Unexpectedly hosting an international student - need gift ideas!

[petitpasta]

DS is a music student and one of his fellow students is unable to go home for Christmas so we have invited her to join us for Christmas day and Boxing day. She is a dual national Japanese American and is also a music performance student. I need a few small things to go under the tree for her as she will be here when we open our gifts. DS knows her a little bit and says she makes clothes but he doesn't know much else.

Ideas I have so far are:

A London or British top trumps game (if such a thing exists!)
Some American and some British sweets and chocolate
Fluffy socks
Maybe a stitch kit (cloth kits maybe?)

I just wanted to get some other ideas.

She's thousands of miles from home and I just want to make it nice for her!

Travel-sized toiletries? Shower gel?

Nice shortbread in small tin - whittards. They do nice loose leaf teas also.

lindt Santa

look online at Victoria and Albert museum, or London history or transport museum in their shops. They often have nice British brand of say casual jewellery or scarf or other bits like tube station she lives near memorabilia

Some English woolen socks - it’s freezing in uk

locctaine Shea hand cream. Again horrible hands when winter. Slight luxury if she’s on a student budget

Maybe coffee voucher card for somewhere near uni

I’d stick with traditionally British things rather than trying to get American stuff she may or may not like.
A chocolate selection box, maybe a cracker gift (make up brands often do these, like a lipstick in a cracker), alcohol mini if she drinks.

Depending on budget maybe something like an Emma Bridgewater mug (I saw an American gushing over these in John Lewis saying she’s seen them everywhere).

If you’re near a M&S, how about an individual Christmas pudding - they have a 1 person one that is fairly cheap. Percy Pigs while you’re there?

Oh that's lovely. Hope she has a great day with you. How about some lovely soaps? I'm a sucker for a nice soap.

I love this proper spirit of Christmas. That "just my little family" stuff can get in the bin.

What a lovely Christmas thing to do

Depends on your budget. All the International students I have come across seem to love things from Fortnum and Mason's as they have such nice packaging with the Royal Warrant- they do have some cheap(ish) treats such as boxes of teabags at around £6, Christmas chocolate Owls £9.95, tiny shopper bag of truffles £9.95 or little cute boxes of 2 truffles for under a fiver, marmalade and preserves for £6. Even if your guest doesn't eat the product she might have flatmates who would appreciate them to share.

Alternatively,if you have some local nice products that might be good - a local chocolate maker, coffee grinder, honey etc. Maybe some small Fiskar's scissors for clothes making.
www.fortnumandmason.com/gifts-occasions?page=12

Seconding the ‘thank God for someone who understands what Christmas is for’ sentiment!

But it’s impossible to suggest much without knowing whether she’s a wealthy international student with a wardrobe full of Louis Vuitton, (Fortnum & Mason edibles), or someone struggling, with two part time jobs - who might appreciate a bright new hat, scarf, gloves from Community Clothing.

If she makes her own clothes, a stitch kit won’t cut it.

And if she’s American Japanese, she’ll be used to all sorts of consumer goods. So I’d stick to affordable luxuries a students might like.

I did this last year for our young international guest:

Lip balm
Hand cream
Chocolate coins
Pocket sized cute emery boards
Festive pack of pocket sized tissues
Cosy slipper socks
Voucher for Costa

I wrapped it all individually and popped it all in a gift bag that I labelled "[name]'s Christmas stocking" and left her it outside the bedroom door so she had it for when she woke up like the rest of the household. She also had a coin purse and some posh gloves under the tree, and some hot chocolate from my kids.

May some cute paperclips or post-it notes for uni?

To answer the lifestyle question, she's on an international scholarship so she's not living the luxury lifestyle.

Will look at Community clothing thanks

I would just get her stuff you would get any other 20 odd year old woman. Steer away from London top trumps and 'british' tat.

Agree with this. I don’t like a lot of American processed food because we grew up eating real things so if someone was trying to make Christmas “American” it would not work!

Burts bees lip balms are super handy in winter
Thermal socks? Home Bargains has excellent ones in cute patterns
A book on clothes (customising or making depending on preference)
Fancy food items that are practical and easily stored like chocolates, mini coffee syrups, popcorn seasoning. Things that will be a treat for a while after and you wouldn’t buy yourself. I’d avoid tea and biscuits unless you know she likes them as I never drank it at that age!
Some beauty bits like face masks, a hair towel etc. Things that can be used if she’s living in a dorm style room and doesn’t have access to a bathtub.
A keyring for a local landmark? A nice small memento of her time there.

Anything non perishable you give will need to be packed when she goes back home so nothing too bulky/fragile would be my suggestion.

I would just do a stocking for her with toiletries and maybe some other bits .

And no gifts under the tree?!

Does she play an instrument? Could you get a silver necklace with a charm of an instrument or a musical note on it.

I think a really nice mug, some Union Jack slippers, a big snuggly jumper and a book.

This sounds perfect! I would steer away from clothes making or musical things as she may have specific preferences and do things in a particular way.

not sure a 20 yo would want specifically British things in particular especially when living here at uni and probably wouldn’t appreciate the cost/luxury of F&M things. Not sure my similarly aged DC would!

I’d get British stuff but not British themed stuff
so Fortnums, a selection box, gift set in a cracker shape, maybe some local speciality, also lip balm hand cream and coffee shop vouchers.
scarfs are always listed here as a generic gift but I’d hate a scarf, if she designs clothes I expect she’ll be particular so I wouldn’t get that. I think consumables are best.

This is so very kind of you. Everyone celebrates Christmas differently, but I'm sure that this will be hard for her being away from her family, your generous act of inclusion and kindness and thoughtfulness will touch her heart more so than any physical gift you will give, so although I'm sure that you will pick out something very lovely for her, don't stress so much about finding the perfect last minute gift, your kindness will speak volumes.

Twining do a jar of individually wrapped teas and infusions. If she doesn't drink tea she can offer drinks to friends.

Small toiletries.

Oh and ask if she wants KFC on Xmas eve.

Just to add, for whoever said a student who makes their own clothes wouldn’t be interested in beanies and scarves - I know countless seamstresses who don’t knit. 😂

Notebook and pen?
Portable phone charger