A Swiss 'acquaintance' is moving into a new home. She is currently in a caravan on site, but will be in the house (new build) in the next couple of weeks.
To be honest I had always thought of her more as a person to say hello to in passing,than as a friend, but at the the weekend we bumped into each other as we walked by her building site, and she invited us in for a tour.
We (the children and I) spent a lovely hour looking around her (half built) house and garden, and now I find myself wanting to get her some sort of house warming present when she finally escapes from her caravan.
So what sort of thing would be considered appropriate?
Or should I not worry about any of that, and just give her wine?
She lives in the next street from us, and has already left a couple of plants on out doorstep, so I will be seeing her regularly, and want to get it right.
Now, this is a story that beats the stereotypes of the Swiss people and I, too, have found my Swiss neighbors very friendly and inviting. Regarding a gift, wine is always a safe option, but perhaps, sharing with the neighbor something a bit more unique - if they like gardening, perhaps, a garden ornament that would be reminder of the friendship. Just a thought!
Oooh yes, get her something for the garden. There a so many beautiful pot plants and flowers being sold now so it wont be a problem to find a really pretty one at all.
I know this might be a bit overkill for a neighbour you hardly know but someone bought us a photo canvas when we moved into our new house and it was a fantastic housewarming gift. I loved it so much that I then bought one for a friend from this website here: The Photobookstore and they loved it too! They come in lots of different sizes so you can easily find one that fits in.
The traditional (at least in Germany) housewarming gifts are bread and salt. There is some discussion where this tradition started - my wife says that it comes from a fable about the importance of salt in bread (see http://maerchenbasar.de/das-salz-im-brot-4177.html ) or has something to do with the importance of salt in earlier times (something that you should always have and should never run out of).
Other sources say that it's a traditional "welcome" gift in some eastern European cultures.