Au Pair Chatter

Have you ever been to a drive-in movie? Drive-in movies are outdoor theaters where the movie is projected on a large screen and you watch from your car. There were once over 4,000 drive-in theaters in the U.S., now only a few hundred remain.

One of those still operating is right here in Maryland, in the Baltimore area.  Bengies Drive-In has been in business since 1956.  It is about an hour drive from most parts of our cluster, but since they are the only one left in Maryland, that doesn’t sound so far.

Click here to visit the website

I plan to take my kids to their first drive-in movie there this month.  Visit their website for complete details and directions.  There is a note about how to enter their address with GPS units because they don’t come up as Baltimore on GPS.

If you go, let me know how you like it.

What is a Fair?

According to Wikipedia:
A fair (sometimes fayre) is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. Activities at fairs vary widely.

Fairs are also known by many different names around the world, such as agricultural show, carnival, fete or fête, county fair, exhibition or state fair, festival, market and show. Flea markets and auto shows are sometimes incorporated into a fair.

Howard County Fair
August 7 – 14, 2010. Howard County Fairgrounds, 2210 Fairgrounds Rd. W., Friendship, Maryland. (410) 442-1022. Carnival rides, live music, farm animals, food.

Montgomery County Agricultural Fair
August 13 – 21, 2010. Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 16 Chestnut St., Gaithersburg, Maryland. (301) 926-3100. Livestock competitions and displays, monster trucks, lots of entertainment and food.

Maryland State Fair
August 27-September 6, 2010. Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Road Timmonium, Maryland. (410)252-0200. The Maryland State Fair was named one of the top 50 fairs in North America. This year’s 11-day festival will feature swifty swine racing pigs, live thoroughbred horse racing, bull riding and barrell racing, concerts, agricultural fair tours, games, rides and more.

Prince George’s County Fair
September 9 – 12, 2010. Prince George’s County Equestrian Center and the Showplace Arena, Water St., Upper Marlboro, Maryland. (301) 579-2598. Carnival rides, live animals displays, family circus, fireworks, live entertainment, food.

Anne Arundel County Fair
September 15 – 19, 2010. Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds, Generals Highway, Crownsville, Maryland. (410) 923-3400. Monster truck rides, carnival rides and games, farm animals and exhibits, pig races, antique saw mill, pie eating contest, talent show and much more.

Anna and her best friend in New York's Times Square

“I wanted to go America pretty much since I was 15 years old. For some reason at that point I got more and more excited about everything I saw in the movies and the TV. Especially when we talked about this country in our English lessons at school I was really into it! Becoming an Au Pair and going to the USA for one year was a big dream come true. And from the first day in the USA until now I was and still am fascinated by this country and everything about it!

Starting this year with the orientation in Newark and having a tour with all the Au Pairs through New York in the very first days was the best possible start and an overwhelming first impression of the United States! Since then I went to New York a couple of other times and it is one of the most fascinating cities I saw in my year. Actually not comparable. And you see so many things that remind you of all the great movies!

The rest of the my year I got to see so many different places in America, like Miami, Niagara Falls, Washington DC, Chicago, …..  and every single trip was an amazing experience and left a lot of great and different impression. And I think the most impressive fact for me was, that you were just flying in a different state but suddenly it felt like you were in a different world.

I fell in love with this country, that’s for sure. I think what I´m gonna miss the most are the American people, the way they live and think, the way they celebrate holidays, the way they make this country what it is!

This year was the best that could have happened to me. I am very grateful that I could make this great experience, see so much of this country and meet so many people. I couldn´t have imagined it being better. And I really hope that such a great year happens to every Au Pair! ”

Thank you to Joanna, a host mom in our cluster for sharing this great offer.

From the Newseum website:

Curious about the Newseum and what’s inside? The “Family Fun Deal” makes summer the perfect time to find out.

Now through Labor Day, buy one adult or senior ticket and receive free admission for up to ten youth (18 and younger), a $12.95 savings per ticket.  Get your tickets now, this promotion ends on Sept. 6. (Up to 10 free kids with each paid adult admission.)

“Family Fun Deal” tickets, like all Newseum tickets, are valid for two consecutive days.

The Newseum offers a wonderful experience for everyone in the family. From the Pulitzer Prize Photographs gallery, Elvis, the 4-D theater to the Newseum’s interactive exhibits. There is a lot to explore and a lot to learn at every age level.

Thanks to Sara, a host mom in our cluster for sharing this with me.  It looks like a great event.

Montgomery County will celebrate its agricultural heritage, promote local farms and indulge in seasonally fresh food during the 21st Annual Farm Tour and Harvest Sale.

Fourteen farms will participate this year on Saturday July 24, and 10 will reopen for a second day on Sunday, July 25.  The farms will be open both days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will take place rain or shine; however, if it rains, some events and activities scheduled at the farms may be delayed or cancelled.  This year, the tour also coincides with the Buy Local Challenge which encourages people to eat locally grown food.

