OP here. I ended up just sending a musical card (those are pretty American), and will just need to find some stuff to put in her welcome basket over the next week.

Can you offer to buy her something she'll need when she gets here? For example, we bought our Brazilian AP a winter coat when she arrived in January b/c she didn't have one....we took her shopping to TJ Maxx/Burlington and let her pick it out and then bought it for her as a welcome. Obviously, it's August and she doesn't need a coat, but something along those lines?

I think a card with a gift card for her to use when she gets here is a really sweet idea. (Wouldn't suggest for the NYC training week, though. They only get one night out in NYC, and it's planned - they go on a bus together, etc.; not a lot of free time. They are in a hotel in Jersey the rest of the time.)

In our experience, a lot of countries don't have discount designer stores to the extent we do here in the U.S., and most of our APs have been enthralled with Nordstrom Rack, Century 21, Loehmann's, etc. (if you want to give a pricier gift card), and TJ Maxx, Marshall's, Ross, etc. (where they'll get more bang for their bucks). A lot of APs come with a limited clothing supply because they plan to and are excited to go shopping when they get here. So this could be a really nice gesture, AND she can go on an outing to a shopping area early on as a way to learn how to get places (using the metro, driving around your area, etc.). Even our APs who are not that interested in shopping, clothing and fashion have loved Marshall's, TJ Maxx, etc. because they were just not used to being able to buy cheap clothing. (Male AP too!)

Anonymous wrote:Nothing... Next year you make a little celebration with your kiDs.

+1
just send a card and plan on making it a big celebration (maybe invite her friends) at the end of her AP year

I would make her welcome dinner (meaning the 2nd or 3rd meal you have together) a birthday dinner. Get a cake, gift a little customary gift, and get to know her.

Nothing... Next year you make a little celebration with your kiDs.

I would say a gift card for someplace in NYC, but they are so busy during their week there, I think it would be hard for your AP to definitely get to a certain place to spend it. I would send a card and a photo of the kids.

Someone coming from another country might find it weird about being offered a pedicure This is not a common present everywhere.

I wouldn't send anything before she gets to your place besides a birthday card. You can all celebrate when she arrives, she won't expect it and will be happily surprised!

You will know more about her by then and it'll be easier to find a nice gift.

My AP is arriving in 4 few weeks, but her birthday is in less than 2 weeks. I want to celebrate/acknowledge her birthday before she comes, so I thought I would get a gift certificate for something here in the US, and send her a copy in her birthday card. Can anyone think of anything super fun? Pedicure is the first thing that comes to mind, but maybe she's weird about people touching her feet or something?

Any ideas for something that fits the bill? Not too pricey, but cool enough to be a birthday gift and exciting enough to be worthy of your first weeks in the US. Maybe something during her NYC training week?

Btw, we have already developed a really good relationship and my husband met her and her parents a few months ago when he was traveling. She is more than just an acquaintance at this point.