cultural exchange program. February 18, 2008 7:32 AM   Subscribe

Inspired by this AskMeFi, it might be a good idea that we mail each other some hometown-inspired packages of our own. yes/no?
posted by drea to MetaFilter-Related at 7:32 AM (76 comments total)

no?
posted by matteo at 7:41 AM on February 18, 2008


who wants me to mail them Andy Williams from Branson Missouri?
posted by shinynewnick at 7:53 AM on February 18, 2008 [2 favorites]


Mailing each other is kinda fun, sure, but that's a one to one connection. It might be better if people compiled they're favorite things about this hometown and put it up on a webpage, then there could be massive linking and experiencing of everyone's home.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:53 AM on February 18, 2008


I say we limit it to alcohol only.
posted by burnmp3s at 7:54 AM on February 18, 2008


I love this idea -- but all I have to offer from Middle of Nowhere NW Missouri is:

Cherry Mash (the most sickeningly sweet confection on earth, made in St. Joseph MO)

A stuffed Bobby Bearcat (from Northwest Missouri State University)

and I can't really send the Nut Fries (aka Rocky Mountain Oysters) in the mail.
posted by lleachie at 8:05 AM on February 18, 2008 [1 favorite]


We just used to send post cards.
posted by zennie at 8:21 AM on February 18, 2008


Now, if teleportation was possible....
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:30 AM on February 18, 2008


who wants me to mail them Andy Williams from Branson Missouri?

Can you please send me Shoji Tabuchi instead?
posted by biscotti at 8:39 AM on February 18, 2008


who wants me to mail them Andy Williams from Branson Missouri?

MeMeMeMeMe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted by JanetLand at 8:41 AM on February 18, 2008


Sure, but seeing as I'm in Louisville, KY...the only things I can send are cheap tobacco, expensive bourbon, heart disease, diabetes, and a miniature Louisville slugger baseball bat for the next time someone tries to get fresh with you.
posted by mrmojoflying at 8:49 AM on February 18, 2008


Two pigeons, two rat, and two cockroaches, one of each sex. A NYC menagerie starter-kit.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 8:50 AM on February 18, 2008 [1 favorite]


Shinynewnick, I'll pass on the Andy Williams, but if you could get me some Springfield-style cashew chicken and Mexican Villa hot/sweet sauce, yo.
posted by Bookhouse at 8:57 AM on February 18, 2008


I'll have to check on postage for Shoji, but Andy will fit in a much smaller box. Very nice, very small man.
posted by shinynewnick at 9:09 AM on February 18, 2008


Check on the cashew chicken, I'll pass through one of the numerous drive-through places. And I think my sister still has an extra bottle of Mexican Villa sauce in the fridge, I'll steal it from her. Who knew southwest Missouri would be such a cultural hotspot? And for a self-link, I can mail myself to anywhere warm and tropical this time of year.
posted by shinynewnick at 9:13 AM on February 18, 2008


You're not the guy on the billboards with the hat and missing teeth, are you?
posted by bayliss at 9:41 AM on February 18, 2008


*looks over what Wisconsin is famous for*

1.) Beer
2.) Football
3.) Cheese
4.) Harley Davidson
5.) Serial Killers

So, in essence, four people are going to like their gifts and one person really isn't.
posted by quin at 9:51 AM on February 18, 2008 [7 favorites]



You're not the guy on the billboards with the hat and missing teeth, are you?


No, of course not, don't be silly.

That's my uncle.
posted by shinynewnick at 9:52 AM on February 18, 2008 [2 favorites]


Forget packages. We should have a Mefi Exchange Student program. Trade our best and brightest to go learn about other parts of the world.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:20 AM on February 18, 2008 [2 favorites]


mefi student exchange? sign me up
posted by drea at 10:27 AM on February 18, 2008


Alright, drea, you can start by writing all my assignments for this semester. :)
posted by sveskemus at 10:31 AM on February 18, 2008


Craigfilter.
posted by Dizzy at 10:40 AM on February 18, 2008


Fuck, no! I could never afford all the Guinness necessary to keep my mefites sweet!
posted by Wilder at 10:49 AM on February 18, 2008


The mine in my town is closed, but I've still got some ore in the basement. Who wants greyish bits of rock?
posted by ssg at 10:50 AM on February 18, 2008


Forget packages. We should have a Mefi Exchange Student program. Trade our best and brightest to go learn about other parts of the world.

