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Gift suggestions?
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Post new topic   Reply to topic    Way to Russia Talk Lounge Forum Index -> Russian People
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nikir
Frequent Guest


Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Posts: 56

PostPosted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 7:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

jo jo 7 wrote:
MrSpice wrote:
jo jo 7 wrote:

Since I am going to Russia, do you think a T-shirt that says, "Getting Lucky in Kentucky" would be a good gift?.... Laughing


I don't think it would be a good gift. Who is this gift for?

You'd do better with something that has Levis or other famous brand name on it. Most people won't know what Kentucky is.


I am kiiiiiiidding, spicey! I wouldn't do that, that is so unclassy to give a gift like that.. Wink


Jojo anyone who is not thrilled to the back teeth with a gift like that is an ungrateful bastard. After all they can always save up for a year and buy there own Levis.

Do it and YOU might get lucky in Russia. Wink
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nikir
Frequent Guest


Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Posts: 56

PostPosted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 7:51 am    Post subject: Re: Gift suggestions? Reply with quote

portlandrose wrote:
Will be staying with host family in St. Petersburg Fall Semester and want to bring gifts. Sadly, airlines will no longer allow bottles of liquid (wine or spirits) even if they are well packed in my checked luggage. Coming from Oregon - would local food products such at Tillamook Cheese, Hazelnuts, Stash Tea, or locally roasted coffee beans be good ideas? Any other suggestions would be appreciated.


You can carry them in your luggage in the hold, you cannot bring bottles into the cabin with you unless you buy them beyond the security point. This is an international standard.
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Daria
Lounge Wizard


Joined: 16 May 2005
Posts: 1146
Location: Canada

PostPosted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 8:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

American flag, T-shirts with American flag on it, women like pretty note books, get few American pens, keychains with US flag, books with photo shots of USA.....etc.

Just go to the souvenir shop. Get a lot of small things, so you have enough. Don't waste your money on expensive gifts. Sometimes, even a small thing like a keachain can make some one happy. Believe me.
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jo-jo-7
Just Starting


Joined: 16 Mar 2010
Posts: 6

PostPosted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 1:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Daria wrote:
American flag, T-shirts with American flag on it, women like pretty note books, get few American pens, keychains with US flag, books with photo shots of USA.....etc.

Just go to the souvenir shop. Get a lot of small things, so you have enough. Don't waste your money on expensive gifts. Sometimes, even a small thing like a keachain can make some one happy. Believe me.


I could do that. What about a jar of honey? Kentucky is known for, well of course whiskey, but what about honey, we are known for that as well. If it is not opened and in the suit case, would I be allowed to bring it on the plane and the whiskey too as long as it is not in the cabin? I would bring other things too but I would like to bring things that represent my state as well. Wink
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jo-jo-7
Just Starting


Joined: 16 Mar 2010
Posts: 6

PostPosted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 1:58 pm    Post subject: Re: Gift suggestions? Reply with quote

nikir wrote:
portlandrose wrote:
Will be staying with host family in St. Petersburg Fall Semester and want to bring gifts. Sadly, airlines will no longer allow bottles of liquid (wine or spirits) even if they are well packed in my checked luggage. Coming from Oregon - would local food products such at Tillamook Cheese, Hazelnuts, Stash Tea, or locally roasted coffee beans be good ideas? Any other suggestions would be appreciated.


You can carry them in your luggage in the hold, you cannot bring bottles into the cabin with you unless you buy them beyond the security point. This is an international standard.


I just saw this, so I cannot bring a bottle of KY Bourbon or whiskey on the plane? If it is in a unopened seal or a bottle crate, I still cannot bring it? I thought that you could do this as long as it is not been opened... Sad
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jo-jo-7
Just Starting


Joined: 16 Mar 2010
Posts: 6

PostPosted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 2:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

nikir wrote:
jo jo 7 wrote:
MrSpice wrote:
jo jo 7 wrote:

Since I am going to Russia, do you think a T-shirt that says, "Getting Lucky in Kentucky" would be a good gift?.... Laughing


I don't think it would be a good gift. Who is this gift for?

You'd do better with something that has Levis or other famous brand name on it. Most people won't know what Kentucky is.


I am kiiiiiiidding, spicey! I wouldn't do that, that is so unclassy to give a gift like that.. Wink


Jojo anyone who is not thrilled to the back teeth with a gift like that is an ungrateful bastard. After all they can always save up for a year and buy there own Levis.

Do it and YOU might get lucky in Russia. Wink


I actually like the t-shirt and it comes in colors for women and men. It is a popular shirt when travelers come to visit. I don't think it is a great gift to give someone but like you said and daria said it is a different thought in Russia and more appreciated. Maybe I will take one there and keep it in my suit case in case someone would like it. Maybe I would get lucky in Russia... Laughing

I would bring levis to Russia since levis are all over the place here and they are not that expensive any more. I love levis, they are still the best fitting jeans around and when they get worn they are so comfortable. Something about a pair of levis that no other brand can compare too.
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nikir
Frequent Guest


Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Posts: 56

PostPosted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 3:54 pm    Post subject: Re: Gift suggestions? Reply with quote

jo jo 7 wrote:

I just saw this, so I cannot bring a bottle of KY Bourbon or whiskey on the plane? If it is in a unopened seal or a bottle crate, I still cannot bring it? I thought that you could do this as long as it is not been opened... Sad


Jojo, you can take them in your checked luggage. The stuff that goes into the hold. Carry on only permits a small bottle of liquid such as make up or medicine, and it has to fit into a small plastic bag.

