My name is Christine Connally and I have been an Au Pair in America Community Counselor since 2003. My service area includes: Takoma Park, Silver Spring, Prince George's County and Southern Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
Au Pair in America is the nation's first legal au pair program. Since 1986, we have provided the best child care opportunities to host families across the US and au pairs from around the world.
On Wednesday, April 27th, 2011, Baskin-Robbins stores across the country will hold 31 Cent Scoop Night from 5-10 pm to honor America’s firefighters. Baskin-Robbins will reduce prices of small ice cream scoops to 31 cents* and create an opportunity for customers to donate to local fire charities. Read more about the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation at www.firehero.org
*participating locations
Special Contest for my Au Pairs – First au pair in my cluster who emails to tell me her favorite ice cream flavor, will win a gift card to Baskin Robbins/Dunkin Donuts. It pays to check the cluster blog regularly. Update: WE HAVE A WINNER. Congratulations, Hayley!
On April 22, we’re inviting everyone to bring in a reusable mug or tumbler and get a free brewed coffee or tea. Your choice of brew, hot or iced – it is spring after all! This is happening at participating STARBUCKS in the U.S. and Canada.
Why are we doing this? We recognize the impact one can make through careful, conscious choices. So we want to encourage and reward those of you who use tumblers or travel mugs in your daily routines. You’re helping to reduce our environmental impact!
Although reusable serveware and tumbler use still only accounts for a small percentage of total beverages served, those of you who did bring in reusable mugs still made a significant impact. In 2010, people brought their own tumblers into our stores more than 32 million times, keeping nearly 1.45 million pounds of paper out of landfills.
Posted by Christine Connally on Apr 20, 2011No Comments
Recently, I asked Rike, a German au pair in our cluster what she thought of the Interior Design Two Weekend Program she completed through Sojourner Douglass College. Here is a review she was kind enough to write for me.
I can tell you that I really liked the two weekend classes! I would recommend it to every other Au Pair because you can get your credits in a short time and you can choose more than just one class.
Next to your main course, you have different other little classes you can attend. And you have a big choice so there is something for every flavor.
My main course was interior design which I really liked because next the theoretical part we were able to practice a lot. We learned how to create a floor plan with all the furniture, colors and lights. The homework for the second weekend was to make the same for a big family living room and then some of us had to present it. Next to this class, I picked for example digital photography, American holidays, travel Spanish, human development or yoga.
The teachers are very nice and really good and I never had the feeling to get bored although two full days of studying were very exhausting. The first day of study starts Saturday morning at 9am. Before that everybody arrives and gets their keys for the room. I liked the lodging a lot, the rooms are comfortable. You share it with another Au Pair.
At the first weekend I got to know one of the girls and we decided to take a room together for the second one. The food is also very good and abound. Between the classes you can always get a snack and there was a huge diversity for the main meals.
The studying part on Saturday ends at about 7 in the evening. After dinner there is a group activity with all Au Pairs and later they offer voluntary activities like karaoke or watching a movie. I didn’t join this because I was too tired. The second day also starts at 9am and basically ends at about 6pm.
The only thing I didn’t like was the homework (of course). We had to write a 5 page essay for both weekends and for the second one the floorplan in addition which was a lot of work and needed much time. But besides this, it is really worth it and for me it was better then to sit in a classroom one or to times a week or for a couple of hours at the weekends.
Posted by Christine Connally on Apr 19, 2011No Comments
This is a step by step tutorial for making the hand flower project from the April craft kit. Even if you didn’t pick up your April craft kit, you probably have the supplies on hand to make this easy project.
Finished Project
Supplies:
construction paper (various colors)
pencil
scissors
stapler
clear tape
drinking straws or chenille stem (pipe cleaners)
Posted by Christine Connally on Apr 16, 20112 Comments
The Au Pair in America 25th Anniversary Cultural Fair was held at the Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park on April 9, 2011. At the cultural fair, I recorded clips of au pairs sharing greetings in their native languages. Here is that video.
My apologies to the ladies from Colombia, whom somehow I missed recording. Colombia was there and represented very well by Carolina & Alexandra from our cluster as well as several other au pairs.
Tuesday, April 12th is Free Cone Day, from Noon to 8pm!
You know what that means… Free Ben & Jerry’s ice cream cones for you! And you! And you, and you and you-ou!
As a way to thank our customers for their support and to celebrate 33 years of scooping the chunkiest, funkiest ice cream, frozen yogurt and sorbet, Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops are happily giving it away!
Maybe it’s time for you to try a new flavor that you’ve been wondering about or just rendezvous with an old favorite and savor in the deliciousness that is free ice cream! Hey, either way it’s on us, so grab a pal and come on down for some good, ’scream fun!
Posted by Christine Connally on Apr 11, 2011No Comments
Twenty four au pairs from our cluster participated in the DC Metro Area Au Pair in America 25th Anniversary Cultural Fair. I am in the process of gathering photos and videos that were taken at the fair and I will post them soon.
Here is a nice photo of Mayela and her friends from Costa Rica
Posted by Christine Connally on Apr 9, 2011No Comments
In celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Au Pair in America and the beginning of legal au pair programs in America, we will be hosting a Regional Cultural Fair.
When: April 9th, 2011, 1:00 to 3:00 pm
Where: Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park 7300 MacArthur Boulevard, Glen Echo, MD
Who’s Invited: This is a free family event and open to the public.
All of the clusters in the DC/MD/VA area will be participating. We expect to have au pairs representing over 35 different countries. Anyone interested in learning about other cultures and the Au Pair in America program are invited. For more information, email me at cicaupair @ aol.com
Posted by Christine Connally on Apr 7, 2011No Comments
Updated: 4/7/11
We have been talking about taxes a lot lately and there have been lots of questions. I will continue going over tax questions each month at our Coffee Meetings through April.
Here are some of the basic questions:
Who is supposed to file taxes? – All au pairs who made $3650 or more in the calendar year (Jan 1 – Dec 31.) This is an update from previous information that we had received saying that all au pairs had to file, even those who did not need to pay. For au pairs who made less than $3650, you may still file a tax return if you would like, but it is optional.
Will all au pairs have to pay something? – No, it depends on when you arrived and how much money you earned last year.
Posted by Christine Connally on Apr 6, 2011No Comments
This is another common question, since the way people address mail around the world varies. Here is an image of where to put the information when you are sending mail in the United States.
How to Address a Letter from the US Postal Service
Here is the address to mail your tax return to:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Austin, Texas 73301-0215
There are a variety of colleges located in and around our cluster area. Scroll your mouse across the names of the colleges listed below, to find which ones to consider for where you live.
“Au pair” means “on par” or equal. Au pairs and 18-26 year olds from over 60 different countries who travel to the United States on a J-1 Visa to acquire a better understanding and appreciation of American life while living with an American family and caring for their young children.
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My main course was interior design which I really liked because next the theoretical part we were able to practice a lot. We learned how to create a floor plan with all the furniture, colors and lights. The homework for the second weekend was to make the same for a big family living room and then some of us had to present it. Next to this class, I picked for example digital photography, American holidays, travel Spanish, human development or yoga.
At the first weekend I got to know one of the girls and we decided to take a room together for the second one. The food is also very good and abound. 
Between the classes you can always get a snack and there was a huge diversity for the main meals.
Tuesday, April 12th is Free Cone Day, from Noon to 8pm!
In celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Au Pair in America and the beginning of legal au pair programs in America, we will be hosting a Regional Cultural Fair. 
