All au pairs participating in the State Department approved au pair programs are required to complete 6 credits hours of academic work during a year-long match.
Au pairs who participate in Au Pair in America program can satisfy this educational requirement by taking APIA Advantage course offered online by UCLA. https://www.uclaextension.edu/aupairs/Pages/default.aspx
Part of the UCLA course consists of Community Involvement segment. Many au pairs find it especially interesting and enjoyable. Here Ana from Colombia shares her experience with APIA Advantage – American Studies Online.
Global Awareness and Volunteer work
I had the opportunity to share my culture and Language with a great class of children at The Chapel Church in Baton Rouge, LA. The kids belong to 3rd to 5th grade. They learned about my country, geographic information, customs, food and interesting facts. Also they learned some Spanish words and greetings. They had a lot of questions for me and I answered gladly. It is great to know that the kids in USA are very interested in different cultures.
I have been volunteering with this class since the beginning of May and I will stay with them for the summer term and maybe more time. This opportunity has gave me to me the chance to get involve with The Chapel community, other teachers and leaders who have supported my staying here in USA.
Cultural and Historical activities
Reef Bay Trail: This is one of the best hiking trails in the world, located in St. John USVI, it contains a great historical richness. The trail goes crossing the Reef Bay Valley in the island and during the way you can find ruins and old buildings from the colonization age. Sugar plantains, old houses, workers houses and Petroglyphs made by the ancients natives in the island, time before the colonizers arrived to the Americas.
Cemetery Tour New Orleans: New Orleans cemeteries have a great history and architecture, the thumbs belongs to very important and historically recognized families in the state.
Mardi Gras 2014: The famous festival in New Orleans and Baton Rouge shows in a fun way the history of the kings in Louisiana. Music, customs and food all at the same time at the same place.
St. Patrick’s Day: This is not an American date but they celebrate as own. All the Irish culture celebrate and shows to the world their culture.
5 de mayo: this is a Mexican day but USA has adopted it it. Mexican music and food is the celebration theme for this day.