You can however buy booze at the duty free in the airport after you pass through security and happily take it on board with you.

Have you got your visa yet?
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard


Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979

PostPosted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 5:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

But jojo who are you going to bring the alcohol for? Anyways alcohol is abundant over there...and we westeners tend to think that some of the basic commodities are just not available in Russia when in fact they are
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Daria
Lounge Wizard


Joined: 16 May 2005
Posts: 1146
Location: Canada

PostPosted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 8:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jo, don't bring any alcohol with you. In fact, Russians don't really appreciate Whiskey. Bring something national, something "American".
Honey is a good idea. Since Russians consume a lot of it, it's going to be interesting for them to try some American honey.
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MrSpice
Lounge Wizard


Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 3431

PostPosted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 11:46 pm    Post subject: Re: Gift suggestions? Reply with quote

nikir wrote:

Jojo, you can take them in your checked luggage. The stuff that goes into the hold. Carry on only permits a small bottle of liquid such as make up or medicine, and it has to fit into a small plastic bag.

You can however buy booze at the duty free in the airport after you pass through security and happily take it on board with you.

Have you got your visa yet?


Jo Jo - the questions you are asking have nothing to do with Russia, but have much more to do with the US airline regulations. Go to TSA web site and see what you can and cannot bring into the plane. No liquids are allowed right now - except what you can buy at a Duty Free shop at the airport (also confirm that this is the case). After you arrive in Russia, normally no one checks your luggage (there's a Green corridor that says "Nothing to Declare"). You can read what's allowed in the country here:

http://www.waytorussia.net/Practicalities/Customs.html
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MrSpice
Lounge Wizard


Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 3431

PostPosted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 11:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

US rules for what you can bring into the plane:

http://www.tsa.gov/311/311-carry-ons.shtm

You did not respond regarding who those gifts would be for.

If this is a friend's grandma, Honey may be a wonderful gift that will be appreciated (even though you can probably buy 10 varieties of honey at new large supermarkets in Russia). But if it's a young person, I don't they will understand and appreciate that kind of gift. I would advise to avoid all perishable food and liquids that can break on the way. Remember that it's a long flight and then you need to take a taxi and potentially carry your bag at the airport. You want all your staff to be as light as possible. A bottle of whiskey will add an additional headache of making sure it does not break - and it's also heavy. No one cares much about this in Russia, to be honest. Those who drink there appreciate French Cogniac and good vodka. Few people drink whiskey there.
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nikir
Frequent Guest


Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Posts: 56

PostPosted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 1:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Daria wrote:
Jo, don't bring any alcohol with you. In fact, Russians don't really appreciate Whiskey. Bring something national, something "American".
Honey is a good idea. Since Russians consume a lot of it, it's going to be interesting for them to try some American honey.


Some do and it's a fact that a good whiskey is hard to find there. However bringing alcohol is not a really good idea as it tends to be consumed rather quickly and forgotten.

Something personal that will remind your friends of you for a long time is a far better gift. You should put some thought into that. A gift doesn't necessarily have to be expensive, go more for unique.
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MrSpice
Lounge Wizard


Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 3431

PostPosted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 1:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Whiskey can be bought at a Duty Free store at the airport. No reason to buy it in advance for sure. I bet you can find the same Whiskey in Russia, but will have to pay a bit more, possibly.

I still don't understand those gifts that Jo Jo mentioned were intended to. Does Jo Jo have relatives in Russia we were not aware of?

Gifts depend on the target audience. If you are bringing gifts for friends - that's one thing. For relatives - another. For people you barely know - another altogether. If you don't know anyone in Russia, no reason to bring any gifts at all. If Jo Jo explained who she is planning to give the gifts to, that would help us give a good advice.
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard


Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979

PostPosted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 2:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

you guys are both right...jojo who are these gifts intended for
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jo-jo-7
Just Starting


Joined: 16 Mar 2010
Posts: 6

PostPosted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 2:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

MrSpice wrote:
Whiskey can be bought at a Duty Free store at the airport. No reason to buy it in advance for sure. I bet you can find the same Whiskey in Russia, but will have to pay a bit more, possibly.

I still don't understand those gifts that Jo Jo mentioned were intended to. Does Jo Jo have relatives in Russia we were not aware of?

Gifts depend on the target audience. If you are bringing gifts for friends - that's one thing. For relatives - another. For people you barely know - another altogether. If you don't know anyone in Russia, no reason to bring any gifts at all. If Jo Jo explained who she is planning to give the gifts to, that would help us give a good advice.


I don't know anyone there thought I would bring a few gifts just incase I did meet someone. Do I have to know someone to bring a gift?

I was going to bring Kentucky honey, which is one of the best honeys you can buy. I like to go to the honey farms and get it. Those bee farmers take it right out of the hive for you. You can have a honeycomb or not with it and it is dark like molasses, not the junk you get in the supermarkets. I thought that would be nice if I met someone there. Wink
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