In celebration of the fall and anticipation of Halloween, au pairs visited the pumpkin patch at Perrilloux Farms in Montz, Louisiana. After a short wagon ride to the field, each au pair set out in search of that one perfect pumpkin to carve with the assistance of host children and put on the doorstep for decoration. The search proved to be both enjoyable and fruitful… or pumpkinful!

Alligators, herons, turtles and raccoons were just some of the animals au pairs had a chance to observe while traversing the Manchac swamp with the Cajun Pride Tours.

A lively and informative commentary, in both English and French, by the guide, and a visit from a baby alligator made for a fun and interesting outing.

With their host families, tour companies, friends, or all by themselves, au pairs love to travel across the United States. This summer, Laura decided to leave hot and humid New Orleans for a vacation in Alaska. She said her experience was “awesome” and we can well believe, judging by her pictures.

(As per the Department of State rule, each au pair gets two weeks of paid vacation during the one-year-long match with her host family.)

The most crucial step that a host family and au pair must take to avoid problems is to talk to each other often and honestly! This point cannot be over-emphasized.  Many families and au pairs have found out that a small problem had grown to major proportions simply because it had not been discussed in a timely manner.

(APIA guidlines for a successful year…)

Many au pairs have never experienced a school busing system; make sure they understand how it works and what to do.

Make sure au pairs know the car line rules.

If driving the children, new au pairs should know how much time it takes to get to the school and the directions.

Pack a healthy lunch, ask your host families to review what that is… an au pair once packed a can of tuna!

School children come home with lots of notes and letters, designate a place in the house for this important information so no-one misses it.

Au pairs and host families should discuss what is expected of the au pair regarding homework.

Au pairs’ visit to Satchmo Fest on the grounds of the LA State Museum’s Old U.S. Mint in the French Quarter started with sunshine and ended with pouring rain but was fun from beginning to end. In addition to enjoying local music, cuisine, laughter, and camaraderie, au pairs also visited current museum exhibition, “Race, Are We So Different.”

Goodbye, Joe, me gotta go, me oh my oh.
Me gotta go, pole the pirogue down the bayou.
My Yvonne, the sweetest one, me oh my oh.
Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the bayou.

In the spirit of multiculturalism au pairs attended the annual Greek Festival in New Orleans. Surrounded by the unmistakable strains of Greek music and delicious smells of Greek food, they mixed with the toga-clad crowds frolicking on the banks of Bayou St. John.

Promotion Deadline Reminder:
Apply by April 30 and Save $700!

Apply before Saturday, April 30, 2011, and we will waive the $350 application fee.

Save an additional $350 when you match by June 30th, 2011! Register today to access to hundreds of au pair profiles with no obligation.

Learn more about these special offer for host families by contacting Alex Ramirez at (800) 928-7247 ext. 5161 or at aramirez@aifs.com.

Audubon Park was the setting for our annual Host Family International Day.

Host families and au pairs enjoyed the meeting in the beautiful surroundings while partaking of the delicious food prepared by au pairs.  A presentation by Juliana, our au pair from Columbia, encouraged everybody to visit her country.  A leaflet with tips on how to help children transition to a new au pair at the end of match invited host families to share their own experiences and suggestions.

It was a fun  get together on a gorgeous day. Thank you to all who participated!

Driving in the United States

A Driver Safety Course Custom Designed

with Au Pairs In Mind

No matter how much driving experience your new au pair may have, she is now preparing to drive in a foreign country.  If you have ever driven in a foreign country or even rented a car somewhere you have never driven before, it may help you to recall what that feels like. It can be a challenge for even the most experienced of drivers.

This is why Au Pair in America has partnered with AAA, the nation’s most trusted name in driver safety and instruction, to offer a custom course specifically designed for au pairs. This course differs from those offered in your community, in that AAA has taken the best of several of their courses, adapted them to be the most accessible to the au pair population, with special focus on driver and child passenger safety. Key components of the course include:

Ø  Driver Safety

Ø  Child passenger safety (car seats, communication, expectations)

Ø  Communication and traffic devices

Ø  Vehicle Awareness (understanding what your vehicle is “telling you.”)

Ø  Reducing Risks while Driving (includes defensive driving techniques, phone/texting issues, and drinking and driving awareness)

The course includes:

- AAA course designed exclusively for Au Pair In America.  Course includes a combination of lecture, group exercises, video/other media to ensure the maximum understanding to speakers of other languages or newly arrived to the US participants.

- An extra night and meals at the Holiday Inn Select, Stamford CT.   Au Pairs will arrive at orientation a day early, and attend the AAA course before the main orientation sessions begin.  Au pairs will depart from orientation on the regularly scheduled departure day to your home.

- Certificate of completion from AAA* with supporting documents for au pair and host family resource throughout the year.

For more information about the course please contact APIA community counselor.