Gift Ideas - advice needed please

[dizzyc]

I'm off to Tunisia in 12 days to see my boyfriend for a week and I will be meeting his family for the first time. I've read somewhere on here that it is polite to take a gift and I think I read that chocolate is always welcomed. Has anyone else been in this position & if so what did you buy? I thought about buying a tin of Celebrations or something similar with a variety of different chocs in but his parents can't read english so the descriptions on the tin won't mean anything to them. I've got visions of them biting into something they think is absolutely horrible LOL. I wanna make a good impression, not leave them with a nasty taste in their mouth!! Any ideas would be much appreciated, thanks very much.

[kellyc]

Hi Dizzy,

Absolutely anything you bring will be more than appreciated, you will find that the family will welcome you with open arms and you will not be allowed to do anything! I remember even now my first meeting of Hosny's parents, my god I was terrified haha. Im now living with them lol Chocolates are always a good one, try to ask your boyfriend if his mum loves chocolate, Hosnys mum adores chocolate and especially Cadbury's - a selection box would be perfect for the family and they will know its from UK and be overwhelmed hehe, when I went back to UK last time I bought back with me chocolate and pot pourri for his mum, she still cant understand our mixed pot pourri with all the different shapes but loves it. And then I got the kids some treats and the sisters but Ive been a part of the family for nearly 2 years, so chocolates will be enough and honestly the things that seem little and cost nothing like chocolates will be such a big thing for them. Good luck hun, the first meeting is always the worse but you will be fine x

[dizzyc]

Thanks Kelly, I'll ask Anouar when I speak to him next but I'm sure I can't go wrong with chocolate!! I'm not sure if I'm just meeting his mum dad and sister or whether there will be other family members there so I'll take extra supplies - if I don't need them my kids will always eat them. I'm really nervous about meeting them, the language barrier might be a problem but hopefully Anouar will help me out. I'll let you know how I get on!! Thanks for your help x

[ROULLA]

Hi dizzy, how are you hope that you are well!
Just been reading what you wrote and i personally took a tin of chocolates but that was 20 odd years ago if it was now then i would take tin of chocolates for all but i would also buy a scarf and maybe a pair of slippers and i would also take something for his dad maybe some handkerchiefs or even a pair of slippers, once you give his mum a piece of cloth especially from the UK your on your way girl and hopefully you will be in her good books and thats what you need, anyway goodluck

[kellyc]

Hi,

You will be in her good books anyway for being with her son they will just run around after you, bring you coffee, pastry everything and be non stop faffing lol. They will try to speak to you even though they know you cant understand but just smile and keep asking your boyfriend 'what did they say' haha. I remember saying I just want to meet the close family, I walked in and there were 2 sisters and 2 brothers, his mum n dad, I thought great OK I can do this, 20 minutes on, in came another sister, then another and then some kids and I was just thinking oh dear its not stopping but they will all be so eager, I also remember very well how his mother just kept staring at me, I found it so uncomfortable but she was so amused by me!!! and she still does it

I've just finished dinner with my parents-in-law and it was hand signals the whole time some basic words being thrown around, as my fiance is out at work so I have to rely on what I know, its hard work but it gets easier.

Yep you cant go wrong with chocolates, I understand what you mean Roulla, but I think on the first meeting you wont really know what the parents like, etc and trying to get slippers or what not might be a bit of a hassle when you dont know what the father likes, my father-in-law is still unsure about wearing the hankerchief I've bought him for the wedding as all the boys will be wearing a burgundy hankerchief in their suits to match the colour scheme. Opt for simple and something just to break the ice. Do let us know how it goes though xx

[dizzyc]

Hi

I'm not sure how I'm gonna handle being stared at!! I'll stick with the chocolates for now but at least I've got some more ideas for future visits so thanks to Roulla too for the advice. Kelly you made me laugh when you said you use hand-signals, I can just picture it now!! I'm off to do a list of what I need to pack but I'll let you know how it goes when I get back xx

[ROULLA]

Dizzyc i personally would ask my boyfriend what his mums name is and ou of respect i would sa call her OMI ROULLA thats like mum roulla its just so polite ask your boyfriend to teach you a few words just basic Example ASSELEMA is hello, SOKRAN is thankyou, MINFADLAK is please, im sure that you will get loads of people saying "SNOWAHELEK LEBEIS which is basically how are you or are you ok ,your answer is HAMDOLER ,which is like thanks to god whatever they say, after your meal or a drink just say HAMDOLER if there are any words that you want to know please just let me know, cause im not that bad even though i live here i can have a conversation in broken arabic. take care

[kellyc]

Really its like a game at times when we are trying to chat to each other, his brothers are just in hysterics lol. But since living back with the parents I have picked up so much, and can get by now with a conversation why my other half is out at work. I really love the language and his 16 yr old niece is excellent in English and comes to the house 3 times a week to teach me Tunisian bless her. Good luck with the visit you will do great x

[pej]

I always brings lots and lots of chocolates as well as some other bits and pieces. My only advice when it comes to chocs and candy in general is if his family stick to eating and drinking halal, make sure there is no alcohol or gelatine in there.

[issam]

as tunisians we don't count the value of the gift in money, the thought of getting a gift to someone is worth much more than the value of the gift