The Pure Joy we receive from giving gifts in Jamaica endless. Over the years we have found that everything -- no matter how big or small -- is greatly appreciated.
When packing for our last trip, I found myself leaving some of my personal items behind so we could fit more gifts.
LOL... Then I had to buy clothes while I was there to make up for the ones left behind - I won't be able to do that on the budget we have for the next trip.
My next reach will be in July or August. (Bringing my 23 year old Son for his first Jamaican experience!!).
I'm starting to collect gifts now and I'm looking forward to any other ideas fellow gift-givers have for SMALL & LIGHT-WEIGHT ITEMS that I may have overlooked and/or opinions of anything that I should cross off the list.
BIG HIT, SEEDS ( always USDA Certified Organic ).
**We brought around 90 packets in January and ran out by the start of our second week!**
Most popular, to name a few, were: ( all types of Melon), Cucumber; Tomato, Carrot, Green Pepper, Pumpkin, Green Beans, Peas, Chives, Basil, Parsley, Sage, Tarragon (& Cabbage, Lettuce & Spinach, for those that live up in the slightly cooler areas).
We gave one man Sunflower seeds -- he did not believe that you can eat the seeds; I'm looking forward to finding out how he did with those.
On subsequent visits, it's absolutely wonderful to hear all the stories of how well the seeds produced and that they were able to share the crop with many people!
I recently asked a Jamaican friend why seeds were so popular and he told me that (for him) it's very enjoyable to try growing different things and sharing successful crops. (Big smile on my face as I write about this - it fills my heart with joy)!
Other POPULAR(and light-weight and space-saving) GIFTS we have brought (Not all at once - but spread over past trips...LOL):
ALTOIDS - huge hit! Hard Candies, Lollipops, different things like Werthers Candies and Butterscotch, or Root-Beer flavor
Gardening Gloves, Lightweight Trowels, Plastic Markers for seed plantings (with perminent marker)
Umbrellas, scented Drawer Sachets, Purses, Bags -- most popular are Canvas Bags we get at the Grocery store also Mesh Bags with Drawstring and "Green Bags" for fruits and vegetables
Little Tree Car Air Fresheners, Tire Gages, Miniature Tool Kits, Mini-Flashlights with batteries in them ( better yet, LCD Flashlights), Folding Windshield Sun-Shades, Visor Organizers, CD Organizers, CD Cleaning Kits, Bungee Cords, Key Chains, Glove Box Organizers, Butt Bucket Ashtrays, Adhesive Door Protectors, Disposable Floor Matts, Cup Holders
Guitar Strings, Guitar Picks, Drum Sticks (any small music accessories for Beach Musicians and Band members when you go to a show) Saxophone Reeds and Cleaning Kits
Paint Brushes (for your favorite Artists), Fishing Line ( for the fisher-men and jewelry makers) Rope (for your favorite Boat Captain) ,Blank CDRW (I like to give those to the People selling Cd's), Bicycle Accessories (inner-tubes, repair kits, baskets, stick-on reflectors), Hollow Carving Knife Set (for your favorite Carving Artist), Foam Paint Brushes, Painters Tape
Mini Photo Albums (If I have Photos from an excursion I try to make copies and fill an album for the Person who brought us),
Copies of Photos (We like to give copies to the people we have taken pictures of or with and photos of plates of food to the restaurants we have eaten at)
Copies of nice mentions of some Beach Vendors for them.
Sewing Kits, Buttons, safety Pins, Liquid Stitch, Stitch Witchery (iron on hem), Patches, Scissors, Decorative Hemming, Beading, Snaps, Velcro, Thimbles
Bookmarks, Pins, Magnets, Stickers, Pens and Note Pads, Sticky Notes, Calendars (if you go at the beginning or end of the year), assorted sets of Blank Note Cards and Birthday Cards (Bonus if they are Spiritual/Inspirational items)
Magnets (especially with clips or hooks on them) , Duct Tape, Zip Ties, Large Rubber Bands, Push Pins, double sided Mounting Tape stickers or rolls, Contact Paper, Dry Erase Boards w/ Markers
Strings of Clear-Mini Christmas Lights (any time of year), Extension Cords, Night Lights, Candles, Wind up Watches, Small Wind up Clocks, Wind up Flashlights and Radios, Cardboard Sticky Insect Traps (they come folded flat in the packaging)
Insoles for shoes, Shoelaces, Mentholated Foot Creams, Black shoe polish cream, Panty-Hose for the ladies (I noticed many wear them in church), Black Socks, Multi-Vitamins, Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen, Cooling or Heating Pain Patches, Band-aids, Anti-Biotic Creams, Anti-Allergy Eye Drops, Antacid Tablets (Tums), Pill Boxes/Organizers, Eyeglass Repair Kits, Reader Eye Glasses, Sun Glasses, Tweezers
Hair Accessories, especially small Rubber Bands and Beads, Packets of Hair Conditioner, Disposable Razors, liquid soaps with "Puffy" scrubbers, Lotions, Tooth Brushes, Lip Balms, Manicure/ Pedicure Sets, Stick on Nail Jewels, Make-up sets with Brushes, Combs, Mini Fragrances/Body Mists
Clothesline and Clothespins, Clothes Hangers, Plastic "Over the Door" Clothing Hooks, Dish Towels, Rubber Gloves, Oven Mitts, Sponge/Scouring Pads, Dish Cloths, Crank Can Openers, (any Kitchen accessories are great), Packets of Kool-Aid type juice mixes, Insulated tote bags, Ice Cube Trays, Drink Koozies, Blank Stickers/Food Labels, Plastic Food Storage, Sticky Paper Rolling Lint Removers
Organizational items of any type (I pack my clothes in those small folding cardboard/cloth boxes for quick unpacking - then I leave them for the Maids (They Love Them!)
Tee-Shirts, Hats / Sun Visors, Aprons, Gently Worn used Clothing - especially Baby Items (which I won't start listing all the possibilities there)
Dice, Yahtzee Sets or Farkle Sets (Print instructions, add dice, pens and a set of blank Yahtzee Sheets or Note Pad for Farkle), Uno Cards, Cards
As for Children - those items are what we buy a lot of multiples and the list is just endless....A few are as follows...
Paper Clips, Pencils and Sharpeners, Pencil Bags, Erasers, Correction Pens or Tape, Glue Sticks, Note Books, Teacher's Aids, STICKERS (Every type very popular), Crayons, Markers, Activity Books, FLASHCARDS, Rulers, Stencils, CALCULATORS, Highlighters, Mini Memo Books...
Temporary Tattoos, Balloons, Punch Balls, Kazoos, Silly Glasses with Noses, etc, Jelly Bangle Bracelets and Necklaces, Girls white Anklet Socks with lace edging, Glo-Stcks, Blow up Beach Balls, Matchbox Cars and Trucks, (Much to be found for children in Party Favor section of stores), Deflated Soccer Balls, small Games, Puzzles, Watercolor Paint Sets, Craft Kits, Toy Flutes, Inflatable guitars, anything inflatable is great for packing!
We also bring along various size zip-lock bags or use bags we are giving as gifts when we divide everything up - usually during the first two nights upon arrival.
I get more excited than when I'm wrapping Christmas gifts for my own children during the dividing of the gifts.
We also do our Thank You cards for the Maids and stuff them with a $5.00 (U.S.) at that time (if we were not organized enough to do that at home).
It is terrific having everything together and ready to go. That way, if we are on the beach when we see someone we have specific things for, its just a quick run to room.
Thanks to Anyone Who was able to read through this long list (and hoping maybe I was able to give some gift ideas to people also)!
