Westport au pairs

APIA Au pairs from all around the state of Connecticut, took a walking tour Saturday November 13, 2010  of prestigious Yale University, in New Haven.  Yale’s roots can be traced back to the 1640s, when colonial clergymen led an effort to establish a college in New Haven to preserve the tradition of European liberal education in the New World. This vision was fulfilled in 1701, when the charter was granted for a school “wherein Youth may be instructed in the Arts and Sciences [and] through the blessing of Almighty God may be fitted for Publick employment both in Church and Civil State.” In 1718 the school was renamed “Yale College” in gratitude to the Welsh merchant Elihu Yale, who had donated the proceeds from the sale of nine bales of goods together with 417 books and a portrait of King George I.  After the tour, au pairs watched the Yale vs. Princeton football game.  Yale won 14-13!

Southern Fairfield County APIA  host families gathered at the Holiday Inn Select Hotel in Stamford on November 10, 2010  to hear Gail Tomanelli, Regional Representative for Au Pair In America and a former host mother and Community Counselor,  speak about cultures and their impact on our relationships with others.  When we only take into consideration our own cultural values and viewpoints, we can  misinterpret other people’s behavior and attitudes .  In order to effectively interact with people of different cultures, we need to be aware of different cultural practices and perspectives.  It was an interesting and  thought provoking evening and a wonderful opportunity to meet other host families.  A good time was had by all.

November 2 – Election Day

November 7 – Daylight Savings Time Ends-In most parts of the country you’ll get an extra hour of sleep – set your clock back one hour.

 November 11 – Veteran’s Day
A day to honor American veterans of all wars, Veterans Day is a federal holiday.

November 25 Thanksgiving – Thanksgiving dates back to the first European settlers in North America. After hardship, illness and hard work the Pilgrims celebrated a successful harvest that they shared with their Native American friends. This national holiday is a day to feast and give thanks.  Watch the  Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade on television!

 November 26- Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving and is the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season. Black Friday is not an official holiday, but many employees take the day off, which increases the number of potential shoppers. Merchants and the media use the term Black Friday to refer to the beginning of the period in which retailers are in the black i.e., turning a profit for the year.

Can you name the 12 most common choking foods for kids under five? Popcorn, hot dogs, chunks of meat, raisins, ice cubes, chunky peanut butter, nuts of any kind, hard candy, grapes, raw carrots, potato chips and corn chips. Don’t leave toddlers alone while eating; if they begin to choke you need to be nearby to assist.

Never leave your child unattended in the bathtub. If the phone rings, let the machine get it.

September 6 -Labor Day – Labor Day is the first Monday in September and was first celebrated in the United States on September 5, 1882 as a trade union holiday.  Now Labor Day is seen as the end of summer and the beginning of school for many students. The day is often celebrated with picnics, sporting events and reunions.

 September 9-Rosh Hashanah – Rosh Hashanah starts at sundown and is a solemn celebration of the beginning of the Jewish year.  Synagogue services are held on Rosh Hashanah. During the services, the shofar, a ram’s horn, is sounded.  During Rosh Hashanah special dishes are prepared. Many of the dishes contain honey which symbolizes the desire for a sweet year. The round-shaped bread served represents the fullness of the year.

September 11 Take a moment to day to remember victims of the 2001 September 11 attacks, often referred to as 9/11 (pronounced nine-eleven) On this day, hijackers intentionally crashed two airplanes in to the World Trade Center in New York City causing them to collapse. Hijackers crashed a third airliner into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. The fourth plane crashed into a field in rural Pennsylvania, after some of its passengers and flight crew attempted to retake control of the plane. 

September 18-Yom Kippur – Beginning at sunset, Yom Kippur is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. The observance is also known as the Day of Atonement since the events of Yom Kippur focus on asking and granting forgiveness.  Many Jews attend services at a synagogue or temple on the eve and day of Yom Kippur.  On Yom Kippur, many Jews perform no work and abstain from food and drink for 24 hours.

September 22– Fall begins  As the weather cools and the leaves start to change color it is apple-picking season in most parts of the United States.   Try these simple apple recipes, no matter where you get your apples:

• Applesauce is very simple to make. Remove the core and quarter the apples. If you leave the peel on during cooking it will give the applesauce a pink color. When the apples are very soft, remove any peel that is left, mash the pulp or put it through a sieve. Add sugar if needed.
• Try making Dried Apple Rings. They can be used as a nutritious snack. Peel, core and slice apples into 1/8 inch rings (Macintosh or Golden Delicious apples work best). Dip each ring into a mixture of lemon juice and water to help the apples keep their color. Pull a piece of string through the center of each ring and hang in a dry, warm place. They take 1-2 weeks to dry and become chewy.