Yearly Archives: 2010

Boston area au pairs celebrate the holiday season

This week, five counselors from the Boston area organized a multi-cluster holiday party for their au pairs.   There was plenty of food (each attendee brought a contribution, many from different countries),  holiday singing, a visit from Santa and a fun gift exchange game.

German au pairs singing

German au pairs singing

This party truly represented the spirit of Au Pair in America’s cultural exchange program.  Au Pairs talked about their traditions, brought in food from their countries, listened to American holiday songs and sang songs in their own language.

For more photos of this party please go to Holiday Party 2010.                                                         Check out our holiday singing at   Au Pairs singing holiday songs

Gingerbread Recipe

Fun with Gingerbread!

Gingerbread is an important part of many cultures’ holiday celebrations. The story of the Gingerbread Boy has been retold in many versions. Below is a recipe for Gingerbread Cookies.

Gingerbread

Preheat oven to 350F

In a large bowl, sift together

3 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon nutmeg

In a smaller bowl beat

¾ cups brown sugar

6 tablespoons butter

1 egg

2/3 cup of molasses

1 teaspoon vanilla

Stir the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture.  Cover and refrigerate for one hour.  Roll out on a lightly floured surface and cut out cookies.  Bake on a greased cookie sheet for 8-10 minutes.  Place on a rack to cool.  Decorate.

Education


The next UCLA online course will run from January 10 – May 16. Registration is already open at www.uclaextension.edu/aupairs

As per State Department Regulation, au pairs generally do not get credit for online courses.  This only online course is the only exception and it has been approved by the State Department.  It is designed specifically for au pairs who are required to continue their education as a part of their experience in the U.S.

Cold and Flu Season

Cold and Flu Season

The greatest number of children develops colds during the fall and winter months.  It is a virus that is spread from person to person, either by direct contact or by contact with the virus in the environment. Colds are most contagious during the first two to four days. 

Prevention– Simple hygiene measures can help to prevent infection with viruses. These measures include:

Hand washing is an essential and highly effective way to prevent the spread of infection. Hands should be wet with water and plain soap, and rubbed together for 15 to 30 seconds. It is not necessary to use antibacterial hand soap. Teach children to wash their hands before and after eating and after coughing or sneezing.  Make a fun game out of it.

Alcohol-based hand rubs are a good alternative for disinfecting hands if a sink is not available. Hand rubs should be spread over the entire surface of hands, fingers, and wrists until dry, and may be used several times. These rubs can be used repeatedly without skin irritation or loss of effectiveness.  Bring them with you wherever you go.

It may be difficult or impossible to completely avoid persons who are ill, although parents should try to limit direct contact. In addition, infants or children who are sick should not be sent to day care or school as this can potentially cause others to become ill.

Using a household cleaner that kills viruses (such as phenol/alcohol) may help to reduce viral transmission.  However, don’t overuse.

To boost your immune system, use supplements that contain Echinacea and Vitamin C.  Plus, get as much fresh air as you can and a good night’s sleep.

Flu Shots

Many au pairs and host families are looking for places to get flu shots this time of year. This year’s flu vaccine will protect against H1N1 (swine) flu, as well as other strains of seasonal flu.  Au Pair insurance does not cover immunizations, but there are lots of places to get flu shots for $30 or less.  If the host family is insisting that an au pair get a seasonal flu shot and she agrees to get it, the host family would be responsible for the expense.

If you are planning to get the seasonal flu vaccine, it is recommended that you get it as early as possible.

Check out the Massachusetts site at http://flu.gov/

Flu Shot locator:  http://www.findaflushot.com/

CVS Pharmacy and Minute Clinic: http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/promoContent/promoLandingTemplate.jsp?promoLandingId=1033&WT.ac=flushots_learn

Walgreens Pharmacy: http://www.walgreens.com/topic/health-shops/flu.jsp

Target Pharmacy and Clinic: http://sites.target.com/site/en/spot/flushot_locator.jsp

Au Pairs visit self defense class in Arlington

This month, our au pair group visited “Not-Me” in East Arlington, where owner Erik Kondo held a “Beyond Awareness – Physical Assertiveness for the Street”  self-defense class.  The class focused mainly on non-physical aspects of self-defense, like the decision not to be a victim, situational awareness, one’s attitudes and appearance,  assertiveness, body language, boundary setting, and steps on how to de-escalate an aggressive situation.   Erik and his assistants took us through potential aggressive situations and we got to practice strategies that we had discussed earlier.

