Tag Archives: Boston aupairs

FIFA WORLD CUP

As we bring the world together with the work we do, so does world cup soccer!  The World Cup is one of the most followed international sporting events in the world and takes place every 4 years.  Many of our au pairs come from the countries represented and take great pride in supporting their national soccer teams.

The tournament kicks off today when Brazil plays Croatia in Sao Paulo. It will mark the 20th edition of the World Cup, which will culminate with the final on July 13 in Rio de Janeiro. The World Cup will feature 32 nations — placed in groups with four teams apiece — and a total of 64 games. Defending champion Spain will have to contend with the likes of Brazil, Germany, Argentina and Italy if it wants to retain its title. The United States has qualified for its seventh straight World Cup and will be looking to get out of a very tough group that features Germany, Portugal and Ghana.

The host nation has won the World Cup five times (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002) and will be going for a sixth before a home crowd. Anything short of lifting the trophy will be a tough day for Brazil. So wish your Brazilian au pairs some extra luck, you know they love their soccer!

The groups are as follows:

Group A        Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon

Group B        Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia

Group C        Colombia, Greece, Cote d’lvoire. Japan

Group D        Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy

Group E        Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras

Group F         Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria

Group G        Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA

Group H        Belgium, Algeria, Russia, Korea Republic

BTW: There is a FIFA world cup app you can download to follow the scores and latest news.

#JoinIn the Brazil 2014 experience

For more news and information go to the official FIFA World Cup website

http://www.fifa.com/

And the winner is………..

We had wonderful snowmen participating in our snowman contest. Everybody who met the requirements to participate in this competition won in our 2014 aupair snowman contest……………………….And the winners are:

Caren from Namibia

Caren from Namibia

Jessy from Germany

Jessy from Germany

Katja , Educare aupair from Germany

Katja , Educare Extension aupair from Germany

Lynn , Extraordinaire Extension aupair from Germany with "Olaf" from Frozen.

Lynn , Extraordinaire Extension aupair from Germany with "Olaf" from Frozen.

Manuela, Extension aupair from Germany

Manuela, Extension aupair from Germany

CONGRATULATIONS to all, who did such great art work. I am proud of you and your creativity! Your prize , the I LOVE BOSTON T-shirt is going to you all very soon 😉

Snowtubing January Cluster meeting

Last weekend we went Snow  tubing with our cluster and had a lot of fun together.

Outdoor fun on the slopes with the tubes

Outdoor fun on the slopes with the tubes

Ana from Spain, Luz from Colombia, Diana from Spain and

Ana from Spain, Luz from Colombia, Diana from Spain and Noy from Israel

Julia and Esther from Germany taking a break indoors to warm up with hot chocolate and sweets.

Julia and Esther from Germany taking a break indoors to warm up with hot chocolate and sweets.

Violetta and Annika from Germany

Violetta and Annika from Germany

Luz from Colombia with Ana and Diana from Spain

Luz from Colombia with Ana and Diana from Spain

Annika, Violetta, Rebecca and Anka from Germany

Annika, Violetta, Rebecca and Anka from Germany

Noy from Israel with Lauren from South Africa

Noy from Israel with Lauren from South Africa

Clemence and Allison from France received with many others their education certificate after completing the credits for the aupair program.

Clemence and Allison from France received with many others their education certificate after completing the credits for the aupair program.

Julia received all 12 credits for the Educare aupair program already

Julia received all 12 credits for the Educare aupair program already

Vanessa from Brazil got also in her second year as an aupair 6 credits together again

Vanessa from Brazil got also in her second year as an aupair 6 credits together again

Having fun: Regina and Gianin from Germany

Having fun: Regina and Gianin from Germany

For more pictures please go to Snow tubing 2014

Veteran’s Day in Boston

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More than just another three-day weekend, Veterans Day is a chance to honor and give thanks to all the men and women who have served in our nation’s military. Celebrate Veterans Day with the family by participating in patriotic craft-making, attending a special concert, enjoying free admission to area zoos for veterans, and more.

Veterans Day Family Fun Weekend, USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown. Sat., Nov. 9 – Mon., Nov. 11,10 a.m. – 5 p.m. All ages. With suggested Museum donation: adults, $5; seniors, $3; children, $2. Celebrate and honor our nation’s veterans at the USS Constitution Museum by asking yourself, “Is a sailor’s life for you?” Learn about the daily struggles that crew members on board “Old Ironsides” faced during the War of 1812 and how their stories continue to inspire people today. www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org

Free admission for veterans, Franklin Park Zoo, One Franklin Park Rd., Dorchester. Sat., Nov. 9 – Mon., Nov. 11, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Free for veterans. Others, regular admission: adults, $17; ages 2-12, $11; seniors $14; under 2, free. Spend the day with gorillas, lions, and zebras. Kids can take a break from hanging out with the animals to jump and climb and slide on the zoo’s elaborate playground. www.zoonewengland.org

Want to take the family to a parade? Here is a map of Veterans Day parades around Greater Boston.

Education matters

Education MattersWe are very proud of the ongoing training we offer our au pairs which provides further educational guidance on a wide range of topics. Our orientation trainers take great care to research and prepare the topics presented via Webinars to our au pairs once placed in the home of a host family.   Here is the list of what we have coming up:

October 15

8 pm               Nutrition. Good eating for you and your kids

9 pm               It’s Up to You. Making the most of your Au Pair year

10 pm             Activities to do with Preschoolers

October 29

11 am             Language Development: Birth and beyond

12 noon         Tantrums are no fun for anyone. Help, my kids are fighting again!

1 pm               American holidays: what they are, activities and getting through the holiday blues

November  11

8 pm               Managing play with more than one child

9 pm               Repatriation

10 pm             Feeling Sad or Stressed: Tips for gaining balance in your life

November 26

11 am             Help! My kids are fighting again

12 noon          Activities for School Age Kids

1 pm              Homesickness. Making it through

December 5

8 pm               Activities to do with Preschoolers

December 6

9 pm               Successfully communicating with your host family

December 9

10 am             Homework: Finding the right strategy for your child

December 15

9 pm               Homesickness. Making it through

10 pm             Toilet Training 101

December 17

8 pm               Tantrums are no fun for anyone

October cluster meeting: Making apple crisp together

Last Sunday we met at my house to do an apple crisp together. Many new aupairs arrived and they had a chance to make friends and get information on education and our Boston cluster in general.

Judith D from Austria, Emily from the UK, Clemence from France, Esther from Germany and Anna R from Austria

Judith D from Austria, Emily from the UK, Clemence from France, Esther from Germany and Anna K from Austria

Jessica W, Ramona, Rebecca and Anna R from Germany busy peeling apples

Jessica W, Ramona, Rebecca F and Anna R from Germany busy peeling apples

Clemence from France arrived in our cluster and resides in Back Bay

Clemence from France arrived in our cluster and resides in Back Bay

Lea from France and Nora from Germany live in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood together

Lea from France and Nora from Germany live in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood together

Angelique from Germany, Anna from Austria, Rebekka and Marisa from Germany

Angelique from Germany, Anna K from Austria, Rebekka and Marisa from Germany

Esther from Germany, Korina from Croatia, Clemence from France are in the standart aupair program. Anna R and Ramona from Germany are in the Educare program

Esther from Germany, Korina from Croatia, Clemence from France are in the standart aupair program. Anna R and Ramona from Germany are in the Educare program

Judith H, Anna K and Kate T from Austria, Lea from France and Michaela and Nora from Germany

Judith H, Anna K and Kate T from Austria, Lea from France and Michaela and Nora from Germany

All aupairs in the standart aupair program and in the extraordinaire program need to get 6 credits during the first year as an aupair to fullfill the education part of the program. An Educare aupair will need to get 12 credits during this time.

In the Educare aupair program are: Ramona, Rebecca F,  and Anna R from Germany and Kate from Austria.

Korina from Croatia got her certificate for reaching the required 6 credits on the education part. She spend one whole year with a hostfamily in the South End in Boston and will go home this week. She gave information on her experience of being an aupair to all others.

