Traveling to Kiev for work. Told to bring small gifts, but what?
November 29, 2015 5:26 AM Subscribe
I'll be traveling to Kiev to meet new co-workers and for various meetings, and I was told to bring some small gifts to exchange. What should I bring?
Hey -
Just landed a new job I really like and will be spending a week in Kiev for meetings, etc. I live in the US and was told that it's common courtesy to bring small gifts to give co-workers. I was told chocolates are a big hit. Any other recommendations? I have no idea if spices or T shirts or magazines or anything else would be a hit. All I know is that it should be small -- no Xboxes or stuff like that.
I've traveled overseas for work and leisure before, but the gift-giving thing has never come up.
Thanks in advance!!
Hey -
Just landed a new job I really like and will be spending a week in Kiev for meetings, etc. I live in the US and was told that it's common courtesy to bring small gifts to give co-workers. I was told chocolates are a big hit. Any other recommendations? I have no idea if spices or T shirts or magazines or anything else would be a hit. All I know is that it should be small -- no Xboxes or stuff like that.
I've traveled overseas for work and leisure before, but the gift-giving thing has never come up.
Thanks in advance!!
Is there anywhere near you where you could buy maple sugar candies? I believe they and other maple syrup products are unique to North America.
Of course there may be customs issues with food products but maybe your co-workers can advise you.
posted by XMLicious at 6:03 AM on November 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
Of course there may be customs issues with food products but maybe your co-workers can advise you.
posted by XMLicious at 6:03 AM on November 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
You probably have no idea how many people there are. Maple candies if you are in North America is perfect. Once you get to know them better American liquor like whiskey is good too, but to individuals.
posted by k8t at 6:29 AM on November 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by k8t at 6:29 AM on November 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
In addition to maple syrup candies, peanut butter cups and/or salt water taffy (be sure to package everything well and bring extras in case of melting). Also, small bottles of fancy hot sauce (even Tabasco) or BBQ sauce.
posted by neushoorn at 6:44 AM on November 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by neushoorn at 6:44 AM on November 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
If you're in a big well-known city, I'd consider something iconic of that specific place, not just of the U.S. in general. (I don't see maple candy readily available everywhere in the U.S.)
Then you tell people "this is a local specialty" to make it seem more specifically personal to you.
So if you are in NYC I'd bring, say, Zabar's boxes of black and white cookies (the small ones), various packs of Dylan's candy bark -- all of these would say NYC on the box --& maybe some I Heart NY t-shirts for people who entertain you in a fun way after work, etc. Or that equivalent kind of thing for San Francisco, L.A., Seattle.
posted by flourpot at 6:59 AM on November 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
Then you tell people "this is a local specialty" to make it seem more specifically personal to you.
So if you are in NYC I'd bring, say, Zabar's boxes of black and white cookies (the small ones), various packs of Dylan's candy bark -- all of these would say NYC on the box --& maybe some I Heart NY t-shirts for people who entertain you in a fun way after work, etc. Or that equivalent kind of thing for San Francisco, L.A., Seattle.
posted by flourpot at 6:59 AM on November 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Atom12: "Any other recommendations?"
If you know if some of them have kids under the age of 13 or so, in addition to your chocolates-type gifts, you could get some trendy kid ephemera, like silly bands or slap bracelets or rainbow loom stuff. You can't skip the polite adult gift part, but people are often really pleased if you also bring them something fun for their kids that they can show off to their friends and be like, "This is what the kids wear in America, it's very trendy!"
Fancy coffee is appreciated in Russia, if you are a coffee sort of person and have a local coffee shop that roasts their own beans or whatever, so I imagine it would also be a hit in Ukraine. And yeah, local is fun, my Chicago go-to is Frango mints - obvs - with Chicago-flag paraphernalia like T-shirts and magnets and hats and things. American sports team gear is also pretty popular, if you need some T-shirts or hats or whatever; it's harder to find overseas, it's local to your city, and it's often status-y because it proclaims the wearer has either been to the US or has US friends. This works best if your local team has some well-known international stars or a high profile because they've been winning championships ... the Cleveland Browns are not such a hot get as the new England Patriots.
(Also don't shake hands across the threshold of a door, it's very rude. And sit next to a plant when the toasting starts in case you need to dump vodka shots into it.)
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 8:13 AM on November 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
If you know if some of them have kids under the age of 13 or so, in addition to your chocolates-type gifts, you could get some trendy kid ephemera, like silly bands or slap bracelets or rainbow loom stuff. You can't skip the polite adult gift part, but people are often really pleased if you also bring them something fun for their kids that they can show off to their friends and be like, "This is what the kids wear in America, it's very trendy!"
Fancy coffee is appreciated in Russia, if you are a coffee sort of person and have a local coffee shop that roasts their own beans or whatever, so I imagine it would also be a hit in Ukraine. And yeah, local is fun, my Chicago go-to is Frango mints - obvs - with Chicago-flag paraphernalia like T-shirts and magnets and hats and things. American sports team gear is also pretty popular, if you need some T-shirts or hats or whatever; it's harder to find overseas, it's local to your city, and it's often status-y because it proclaims the wearer has either been to the US or has US friends. This works best if your local team has some well-known international stars or a high profile because they've been winning championships ... the Cleveland Browns are not such a hot get as the new England Patriots.
(Also don't shake hands across the threshold of a door, it's very rude. And sit next to a plant when the toasting starts in case you need to dump vodka shots into it.)
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 8:13 AM on November 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
Fancy shot glasses. And you can sip the shot after a toast, you don't have to down the whole thing.
posted by WeekendJen at 12:12 PM on November 30, 2015
posted by WeekendJen at 12:12 PM on November 30, 2015
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posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:56 AM on November 29, 2015 [1 favorite]