Any French speakers who could help out?

[Jonette]

Ds is going on a school exchange and neither of us speak French well, but just looking for wording to express something along the lines of the following:

Thank you for hosting me and I am looking forward to my stay. Here is a small token gift from England, I hope you like it.

Something like that. Doesn't need to be word for word - just a similar sentiment.

Fuck it, I can't even say it in English lol.

The many French people that I have met love nice English tea!

hate should be written hâte

A nice tin of shortbread was always popular with my French relatives (although a bottle of whisky even more so!).

OP if you're worried about 'hâte', all you need to know is that the circumflex replaces the letter 's'.

So 'hâte' is actually closer to the English word 'haste' than 'hate', hence the French meaning.

Ok thanks. A bottle of whiskey might not be appropriate for a teenager to bring? English tea and biscuits maybe!

Which English tea? Earl grey? Morning breakfast? Any brand?
Try to pretend you're English in France - what would you miss? And if you're French what would be nice to receive? After all, they're hosting my teenager for a whole weekend (presumably feeding him), so they need some consolation for this! I asked him how to say thank you in French and he said 'Danke schon'. They're going to hate him lol.

I took my French exchange a big box of Milk Tray in the 1980s. They were absolutely horrified and practically choked on them before eventually spluttering 'English chocolate is very different'.

I was quite insulted - this being the 80s, Milk Tray were a real treat!

I'm sure when we went on exchanges we always took tea towels! With a local map or landmark on them. V easy to pack. Shortbread also good but bulky and heavy.
A small box of tea is nice - English breakfast or earl grey.

Lol. I'm trying to think what the English do well!

Shortbread, tea, toffees/fudge, English wine (lol), London or Royalty related like teatowel or calendar (Cath Kidston, accessorize, paperchase are good for those)

Something like this maybe www.twinings.co.uk/gifts/tea-gifts-10-25/afternoon-tea-collection

www.zazzle.co.uk/golden_celtic_knot_on_leather_coaster-163246808376786551

They're Celtic too, so maybe something like these?

Anyway, it's the thought that counts.

I put the whisky in brackets as I didn’t think it appropriate!

I'm French, and will help you there.
You should give the present when you arrive; don't send it.
As to the message, it should read: Je vous remercie de m'accueillir (mind the spelling), c'est très gentil à vous. J'avais hâte (we don't say "très hâte") de vous rencontrer. Voici un petit souvenir d'Angleterre, j'espère que ça vous plaît.

Thank you. Shopping for the gift at the weekend.

I’d get him on the Duolingo app. He’ll have a better time if he has some French.