On a beautiful Sunday in April, we joined three other local au pair clusters and visited the Prudential Center Skywalk. It was about 50 of us and we had a great time.
We met in the food court first to chat, collect money and take care of au pair business. We welcomed new au pair Eye and said good-bye to Carolina who is moving to another au pair cluster.
Once on the 50th floor, we enjoyed an audio tour and a beautiful view of Boston and its surroundings
In September, our cluster meeting was at my house for a breakfast. The weather was nice and we were able to sit outside. We said hello to some more summer arrivals and it was nice to see them connect with the other au pairs.
for more photos go to September 2014.
Once or twice a year, Au Pair in America counselors offer a host family workshop that gives host families the chance to connect and discuss aspects of the host family – au pair relationship. This is in compliance with State Department regulations to hold an event like this once a year.
This year, I joined 3 other counselors we met our host families on a beautiful day at Honeypot Hill Orchards in Stow, MA for an apple picking picnic. Many au pairs attended as well. We enjoyed conversations, apple cider donuts and apple cider. Host children participated in cookie decorating and fall craft activities.
For more photos go to host family day 2014
In May, we congregated at my house for breakfast. It was a beautiful day and we could sit outside in the backyard. Some au pairs even brought their children along. These meetings at my house are always a great opportunity for au pairs to sit together, bond, and talk about their lives as au pairs.
The meeting provided a wonderful opportunity for me to check in with each of them to see how they are doing. We also took care of some end of the year business by discussing their last meetings and providing me with proof of their education.
We said good-bye to Yann Ling who will leave us soon to go back to Malaysia. We also said good-bye to Kathrin who moved to Connecticut.
For more photos please visit May Breakfast
This month we joined other Boston area au pair clusters for a visit to the Prudential Center Skywalk. 50 floors above Boston, we had a bird’s eye view of Boston’s Hancock Tower, Fenway Park, the Boston Common and Public Garden, the Esplanade and Hatch Shell, the Charles River, MIT, Harvard University, and countless other Boston landmarks. Au pairs also had the chance to use interactive exhibits which provided them with a real flavor of the city’s distinctive culture and neighborhoods. Multimedia players were provided detailing the city’s historic past and current sites.
Afterwards, we walked to Panera Bread and enjoyed food and conversation. We welcomed Erika from Italy to our cluster and said good-bye to Nhung and Aneta.
For more photos, please visit Prudential Skywalk.
In February, we had a Valentine’s meeting at my house which included sweet Valentine’s treats. Since taxes are due in April, we also discussed the process of filing taxes for au pairs. It is an easy process, but it doesn’t feel so easy when you are from a different country and haven’t done it before.
It was nice sitting around the table and chatting. It is always a good chance for au pairs to exchange experiences and get feedback from others. We also said good-bye to Jaque, who left our cluster in January.
This is one of my favorite regional events that we offer for our Boston area au pairs: a Harvard University tour. Counselor Patti Estabrook organized it this year and almost 100 au pairs showed up on a beautiful fall day.
Au pairs learned about student life and the diversity of one Americas oldest and most prestigious schools. Tour guides provided historical facts and stories. Did you know that the statue of John Harvard (which by the way is not John Harvard, but a student who was asked to model, in the absence of any known pictures of John) is the 3rd most photographed statue in the country?
For more photos, please visit Harvard Tour 2013.
Now a beloved, summertime tradition for New England families, Free Friday Flicks are classic & popular, family-oriented movies shown each Friday night throughout the summer at the DCR Hatch Shell on the Esplanade for FREE!
People of all ages flock to the banks of the Charles River with their own chairs, blankets and picnics to enjoy these Free movies under the stars.
All movies are shown rain or shine at sundown (approximately 8:30pm). But come early to grab your spot on the lawn…and visit the WBZ Tent for lots of free giveaways, food samples and fun interactive games!
2013 Schedule – What’s Playing This Week?
Friday July 12, Sunset (8:21 pm) – Despicable Me
Friday July 19, Sunset (8:16 pm) – Wreck It Ralph
Friday July 26, Sunset (8:10 pm) – Here Comes The Boom
Friday August 2, Sunset (8:02 pm) – Madagascar 3
Friday August 9, Sunset (7:53 pm) – Rise Of The Guardians
Friday August 16, Sunset (7:43 pm) – Jack The Giant Slayer
Friday August 23, Sunset (7:33 pm) – Oz The Great & Powerful
For more information or cancellation due to weather, call the Free Friday Flicks Hotline: 617-787-7200 or visit wbz.com
This month we joined another cluster for a self-defense class with “Not Me” (www.not-me.org) . We gathered at Panera Bread in Lexington. Au pairs learned that healthy boundary setting is the first step toward defending yourself. Presenters Erik, Lisa and Melissa talked about their own experiences with boundary setting and talked au pairs through situations they might encounter. It was helpful to hear the signals we give to others unknowingly that indicate if we are an easy target or not.
We also discussed summer safety with children of different ages. This is an important component of the au pair program that aims at providing safe, quality childcare to our host families.
After the class, we said good-bye to Natalia who finishes her year next month and will go back to Costa Rica. We also said good-bye to Dennis who is moving to another Boston cluster. Good luck with your future endeavors!
For more photos, please go to Self-Defense
Many of our au pairs from the greater Boston area participated in our annual May regional event, The Walk for Hunger. Many of them walked the whole course of 20 miles: from Boston through Brookline, Newton, Cambridge and back to Boston. CONGRATULATIONS! And thanks to Boston counselor Heike Kriszun for organizing!
The weather was perfect despite some early morning chill.
To walk for a good cause and to have family and friends sponsoring them is an American tradition and new to many au pairs who come from so many different countries to experience the American way of life. With this walk, our au pairs raised more then we expected to help the hungry in Massachusetts.
Many more pix can be seen at : Walk for Hunger 2013