This month’s meeting satisfies the State Department mandated quarterly childcare/safety meeting.   It also supports Au Pair in America’s high standard for safety.   Erik’s strategies can be applied to every day life and hopefully most of us will find ourselves remembering some of the things he taught us to keep ourselves and others safe.

We even made it onto the “Not-Me” blog.  Check it out at Not-Me.

For more pictures of our meeting please visit Au Pair Self Defense

No Texting While Driving

NEW starting in October: No texting while driving!

The fine for the first offense is $100, and then it goes up from there.  If somebody has an accident while texting, the operator will lose the license for 60 days – a “guaranteed” ticket for an au pair to have to go back home.  Here is the link to the RMV website: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/rmv/SafeDrivingLawSummary.aspx

Back to School Tips

Back to School Tips

School has started again. It is time to go over a few, simple rules.

School_Bus_Cartoon_1

Going back to school often means changing schedules and duties for au pairs.   It’s a good idea to sit down with your host family and talk about the new year’s schedule.

Make sure you understand the host family’s expectations for school lunches and homework.

If necessary, get familiar with the busing system and the car line rules at school.  Please never let children walk between the cars.  If you drive, please make sure you know the directions and how long it takes to get there.  It might be good to practice the drive before school starts.  Please make sure to observe the speed limit in school zones.  Never pass a school bus when traveling in either direction when it is stopped and the bus stop sign is out.

Children bring home papers and information every day.  Please make sure you have a designated place to put them so that your host parents can see them when they come home.

Harvard Tour 2010

Harvard University

Harvard University

Each month, Au Pair in America offers a regional event to au pairs in the Boston area.  It is another opportunity for our au pairs to connect with others and to learn about American culture.   This month, we offered a free Harvard Tour, led by a Harvard sophomore, Todd.  On a sunny, warm fall day, more than 50 au pairs attended and seemed to enjoy themselves.  Many of the au pairs are attending Harvard Extension School for ESL or other topics, because it is one of the affordable options for au pairs to satisfy their educational requirement.

At the steps of Widener Library

At the steps of Widener Library

Todd did an amazing job.  His voice was clear and easy to hear, which is important for au pairs.

He made a sincere effort to keep everybody engaged.

Bettinas cluster

Bettina's cluster

For more photos, please go to Harvard Tour 2010

Au Pair and Host Family Picnic

Pumpkins

Pumpkins

a lively exchange

a lively exchange

Last Sunday, four Au Pair in America Community Counselors hosted an Au Pair and Host Family Picnic at Honey Pot Hill Orchard in Stow, MA.  This annual event offers au pairs and host families a chance to meet and connect with other families and au pairs in the program and to share a special New England fall tradition.

Our picnic satisfies the State Department requirement for Au Pair in America to offer at least one mandatory host family workshop a year.  This year, our focus was on International Day of Peace, which is today,  September 21.   As an au pair agency, we bring different cultures together, building a bridge of understanding so important in our world today.  Au pairs and host children had a chance to decorate peace rocks:

Peace Rocks
Peace Rocks

Au pairs and host families enjoyed this visit to the apple orchard and took advantage of what the farm had to offer: apple picking, hay wagon rides, farm animals, a hedge maze, apple cider and apple cider donuts.   For more photos please go to Au Pair and Host Family Picnic

Community Counselors

Community Counselors

Boston area au pairs go canoeing

 

Canoeing The Concord River

Canoeing The Concord River

We had so much fun last weekend at our August cluster meeting.  We met at the boathouse in Concord and rented 3 canoes.   In groups of 4 or 5 we canoed up the Concord River.  There were lots of laughs involved.   Afterwards, we had a nice picnic by the riverside and enjoyed Thai food, snacks and Lemon Pound Cake.

Some of the new au pairs had a chance to talk to the more seasoned au pairs about courses they are interested in taking.   As part of the au pair program, au pairs are required to take 6 credits or 80 hours in the classroom.  Many au pairs take ESL classes to improve their English, or courses where they learn about American culture.  Of course many au pairs are excited to be part of the Harvard Extension School experience.

 

 

Going down the river

Going down the river

For more pictures of our meeting, go to Canoeing Pictures