Not quite a language question but I'd really appreciate the help!

[superslayer18.livejournal.com]

Druz'ya!

Exactly a week from tomorrow, I will be in St. Petersburg for 5 weeks to complete my second year of study. Today, everyone from my program (Yale in St. Petersburg) found out where and with whom we would be living.

I know that it is polite and a good idea to buy gifts to give to my hosts, and although I do have a few ideas, I wonder if a proper Russian might give me a few good ideas as to what Russians might want from the States.

I'll be living a few blocks away from Nevsky Prospect with a family that consists of:

1) The husband, who is a theater critic
2) The wife, who is an English/German instuctor
3 & 4) Their twin boy and girl, who are 12 years old

So far I am leaning towards books... but I've been told that really stereotypical "American" things, like baseball caps and college t-shirts are good gifts... but if that person was telling me wrong, then I'd feel like a moron giving my hosts things they would never want! I also hear that if buy alcohol from the states to give, Russians love bourbon.

Also, are there any general good ideas of things not to do/say that would be specific to Russians... things that we might overlook in America or not consider rude that Russians would see as uzhasno? I don't mean things that are obvious to everyone (like don't throw up on them, don't make loud obnoxious noises, etc), but things that would be really easy for an American to slip up if not told otherwise.

Thank you so much if you can give me any ideas/tips!

Comments

[sventhelost.livejournal.com]

I'll be living a few blocks away from Nevsky Prospect

Arg, I hate you! :D

Things from your home-town are always very welcome. Stuff with your college name/logo/mascot are cool.

[real-shpak.livejournal.com]

American Marlboro.

[superbad.livejournal.com]

i always have trouble remembering to turn the lights out when i leave a room.

[gauchette.livejournal.com]

oh, u would be surprized to know it's not really important thing to do.

[13ug.livejournal.com]

i think a bottle of whiskey and college stuff for kids will be enough.

and american cigaretts in soft-box for me=)

[dvanoltri.livejournal.com]

Sure, kids love whiskey)

[wadims.livejournal.com]

Good books are always welcome and good alchohol as well :) Though, it depends on family.

[13ug.livejournal.com]

true=)

[jadore-vin.livejournal.com]

What part of the US are you from? I think region specific gifts are really cool to give. For example, I'm from Florida and when I went to study abroad in St Pete I brought a-- Man, I know this sounds super weird and morbid but, I brought them a small, preserved aligator head. My 17 year old host brother LOVED it. I was nervous to give it because it was so strange, but my host family seemed to appreciate the uniqueness and kookiness of it.

As far as what not to do, don't wear your dirty shoes past the entryway, change into slippers. And if they're going to be cooking for you, be sure to tell them right away if you are allergic to anything or can't stand to eat mushrooms, for instance.

[gnomygnomy.livejournal.com]

I also got the impression that Russians love cognac.

And if you go for a book, look for picture books of your hometown. I was really surprised at how enthusiastically they received mine.

Also, I brought Sweet Tarts kind of randomly. It was something they could put on the table and have everyone enjoy.

And if this hasn't been stressed already, take pictures of your friends and family to share with them. EXCELLENT start for language practice and ice-breaking in general.

Have a great time!! :)

[mekkababble.livejournal.com]

I didn't do it myself, but I heard it goes over really, really well. Native American crafts for them or anything remotely folksy for that matter. Any 12 year old would love a dream catcher, I'd think.

St. Petersburg's a beautiful city. Enjoy it.

[jadore-vin.livejournal.com]

>>And if this hasn't been stressed already, take pictures of your friends and family to share with them. EXCELLENT start for language practice and ice-breaking in general.

Definitely true. Bring the most random ones you can find. Girl scout ceremonies, your mom in the 70s with an afro, karate tournaments, marching band festival, prom... all that good stuff.

[yefremov.livejournal.com]

As for me I'd be glad if somebody present me a dreamcatcher. I've seen it in Stephen King's movie. It's awesome!
Книга - лучший подарок (The book is the best present). This proverb is still actual for intellectuals. I thihk that any Nabokov's book (in english) would be acceptable.
As for (pre)teens, I never knew what do they want.

