I am going to be studying at UCC in Cork this year. I will be staying with a family for one week through my study abroad program. I am from minneapolis and am wondering what a nice gift would be to bring from home for their hospitality.
I've had German and Ukrainian exchange students come to stay with me and they brought pianted Ukrainian easter eggs and Ukranian folk cd's and German beer mugs and chocolate. These were very nice and I'm not sure what I could bring that would be like that.
Any ideas as to what an Irish person might want from Minnesota?
How about some music native to Minnesota? Some Dylan cds perhaps. Mainstream US country music seems to be big in Ireland (groan). However, Bob Dylan's "Nashville Skyline" album is just great. One of my fav's. It's sure to please if they're folk fans.
Are there not greater restrictions on transporting food stuffs abroad in the wake of all the terrorist incidents (danger of biological agents apparently). I am pretty sure you Americans are not letting anything into the country.
Or a bottle of Minnesota wine from Alexis Bailly vinyards in Hastings, MN - or maybe just the label with the line "where the grapes can suffer!" Actually, it's not bad .... from Minnesota, that is.
I'm not really qualified to answer this question, but it seems like if yr going w/ the Bob Dylan cd's you might want to include Leo Kottke and Greg Brown.
I Think yr right. I had heard at one point that he was living in Minne.... (whatever). On the other hand I might be full of ...um, er.... foodstuffs, yeah, that's it, fodstuffs!
A brief but well-written account of the early Swedish settlements in that area. We Irish with our own history of immigration to America are always interested in how other European settlers fared. The Scandinavian experience would be different to ours - and more interesting for that reason.
I was at a gathering of singers a couple of weeks ago and some of the older folks told a funny story or two about the exploits of the young and not yet Bob Dylan. Something about records missing from someone's collection.
My daughter just returned form a student exchange program to Japan. We sent DVD's of our family's coast to coast trips of the last year as gifts. They were able to see a lot of American scenery.
My In-laws have been hosting students for many years and anything they can put on a shelf so they can point to it and say "That's from our student from Minnesota." will work. Maybe a loon or Paul Bunyan figurine.
Thanks! These are all great suggestions. Maybe I'll bring a few different things like rice, syrup, a jersey and some cds an books. Then maybe the dad will be really into history and the mom will love the syrup and say... their son would love a jersey!
We've found that books that have to do with the history of our home area (in our case, Indiana and the Ohio River valley) have been enjoyed. Someone mentioned travel DVDs, those are nice, so folks can see the country.
In a sort of Irish connex, you could have Paddy O'Brien autograph a Chulrua CD (he lives up there still, yes?) and his wife, Erin Hart, is a writer of spooky mysteries with Irish flavor. She might autograph one for you as well.
If they're into trad, maybe a good local session recording. I also like the rice idea.
And, we've given sportswear with college logos to those of our friends who wear that sort of thing.
Thats a good idea! And I just saw Paddy last night.
Jodi- You are more than welcome to come : ) Are you and Kate still thinking about going to ireland soon? That would be so cool if you could make it while Django and brian are in Cork.
I'm not so sure about bringing you as a gift though. If you're willing to give up Martin or Ferghal I'm sure they'd go aver great ; )
Drat, out-cuted by my boys again. I guess I better get used to it.
We'd love to come over and have not been in Cork for awhile. Maybe if I quit my job and take time off before the next one. Or maybe the band will tour!
Were you at Kieran's last night? We lost power at the house again last night, and I took that as a sign to stay home. Besides, I've forgotten how to open the garage door manually.
I'm reading Erin's first book right now. It's great.
What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
I am going to be studying at UCC in Cork this year. I will be staying with a family for one week through my study abroad program. I am from minneapolis and am wondering what a nice gift would be to bring from home for their hospitality.
I've had German and Ukrainian exchange students come to stay with me and they brought pianted Ukrainian easter eggs and Ukranian folk cd's and German beer mugs and chocolate. These were very nice and I'm not sure what I could bring that would be like that.
Any ideas as to what an Irish person might want from Minnesota?
thanks!
# Posted on August 9th 2005 by DTE
Re: What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
No.
KFG
# Posted on August 9th 2005 by KFG
Re: What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
Maybe one of Garrison Keillor's books?
# Posted on August 9th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
Ok maybe not just Minnesota but the US in general. When the Ukrainian girls were here they brought home lots of wild rice. maybe something like that?
# Posted on August 9th 2005 by DTE
Re: What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
Well, they might well appreciate a Ukrainian girl, if you've still got one to spare.
And if that's not the sort of thing they want I'd be willing to give her a look over myself, even though my people are from Belarus.
KFG
# Posted on August 9th 2005 by KFG
Re: What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
How about some music native to Minnesota? Some Dylan cds perhaps. Mainstream US country music seems to be big in Ireland (groan). However, Bob Dylan's "Nashville Skyline" album is just great. One of my fav's. It's sure to please if they're folk fans.
# Posted on August 9th 2005 by mandolinann
Re: What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
As a former Minnesotan, how about...
Lutefisk - well, probably not!
Minnesota wild rice
Minnesota maple syrup
Minnesota beer - are there any original breweries left in MN other than the new micro brews? Well, probably nothing as good as Guinness.
Something out of birch bark (a canoe?)
Minnesota Loon call - good addition to an Irish session.
A mosquito - the state bird!
Cheers, S. in Seattle
# Posted on August 9th 2005 by Stewart
Re: What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
Honest to God wild lake rice really does seem like a pretty good bet, as does maple syrup/maple sugar.
