Chances are that someone helped you during your stay in a foreign country, even if you barricaded yourself in your room for most of the time. The people that assisted you deserve a “thank you”, and that requires more than learning how to say arigato.

If an extended family member picked you up at the airport or a co-worker’s friend introduced you to new acquaintances, then they made your stay in a foreign country easier. Some distant relations may have even been kind enough to house you during your stay. Other friends may have helped you find your first job or toured you around city hotspots. Depending on how much these people assisted you, you should repay them.

The obvious choice of repayment is a gift of some sort. If someone helped you out a few times and took you out for a few meals, then a small gift would show them how much you appreciated their efforts. However, many travelers can be at a loss when it comes to choosing a gift.

The first trick is to simply pay attention to what your friends look at in stores. Time spent in foreign countries is usually split up into sight-seeing and shopping. If you spent any time shopping with your friends, you should know what would make a good gift. Buy them that necklace they keep looking at but never buy. If you really have no idea what they want, go with a gift card or take them to a fancy dinner. Your friend may be more sentimental, in which case you may want to buy them a bracelet or charm that will remind them of you.

I had no idea what to buy one of the people who helped me in Japan. She was more of the sentimental type, but I wasn’t sure what kind of remembrance would be best. Bracelets and necklaces didn’t feel right, but I didn’t know what else to buy. Then I remembered how she lost her umbrella on one of our first days together. I ended up buying her a replacement umbrella. It wasn’t flashy or expensive, but she would use it frequently and be reminded of the summer.

You may find yourself essentially adopted in a foreign country. Your relations are so gracious that they offer you their home, and they help you find work, food, and friends. Such people deserve more than a small gift. In fact, you may feel that you cannot repay them no matter what you do.

In cases such as this, there is only one way to convey your appreciation and have any shot at paying them back. Offer them your home as well. Many people are looking for an excuse to travel. Offering your home as a free place to stay is a mighty convincing excuse. If they choose to accept, then you have the chance to show them around your home country, and treat them to exceptional dinners and shows. If not, keep the offer standing in case they ever change their mind.

For someone that shaped your life in a foreign country, the least you can do is offer to do the same in your country.

There are plenty of different ways to express your gratitude. Buying a small gift usually works well, however buying a nice dinner will often suffice. Of course, different cultures have different ways of expressing “thank you.” Yet, whoever you are thanking will know and understand that you come from your own, different background. It really isn’t necessary to even learn how to say “thank you” in their language. Perhaps the most important thing you can do is say “thank you” each and every time you are treated. Say it with a smile, and mean it, because this repeated warm expression of gratitude will mean more than a gift or a meal.