Residents can purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants and other local products. Several farms have hayrides, pony rides, music, demonstrations and other fun and educational activities planned for people of all ages.

See The Farm Tour and Harvest Sale brochure at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/farmtour or for additional information, call
301-590-2823.

A bunch of au pairs from our cluster brought their host kids for a park play day yesterday.  We went to Watkins Regional Park in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

Here are some of the things we did…

Rode the train & antique carousel

Visited the farm

Went on a hayride

Found a toad

Climbed a tree

Played at the playground

It was a lot of fun! There is so much to do there, that we didn’t even make it to the nature center or the play mini golf.  I am guessing that a lot of kids fell asleep on the ride home.  I saw a few of the little ones who were falling asleep before they left.

I have had lots of au pairs take the Sojourner Douglass weekend courses and they have been very pleased.  They have told me that the instructors and staff are helpful and professional, the courses are interesting and the facilities are nice.  Below you will find information on their upcoming course offerings.

Sojourner Douglass College, Division of Professional and Continuing Studies

The Fall 2010 schedule is available and posted on the website.  The summer courses are filling up quickly.

New classes added this summer:

• American Cooking
• Interior Design: Shape, Color and Furniture Placement
• Balinese Dance
• Fencing
• Computer Software Training
• ESL: English as a Second Language
• Emergency Preparedness for Childcare Providers
• Cultural Differences
• American Politics

2010 Schedule of Weekend Classes (subject to change based on enrollment)

July 10-11, 2010 American Culture and Personal Development

August 6-8, 2010 TOEFL Review- few slots remaining

August 7-8, 2010 American Language, Culture and Tourism

September 11-12, 2010 Child Development and American Government

October 9-10, 2010 Experiencing America

October 9, 2010 Infant and Child CPR and First Aid

November 6-7, 2010 American Culture and Personal Development

December 4-5, 2010 Understanding American Culture and Government

Two Weekend Program

• Hospitality and Tourism October 9-10, 2010 and December 4-5, 2010
• Child Care September 11-12, 2010 and November 6-7, 2010

To register visit our new website:  www.weekendprogram.org

Please note the location of Weekend Courses:

The Conference Center at the Maritime Institute

692 Maritime Boulevard Linthicum, MD 21090-1952

(410)-859-5700 Front Desk ext 0

For questions call Angela Garnett, Program Coordinator at 301-213-2404 or email: info@weekendprogram.org

This is the first installment of a new series of posts asking au pairs about their impressions of life in America.  The first au pair to take part is WenWen (nickname Candy) from China.

Candy visiting Great Falls Park in Virginia

5 Things that Surprised You Most About Life in the U.S.

1. Good protection on nature environment (such as trees, parks etc.)
2. Open minded
3. Some things are expensive.
   • College and university tuition is really, really high, not only for international students, but for U.S citizens who are not in the same state as the college need to pay out-of-state fee.
   • Need to pay for everything, even prescription, and too expensive.
   • Mostly, need to pay tax for everything.
4. Good education for children with special needs in school. The class I went to do volunteering has four kids, one teacher, and two or three educators; summer school for special needs children.
5. Lots of NGOs (non-government organizations) and volunteers

Any of those things you were were surprised to find you like?

# 1, 4 & 5 above

Anything exactly like you had seen in American movies or TV?

People are open minded

Anything very different from what you had seen in American movies or TV?

The food was not delicious to me.  I thought it would be when seeing it before.

Best Experiences Living in the U.S.

1. Have met lots of nice people  (no matter they are Americans, Asian Americans, African Americans, etc.) everywhere I’ve been to.
2. Went to a special education school and some NGOs to do volunteering.
3. Have learned about Buddhism.

May you be well and happy!
愿我（您）无害，愿我（您）无怨，愿我（您）无恼，愿我（您）快乐！

I seem to be thinking about cool treats a lot lately.  Record high temperatures will do that to you.  I had to share this cool offer with you.

From the 7-11 website:

7-Eleven Day 2010
Join us at any participating 7-Eleven Store in the US and get a free 7.11oz Slurpee drink. Who says you can’t throw your own birthday party?

When: Sunday, July 11 08:00 AM until 11:00 PM

From MyFoxDC.com:

HOT ENOUGH FOR YOU? KEEP COOL WITH COLD STONE!

Today Fox 5 Morning News is forecasting temperatures of 90 degrees or more.**
It’s time to enjoy the ultimate ice cream experience—at a cool discount. Print out the coupon below and take it to your nearest Cold Stone Creamery for a great two-for-one deal.

Double your fun, or cool off with a friend. And tune into Fox Five Morning News every weekday.

When they forecast that D.C.’s temperature will top 90, log onto myfoxdc.com again for another money-saving coupon.

**Based on the morning forecast at Reagan National Airport.

Click the picture to go to MyFoxDC.com and print your coupon