At this time of Thanksgiving, we look back on our anniversary year full of stories and accomplishments that make us so proud to support international education and cultural exchange.
We are thankful for all of our au pairs that travel to this country to join American families, to provide culturally enriching child care and to pursue education and adventure in the U.S. Looking back at a year of stories from outstanding au pairs, Christina Kraag emerges as the prime example of what a difference a hardworking, well-intentioned person can make in the lives of others. It is a distinct honor to have played a part in connecting Christina with her beloved host family through our program.
We are thankful for all of our host families that welcome au pairs into their lives. These folks provide young people from all over the world with so much opportunity to gain skills, education, family and friendships during their time in the U.S. This year, it was a real treat to share the story of Jenny, a former au pair and current host mom in Chicago, who was kind enough to tell us about her reflections on the importance of cultural exchange and how much au pair exchange has meant to her family over the years.
We are thankful to all of our Community Counselors, for the work they do to support au pairs and host families as they promote the benefits of cultural exchange. The experience and dedication of Community Counselors like Sandee in Chicago highlight our commitment to superior service—and make us extremely proud. Sandee is one of an exceptional network of caring, knowledgeable and experienced Community Counselors available for our au pairs and host families to enjoy safe and mutually beneficial experiences.
Finally, we are thankful to everyone working in our offices to make sure that our programs run effectively and in compliance with government regulations. It was a thrill this year to see one of our colleagues, Elizabeth Azeizat, receive an award for leadership in the field of international education and exchange. We are a team of devoted professionals and share Elizabeth’s belief in the importance of the work we do. To see a colleague honored in this way is something we appreciate a great deal.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
