Bettina Velona's Au Pair Blog

This month we had a snowtubing event planned, but due to un-wintery conditions this week, we postponed it to February.   On short notice, we had a small gathering two days later at my house.   Since the meeting was smaller, we had the chance to talk about a lot of things.  Au pairs had the chance to talk to me one on one about issues that they are dealing with.  We also had a nice talk around the table about au pair topics, including child care, paying taxes,  boyfriends and life with the host family.

Au Pair in America brings the world together.  We bring au pairs from over 60 countries to US families who receive quality child care.  Au pairs also share their culture with their host families and people who come in contact with them.    We also offer a program called Global Awareness, and it gives au pairs the opportunity to share their culture in public settings like libraries or schools.

This week, my Swedish au pair Emma and my South African au pair Tracey came to St. Agnes School in Arlington center to present their country to kids in the classroom.  Emma went to the 5th grade, and Tracey to the 7th.    They both did an outstanding job and the kids learned a lot about Sweden and South Africa.

Emma presenting Sweden in the 5th grade

Tracey presenting South Africa in the 7th grade

GREAT JOB, EMMA AND TRACEY!

Both au pairs receive a Global Awareness Certificate as well as a

Starbucks gift card.

For more photos please visit Global Awareness

Bettina's au pair group

Boston area community counselors

On Sunday, we celebrated the holidays with other Boston area au pair clusters at the Scout House in Concord.  Over 150 au pairs participated in the au pair holiday gala.

Counselors supplied holiday music, decorations, main dishes like ham, turkey, lasagna, as well as a holiday punch.  Each au pair was asked to bring food to share from her country.

Au pairs also participated in a gift swap game during which they were asked questions like “Who has visited the Grand Canyon,” or “Who has an American boyfriend?” As you can imagine, there was a lot of laughter involved.

Gift Exchange Game

As a conclusion to a fun evening, au pairs also split up into country groups to sing traditional holiday songs from their country.   Here are a few samples:

At the end of the evening, the au pairs got together with their counselors and received a gift.

For more photos and videos of our holiday party please go to Holiday Party 2011 and Au Pair Holiday Party 2011

Our Au Pair Cluster

This month, our au pair cluster joined three others and ventured out to Boylston, MA for  country linedancing at Bay Path Barn.

Learning the steps

Au Pairs lined up in a big hall and followed owner Mary Rinker’s dance step instructions.  Mary first walked everybody through a dance without the music and then we got to practice with music.    It took a little while getting used to the different steps, but it became easier to follow along as time went on.  Dances we learned included the Cotton Eyed Joe, the Mama Maria and the Kick Step.

practicing the steps

Also part of our meeting this month was a talk about winter driving and cold/flu prevention.   This satisfies the State Department requirement of an quarterly child development/safety meeting.  We also welcomed our newest arrivals who had a chance to connect with the group.

Check out these two videos of au pairs first learning the steps, and then practicing them with a song:

For more photos and videos of our meeting, please go to Country Linedancing

Each September, Au Pair in America organizes a group tour at Harvard University for its Boston area au pairs.  Yesterday, over 60 au pairs participated on a lovely sunny day.    We split up into two groups, led by Harvard students.

Aside from Harvard’s history, we always learn interesting facts from the tour leaders.  Yesterday we learned that Harvard is the only university which is “needs blind” which means that they will accept students based on their scholarly value no matter how much money they have to contribute to their education.  Harvard will then supplement the rest,  even if it means paying 100%.  We also learned that each dorm on campus reflects the total makeup of the Harvard student population.  So if Harvard has 20% international students, each dorm will have 20% international students.  A true tribute to diversity!

For more photos of our tour go to Harvard Tour or Harvard Tour 1

Last week we met at my house for a relaxing summer barbecue.    Summer is a busy time in the au pair world with many new arrivals, good-byes, and summer vacation.    We welcomed Laetitia from France and Sina from Germany to our cluster.   We said good-bye to Julia who will return to Germany the beginning of September.   It was nice for the new arrivals to mingle with the more seasoned au pairs and get helpful tips from them.  That is one of the advantages of being part of an au pair cluster that meets each month.

