October brings with it all things “Autumn”. This is the month of one of our most unique holidays, Halloween. But there is way more than just that one night to celebrate! Hayrides, apple picking, pumpking picking, jack o’ lantern carving, corn mazes. The list is long my friends. Visit this website to find farms and other places near you in Maryland to do these activities. www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/MDpumpkins.php
Category Archives: Fun Things We Do
Memorial Day May 27, 2013
Memorial
Day is a patriotic holiday in the United States of America, celebrated on the
last Monday in May. It is a celebration of remembrance for the brave service of
men and women who gave their lives for their country. Memorial Day was declared
a federal holiday in 1971. We now, designate this day to remember loved ones who
have passed on, as well as remembering our service men and women. Flowers and
flags are placed on graves in remembrance of them. Parades and dedications of
memorials usually are part of the day’s activities. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts,
local marching bands, members of the armed service, fire departments, police
departments, and fraternal orders often march in parades and attend ceremonies
to commemorate the day.
Baltimore Cluster Volunteers at Our Daily Bread
In the spirit of Thanksgiving several au pairs and host families joined their Community Counselor, Patty Antreasian, for an afternoon volunteering at Our Daily Bread in Baltimore. The event was sponsored by the United Way, and we prepared hundreds of casseroles, desserts and snack bags to be distributed to families in need. Our group not only had a lot of fun but also felt that it was a very rewarding experience. We will definitely do this again next year!
Healthy Eating!
Continuing the Educational theme, after the Red Cross Class in September, members of the Baltimore cluster visited Whole Foods in Mt. Washington for a tour of the store given by the Healthy Eating Specialist, Heidi Barboy. She gave us a tour around the store, and most importantly “free samples” of some delicious foods. I was reminded of what a great community resource Whole Foods is. They have a calendar of events that often has activities for children.
Here is a link for Nutrition Tips for Kids & Teens, on their site:
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/healthy-eating/parents-and-kids/nutrition-tips-kids-and-teens
Au Pairs meet at Eagle Cove School
For over fifty years, Eagle Cove School (formerly Gibson Island Country School) has been providing an excellent education for girls and boys in pre-kindergarten through 5th grade. Within a supportive and nurturing environment, students build a strong foundation for the future through a challenging and comprehensive academic program. Au pairs with Au Pair in America met on a Sunday afternoon earlier in September at this beautiful facility located right on the water in Pasadena for a pizza party. The weather was beautiful and the children and parents enjoyed the many playgrounds and incredible scenery. To learn more about hosting an au pair in the greater Annapolis area, visit Au Pair in America on the web at www.aupairinamerica.com or the local blog at https://blogs.aupairinamerica.com/abc/://blogs.aupairinamerica.com/abc/. Feel free to contact the local counselor Natasha Wrobel at (410) 695-1208. For more information about the school please visit http://www.eaglecoveschool.org/about-us.
Au Pairs Enjoyed the Annapolis Summer Garden Theater
At the end of summer and before school officially began for children, au pairs from the Annapolis cluster met for ice cream on Main Street to welcome the new summer arrivals. Afterwards we enjoyed a wonderful show under the stars (it didn’t rain on us until the very last minute!) called Xandu at the Annapolis Outdoor Summer Garden Theater on Dock Street. We even had an opportunity to meet some of the local actors which was a great treat! 
Au Pairs Become "Urban Pirates"
Au Pairs with Au Pair in America from the Baltimore, Annapolis and Columbia clusters met at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore on July 15th to sail the Inner Harbor with the Urban Pirate ship (www.urbanpirates.com). We were greeted by some very authentic pirates and the au pairs and counselors were donned with appropriate costumes as we cruised the harbor on a beautiful sunny day taking in the city sights. Au Pair in America screens eager and skilled young women between the ages of 18 and 26 from around the world, who will join your family and care for your children during a mutually rewarding, year-long cultural exchange experience. Apply between July 16th and July 31st and save $500.00.
Counselors Patty, Natasha and Jan
Tour of the Nation's Capitol
On April 14th, four clusters from Annapolis, Baltimore, Columbia and N. Virginia participated in a tour of the Nation’s Capitol. The US Capitol is the most widely recognized symbol of democratic government in the world. It has housed Congress since 1800. The Capitol is where Congress meets to write the laws of this nation, and where presidents are inaugurated and deliver their State of the Union messages. For more than two centuries, the Capitol has grown along with the nation, adding new wings to accommodate the increasing number of senators and representatives as new states entered the Union. Its ceilings are decorated with historic images, and its halls are lined with statutes and paintings representing great events and people from the nation’s history. The Rotunda is the heart and center of the Capitol. Although it serves no legislative function, it is a ceremonial space where state funerals have been held since the time of Abraham Lincoln, for presidents, members of Congress, military heroes, and eminent citizens. Visiting heads of state and special guests are often received in the Rotunda, and many historic events have been celebrated there. It was a wonderful experience for our au pairs to learn the history of this beautiful building and gain a better appreciation of how our system of government works.
St.Patrick's Day Celebrated
This past month has seen some unseasonably warm weather, and that made getting out and about even more fun! On March 17th, St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated. St. Patrick is said to have given a sermon from a hilltop that drove all the snakes from Ireland. St. Patrick’s Day has been celebrated in the U.Sl. since 1737. Traditional icons of the day are the shamrock, leprechaun, the color green and the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
The Annual Baltimore St. Patrick’s Day Parade was held on March 11 this year, beginning at the historic Mt. Vernon statue of George Washington. It proceeded down Charles Street and finished at the Inner Harbor. Imagine my surprise when I saw two au pairs of my cluster riding in the parade!! Marite Donayre, from Peru, and Sabrina Fantoni, from Brazil, just happened to be at the beginning area of the parade, and were invited to ride in a vintage car in the parade. I always say au pairs have the most fun!
Central Maryland Cultural Fair a big success!
The Bowie, Columbia and Annapolis Cluster put on the Central Maryland Cultural Fair. There were over 40 au pairs representing 13 countries through food, music, games, literature and slide shows. Traditional dance performances were demonstrated by Peru and Bolivia and the au pairs from S. Africa sang their national anthem for all in attendance. Host families and interested families dropped by the Bowie Library to join in the festivities. Children were handed out passports and received stickers for their books as they travelled to each country’s table. It was a joy to see the au pairs proudly share their culture and a wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
