Au Pair Chatter

On Sunday, 11/6 we had a great cluster meeting at The Castle Laser Tag in Bowie, MD. It was the first time most of the au pairs had played laser tag. Before the laser tag, there were a few very competitive games of air hockey too. My au pairs surprised me with some cupcakes and a card to celebrate my birthday, which was two days earlier.

On Saturday,  September 17 we had an au pair soccer match on the National Mall in DC.  Our team represented Maryland and we played against a team of au pairs from Virginia.  We cheered for our team and they played hard.  I think we represented Maryland au pairs very well, even though we did not win.  Lots of people stopped, watched and took pictures.  After the soccer match, we toured the U.S. Capitol.

Click on the images to view them larger.  Click here to see even more pictures from this event in our Cluster Photobucket Album.

Almost everyone experiences culture shock when they come to a completely new environment. Everything is different: the language, the food, and the people.  If you are feeling homesick or house-bound, call an au pair in your cluster and invite her to go for coffee, she understands exactly how you feel.

Photo by:  Shimelle Laine (Flickr)

It changes all of the time, but here is a word cloud showing the countries currently represented in our cluster.

I have been working on lots of things in preparation for our 25th Anniversary Cultural Fair (coming up this Saturday.)  I made this word cloud for a display board representing our cluster.

If you are planning to travel outside the U.S. during your first year, your DS 2019 will need a travel validation signature.  See “Travel Links for Au Pairs” on the side of this page for link to the Travel Validation Request Form. At least 3 weeks before you travel, you should print this form and send it along with your original DS-2019 form and a self-addressed stamped envelope (so your signed DS 2019 may be returned to you) to the following address.

Au Pair in America
River Plaza
9 West Broad Street
Stamford, CT 06902
Attn.: Evelyn Blum

You will also need to check whether you need a visa to enter the country you intend to visit. I have a link for Visiting Canada. Other countries requirements can be found by doing a Google search such as “visitor requirement Mexico.”  Obtaining a tourist visa is solely the responsibility of the au pair.

Extension Au Pairs: In your extension year, travel outside the U.S. is restricted. Please contact me before making any plans to travel outside the U.S. in your extension year.

Have a great trip!

#5 – Sandra from Spain

The Winning Photo

Over 6,000 votes were cast in this Photo/Video Contest!  I want to thank everyone who submitted photos and all of those who voted.

Sandra has won a free ticket for our ski trip coming up on March 7.

I am putting together a video from all the photos and videos taken at the cultural fair. Look for that to be posted later in the week.

Below you will see some of the photos and videos taken by au pairs who participated in our Cultural Fair on 1/23/10.  Please view all the photos and video and vote for the one that you think best represents our motto, “We Bring the World Together.” You vote by clicking THIS LINK and selecting your choice.  Voting ends on February 8 at 9 am EST.

You may vote as many times as you would like and share it with friends via email, Facebook, etc. to get lots of votes.  Good luck!

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

Here is a great article about an Au Pair in America EduCare Companion from Australia named Amy Hart.

It talks about her experiences here in the U.S. as well as the volunteer work she has done in her community.

A Year of Learning and Giving

An Additional Educare Arrival Date has been added, August 24!

Ines from Germany

If you are interested in a EduCare Companion for a summer arrival, there is still time to apply.

EduCare in America – 30 hours of child care for approximately $271 per family, per week. This cost-effective program is the choice for families with full-time school-age children who require care primarily during the early morning and after school hours, with some weekend and evening hours.

To consider EduCare:

• You must live in one of the designated EduCare Communities*
• You must have children in full-time school
• You must be able to work with 30 hours a week (year round)
• You must understand that their education allowance is $1000/yr
• You must be able to work with the EduCare arrival schedule

*If you do not see your community listed, I still encourage you to inquire.  We are looking to expand EduCare and your community might be a possibility if it is already served by the standard Au Pair in America program.

2009 EduCareArrival Dates

• Tuesday, July 7
• Monday, July 27
• Monday, August 3
• Monday, August 17
• Monday, August 24 (just added)
• Monday, December 7

Here are some profiles of EduCare Companions looking for summer arrivals.

Apply Now and Save $450!

If you have questions about EduCare, post them here in the comments section.

In today’s Wall Street Journal there is a great article about Au Pair in America.  It discusses the increase in Western European au pairs in the past year.

Origins of Au Pairs Becomes Barometer in Labor Market

“As job opportunities shrink in Europe, the minimum $132.64 per week, plus room, board and tuition reimbursement that the au pair program guarantees looks increasingly appealing. A desire for adventure and what some call the “Obama factor” also is a lure for young Europeans, says Ms. Ferry. In March, nearly half of all of Au Pair in America’s applications came from Western Europe, compared with about a third in the same period last year.”

The British au pair and her host family featured in the article are in a nearby cluster in Northern VA.