Yearly Archives: 2011

UCLA Au pair in America Advantage Course

Time is running out to register for the Spring Session of the APIA Advantage Course through UCLA.  The class begins is March 28.ucla

 

This class is a great option for:

  • Serious students who want to master a university level class and earn credits from a major US university.
  • Those who are curious about the events that have shaped culture and history, and who would like a taste of the part women have played in US history.
  • Those who want to get involved and be a part of the community where they live.
  • Self-starters who will make the most of a more flexible, independent style of learning.

Looking for ways to satisfy your education requirement?  Have you thought about the APIA Advantage program?  By taking this course, you can complete your education for just $500 (or half of the requirement for EduCare) and learn so much about America and the community where you live.  The next session will run from March 28 until August 1,  2011. There’s still time to enroll. Register at www.uclaextension.edu/aupairs

National Cherry Blossom in Washington DC

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The National Cherry Blossom Festival is an annual two-week event that celebrates springtime in Washington, DC as well as the 1912 gift of the cherry blossom trees and the enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan.

The predicted peak blooming period of the cherry blossoms – MARCH 29 – APRIL 3!

Here are some of the highlights:

Family Day – Saturday, March 26, 2011
National Building Museum
401 F Street, NW
Metro Judiciary Square, Red Line
10am-3:30 pm

Opening Ceremony – Saturday, March 26, 2011
National Building Museum
401 F Street, NW
Metro Judiciary Square, Red Line
4-5:30 pm

Smithsonian Kite Festival – Sunday, March 27, 2011
Washington Monument Grounds
10 am-4 pm

Fireworks Display – Saturday, April 2, 2011
Waterfront Park – 600 Water Street, SW
Fireworks at 8:30-9 pm

Cherry Blossom Parade – Saturday, April 9, 2011
Constitution Avenue from 7th to 17th Streets, NW
10 am- 12 noon

Helpful links:

Cherry Blossom Festival Website
National Park Service Bloom Watch
Metro Website (use the trip planner feature on this website to find the metro options, taking metro is much better than driving for the festival events)

International Navy Ball in Annapolis

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It’s time to purchase your tickets to attend the highly anticipated 45th International Ball at the US Naval Academy! 

Buy Ticket

 Date:  April 16, 2011

Location:  United States Naval Academy

Time:  8:00 pm

Cost:  $10 per ticket, plus $1.50 service charge

Dress: Cocktail Dress, Formal (check out Ross, TJ Maxx and Marshalls for discount dresses and shoes)

2011 Au pair in America DC/MD/VA Cultural Fair

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Spanish Ballroom In celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Au Pair in America and the beginning of legal au pair programs in America, we will be hosting a Cultural Fair on April 9th, 2011 from 1:00 to 3:00 at Glen Echo Park in Maryland. All of the clusters in the DC/MD/VA area will be participating. We expect to have au pairs representing over 25 different countries.

This is a family event and open to the public. Anyone interested in learning about other cultures and the Au Pair in America program are invited.

This event will take place at the beautiful, historic Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park.

Activies for aupairs on cold, snowy or rainy days at home with the children

Listen to Music and Dance Day
Don’t let the rain or snow stop you from being active. Put on a lively tape and dance around the house today. Show the children some traditional dance moves from your country!

Tea Party Day

Mix up some warm cocoa or milk and invite the dolls or stuffed animals for a tea party

Art Day
Make today an art day – try drawing, painting, creating with glue or clay.

Make a necklace today– use a licorice “shoelace” (the really long thin ones) and cereal for young children and then they can eat the whole thing. For something less sticky, use string instead of the licorice.

Puzzle Day

Do a puzzle or make one of your own. Find a fun picture in a magazine and glue it to lightweight cardboard. Cut into shapes.

Make a Pie

Pies are popular every day and are easy to make if you buy a prepared crust in the freezer or dairy section of the grocery store. Try this easy recipe;

Chocolate Pie

Purchase pre-made pie shell and Jell-O instant chocolate pudding. Prepare pie shell per directions. Let cool. Prepare pudding, pour into pie shell, let set for an hour and voila! Dessert is served!

Stamping
Rubber stamps and stamp pads are fun, but for a change try sponge and some kitchen utensils or cut shapes into a potato, apple, or orange. You could even let the child dip his or her hand into some water-based paint to make great pictures.

Treasure Hunt!
Pretend you are all on a desert island looking for treasure. Make a map or place clues around the house leading the children through the hunt. This can be done with pictures for non-readers – draw a picture of the television, then at the television place a picture of the stove. At the stove place a picture of a bed, and so on to the end. The “treasure” can be a treat to eat, or a new game to play. Read books about pirates to add to the fun.

Make a fort today

Use blankets and couch cushions to make a fort and play inside. Don’t forge to put everything away!

Make a picture frame
Glue 4 Popsicle sticks (available in craft departments) in a square to make a frame. Decorate the frame with glitter, lace, yarn, feathers, stickers, confetti or whatever you have on hand. Mount a picture from the back and be sure to date it! You can also
glue a magnet on from the back so that the picture can hang on the refrigerator. (This activity is suitable for children 3 and older)

Au Pair in America Celebrates 25 Years!

Au Pair in America was established in 1986 as the first federally approved au pair program in the United States. We have established high standards of excellence, partnering with the U.S. government, international partners, our U.S. field network, AIFS staff and orientation team to provide a quality cross-cultural experience for over 87,000 au pairs from around the world and thousands of American families. Join us in celebration

Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Day

15 years after Dr. King’s death President Ronald Reagan signed a bill into law making the third Monday of January a national holiday celebrating the birth and life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

It took many years for Congress to decide to celebrate the holiday. In the years leading up to the official decree many African-Americans celebrated the birthday themselves with a few states declaring King’s birthday a state holiday. The bill was finally passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate and was signed into law on November 2, 1983. The first national celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday took place January 20, 1986.

Each year on the third Monday of January, schools, federal offices, post office and banks across America close as we celebrate the birth, the life and the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is an occasion for joy and celebration for his life and his work toward nonviolent social change in America and the world.

Here are some great websites about Dr. King and his life.

http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/martin-luther-king-day

http://www.answers.com/topic/martin-luther-king-day