Room set-up and welcome basket RSS feed

Anonymous
My AP is due to arrive soon, and I'm trying to get her room and welcome basket pulled together. What do you put in your welcome baskets? What are room necessities. It just occurred to me last night to add an alarm clock with battery back-up. She'll also have a tv with a roku box, since we don't have traditional cable or whatever. I know she needs a hair dryer, but I'm thinking we can just get one at Target after she arrives. Anything else fun to add? I don't really know her taste/style, so I'm hesitant to buy anything fun and cute.

Any ideas?
Anonymous
Soft and cozY shoes for walk iside the house, nices soups,chocolates and candy, cookies, bubLe bath, books and magazines,sOcks cell phone ,pJ .
Anonymous
Travel coffee mug? My APs always come in the winter and I usually include hat, scarf and mittens (something to consider for the holidays).
Anonymous
metro card with some money on it, brochures with things to do around DC.

disagree with bubble bath -- I can't use scented things like that because I get UTIs, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.
Anonymous
Include all basic toiletries to get her started, like shampoo, conditioner, etc and tampons, pads. Also snacks and water....she may be hungry the first few days and nervous to poke around the kitchen at first.
Anonymous
We don't do toiletries - all three of our APs have arrived with their own distinct preferences in those areas. I particularly wouldn't want to give someone I don't know tampons! Week a basket with some treats - $20 starbucks card, water bottle, pictures from the kids, cute reusable bag, metro card with some money on it, tourist brochures for fun things in the area, DC themed tshirt, copies of our handbook, schedule, holidays off and days the kids don't have school when we'll need her to work all day so she can plan, maps, etc. We also get two sets of new towels and leave a few empty picture frames in the room for her to put her own pictures. Our APs have seemed very pleased with it.
Anonymous
OP here. Great idea about the snacks. Totally didn't even think of that, but you are absolutely right about being nervous to delve into our snacks.

Also, good point about the bubble bath and infections. I'm planning to take her to Target fairly soon after she arrives from NYC to get her settled with toiletries. Great idea about the shirt and Starbucks card and reusable water bottle. Thanks for all the ideas!
Anonymous
An umbrella. I've given both often to my AP and got rained on today
Anonymous
A bathrobe, especially if she doesn't have her own bathroom, and if she is sharing a bathroom, a shower caddy so she can keep her bath items separate and away from the kids.
Anonymous
We have done lots of the things mentioned including nice soaps and shampoos, bathrobe, umbrella, chocolates, Starbucks card, shower basket, etc., not all for each but some combo. Next week we are welcoming our first male AP, and I'd love suggestions for him. So far I am thinking water bottle, beach towel (he will spend first two weeks w us at pool and beach), powerbars, and probably a few colors of Gatorade (he works out a lot). Any other suggestions?

Also, not to hijak thread, but would love suggestions on what to send to orientation as welcome package. So far have just the cell phone, gift card for the NYC trip, and pepperidge farm cookies with the name of a location relevant to us. Any other suggestions? Thanks!
Anonymous
OP here. Here's what I have compiled for the basket, thus far: 2 bath towel sets, 2 Washingtonian magazines, a bunch of snacks, like crackers, Cracker Jacks, Jelly Bellys, etc., a keychain with her name and our house key, a SmarTrip card with $30 pre-loaded, a fun book about American culture, a Nats cap, a Camelback water bottle, a travel size hand sanitizer with one of those rubber holder things that you can attach to your bag, & a photo collage coffee mug with photos emailed by her parents.

We didn't send anything to orientation because our agency didn't suggest or solicit anything.
Anonymous
That mug idea sounds so sweet OP!
Anonymous
APIA for orientation gives you the option of sending a gift card, calling card, gift basket, and the option of a touristy trip through New York City. I did all of them, plus a nice note welcoming her to the country.

In her room, I put a few things in her refrig (I asked her ahead of time; actually turns out she doesn't use the refrig and uses the family one), shampoo/conditioner, lotion, liquid soap, razaors, and candles. Also picture frames with pictures of her family and friends taken from her facebook page (she was then told at orientation is was a really bad idea to have friended her HF and I agree!)
Anonymous
Oh yes, and I did give her a bathrobe.
Anonymous
American magazines (like cosmo? something 'fun'), a manicure set, a thank you/welcome card, fresh flowers
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