Maybe packed in a birch bark box with a moose on it.
A little moose. With its shots up to date.
KFG
# Posted on August 9th 2005 by KFG
Re: What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
Are there not greater restrictions on transporting food stuffs abroad in the wake of all the terrorist incidents (danger of biological agents apparently). I am pretty sure you Americans are not letting anything into the country.
# Posted on August 9th 2005 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
Or a bottle of Minnesota wine from Alexis Bailly vinyards in Hastings, MN - or maybe just the label with the line "where the grapes can suffer!" Actually, it's not bad .... from Minnesota, that is.
# Posted on August 9th 2005 by Stewart
Re: What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
Dried goods, nuts and factory packaged food goods of plant origin are all good to go.
It's really only animal products and certain fresh fruits that are right out.
KFG
# Posted on August 9th 2005 by KFG
Re: What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
You could bring me?
# Posted on August 9th 2005 by Jode
Re: What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
Some CDs by Adam Granger - he's a funny guy, a cool guitar player and he lives in Minnesota. See www.granger-music.com
# Posted on August 9th 2005 by Cuso
Re: What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
cheese
# Posted on August 10th 2005 by bobgordon
Re: What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
Maybe a couple of nice souvenir team jerseys--say from Minnesota's baseball, American football, or ice hockey teams?
# Posted on August 10th 2005 by tuckered out
Re: What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
I'm not really qualified to answer this question, but it seems like if yr going w/ the Bob Dylan cd's you might want to include Leo Kottke and Greg Brown.
# Posted on August 10th 2005 by Owell Mabee
Re: What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
I think Greg Brown is and Iowan, not a Minnesotan.
# Posted on August 10th 2005 by bogeyman
Re: What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
I Think yr right. I had heard at one point that he was living in Minne.... (whatever). On the other hand I might be full of ...um, er.... foodstuffs, yeah, that's it, fodstuffs!
# Posted on August 10th 2005 by Owell Mabee
Re: What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
How about a small Minneapolis-Moline steam-era model tractor and a book about Minnesota's farming history?
http://jetstar.minneapolis-moline.com/publications.html
# Posted on August 10th 2005 by tulloch
Re: What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
A brief but well-written account of the early Swedish settlements in that area. We Irish with our own history of immigration to America are always interested in how other European settlers fared. The Scandinavian experience would be different to ours - and more interesting for that reason.
# Posted on August 10th 2005 by thomasc
Re: What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
Just show then you have a return ticket and that will bring a smile to their face!
Early, folky, Dylan has to be a good one, or good bluegrass scratchy recordings will do it too.
# Posted on August 10th 2005 by compaqjohn
Re: What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
I was at a gathering of singers a couple of weeks ago and some of the older folks told a funny story or two about the exploits of the young and not yet Bob Dylan. Something about records missing from someone's collection.
My daughter just returned form a student exchange program to Japan. We sent DVD's of our family's coast to coast trips of the last year as gifts. They were able to see a lot of American scenery.
My In-laws have been hosting students for many years and anything they can put on a shelf so they can point to it and say "That's from our student from Minnesota." will work. Maybe a loon or Paul Bunyan figurine.
# Posted on August 10th 2005 by baglady
Re: What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
Thanks! These are all great suggestions. Maybe I'll bring a few different things like rice, syrup, a jersey and some cds an books. Then maybe the dad will be really into history and the mom will love the syrup and say... their son would love a jersey!
# Posted on August 10th 2005 by DTE
Re: What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
We've found that books that have to do with the history of our home area (in our case, Indiana and the Ohio River valley) have been enjoyed. Someone mentioned travel DVDs, those are nice, so folks can see the country.
In a sort of Irish connex, you could have Paddy O'Brien autograph a Chulrua CD (he lives up there still, yes?) and his wife, Erin Hart, is a writer of spooky mysteries with Irish flavor. She might autograph one for you as well.
If they're into trad, maybe a good local session recording. I also like the rice idea.
And, we've given sportswear with college logos to those of our friends who wear that sort of thing.
stv
http://cdbaby.com/Culchies
# Posted on August 10th 2005 by stv culchie
Re: What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
Thats a good idea! And I just saw Paddy last night.
Jodi- You are more than welcome to come : ) Are you and Kate still thinking about going to ireland soon? That would be so cool if you could make it while Django and brian are in Cork.
I'm not so sure about bringing you as a gift though. If you're willing to give up Martin or Ferghal I'm sure they'd go aver great ; )
# Posted on August 10th 2005 by DTE
Re: What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
Drat, out-cuted by my boys again. I guess I better get used to it.
We'd love to come over and have not been in Cork for awhile. Maybe if I quit my job and take time off before the next one. Or maybe the band will tour!
Were you at Kieran's last night? We lost power at the house again last night, and I took that as a sign to stay home. Besides, I've forgotten how to open the garage door manually.
I'm reading Erin's first book right now. It's great.
# Posted on August 10th 2005 by Jode
Re: What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
That would be great! Maybe the band will have to tour to Cork if you want Django and Brian to play any gigs with you!
Yeah I was there for a bit. Are you going tonight? Are you guys having an Irish fair party this year?
# Posted on August 10th 2005 by DTE
Re: What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
i go to ucc.
You could bring me a banjo.
# Posted on August 11th 2005 by scully
Re: What would an Irish person want in Minnesota?
Well... Maybe if they play and instrument, (shrug) a tunebook?
# Posted on August 14th 2005 by paratroopers