristle at the idea of someone not really enjoying our patriotic things, but that's their way.

With our foster son, and in fact with our own sons when they were teens, gift cards were always the best thing. Straight up cash is another good gift. In Korea, cash is an appropriate gift on a lot of occasions. Our foster son received quite a bit of cash from his relatives when he visited Korea, and church members also gave him cash for Christmas and birthdays. In fact, for Christmas, I will giving our foster son's sister cash wrapped in an interesting bookmark.

Is your sister's exchange student staying in the U.S. after this year? There is a very big push in Korea to have children come to school here and then go on to American colleges (as well as other Native English speaking countries). Koreans don't think of "exchange" the same way we do. We think of it as a one-year experience. It's very much a long-term idea for them. So even though this particular student may stay only one year in your sister's home, he may move to another host family next year. In which case, this young man will be traveling and moving a lot and won't be able to take any sort of large items with him. Think portable or consumable.

Maybe a gift card to someplace like Target or the local mall. This way he could pick out what he wants.

Otherwise, ask your sister what he does for fun. Perhaps he has a handheld game or an ipod or something similar that you could pick up an accessory to go with.

Another thought, depending on where they are living, would be a nice hat a gloves set to keep him warm in our winter weather. I don't know if he would need them in the part of Korea he is from or if he remembered to pack them but I know my kids (all ages) and even my husband tend to lose these items.

Personally, I think I would pick up a gift card and put together a goodie package. In otherwords, if you are baking cookies and such make a special plate or cannister for him. Or you could put goodies together in a basket with some hot cocoa mix. Traditional American Christmas cookies with a gift card or a cd with traditional american christmas carols may be a good way of sharing our traditions with him.

Anyhow, those are just a couple of thoughts.

How about a digital picture keychain - you can get them on sale for around 15-15 dollars.

how about a time capsule of sorts - like a nicely decorated box filled with "american" keepsakes - so that when he goes back over to Korea he has that special item from his "american family" - maybe each family member (including extended) could make a contribution to the box - find things that represent american - and the things he has done here - ya know? Also - this way he can add to it as the time goes by.

You can get paper mache (sp??) style boxes at places like Michaels/AC Moore - then you can decorate it to represent the american flag and the Korean Flag - intermingled -

hope that helps!

S.. w

Is there anything he would like to do while he is here that you can buy him tickets/gift cards for? See a football game? If pro football is too expensive and hard to get your hands on, what about college? Visit a local venue? Gateway Clipper, a museum, etc. Or what about something related to the holiday like a local Christmas show?

HI Diane, Unless you know that he needs something gift cards either to local stores like Kmart or WalMart (that carry everything you need) or international pre-paid phone cards so that he can call home are your best bet. Shipping souvenirs home is really expensive and the air lines charges for luggage is becomming a real issue for everyone. Be creative, put the gift card in with a box of home-made cookies or candy. Have a great time!

Diane,
We had a Japanese exchange student living with us in the spring, and I can tell you what NOT to give your exchange student:
1) a heavy item like a large book (his previous host family had given him a large Japanese cookbook which was much too heavy to pack when he returned home, so he left it with me)
2) a knick-knack that might be fragile or difficult to pack

The exchange students I have known are very appreciative, and would be pleased with any gift you gave him. My suggestion would be a hat and scarf (especially if you live in a cold climate). Or something made locally near where you live -- something he couldn't get in Korea.

Hope this helps.
E. B

Over experience is that kids from abroad seem to love American t-shirts, etc. You can get clothes specific to your neighborhood, such as a high school sweat shirt. Or, things that are more re the city, state or even the USA...anything patriotic. Or, an American football or baseball Jersey.

My niece and nephew (both teenagers) love gift cards. You might ask your sister if there is a specific store he likes or just get him a gift credit card. I have seen Amex, Visa, etc... at staples. At least that way he spends the money the way he wants.

Well i would try to find something that is made in the USA, Which can be very hard to begin with. And i think that it is very nice thought that you want to get him something. This way he will have something to remeber his christmas in the USA. Maybe something that shows how you celebrate the holiday or something along that line.