Our get-togethers always provide an opportunity for cultural exchange.  While au pairs enjoyed traditional American barbecue dishes, they also shared food from their own country: Chinese salami and grilled vegetables as well as Thai desserts and specialties.  Around the table, we had a vivid discussion about the university experience in different countries.   Taking courses is an integral part of the au pair cultural experience.  Au pairs are required to take 6 credits or 80 hours in the classroom.   The new au pairs had a chance to talk with the more seasoned au pairs about educational possibilities in the Boston area.

For more photos from our meeting please visit barbecue photos

Yoga Group (missing participant: Sune)

This month, I taught a yoga class to my pair cluster, which took place at The Arlington Center Yoga Studio in East Arlington.  For some au pairs, it was their first exposure to yoga.   Everybody seemed to enjoy the experience.

After the class, we enjoyed a good-bye cake for Saskia and Alicia who will be leaving us in June.    I congratulated them for their accomplishments, and they talked to the other au pairs about their experience as an au pair.  We also welcomed new au pair Evelina to our cluster.   Having access to a group of other au pairs who are sharing their experience and who might be a good resource for them has been a very valuable for my au pairs.

In an effort to ensure the best possible childcare for our host families, Au Pair in America counselors are required to hold a childcare/safety meeting with their au pair groups.  This month’s meeting included a discussion about spring and summer safety.  You can find the document under “Au Pair Info.”

To access the yoga group photo, please visit Yoga Group

On April 30, Au Pair in America sponsored a day of cultural education and fun at the Boston Children’s Museum.   With the help of local community counselors who each oversees a group of au pairs during their stay in the US, au pairs  came prepared to represent their countries from around the world.    Over the course of the afternoon, hundreds of enthusiastic children and parents toured the exhibition.   They collected country stickers to put in a passport handed out to them,  received earth and skin friendly tattoos, had their faces painted with country flags, and chatted with au pairs.

Traditional dance in authentic costume highlighted the presentation by Thailand while the German au pairs entertained visitors with traditional German spring egg craft and painting.  South African au pairs proudly painted their country’s flag on smiling faces, while a  colorful and tempting piñata dangled over the Mexico booth.  The colorful Costa Rican booth among other things offered Costa Rican expressions in glitter that visitors could practice with the help of  au pairs.  Au pairs from many other countries served as international teachers of the culture and beauty of their homelands as well.  Photos of this great event are available on our cultural fair link below.

Pictures from the fair

2010 Cultural Fair

• Where: 300 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210
• Date: April 30, 2011
• Time: 11:00am–2:00pm

• Local Au Pairs to participate in an International Cultural Fair at Boston Children’s Museum on April 30th On Saturday, April, 30th, au pairs from local families will host an International Children’s Cultural Fair at the Boston Children’s Museum from 11am to 2pm.  The au pairs, who are a part of Au Pair in America live with local host families for a year and care for their children.    The fair will be a celebration of culture geared toward families and children.  The au pairs will share songs, traditional dances, crafts and facts about their countries.  Children will be given a ‘passport card’ to collect country flags as they visit the displays which have been put together by au pairs from the many different countries.    All are welcome to attend the event at Boston Children’s Museum at 300 Congress Street, Boston MA.   The cultural fair is a great opportunity to interact with these young women who come from many countries around the world.    Pictures of last year’s fair.

In addition to monthly meetings offered by each counselor to her au pair group, Au Pair in America counselors in the Boston area organize a regional event once a month that is open to all Au Pair in America au pairs in the Boston area.   This month, 50 au pairs joined me and two other local counselors for the Prudential Center Skywalk

View of Boston

Blue, sunny skies made for breathtaking views from the 50th floor.  Au Pairs were able to do an audio tour and learn more about the city of Boston and its landmarks.  They all enjoyed getting to know the city they chose to come to a bit better.  A true cultural exchange experience!

To see more photos of our regional event, please go to Skywalk 2011 or Heike’s Pictures