I don't know, going to the post office to get a box and some stamps was already more interaction with the outside world than I'm comfortable with. Can't we come up with something that doesn't involve me leaving the house? Maybe I could just wear a funny hat and talk in a weird accent for a month.
posted by burnmp3s at 10:58 AM on February 18, 2008 [1 favorite]


I will ship beer pacific northwest beer for east coast (or central, Bells) beer. I have a two 12 pack shipping container used by breweries for shipping samples.

Bonus points if anyone wants to send me growlers of small brewpubs like the Selinsgrove Brewing Company in central PA.
posted by mrzarquon at 11:07 AM on February 18, 2008


I would be willing to mail myself to a nice, warm place with plenty of photographic scenery. However:

1) NEVER feed me after midnight.
2) NEVER get me wet. (OK, well, almost ever.)
posted by The Deej at 11:09 AM on February 18, 2008


This is so freakin' weird.

I took a look at the thread's summary, thought to myself, "Eh, no one wants anything from Missouri," and went back to work.

Then I come back a couple hours later, only to find just about everyone wants something from Missouri.

Who wants something from St. Louis?
posted by limeonaire at 11:31 AM on February 18, 2008


Who wants something from St. Louis?

Schlafly, stat. kthx.
posted by Ufez Jones at 11:34 AM on February 18, 2008 [1 favorite]


Well, hell, box up some Imo's maybe, or run to columbia and get me some pepperoni and peppercheese pizza from Shakespeares.. And I used to make some pretty awsome Cherry Mash ice cream.

Of course, there's nothing here in Brooklyn worth trading.
posted by Bookhouse at 11:36 AM on February 18, 2008


Oh, hell yeah! Beer exchange is something I'd definitely take part in. I'm in the SF bay area if any non-west coast beer snobs want to swap. I just finished brewing my first batch of my own beer (a stout) if anyone wants to try an ultra-microbrew.
posted by team lowkey at 11:45 AM on February 18, 2008


I'll ask my husband if he wants to trade some, since I got him a micro-brewery beer-of-the-month club membership for Christmas, and we are on the Southeast coast.
posted by misha at 12:00 PM on February 18, 2008


Anyone need some rain?
posted by Cranberry at 12:08 PM on February 18, 2008 [1 favorite]


We have some pretty decent beer here but I think it would probably be too expensive to ship them across the pond for a swap to make sense.
posted by sveskemus at 12:23 PM on February 18, 2008


Irn Bru and Buckfast would be more of an insult than a gift, I fear.

And it's interesting to see what Americans, even the ones who live over here, seem to think we don't get - every foodstuff mentioned in that thread (except Crest Whitestrips, which sound awfully sinister, and Lucky Charms) is available from shops within a two mile radius of my flat, and I don't even live down in that fancy London.
posted by jack_mo at 12:30 PM on February 18, 2008


I have access to the South! We know good barbeque sauce! (N. Carolina vinegar, tyvm) Too bad I can't ship out hot hush puppies.
posted by artifarce at 12:34 PM on February 18, 2008


They've got Hershey bars in Glasgow, jack_mo?

Of course, if not, you can always chew on some cardboard to recreate the full-flavoured experience.
posted by game warden to the events rhino at 12:40 PM on February 18, 2008


I'm not sure it would be legal to mail meth, and that's all my hometown is good for.
posted by schyler523 at 12:49 PM on February 18, 2008


put it up on a webpage, then there could be massive linking and experiencing of everyone's home.

Ok, here we go:

This is my house. I can't wait for spring to come so I can watch the new trees that I planted last year sprout up a little bit.

