Alan English`s Souvenir Guide

Alan
English’s
Souvenir
Guide
I have never made a gift faux pas quite as bad
as Ernestina’s, but I certainly sailed close to the
wind on my first few forays abroad! My mother
didn’t appreciate the I w Tokyo t-shirt I brought
home for her from my first visit to Japan. My
fashionista friend raised her eyebrow at the
clogs from The Netherlands, while my more forthright brother just guffawed at the snow
globe from China.
But much later, and many dollars lighter, I have
perfected my souvenir buying strategy. Never
again will I hand a flashing Eiffel Tower sheepishly
to my friend! Never again will I try to find room on
the refrigerator for yet another magnet! I learned
to think outside the tacky, expensive box…Here’s
my guide to the perfect souvenirs.
Alan English
brought to you by
From specialty
bottles of oils
and vinegars to
herb and spice
collections,
you’ll be spoiled
for choice with
foodie gifts.
1.
For the
Gourmet...
From specialty bottles of oils and vinegars
to herb and spice collections, from flagship
ingredients to local delicacies, from unusual
chocolates to bizarrely flavored potato chips,
you’ll be spoiled for choice with foodie gifts—
no matter what country you’re visiting! Ensure
you check any import/export rules; ditching
that expensive jar of chutney at the airport
because one of its ingredients is outlawed at
home will leave a sour taste in your mouth.
For more free language learning resources, visit www.pimsleurapproach.com
Top Tip: If you’re on a strict budget, hit the
local supermarket. Just as at home, you’ll often
find great bargains. Even the local store brand
supermarket cookies and chips will be exotic
back home, while well-known international
brands have tailored their products to suit local
tastes. Green tea flavored Oreos from China,
anyone?
2.
3.
For the Drinks For the Art
Connoisseur... Aficionado...
Local artisan beers, wines and spirits make great
gifts. Think a bottle of Japanese sake, Russian
vodka or Greek ouzo. Teas from China and
coffees from Brazil are good non-alcoholic
options.
Prints or paintings made by local artists of the
local scenery make for wonderful gifts. Visit
markets, small stores and museum gift shops for
these treasures rather than the cutting edge art
gallery on Main Street!
Top Tip: Strict budgeters could take home
some beer glasses emblazoned with the name
of the bar and destination as a novel gift. If you
ask at the bar where you can buy one of their
labeled glasses, nine times out of ten they’ll give
it to you for free. (I still resent that one barman
who refused me!)
If you’re worried about the space in your
suitcase, you could even buy a variety of
beautiful postcards or small prints and make
your own presentation box when you get home.
Top Tip: If you’re operating on a tiny budget,
pick out the best, most evocative photographs
you’ve taken, print them out and place them
in an inexpensive frame when you get home.
Voila—personal, beautiful souvenir.
Prints or paintings
made by local artists of
the local scenery make
for wonderful gifts.
Literary friends will love
their favorite books in a
foreign language edition.
4.
For the
Bookworm...
Literary friends will love their favorite books
in a foreign language edition. Julie even
collects her favorite book in multiple different
languages, so I always know what to buy for
her! Or, you could buy an informative book:
the history of the city you’re in or a particular
facet of its culture. Other alternatives are
locally made, high quality stationery or
calendars.
Top Tip: If you’re on a really strict budget, don’t
want to lug heavy books around, or both, you
do have some outside-the-box alternatives. Why
not gather a collection of free maps, brochures,
visitors’ guides and newspapers and bundle
them up in a bow?
6.
5.
For the
For the
Music and Fashionista...
Movie Fan
Local music offers a sharp insight to the
country’s culture and people. Check out
beforehand—or use your language skills to
ask the locals—what local artists are currently
topping the charts, or alternatively, buy a CD
of traditional or classical music. For a different
twist, you could seek out a model of a local
musical instrument or old concert posters.
Movie fans will love some subtitle enabled
DVDs or vintage movie prints that you simply
wouldn’t find at home.
Top Tip: If you’re unsure exactly what music
your friend will like (I bought Diego a heavy
metal CD from Russia once—he was not
pleased), then the best option is to buy a
compilation. That way, your giftee is bound to
make some new musical discoveries.
