Judi's Au Pair Blog

The Northeast is usually blanketed with snow from November to early March. This lack of snow has been disappointing for some Au Pairs, but a relief to others.  We haven’t yet been cross country skiing, but some  adventurers have traveled to the mountains and tried the downhill skiing. There is still  plenty to keep you upbeat and busy , until the spring weather appears.

 Here are a few suggestions:

• Let the child in you escape and try tubing at the local ski resorts.
•  Go outside everyday, go for a walk, try jogging…exercise improves mental health.
• Join  a health club. You not only get in shape for Spring, but you will also meet new people!
• Use the library in your town. Sgn up the kids and yourself, for the free programs.  Area libraries also have ESL programs !
• Prepare a Global Awareness presentation for one of your host kids’ classes.  Ask me about this!
• Volunteer at a local hospital, school , animal shelter, food bank or wherever your interests bring you. Helping others stimulates the brain activity. You help other to feel good and you feel good about yourself!
• Set a goal for yourself, to learn somthing new each day. Record it in a journal and you will be surprised, at what you have accomplished, by the end of your year in the U.S.A
• Arrange a play date with another Au Pair and her host kids.
• Call a friend, and meet for coffee.
• Get plenty of sleep each night, and as your mom told you when you where young, eat your vegetables!
• Smile… smiles result in more smiles!

On Sunday ,  12/11, we celebrated the Christmas season with brunch , a gift exchange and a cookie exchange.  There was plenty of food , laughter and pictures. We worked off all the food ,by ice skating at the Clifton Commons.

Cookies, cookies & more cookies!

Ready to Skate!

This is so much fun!!

For most area colleges, the fall classes will begin the last week in August through the first week in September. Now is the time to go online and find the course you want to take and will also work best with your childcare schedule.  

  Au Pairs are requiered to take either 80 “seat hours” or 6 credit hours of classes, each year.  Please be aware that currently, the UCLA- American Studies course, is the only online course  that satisfies the U.S. State Department  requierments, for the Au Pair program.

Take advantage of the cultural experience by participating  in activites on the college  campus…. Sports, clubs, concerts, use of gym facility.

 Tips for Staying Cool This Summer
• Be aware of the heat. Pay attention to it and modify your activities appropriately.
• Pay attention to your hydration status and be sure to drink plenty of fluids.
• Try to stay in relatively cool areas, even when outside. Many public places, such as libraries, shopping malls and movie theatres, are air conditioned.
•Avoid hot, enclosed places, such as cars. Never leave children unattended in a car!
• Use a fan, if available.
• Stay on the lowest floor of your building.
•Eat well-balanced, light and regular meals.
•Wear loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothing.
•Cover windows that receive a significant amount of sun with drapes or shades to help keep your house cool.
•Cool beverages are good for cooling down the body, while alcoholic drinks can impair the body’s ability to regulate its temperature.

Signs of Heat Overexposure
•Heavy sweating — though if heat stroke sets in, the body can no longer compensate and stops sweating.
•Pale skin.
•Muscle cramps.
•Feeling tired and weak.
•Altered mental status (confusion or disorientation).
•Headache.
•Becoming semi-conscious or passing out.
•Nausea or vomiting.

Steps to Take After Recognizing Heat-Induced Illness
•Call 911.
•Get the person out of the sun and into a cool area. An air-conditioned area is ideal, but moving someone into the shade will also help.
•Apply water to help the person cool off.
• Apply ice to the neck or armpits, where large blood vessels are close to the surface.
•Remove any heavy clothing.
•Immerse the body in cool water, either at a swimming pool or in a bathtub.

The March Au Pair meeting will focus on how to file the tax forms.

Here are some of the basic questions:

Who is supposed to file taxes? – All au pairs (even those who don’t owe money)

Will all au pairs have to pay something? – No, it depends on when you arrived and how much money you earned last year.

When are 2010 taxes due? – April 18, 2011

Where can I get the tax form? -  1040NR-EZ Form

Where can I get the instruction booklet? – 1040NR-EZ Booklet

Where can I get detailed information and see a sample au pair tax form? – APIA Tax Info for Au Pairs