Tag Archives: DC

Smithsonian Folklife Festival

The Folklife Festival will take place June 27-July 1 and July 4-8. 

The annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival is an international exhibition of living cultural heritage. Attracting more than one million visitors yearly, the two-week long celebration is the largest annual cultural event in the United States.

The Festival is held outdoors on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., between the Smithsonian museums. There is no admission charge. Visitors should dress for hot and humid weather. Parking around the Mall is extremely limited, so visitors are advised to use public transportation. L’Enfant Plaza is the closest Metro station to the Festival site. National Archives, Smithsonian, and Federal Center stations are within a half-mile. For assistance planning how to get around, visit www.goDCgo.com. For general Smithsonian visitor information, http://www.si.edu/Visit or call 202.633.1000 (voice).

Festival hours are 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with special events taking place most evenings beginning at 6:30 p.m. View the schedule here.

I highly recommend that you visit their website to plan your visit http://www.festival.si.edu/

Smithsonian Folklife Festival

The Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival will take place June 29-July 4 and July 6-9. 

The Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival is an international exhibition of living cultural heritage. This year will be the 50th anniversary of this popular event. Attracting more than one million visitors yearly, the two-week long celebration is the largest annual cultural event in the United States.

The Festival is held outdoors on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., between 7th and 12th Streets and inside the Arts & Industries Building. There is no admission charge. Visitors should dress for hot and humid weather. Parking around the Mall is extremely limited, so visitors are advised to use public transportation. Smithsonian is the closest Metro station to the Festival site. L’Enfant Plaza, National Archives, and Federal Center stations are within a half-mile. For general Smithsonian visitor information, http://www.si.edu/Visit or call 202.633.1000 (voice).

Festival hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with special events taking place most evenings beginning at 5:30 or 7 p.m. View the schedule here.

I highly recommend that you visit their website to plan your visit http://www.festival.si.edu/

Will my au pair be able to drive in the US?

State Farm Teen Driver

Photo credit: State Farm (Flickr)

From kidnotes APIA’s Host Family Blog

By Mmendez

This is a common question host families ask, because many are looking for help getting children to and from various appointments and activities. The good news is: Yes, your au pair can drive!

Au Pair in America requires every au pair to have a valid home country driver’s license and requests that each au pair obtains an International Driving Permit (IDP) before leaving for America (IDPs are only available in an au pair’s home country).

Host parents that know they will have an au pair driving their children often include an Au Pair in America exclusive AAA driving course for au pairs as part of orientation and training. This course is designed specifically for international drivers with safety instruction for driving with children.

We’re always looking for ways to help au pairs and host families have safe and rewarding experiences together. In addition to information about insurance requirements and driving rules and restrictions for au pairs, resources for au pair driving include an American Road Signs test, information about car safety kits and driving tips for hazardous weather. If you have useful suggestions or questions about au pairs driving, we welcome your comments.

A note from your counselor: Each state in the US, including the District of Columbia, has special driving requirements.  Please click here to learn about what your au pair needs specifically to be able to apply for a DC drivers license.