Thank you so much for giving your perspective!  This is exactly the reason I ask... because I would not want to be offensive in a gift, I would just want to show my gratitude.

Also, I know I gift would not be expected from a stranger, but that goes both ways!  If someone shares with me a bit of their culture, I want to do the same for them... not because I have to but because I want to. 

Yes.  I hadn´t thought of pebbles and seashells.  I guess I didn´t pay much attention, are pebbles and seashells different there?

I ask because every culture is different.  For example, I wouldn´t go up to a foreigner in the US and share my lunch with them.  We are taught in the US not to take food from strangers.

So would Turkish people like postcards, coins, and tea from the US?

Did anyone have any helpful suggestions of things I could give?

I will be going to Turkey in 10 days, and would like to bring simple gifts (from my country, the United States) for the people I meet.

When I was in Turkey about a year ago, I was shown such kindness and generosity by strangers.  A few time some Turkish people we didn´t know at all even gave part of their lunch to us!  (Which tasted fabulous, I might add.)  I wished I had something I could have given them from the United States.

Here is a list of ideas I have come up with, but I would like more suggestions:

·     Postcards from the US

·     Coins from the US

·     Tea from the US

 Thanks!