[superslayer18.livejournal.com]

Heh I'm from Miami, but I don't think I'll be bringing them an alligator head lol! Thanks!

[toh-rus.livejournal.com]

kids will like candies. Give them bunch of different sweeties. Some usa-brands we cant buy here, so it would be new for them. (i like your crunchy peanut butter, pop-corn with caramel,
and that strange sour white mustard stuff like crackers - it was completely new for me!)

if they learn english, may be they will like comics.(ask them)

indian wind(or dream?)-catcher from homeland of indians. pretty cool, huh? :) (even if they might find something like that in Russia)

baseball caps.. well not so many people here love baseball.
t-shirt with "I love usa" will be NOT good idea :)

also, you have good medicine and vitamins, may be this family need something.

Simply, just ask them what they want. It will not be inpolite for russians, because it is traditional to them(us :)) to make orders if someone from they family and friends who went to another country.Specialy far away country, where they might never be by themselfs.

ps
All was written from my experience of aunt's visits from USA.

[heilrussia.livejournal.com]

There was a good idea concerning cowboys' hats or smth native American attributes...

[toh-rus.livejournal.com]

about things not to say..
dont ask "where is your bears?" and "do you like vodka?" to seriously :)
"Spreading Usa-democracy to the world" also not good topic :)

[arashi-opera.livejournal.com]

Native American attributes is a good idea, I'd love to get something like that. :) For a husband who's a theater critic some books in English, preferrably classics, will be perfectly ok, I think. If he reads Engish, of course. It's not so easy to find foreign books in Russia, even in Moscow. And no pop culture like hats, t-shirts and all that. This can be bought in Moscow as well.

[kamerasutra.livejournal.com]

Cognac in russia is much cheaper:) but tequila/rum/whiskey is much more expensive.

As for living with a host family, dos and don'ts:
-if there are things, such as laundry, food, room cleaning, that your program insists your host family is to do for you, don't try to do it yourself.
-don't eat dinner in your room. Food in kitchen. (This really upset my russian boyfriend but maybe more because I tend to spill)
-eat everything on your plate--so be very specific of what you will/will not eat and in what amount. Also if pasta/rice/something tastes strange to you, it's probably because your host mom put a lot of salt in it. Ask for less if you don't like it.
-you will easily be able to feel out how this host family interacts with students... There are lots of different levels.
-if you don't like it there don't feel bad. I lived with a host family for four months and after six weeks I was sick of it. It can be very hard for american students who are used to living away from home to live with a family, especially in a culture where generally children live with their parents for longer than in the us. But 5 weeks is a short time so you should be fine.

I am sure I will think of more but I am totally hungover. I love st petersburg; I think you will have a great time regardless of host family things so don't worry about it too much.

[kugel-naher.livejournal.com]

Yeah, bring some tomahavks or cowboy hats to kids, and some good alcohol for grownups. Candys, clothes and books generally are a bad idea, unless you know that this particluar family cant live without amercian sweets or english books. 8)

[kamerasutra.livejournal.com]

If you want to bring candy, don't brings anything by m n m mars --snickers skittles etc. It's everywhere in spb.

[kuziania.livejournal.com]

I’d rather think about Harry Potter and other that-age-oriented-books in English and movies. They are 3 times expensive in Russia and still are the best way of improving language skills of teenagers.

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

Tomahawks, gosh! Why not scalping knives?

[kugel-naher.livejournal.com]

BTW, if anybody will bring a scalping knife to SPb, i'll gladly buy it from ya. Or can change to some identical russian tradional thingie - balalaika or, i don't know, samovar. Think of it ;)

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

It was my impression that this community was not exactly a place for sharpening somebody's humor skills, even if they did exist (which, unfortunately, seemingly is not the case with you.) They ask you serious questions and expect you to help. If you are in a mood for stupid humor, you are free to go back to bash.org.ru where this type of humor certainly belongs.