Here's a neat one of ice fishing shacks on Wabigoon Lake. Every year they plow a road across the lake - it shaves about 30 minutes off of the trip into town for the people that live over there. There are about 50 little shacks lined up along the road. (the road runs right in between all of the shacks that you see.)
posted by davey_darling at 1:02 PM on February 18, 2008 [1 favorite]


Anyone need some holy wars or boundary disputes? Or have you all got enough of that...?
posted by prophetsearcher at 1:03 PM on February 18, 2008


Oh, and if anyone's got a prophet, I got dibs!
posted by prophetsearcher at 1:04 PM on February 18, 2008


Any takers for genuine rust-belt rust? It never sleeps.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 1:09 PM on February 18, 2008 [1 favorite]


prophet, I want your stapler.
posted by artifarce at 1:18 PM on February 18, 2008


artifarce, I found it in here. unfortunately, I already lent it to someone and never got it back.
posted by prophetsearcher at 1:25 PM on February 18, 2008


Who wants scrapple?
posted by Loto at 1:32 PM on February 18, 2008


I want an Imo's pizza from St. Louis
posted by chillmost at 2:11 PM on February 18, 2008


Anyone online from Baltimore? Will trade governor for syphilis.
posted by Dizzy at 2:41 PM on February 18, 2008 [1 favorite]


Forget packages. We should have a Mefi Exchange Student program. Trade our best and brightest to go learn about other parts of the world.

I don't know about you, but I personally would rather spend my postage on tasty treats. Anyone know what the going rate is for sending a student priority mail?
posted by mrmojoflying at 2:41 PM on February 18, 2008


Can you get postcards made from digital photographs? I think exchanging pictures of places we like to frequent would be a good and inexpensive idea...also easy.
posted by MaryDellamorte at 2:44 PM on February 18, 2008


Wow. I had no idea I lived in such a hub of longed-for culinary desirability.

(has had Imo's, Mexican Villa, Cashew Chicken and chatted w/ Soji Tabuchi's sax player all in the past week)
posted by sourwookie at 3:01 PM on February 18, 2008 [1 favorite]


I really don't think I'm able to mail the Sunsphere.

Though if I were to make a postcard it would be something like this or this.
posted by frobozz at 3:45 PM on February 18, 2008


I need five people to mail me dildoes.

ONLY. FIVE.

I can exchange them for barbecue sauce, tex-mex, beauty-pageant styling consultations, blonde hair extensions, fake boobs or Erykah Badu.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 3:50 PM on February 18, 2008


Sure, but seeing as I'm in Louisville, KY...the only things I can send are cheap tobacco, expensive bourbon, heart disease, diabetes, and a miniature Louisville slugger baseball bat for the next time someone tries to get fresh with you.

See, I'm in Louisville too, and I came into this thread thinking what a great idea this is because of all the great stuff I could pull together to represent Louisville ... country ham, biscuit mix, equine miscellanea, a My Morning Jacket CD. LOUISVILLE KICKS ASS.
posted by jbickers at 4:08 PM on February 18, 2008


I need five people to mail me dildoes.

Wow. So the the performance art on Saturday didn't check out, eh? Why on earth did I need to sign a release form?

I kid, I kid

But damn, that doesn't bode well for item's rep.

posted by Ufez Jones at 4:11 PM on February 18, 2008


I was making a reference to the "six dildoes is a sin" or whatever it is law that we have here. God bless.

You signed a release form because when we post the videos from the party up on our Myspace, we no likey the "I didn't agree to this, take it down" type of emails.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 4:19 PM on February 18, 2008


Aww, UotC, note the small note. It was meant with a wink and a nod. This thread is all jest, no?

Also, note to you and item, sorry I had to bail early. I had to make a last-minute b-day party at, of all places, Meridian. So typical!
posted by Ufez Jones at 4:35 PM on February 18, 2008


country ham, biscuit mix



Is there a ham and biscuit that's native to Louisville rather than just being a pan-Southern country staple? If so, I'll bite. You can keep the Hot Brown though.
posted by mrmojoflying at 4:45 PM on February 18, 2008


"I say we limit it to alcohol only."

So I will be mailing out ... nothing. Nothing at all.

Excellent.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 5:10 PM on February 18, 2008


One word: curds
posted by loiseau at 5:52 PM on February 18, 2008


game warden to the events rhino: "They've got Hershey bars in Glasgow, jack_mo?

