Gift for a co-worker in Ecuador which won't make me look ignorant?

June 10, 2023 3:45 PM

I live in Chicago and I have a remote co-worker who lives in Quito, Ecuador. I would like to send her something that would be appropriate from/to a co-worker because she's been amazing on our most recent project. And my usual gift doesn't fly in this situation.

Usually I send (very clearly non-romantic) flowers to brighten someone's desk, but that's because most of my co-workers are here in Chicago, where the winters are six months long, and Ecuador is actually an exporter of flowers.

I have zero knowledge of what would be appropriate in this situation -- I don't even know where to begin looking, and I don't know what kind of delivery businesses I should look for in Quito. Can someone help stop me from looking like a dumb-ass American with ideas for an appropriate co-worker gift that can be delivered locally in Quito?

I have no idea what category this would fit best under (work? shopping? travel?) so I'm going with grab bag.

posted by tzikeh to Grab Bag (7 answers total)

You can get most things that you would get in the US in Quito. Is there some local to you food that would ship that you can send? Like if you are in Vermont, maple candy, that kind of thing?
posted by virve at 3:50 PM on June 10, 2023 [2 favorites]

I don't understand what Ecuador's flower export industry has to do with your co-worker's desk? The US exports a lot of food but I still appreciate someone giving me tasty things as gifts. If people in Quito didn't like flowers as gifts then there wouldn't be plenty of local florists standing by to deliver arrangements, which there are.

That said, there are also plenty of chocolate shops in Quito that would be happy to deliver a box of chocolates.
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:55 PM on June 10, 2023 [15 favorites]

Chicago's Atlas Stationers ships internationally. DeLejos is NY-based international flowers & gifts company with local Quito delivery. PedidosYa has market, pharmacy and restaurant delivery in Quito.
posted by Iris Gambol at 4:43 PM on June 10, 2023 [3 favorites]

Do any of the purveyors of Chicago Mix popcorn ship internationally? That would be an awesome thing to receive.
posted by carlypennylane at 7:19 PM on June 10, 2023 [5 favorites]

How about a little plaque that sits on a desk and that something like “Most Valuable Player” or “Most Awesome Coworker” or something.
posted by gt2 at 1:05 PM on June 11, 2023

2nd spitbull, US dollars are the most useful and culturally aware option here. My acquaintances in Ecuador, and I in the US, would be offended by a plaque.
posted by StrikeTheViol at 8:57 PM on June 11, 2023

Yeah, flowers are actually not a great option culturally for a variety of reasons. Send US dollars.
posted by ananci at 9:00 AM on June 12, 2023 [1 favorite]