AU PAIR ARRIVAL: Your au pair’s three-day orientation takes place at the Sheraton Hotel in Stamford, Connecticut. If you would like to call to welcome her while she is there, the number is 203-358-8400. The best time to call is between 7 and 7:30 a.m., or you may leave a message for her to call you collect if you can’t reach her directly. Au pairs can sometimes be a little anxious upon their arrival to the U.S., and a phone call from their host family always puts them more at ease. An alternative might be to call her the night before she leaves her home.
Your au pair’s transportation to your home should be arranged and communicated to the Stamford orientation staff at least 10 days prior to her arrival. Please be sure to include your au pair’s membership number when communicating travel arrangements to the orientation staff. Unless you plan to pick her up in Stamford, she will travel by train. Tickets may be purchased via the internet (www.Amtrak.com) and the information e-mailed to: Orientation@aifs.com. If you purchase a paper ticket, it should be sent by either Federal Express or certified mail. The au pair orientation concludes at about 3:30 p.m. Au pairs generally travel on Amtrak #176, which leaves Stamford at approximately 4:15 p.m., arriving in Providence at approximately 7:00 p.m. The orientation staff will arrange your au pair’s transportation to the Stamford train station. It is a good idea to confirm actual arrival time with Amtrak on the evening of arrival — the AMTRAK information number is 800-872-7245.
48 HOUR CONTACT: I will call within the first few of days of your new au pair’s arrival to welcome her.
TWO-WEEK EVALUATION: I’ll call you to schedule a meeting with you and your au pair, so that I can submit to Stamford the required 2-week placement evaluation report. At this meeting, you and your au pair will sign the Host Family/Au Pair Agreement, and it will give you an opportunity to address any questions or issues that either of you may have.
ON-GOING CONTACT: I will maintain monthly contact with both you and your au pair throughout the year. Regular contact with au pairs takes place at the monthly “cluster meetings” which all au pairs are required to attend. Monthly contact with host families will take place by either phone or e-mail. An annual host family activity will also be planned at some point during the year – a good opportunity for all of the families in the program to get together.
Thank you for your confidence in Au Pair in America, and best of luck for a successful year with your new au pair!
Barbara Fetta
Community Counselor
Au Pair in America
401-949-2427
BarbaraFetta@gmail.com