Of course, if not, you can always chew on some cardboard to recreate the full-flavoured experience.
"

They do, at the deli round the corner. Absolutely fucking vile, to my palette at least - the international variations in commercial chocolate recipes are fascinating.

The same deli also sell Desnoes & Geddes soft drinks from Jamaica, which pack so much sugar you practically go into a diabetic coma after every sip - the splendidly-named Ting is the only drinkable one, as they temper it with stupid amounts of citric acid. If any JA residents can sort me out with their impossible-to-find-here Malta drink, which is supposedly a much sweeter, hoppier version of the malt drinks you get in Scandinavia, I'll send you a punnet of Tunnock's Tea Cakes in return!
posted by jack_mo at 6:10 PM on February 18, 2008


Um, palate, that is.
posted by jack_mo at 6:12 PM on February 18, 2008


who wants me to mail them Andy Williams from Branson Missouri?

I'm a little iffy about the Moon River guy, but throw in Claudine Longet, and I'll pay for overnight shipping.
posted by malocchio at 6:30 PM on February 18, 2008


Wow. I had no idea I lived in such a hub of longed-for culinary desirability.

Naw, I'm just homesick. Mail me some Casper's chili too, kthnx.
posted by Bookhouse at 7:26 PM on February 18, 2008


You mail me topless photos, I mail you Mardi Gras beads.
posted by ColdChef at 7:48 PM on February 18, 2008


MMMM....Casper's. Guess I know what lunch is tomorrow.
posted by sourwookie at 9:23 PM on February 18, 2008


Funnily enough, this past MeFi Secret Santa yielded excellent results on the anonymous end, but someone who missed the cutoff who still wanted to exchange didn't send me anything when we agreed to do a one to one. So if this were anonymous, I'd be all over it! Someone's getting some bagels, lox and dried meats!
posted by spec80 at 9:43 PM on February 18, 2008


I want an Imo's pizza from St. Louis

Just sneeze on some cardboard and add a few Spaghetti-O's.


I have Zingerman's to offer.
posted by PhatLobley at 9:50 PM on February 18, 2008


Americans, thanks but no thanks, there is already plenty from your home town in my home town. No really, you'd be surprised.
posted by mattoxic at 10:35 PM on February 18, 2008


Whenever I come back from America, I bring Oreos and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Those are a big hit at the office. Also if I can score some girl scout cookies while in America, that is even better.
posted by chillmost at 3:09 AM on February 19, 2008


*looks over what Wisconsin is famous for*

1.) Beer
2.) Football
3.) Cheese
4.) Harley Davidson
5.) Serial Killers

So, in essence, four people are going to like their gifts and one person really isn't.


Yep. Weeping over having to gag down the piss-ass beer from Milwaukee.
posted by ericb at 4:36 AM on February 19, 2008


Americans, thanks but no thanks, there is already plenty from your home town in my home town. No really, you'd be surprised.

That's ridiculous. We can send you SUPERBAD!
posted by 1 at 4:39 AM on February 19, 2008


Cherry Mash? They still make Cherry Mash?
From St. Jo, MO.
Wow.
posted by unrepentanthippie at 6:27 AM on February 19, 2008


consider it projects'd
posted by soma lkzx at 10:29 AM on February 19, 2008


If anyone's in Vienna Austria, I'm dying for some Dragee Keksies. Will gladly contrbute a Chicago hot dog with everything.

Or our county board president.
posted by nax at 11:57 AM on February 19, 2008


I am totally in for a beer swap. I'm in Central MA, MefiMail me if you want to trade some tasty brews...
posted by rollbiz at 1:09 PM on February 20, 2008


I'm not sure I can receive or send beer in KY, but anyone who shows up in Louisville from other parts gets a fresh pint at one of our own rock solid brewpubs.
posted by mrmojoflying at 4:06 PM on February 20, 2008


mrmojoflying: "I'm not sure I can receive or send beer in KY"

That seemed like a really bizarre statement until I remembered that US states have two letter abbreviations. (I bet people from, er, whatever state KY is never tire of the lubricant references.)
posted by jack_mo at 6:19 PM on February 20, 2008


« Older Are some more worthy of respect than others?   |   User Activity Search Newer »

You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments