Category Archives: Uncategorized

Harvard football vs. Columbia

Our aupairs had the opportunity to watch a college football game this Saturday: Harvard vs. Columbia. They had a blast and the weather couldn’t be more perfect this weekend.

Magda from Colombia with Mariana and Ivonne from Mexico

Magda from Colombia with Mariana and Ivonne from Mexico

416846_10151314889714042_1056331883_n - Copy155310_10151314887954042_606098667_n - CopyMore pics are here: Harvard football game 2012

We offer our aupairs optional regional events every month for the greater Boston area to have the opportunity to experience  traditional events for our New England area. Despite this we also meet in our cluster ones a month to share experiences and share news and discuss childcare topics.

October Cluster meeting: Zumba class

For our October cluster meeting we enjoyed a free Zumba class at the Healthwork gym in Chestnut Hill. Liza Elmstrom a former aupair from Sweden some years ago who is now a fitness trainer at the Healthwork gym introduced our cluster group to a fun class with great music.

From left: Marine from France, Corina from Croatia and Lisa from Germany

From left: Marine from France, Corina from Croatia and Lisa from Germany

The whole cluster had fun to dance the Latin rhythm together. Front: Linda from Germany

The whole cluster had fun to dance the Latin rhythm together. Front: Linda from Germany

After one hour of dancing Zumba

After one hour of dancing Zumba

A wonderful way to get connected and have fun together. We welcomed our new aupair Corina from Croatia who just arrived to our Boston cluster in October.

Left in pink: Fitness trainer Liza Elmstroem of http://www.healthworksfitness.com/clubs/chestnut-hill/

Left in pink: Fitness trainer Liza Elmstroem of http://www.healthworksfitness.com

For more pictures go to: Zumba at Healthwork

Yom Kippur

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Yom Kippur also known as the Day of Atonement is the most solemn and important of the Jewish holidays. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jewish people traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services.

Yom Kippur is considered one of the holiest of Jewish holidays and it is observed by many secular Jews who may not observe other holidays. Many secular Jews fast and attend synagogue on Yom Kippur, where the number of worshippers attending is often double or triple the normal attendance.

This year Yom Kippur begins at sundown Sept 25 and ends on Wednesday evening.

Wishing all of our Jewish host families, au pairs and friends a peaceful Yom Kippur

Annual host family meeting at the apple orchard in Stow

Local community counselors of the greater Boston area of Au Pair in America

Local community counselors of the greater Boston area of Au Pair in America

Last Saturday, eight Boston area au pair clusters met at Carver Hill Orchard in Stow, MA for our annual host family/au pair picnic.    Host families and au pairs enjoyed apple cider and cider donuts provided by the counselors and the kids participated in fall themed art projects.  Families and au pairs also went apple picking and enjoyed a hayride through the orchard.

As per State Department regulation, as an au pair agency, we need to offer our host families an informational host family workshop each year during which host families can also meet each other and get to know the cluster better.

We always like to offer this apple picking venue  since it offers the cultural experience that is so much part of our au pair program.   Host families had a choice of informational handouts relating to the host family – au pair relationship and cultural differences.

Nat from Thailand with her twin host children and host mother

Nat from Thailand with her twin host children and host mother

A host family with their 4 children ( 2 month old baby sleeps in the stroller)

A host family with their 4 children ( 2 month old baby sleeps in the stroller)

Birgit from Germany with two of her three host children

Birgit from Germany with two of her three host children

Hayride into the orchard

Hayride into the orchard

Aupair Ari from Spain with Dany from Ecuador with harvested pumpkins

Au pair Ari from Spain with Dany from Ecuador with harvested pumpkins

To see all pictures please go to: Apple Picking 2012

Celebrating Rosh Hashanah

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Rosh Hashanah is a Jewish Holiday commonly referred to as the Jewish New Year.  It is observed on the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. Rosh Hashanah is the first of the high Holidays specifically set aside to focus on repentance that concludes with the holiday of Yom Kippur.  Rosh Hashanah is the start of the civil year in the Hebrew calendar.  It is the New Year for people, animals, and legal contracts. Jewish people believe Rosh Hashanah represents either analogically or literally the creation of the World, or Universe.

On Rosh Hashanah, Jewish people all over the world gather in synagogues to celebrate the day.  The holiday is celebrated with sweet foods, like apples dipped in honey and honey cake and round Challot made with honey and raisins as a wish for a sweet year.

Here is a link to children’s games and activities to celebrate the holiday.  It includes information, art projects, crafts, stories and recipes:

http://www.chabad.org/kids/article_cdo/aid/354744/jewish/Rosh-Hashanah.htm

Rosh Hashanah will is celebrated for two days, Monday September 17th and Tuesday September 18th.  The two day holiday will begin at sundown on Sunday evening.

Wishing all our host families,au pairs and friends a very happy Holiday!

100 Things to do with kids this summer

100 Things To Do With Your Kids This Summer!

It’s officially summer and what a great time to get outside and have some FUN! With the kids out of school and home during most of the day, it is a good idea to plan some activities that will keep them entertained and have a great time doing it! Check out the APiA Summer Fun Pinterest Board for some terrific new ideas, crafts, and creative snacking.

Enjoy!