Penpal gift

[Anonymous]

I'm pretty sure this doesn't fit in here but I'm not sure where else to ask and it *does* have to do with shopping...kinda...

I've got a Japanese penpal that I'm just starting to write to and I thought it'd be neat if I could send over a little gift with my letter. So what kind of gift would a young Japanese lady like? I'm not trying for a relationship type gift or anything like that - just something small to send that is classic American. grrr... I don't know how to say that right. Something I can send that identifies with America, maybe? And of course, something a young Japanese lady might like.

And I apologize ahead of time if this isn't the right place for this.

[Jackie Treehorn]

Well if she is into current events and knows a little history you can get her this:

http://www.internationalterrorist.com/btshirt.html


That a pretty classic American gift......

hmm....this might not be the place for politics!

[Kent Brockman]

KA-WA-WEEEE!!!!!

.... you can get wholesale rates if you order all 80 of these...

http://www.akpress.org/mainpage.php

[Anonymous]

I recommend a couple rolls of the popular Bin Laden toilet paper that sells so well in the USA.

[Anonymous]

I see. So it was a mistake posting here. My apologies. However, before you think we're all bad, not all of us agree with our president. Guess I'll ask elsewhere.

[frog]

Laden paper is so, well, 2001
This years top gifts here in Europe & Asia are GEORGE W. BUSH Toilet Paper and COLON POW-WELL Condoms. (lets engage safely!)

[Anonymous]

Sam,

Never mind the a#W-holes that responded to your question. There are just some people with too much time on their hands, and apparently no friends to joke around with, or shoot the sh#$, I mean breeze about politics and world affairs.

If you are going to get your friend a gift, I would stay away from anything that is too souvenir-like (mugs, pins, flags, etc.). If you are developing a good friendship, get her something that you like, so you can share your interests with her. You could get her a CD of one of your favourite groups / singers, a copy of your favourite movie, or something like that. She will appreciate that it is American because it comes from you. If you are developing a friendship, I would stick to those kinds of things - you don't want to mistakenly give her something from which she might derive the wrong meaning. Just some thoughts that I hope might help.

Good luck with the shopping. Whatever you get her she will like it, I'm sure.

- JD

PS To all of the morons, who feel this is the place to bash countries, people, try reading the Gaijinpot rules one more time, and take your political ignorance elsewhere.

[trip_hop]

Sam, sending a gift already? Wait until you have a few letters exchanged between you, and know something of each others' taste. You might be perceived as "coming on strong". Your penpal is a girl, not a boy! For the time being, home town postcards, or even a local magazine or paper could be fun, as they are quite relevant to you and where you are from. Besides which, you will eventually be here!
th

[Anonymous]

th - I know. I just wanted an idea for something small to send. And based on JD and another gentleman's ideas, I thought I might look around at some local antique shops for something small. It would be the first letter but since there is a lag between sending and receiving, I thought it'd be neat to include a small bit of my local area. You know? Like, this is a small part of my culture. All part of the penpal idea, yeah? And maybe it's just me, but if it were reversed, I'd sure like a little nitnack from Japan that I could keep as a small reminder. But I know what you're saying and I'll bear that in mind when I look around.

JD - thanks for replying intelligently. I appreciate it.

[DJ]

Sam,
Try going for something that is a local specialty, or something that nice that represents the city or state that you live in. Nothing too too fancy, but something with mean will be nice. For example, I live in the NW (USA) and I always bring smoked salmon and other NW fare when I visit friends families in Japan.....your situation is a little different in that its a girl (versus a family or guy) so the gift will change. In the past I used to fret too much about little gifts, but now I just grab something that has some meaning and isn't cheesy.......

[Bill]

I go along with the postcards and perhaps a local mag or newspaper or even the menu from your favorite eatery. Any of these opens lots of avenues.

[J.]

Sam,

living in Japan I notice that women seem to judge everything on only one parameter: it has to be CUTE! If it isn't cute, it is a failure. My second observation is that a lot of things that Japanese women call cute are being called childish (intended for children) by Western standards. The most popular word in the Japanese language seems to be kawai.