Korina from Croatia got her certificate for reaching the required 6 credits on the education part. She spend one whole year with a hostfamily in the South End in Boston and will go back home this week. She gave information on her experience of being an aupair to all others.

Sophie and Laura G from Germany, Pieta from Finnland, Judith H from Germany, Christina from Denmark, Kristina and Jessica W from Germany and Emily from the UK. Judi

Sophie and Laura G from Germany, Pieta from Finnland, Judith H from Germany, Christina from Denmark, Kristina and Jessica W from Germany and Emily from the UK.

Laura G and Judith H from Germany, Anna K from Austria as well as Emily from the UK are in the Extraordinair aupair program which means they have a special qualification and experience in the field of childcare already before they started their year as an aupair.Being a preschool teacher, a midwife or a nurse would give them such a special qualification.

Linda from Germany was one of the winners in our fall competition to submit their bucket list on what they want to archive and experience during their aupair year. Congratulations to Linda from Germany who resides in Beason Hill in Boston.

Linda from Germany was one of the winners in our fall competition to submit their bucket list on what they want to archive and experience during their aupair year. Congratulations to Linda from Germany who resides in Beacon Hill in Boston.

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View more pix at : October cluster meeting 2013

Meeting with new aupairs in our Boston cluster

In several meetings I could welcome sooo many new aupairs who started their year as aupair in our Boston cluster. Here are Pia and Rebecca from Germany who got information at our meeting from Katja who started her second year as Educare aupair, Michaela who also started her second year in the standart program and Violetta who also will extend her aupair year starting in December in the Sharon area.

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P1030891 - CopyFrom right: Mariana from Mexicol who told the new aupairs a bit about her year as an aupair, which is almost done. I could welcome Pieta from Finnland, Luz from Colombia, Sophie from Germany, Allison from France, Hannah from Malaysia and Michaela from Germany.

Miriam reached the requirements for the year of her educational part: 6 credits at an accredited college of university and received her certificate.

Mariana reached the requirements for the year of her educational part: 6 credits at an accredited college of university and received her certificate.

Walk for Hunger

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The Walk for Hunger which we offer to all cluster of the greater Boston area was a great event this year. Many of our aupairs went through the whole course of 20 miles started in Boston, then walked through Brookline, Newton, Cambridge and back to Boston. The weather was perfect despite some early morning chill.

Aurelie and Marie from France with Amy-Louise from South Africa right before the start on the Walk

Aurelie and Marie from France with Amy-Louise from South Africa right before the start of the Walk

Jackie from South Africa with her friend in the spirit to walk

Jackie from South Africa with her friend in the spirit to walk

Together with some aupairs at the 5 mile mark: Christin, Franzi, Isa from Germany with Amy from South Africa

Together with some aupairs at the 5 mile mark: Christin, Franzi, Isa from Germany with Amy from South Africa

Walk around the Chestnut Hill reservoir

Walk around the Chestnut Hill reservoir

Amy from South Africa and me halfway through

Amy from South Africa and me halfway through

Tami, Lynn, Judith, Viktoria and Amy at the Snack point after 12 miles.

Tami, Lynn, Judith, Viktoria and Amy at the snack point after 12 miles.

Tami from Germany at the 12 miles mark

Tami from Germany at the 12 miles mark

Shuttle back to Boston

Shuttle back to Boston

Katja and Birgit from Germany arrived the finish line after 5 hours and 24 minutes

Katja and Birgit from Germany arrived at the finish line after 5 hours and 24 minutes

Caroline and Lovisa from Sweden at the finish line after 6 hours

Caroline and Lovisa from Sweden at the finish line after 6 hours

Many more aupairs finished the 20 miles and I am very proud of them as well as of so many who walked part of this course too.

To walk for a good cause and to have family and friends sponsoring them is an American tradition and new to many aupairs who come from so many different countries to experience the American way of live here in the US. With this walk our Aupairs raised more then we expected to help the hungry in Massachusetts.

Many more pix can be seen at : Walk for Hunger 2013