<p>My new roommate is an international student, I was thinking of bringing a little gift for her. Is this appropriate?</p>
<p>Some schools call all non-US citizens and dual citizens “internationals”, even though many of them were born and lived their entire lives in this country.</p>
<p>My roommate lives in both South American and Asia.</p>
<p>Hmm… I can see how it is a nice gesture, but I can also see how it might add to her discomfort of being in a new society in some ways. If she didn’t bring you a gift, she will worry that she has missed some social cue. Of course, maybe she will bring you something. </p>
<p>It seems to me that the best gift you can give her is to include her in your activities, mealtimes, trips to the bookstore, etc. Ask you to teach her some of her native language, show curiosity and interest in her life and family back home. My D is studying abroad at a foreign university this fall where she has enrolled directly (no exchange programs available), and her biggest worry is whether she will have friends. Her situation is a bit different, she is renting a studio apartment, but I suspect that is a universal worry for students going far from home.</p>
<p>^I agree with intparent on all accounts.</p>
<p>What intparent said.</p>
<p>It maybe awkward if your roommate doesn’t have a gift for you. I agree with intparent.</p>
<p>My D is not bringing gifts for her roommates, but she is bringing string to make friendship bracelets. D loves making these and knows a lot of patterns and is very good at it so she thought this would be a fun activity she could do after move in as she gets to know all of her roommates.</p>
<p>If you want to bring something, bring something like homemade cookies that you can share with your roommate and others whose rooms are nearby.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help. Baked goods it is.</p>
<p>I agree. It’s wonderful to be included and shared with.</p>
<p>If your home is not too far from D’s college, it might be nice to invite the room mate home for Thanksgiving, though that’s something your daughter can decide in a month or two.</p>
<p>If you send care packages to your student, it is nice to include treats for the roommate, too.</p>
<p>^My roommate’s mom did that last year and it was really, really nice. My own family never sent me anything so it was really special to feel included in that sort of a tradition, even just a little. Her mom sent us christmas cookies with cards for both of us. Roommate and I actually didn’t really get along all that well so it was nice to bond over a little something nice, too.</p>
<p>My daughter had an Asian roommate and about 2 months into the term her roommate was especially missing food from her country. Living in NY, I was able to put together a care package from a local Asian store with all sorts of foods she missed. She was immensely appreciative! You might want to wait until the excitement of the new experience wears off a little and then send something from her country.</p>
<p>My daughter is making gift bags for her 3 roommates. She is going to school in NC, her suitemates are from the Northeast so she is making “KY giftbags” for them…a UK tee (in case KY is playing basketball on TV), a soft drink manufactured only in KY and some candy made only in KY. As they are all under 21, there will be no KY bourbon…maybe for their moms and dads…lol.</p>
<p>My D brought her freshman international roommate a small token from our distinct area, far from campus. The roommate was delighted and returned the favor when her parent came for parent’s weekend a few months later. When small gifts are given from the heart, I think most receivers can appreciate the sentiment.</p>
<p>D is on her way now to put together small gift bags for her two roommates. They will not be lavish, but thoughtful, and probably will have a Texas flair since the roomies are from California and Michigan. Not sure how they will fit in the luggage, since she is flying from Texas to New York by herself with just two bags and a tote and shipping the rest.</p>
<p>My roommate’s mom gave me a Halloween gift, a hand-made pillow case in Halloween patterned fabric with candy and gum stuffed inside. In return, my mom sent a Chanukah gift for her (she’s Christian and never experienced Channukah) with a dreidel and gelt so I could teach her to play. It was fun.</p>
<p>OP, I think a small gift would be appreciated. I would just have your daughter tell her roommate that she wanted to welcome her to this country.</p>