OcUK please suggest a PRACTICAL gift for a friend (girl) whose going away to Africa to work

[KatanaDV20]

A really awesome friend of mine has accepted a job in Kenya. Shes Spanish and really excited to go.

I will be when she goes.

Anyways *sniff* we are all giving her a big ol' sendoff this weekend. I wanna get her something. But it must be something she will actually use.

My first thought was...a Swiss Army Knife or a Leatherman. What do you lot think? Silly idea? Those things are handy right?

If you have any ideas then please suggest

Thanks!

 

[MickeyFinns]

Africa? Mini surgical kit if she is going anywhere remote;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lifesystems...d=1380752961&sr=8-1&keywords=mini+sterile+kit

Inb4 vibrator...

edit: second thoughts that'd make a pretty weak gift. The leather-man is a decent idea, what type of work is it?

 

[Biohazard]

What is the job?

Where in Africa?

 

[Caged]

Africa? Mini surgical kit if she is going anywhere remote;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lifesystems...d=1380752961&sr=8-1&keywords=mini+sterile+kit

Inb4 vibrator...

edit: second thoughts that'd make a pretty weak gift. The leather-man is a decent idea, what type of work is it?

There's spiders in Africa. Best make it one of these http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/...nt-*****-that-can-remove-spiders-200907081886

 

[86JR]

G-Ki by Je Joue

 

[FoxEye]

Condoms.

 

[One]

Tonic Water to stop the malaria?

 

[MickeyFinns]

Tonic Water to stop the malaria?

Actually a nice Gin & Tonic set would be a good tongue in cheek gift!

 

[Disco Boy]

Condoms.

Exactly.

If all goes well, you can use them in the "big send off" you have planned, too.

 

[Combat squirrel]

Condoms.

 

[KatanaDV20]

Its with the UN, mostly office-based but I think she will be zipping about in SUVs to do the odd field-work thing too!

And @ the trademark OcUk replies....

But fer reals...help me out here people - I need to get this by Sat afternoon latest

 

[Krisali]

Exactly.

If all goes well, you can use them in the "big send off" you have planned, too.

Yup and the rest will go some way to making sure if she does come back she will be disease free

 

[MickeyFinns]

If there's a few of you you could chip in and get her a rugged compact camera?

 

[KatanaDV20]

If there's a few of you you could chip in and get her a rugged compact camera?

Hmm thats a good one. Noted

 

[Biohazard]

Its with the UN, mostly office-based but I think she will be zipping about in SUVs to do the odd field-work thing too!

And @ the trademark OcUk replies....

But fer reals...help me out here people - I need to get this by Sat afternoon latest

My old man works for the UN in Africa, any chance you could let slip a little more detail?

 

[Theophany]

But fer reals...help me out here people - I need to get this by Sat afternoon latest

A cutlass so that she can fend of Somali pirates!!

 

[FoxEye]

Yup and the rest will go some way to making sure if she does come back she will be disease free

Actually my reply was semi-serious. I hope she knows how prevalent AIDS and other nasties are in just about all of Africa.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIV/AIDS_in_Kenya

Was as high as 10% in Kenya...

 

[bitslice]

Shortwave radio to pick up the BBC World Service, Africa has limited entertainment and news (even better, a windup version)

Wind up torch, batteries are not always available but power cuts are frequent.

Tinned butter or cheese - African versions are not the same.

 

[Efour]

I have never ever seen tinned butter and now im curious... that must be pretty minging... still want to try it.

 

[bitslice]

You start craving all sorts of odd foods when you can't buy them any more,
their cows are different, so any dairy product tastes odd.
Actually their bread is pretty foul too.