Tag Archives: Boston

Valentine fun at February au pair meeting

Valentine’s Day may not be celebrated in countries that my au pairs come from.  However, they are part of an American family now and sharing American customs provides an important cultural learning experience for them.   At our Valentine meeting it was all about hearts: eating heart-shaped cake, cookies, pancakes and candy and making heart necklaces.   We had so much fun together and au pairs shared their experiences with and feelings about Valentine’s Day.

We also said good-bye to Pearly from Thailand who has been an outstanding au pair with her current host family in Belmont for the last two years.  She leaves having gained another family and many valued friends.

For more picture of our February meeting please go to Valentine Meeting

Boston Area Au Pairs go snowtubing

This January, our cluster met other Boston area au pairs to go night time snowtubing in Nashoba Valley.   We have  au pairs that come from countries that usually don’t get snow and many of them are excited to participate in winter activities.  After enjoying a cup of hot chocolate and treats, au pairs braved the elements and headed for the slopes.

For more pictures please visit Snowtubing 2011

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

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

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

Au Pairs visit Nantasket Beach

Nantasket Beach - partial group

Nantasket Beach - partial group

For our July meeting, we went to Nantasket Beach.  We got the chance to say good-bye to a few au pairs who are finished with their au pair year.   We celebrated their achievements in style with homemade crumb cake.

Some of the new au pairs had a chance to meet the rest of the au pair group and many new contacts were formed.   It is nice to see when my au pairs develop a peer support group as part of their adaptation process.    In addition to their relationship with the host family and with the counselor, it is an additional resource that they can rely on during their stay.

Good luck to all my departures and welcome new au pairs!

Au Pair Barbecue

Barbeque Group

Barbeque Group

This month, my au pairs joined me for a traditional American barbecue at my house.   Despite a threat of rain and cooler temperatures, we had fun barbecuing sausages, chicken, pork and steak.  Side dishes included chips with guacomole and salsa, smoky pasta salad, sweet potato salad, corn and grilled vegetables.  For dessert we enjoyed strawberry mousse and fruit salad.

The summer is a big transition time in the au pair world.  Our meetings give new au pairs the opportunity to meet other au pairs in my group, and it gives us a chance to say farewell to au pairs who will be leaving.

For more barbecue pictures please check out June Barbecue