Monthly Archives: November 2017

Host Family Webinars:

Practical Strategies to Rev Up Your Cultural Competency: “Viewing the World Through Your Au Pair’s Cultural Lens”

Ever wonder why your au pair always says “yes” even if she doesn’t understand?
Curious why some au pairs take more initiative than others?
Puzzled why your au pair only hangs out with au pairs from her country?

Host Families, please join us for a 30-minute webinar to learn some great cross-cultural competency skills so that you and your au pair can have the most successful exchange possible.

The webinar will be offered several times:
Wednesday, November 29 at 1 PM EST
Wednesday, November 29 at 8 PM EST
Wednesday, December 6 at 1 PM EST
Wednesday, December 6 at 8 PM EST
Wednesday, January 10 at 1 PM EST
Wednesday, January 10 at 8 PM EST
Wednesday, January 24 at 8 PM EST
Thursday, January 25 at 1 PM EST

REGISTER NOW

This webinar is offered by Global Awareness, a program developed by Au Pair in America to highlight the cross-cultural aspects of the exchange experience, which is the heart of the au pair program. Unique to Au Pair in America, Global Awareness is a free educational and cultural program that we offer to all of our participants. The mission of this program is to promote multi-cultural understanding, to build “ cross-cultural bridges,” to improve communication between cultures and to support the concept of mutual acceptance. For more information please visit www.globalawareness.com.
Au Pair in America

Trusted live-in child care – since 1986

5 Thanksgiving Tips for Au Pairs & Host Parents

Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November each year. Even though a few other countries also celebrate Thanksgiving, it’s still considered a uniquely American holiday, one that the au pairs look forward to experiencing. You can learn more about it here.

“I really enjoyed Thanksgiving with my host family. It was as I imagined! So much food to try. Everyone got dressed up and shared what they were thankful for. It was so warm and special. The next day we began to prepare for Christmas. It was magical.” Selina from Germany

Below you will find some tips to help you have a terrific Thanksgiving experience.

 

Host Parents

1.  Please plan to include your au pair in your Thanksgiving celebration, if at all possible. Thanksgiving with an au pair offers an opportunity to consider the relevance of the history and meaning of Thanksgiving as you compare the hospitality offered by the Native Americans to the recently arrived Pilgrims and the hospitality you offer your au pair.

2.  If you are traveling or will not be able to invite your au pair to join you for Thanksgiving, give her plenty of notice and help her make alternate plans. You don’t want to leave your au pair alone over the holiday.

Au Pairs

3.  If you are invited to attend dinner, please let your family know within 5 days of the invitation, whether you are planning to attend. It is considered rude in America to accept the invitation for dinner and then change your mind later in the month. Please be thoughtful.

4.  Make sure to discuss time off during this holiday weekend. Many host families work the Friday after Thanksgiving so do not assume you have this day off or the entire weekend. Talk to your host family, BEFORE you make any plans.

5.  If your host family is unable to include you in their Thanksgiving plans, please let me know if you have trouble making other plans. You may be able to join a friend and their host family for the holiday dinner.

Bonus Tip for the Kids

If you are looking for a fun recipe to make with your au pair, check out these turkey cupcakes. Find more fun activities and recipes on the Au Pair in America Fall Holidays pinboard.

Photo: Tim Sackton (Flickr)