Au Pair in America – Rhode Island

We really had fun bowling at Town Hall Lanes on Sunday night — it turns out that some of our au pairs are very skilled at duckpin bowling! Some expressed interest in returning on their own to do it again — you may want to sign up with Town Hall Lanes to receive coupons and special offers by e-mail: http://townhalllanes.com/emailSignup.asp
We welcomed Renata and Lilly to their first cluster meeting, and said good by to Meire, who is completing her term as an au pair and will be returning to Brazil. Gabriela, who was not able to join us on Sunday evening, will complete her year on December 5, and will be returning to Costa Rica. We wish you both the very best of luck, and will miss you!

With winter sports season approaching, I wanted to make sure everyone understands how the medical coverage works for sports related injuries. There is a list of “high-risk sports/activities” that are not covered with the basic or upgrade medical insurance plans. Those activities are only covered with the Sports Insurance Package (also known as Option A.)
The Sports Insurance Package was available pre-departure and may also be purchased at any time during your year. It takes effect within 48 hours of your enrollment and it is good for the remainder of the year. The cost will be the same ($50) whether you have a month left or your whole year ahead of you. I recommend you pay for it early on, if you didn’t already purchase it. You never know when an opportunity might present itself and you don’t want to miss out on an adventure. You also don’t want to take a risk on getting injured and being responsible for the bill on your own.
Below is a partial list of sports that are only covered with the sports insurance package:
Football, Rugby, Scuba diving, Ski-doo, Wakeboarding, Skydiving, Parachuting, Rock climbing, Zip line, Skate boarding, Rollerblading, Roller skating, Ice Skating, Skiing, Snowboarding, Snowmobiles & Snowshoeing. View the full list on page 3 of the insurance brochure HERE.
Note: Injuries sustained while partaking in these sports are covered with purchase of the Sports Insurance ONLY.
How to register for the Sports Insurance
Download the form HERE and follow the instructions.
Is it risky to do winter sports without the sports insurance?
Yes. If you have to pay your own hospital bills for a broken bone, you might be shocked at how much that would cost. I checked this website for some cost estimates.
Here are a couple examples:
Without medical coverage, to treat a broken arm or leg (that does not require surgery) it could cost up to $2500.
Without medical coverage, to treat a broken arm or leg (requiring surgery) it could cost $16,000 or more.

Our August cluster meeting took place at Providence’s only outdoor movie theater, “Movies on the Block”. We brought blankets, lawn chairs, popcorn and snacks, and watched “Dog Day Afternoon”, starring a very young Al Pacino…It was a great way to spend a summer evening! “Movies on the Block” features a move every Thursday beginning early in June and running through late September, movies are screened outside at dusk on the corner of Westminster St. and Union St. It is free, and open to the public.

Daniela is celebrating her 21st birthday today, August 10; and she is also ending her term as an au pair on August 15. Happy Birthday, Daniela, and best wishes to you as you end your au pair year and return home to Austria!

Happy Birthday to Kerry – our brand new arrival who celebrates her 20th birthday on July 26 and to Fanny, who will celebrate her 21st birthday on July 31st!

The 2011 Providence Preservation Society Festival of Historic Houses will take place on Saturday, June 4, 2011, and several au pairs will be volunteering for the event!  The Spring Festival of Historic Houses is an annual fundraising event sponsored by the Providence Preservation Society — this year’s tour will feature homes on and around Blackstone  Boulevard.  Rhode Island au pairs and their community counselor will be working together as house guides…they will be welcoming and providing information to tour guests, and will answer any questions that guests may have about the history and architecture of the house.  When their volunteer shift is over, au pairs will have the opportunity to take the tour themselves, and to visit  some of the most extraordinary homes on the East Side of Providence. For more information about the PPS Festival of Historic Homes, click here: http://www.ppsri.org/events/view/82

The Cultural Fair sponsored by Au Pair in America at the Boston Children’s Museum was a huge success — and a very busy day.  The participating au pairs did a wonderful job representing their countries.  It was fun, entertaining, and educational for children and families who were in attendance, and it gave au pairs the opportunity to share their cultures and customs with all of us!!   

 Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the U.S. on February 14. It is a festival of romantic love and many people give cards, letters, flowers or presents. Common symbols of Valentine’s Day are hearts, red roses and Cupid.

Many people around the world celebrate Valentine’s Day by showing appreciation for the people they love or adore. Some people take their loved ones for a romantic dinner at a restaurant while others may choose this day to propose or get married. Many people give greeting cards, chocolates, jewelry or flowers, particularly roses, to their partners or admirers on Valentine’s Day.

It is also a time to appreciate friends in some social circles and cultures. For example, Valentine’s Day in Finland refers to “Friend’s day”, which is more about remembering all friends rather than focusing solely on romance. Valentine’s Day in Guatemala is known as Day of Love and Friendship. It is similar to Valentine’s Day customs and traditions in countries such as the United States but it is also a time for many to show their appreciation for their friends.

This year’s game features the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. the Green Bay Packers.  The Super Bowl is the annual American Football championship and a popular time for friends to gather in front of the TV. Each year millions of people watch the game, the half-time show – or just the commercials!  People will be talking about the commercials for days. To learn more about football visit the “Life in the US” section of the Au Pair in America website: http://aupairinamerica.com/resources/life_in_the_us/football.asp

On Sunday evening, January 23, our cluster meeting was scheduled at the Bank of Ameirca Skating Center at Kennedy Plaza.  Frigid, below-zero temperatures drew most of us across the street, though, where there is a warm, toasty Starbucks at the Biltmore hotel, just steps away from the skating rink.  It was a very comfortable place to be on a cold, winter, night.  There were a few who immersed themselves into winter sports, though, despite the cold weather.  Three au pairs (all from Thailand) not only enjoyed skating on Sunday, but also spent sometime snow-tubing earlier in the day!  They really enjoyed immersing themselves in our cold, winter weather.  We said “Farewell”  to Jade, from South Africa, who has successfully completed two years with Au Pair in America and is now moving on to her next exciting adventure!  Our next meeting is scheduled indoors, and it won’t matter how cold it is outside.  We’ll be enjoying a Zumba class….and the heat will be on!!!

View more photos at: http://www1.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=3640394017/a=13509975_13509975/