Tag Archives: counselor

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 Pairs explore patriotism while mini golfing

Mini golfing group

Mini golfing group

American history came alive for my au pair group last weekend as we went mini golfing at  Golf on the Village Green in Natick, which carries a patriotic theme.  Among miniature historical builidings,  life-size statues and other Colonial replicas, au pairs were educated in the history of the freedom trail and had plenty of picture taking opportunities.

Now that it is summer time, our meetings provide a perfect opportunity for new au pairs to connect with peers and for au pairs that are leaving to say good-bye to the group and take care of last minute business with their counselor.

Once a quarter, Au Pair in America counselors are required to hold a childcare/safety meeting with their au pair groups.  This month’s meeting included a discussion about summer safety.  You can find the document under “Au Pair Info.”

For photos of our meeting, please go to Mini golfing photos

March Meeting: 50 Boston area au pairs visit the Prudential Center Skywalk

Beautiful view of boston

Beautiful view of Boston

Last Sunday, on a beautiful sunny day,  my au pairs joined other Au Pair in America clusters in the area for a visit to the Prudential Center Skywalk.   Au Pairs enjoyed a bird’s eye view of Boston and the surrounding area and learned a lot about Boston’s history during the audio tour.  Since the weather was so nice we had a great turnout and about 50 au pairs showed up.   When we organize our meetings, we try to keep the cost down for the au pairs.  Thanks to the Prudential Center Skywalk staff who got us a very affordable group rate!

Au Pairs at the Prudential Skywalk

Au Pairs at the Prudential Skywalk

For more photos of our meeting, please visit Prudential Center Skywalk Photos

Boston Area Au Pairs Go Snowtubing

Bettina's Au Pairs enjoy the tubing

Bettina's Au Pairs enjoy the tubing

The cold weather did not deter over 60 au pairs from having fun going snowtubing at Nashoba Valley this week.  Bundled up and nourished by hot chocolate provided by their counselors, they were well-prepared.  Bettina’s au pair group joined other local Au Pair in America groups for their January meeting.  These monthly meetings, organized by the community counselors, give au pairs another social networking opportunity, especially important in the winter months which can be isolating.  This group certainly left in good spirits!  Check out pictures from Bettina’s group at Snowtubing Photos

Boston Area Au Pairs Celebrate The Holiday Season

Bettina's Au Pair Group

Bettina's Au Pairs Meet Santa

This week, several local Au Pair in America counselors joined forces and held a holiday party for their au pairs in Concord, Massachusetts.   Au pairs enjoyed an international potluck dinner, a visit by Santa, carolling in many different languages, and exchanging small presents.  Over 70 au pairs attended and seemed to enjoy sharing various holiday traditions.  Check out more pictures at Bettina’s Holiday Party Pictures as well as Tina’s Holiday Party Pictures

Brazilian Au Pairs sing a Christmas Song

Brazilian Au Pairs sing a Christmas Song

Boston Area Au Pairs Take Self-Defense Class

Au Pairs take self defense class

Boston area au pairs take self defense class

Au Pair in America counselors Bettina Velona, Joyce McGovern and Heike Kriszun thought it important for their au pairs to practice verbal and physical boundary setting.  That is why their November meeting took place at “Together in Motion” in East Arlington, where owner Erik Condo taught his Not-Me! self defense class. During the class, au pairs learned the 5D’s of self defense: decide, deter, disrupt,  disengage, debrief.   Erik’s class focused a lot on how to set verbal and physical boundaries with a potential aggressor and au pairs practiced different methods on how to escape an aggressor.

In order to assure quality service to host families and au pairs, Au Pair in America  counselors are required to hold safety meetings for their au pairs every quarter.  This class satisfies this requirement.

Check out pictures of this event at AuPairSelfDefense

For more information on Erik Kondo’s Not-Me! self defense classes, check out “Not-Me!”