   Gifts for international hosts
  So during a trip to Europe this summer, my girlfriend and I will mostly be staying in hostels but will be staying with friends and with friends of friends in a few cities. We want to get them each gifts, to thank them for their hospitality. We'd like to get them something quintessentially American, a sort of cultural exchange thingy. But all the "symbols of America" we can think of seem irredeemably kitschy: Cowboy hats, turquoise necklaces, bronze Statue of Liberty statuettes, miniature surfboards, WWE championship belts.... see what I mean? On the other hand, perhaps some of this stuff seems kitschy only because I actually live here and am jaded.Ideas?   
  potential ideas:-- a bottle of Tabasco sauce-- an unframed print of Grant Wood's American Gothic-- a coffee-table picture book of a famous natural American formations (e.g. the Grand Canyon) or landmarks (e.g. the Golden Gate Bridge)-- a Mark Twain anthology-- a jazz blues CD   ;  Things not to bring - - Anything electrical. Voltage difference == pwnage. - DVDs, console games, and other regionally-encoded media. - American "alcohol". Puleeze. - Terrists (they won't let you on the plane with these). - Snakes (on a PLANE?!?!) - Milk. They've already got some.That's all I can think of right now :|EDIT: If you're going to France, bring Poptarts, Peanut Butter, and American Cereal. Perhaps some other assorted snack foods. Its bloody impossible to find that kind of stuff there (at least, it was a couple years ago), though you can find it easily in the UK and Germany (iirc).   ;  No, those things really are kitschy. If you're from California bring something that is from that area, rather than something like a Statuette of Liberty. On the other hand, maybe they won't care.;  Personally, I wouldn't bother with American stuff. Instead, I'd research each local culture applicable, find out the customary gifts from that region, and line up some of those instead.But then again, I'm weird.   ;  Mail them a hot dog   ;  Thanks for the ideas so far. Keep 'em coming! I should also point out that as I will be travelling, ideally the items will be relatively small.Can you really not get Tabasco in Europe? (Specifically I will be in France, Germany, and Italy)   ;  American booze and postcards. They'll spend so much time laughing at the alcohol content in American liquor that they'll have no time to judge you.   ;  Firearms are always popular.   ;  Framed portraits of the entire White House Cabinet.   