It’s best to stay away from so-called national
attire—as I learned from my clogs experience!
Every country you visit will have its own locally
produced specialty materials and fashion
mainstays, such as ornately embroidered tops
from Morocco, silk from Burma or kimonos
If you’re unsure of sizes, a
multi-functional sarong is
always a good choice.
from Japan. But buying clothes for even the
closest of friends or family can be a tricky
business. If you’re unsure of sizes, a multifunctional sarong is always a good choice.
Top Tip: Unless long afternoons of retail
therapy sound like heaven, then avoid the
main shops and chains. Instead, visit the local
markets. You’ll pick up something unique, be
able to haggle your way into a bargain and get
to soak up local culture too.
8.
For the
7.
For the
Home Bird...
Buying a souvenir gift for the house-proud
friend couldn’t be simpler. In fact, your only
problem will be ensuring you have enough
room in your baggage! Everyday household
decorations such as pottery, lampshades, table
linens, crystal, fruit bowls and kitchenware
are found everywhere, but by ferreting out
local markets and small stores, you can nab
something uniquely representative of the
country.
Irony Fan...
Top Tip: If in doubt, get something
useful. A wonderful unique tapestry to
you could be a hideous car washing rag
to someone else. If you buy something
functional, they can use it rather than hide
it in the basement. Plus, they’ll think of
you every time they use it; I bought Maria
a gorgeous lampshade in Bali for just that
reason.
Those with a taste for irony will love the
tackiest, most over-the-top souvenir you’ll
ever have the distaste to find. If you’re going
to go kitsch, go crazy! That religious statue
adorned with flashing lights? Good choice.
Vacillating over the glittery snow globe? Go
for it. Cheap magnets, painted plates, plastic
replicas and I w Anythings, are the standard
to aim for. Bad taste is good taste for the
irony fan.
Top Tip: If you approach the counter with an
armful of bad taste souvenirs, you may as well
have a flashing neon sign (another one) above
your head screaming “Tourist!” The shopkeeper will rub his hands with glee—so don’t
be afraid to haggle. Paying special tourist
prices for these gifts is adding insult to injury.
10.
9.
For the
For
Kids...
A failsafe gift for kids is local chocolate or
candy, as weird and wacky as you can find.
But if you’d like to buy something that will last
longer—or if their parents wouldn’t appreciate
sugary souvenirs—then board games or toys
specific to the country you’re in will have novelty value. You could buy a set of Russian dolls,
for example, or a Japanese origami kit.
Top Tip: Even if electronic devices are much
cheaper in the country you’re visiting, it’s
probably best to avoid buying one as a gift.
Console trends move so dizzyingly fast that you
run the risk of buying something that will never
be used. At least a toy or board game offers a
little cultural education!
Everyone...
While staying away from the celebrity
landmarks and clichés that adorn many
souvenirs is a good idea, it doesn’t mean you
have to avoid representations of the country
altogether. Come at your decision from a
different angle: What is the national flower of
Maneki Neko, a statue of a
cat, can be seen everywhere
in Japan.
the country? What is its national dish? What
is its good luck charm? Who are its most
important scientists, writers or political figures?
Top Tip: It’s a fine line between tacky and
terrific, so research is key. Spend time looking
up customs and traditions online before you go,
and don’t be afraid to ask the locals if you notice
a recurring theme. For instance, the good luck
charm, Maneki Neko, a statue of a cat, can be
seen everywhere in Japan.
Five Golden Rules of the
Souvenir Sweep
ake a list before your trip. Does your
1. Mbrother
collect stamps? Does your friend
collect scarves?
esearch your destination before you go.
2. RWhat
kind of unique local products can
void souvenir
A
shops and try
to buy locally
made goods.
be found there, and how much should you
expect to pay? The Internet is your friend.
leave it until the last minute. Buying
3. Dyouron’tdieting
friend an oversized and
lways consider the size and weight of
4. Awhat
you’re buying. Being a super souvenir
acquirer is no use if you can’t fit your
purchases into your suitcase. Also consider
breakability!
void souvenir shops and try to buy locally
5. Amade
goods. Not only will they be unique
to the destination, you’ll be supporting local
industry too.
overpriced bar of chocolate in the airport is
unnecessary.
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