Yearly Archives: 2019

Flu Shot Reminder

With the weather turning cold and winter fast approaching,  many host parents will ask you to get a Flu Shot to protect you from becoming ill with influenza. The news is reporting that this winter is expected to be a very bad flu season.
While I agree that taking more medicine than is necessary is not a good idea, I am also a strong believer in Flu shots.  My family and I got our Flu shots for the year in September, as we have every year for the past 10 years.
Having the shot will help keep you healthy, but mainly it’s about not exposing the children you care for.  Unfortunately thousands of people in the U.S. still die from the flu every year – usually small children and the elderly. So lets make sure we don’t accidentally infect our little ones!
Unfortunately, your medical insurance doesn’t cover the cost of a flu shot, but most Host Parents are willing to pay the $40 or so that it costs at the local drug store ($20 at Costco if your host family has a membership).  The LA County Public Library offers free flu shots at different locations each week from now through the fall.  And the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health website has lots of information about Flu Shots, including low-cost Flu Clinics.

Making Thanksgiving Memories Together

Thanksgiving is a public holiday celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November every year in the United States. It started as a harvest festival and has been celebrated nationally on and off since 1789.  The most important part of Thanksgiving for American families is to spend family time together.

Martin Cathrae

 “My favorite holiday was Thanksgiving. Firstly, it was my first holiday with the whole family in America. Secondly, the whole family came together. All aunts and uncles and their kids came to grandma’s. We played football with all of them, including grandma and grandpa. It was the first time I played it and it was so much fun for all. We had a great dinner with all the typical things you can imagine … it was deeeelicious! It was so great to be with such a big family and I really enjoyed that day. I will remember it my whole life, I hope.” – Swantje from Germany

Here are a few tips to help you have a terrific Thanksgiving experience.

Host Parents
Please plan to include your au pair in your Thanksgiving celebration, if at all possible. 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
If you are invited to attend dinner, please let your family know within 5 days of the invitation, whether you are planning to attend, so they may make plans. If your host family is unable to include you in their Thanksgiving plans, please let me know if you have trouble making other plans, so I can assist.

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.

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

 

Three Ways for Au Pairs to Stay Red Cross Ready

Being knowledgeable in basic first aid and CPR is important for au pairs (and anyone else caring for children). Au Pair in America’s commitment to infant/child safety begins before au pairs arrive to the U.S., with pre-arrival training and continue throughout the au pair year.

#1 Training At Orientation

Our orientation includes seminars by American Red Cross instructors who provide hands-on demonstrations in infant/child CPR and safety. Printed materials are provided that reinforce the safety information and can be used to review from time to time.

#2 Enroll in a Red Cross Certification Class

After settling into their host community, all au pairs are encouraged to complete an Infant/Child CPR and First Aid certification program. Au Pair in America will pay for this training through the American Red Cross.

Classes are available through the Red Cross. Au Pair in America will pay for the cost of a class providing an au pair has at least six months left on her visa and is taking one of several approved childcare/child safety-related classes, such as Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED. Au pairs should check with their community counselor and host family before signing up. Au Pair in America will register the au pair directly.

To locate a class, visit www.redcross.org/takeaclass. For step-by-step instructions on how to locate a class and have Au Pair in America complete enrollment, click here.

#3 Stay Current on Safety Information

The Official American Red Cross First Aid app puts expert advice for everyday emergencies in your hand. Available for iPhone and Android devices, this app gives you instant access to the information you need to know to handle the most common first aid emergencies. With videos, interactive quizzes and simple step-by-step advice, it’s never been easier to know first aid. Download the app for free from the American Red Cross website or in your app store.

Photos: Robin Leon

Top 5 Tips for Overcoming Homesickness

Almost everyone experiences culture shock when they come to a completely new environment. Everything is different: the language, the food, and the people.

When everything feels so unfamiliar, it is natural to long for the security of home. However, you don’t want to let that feeling of longing for home, make you too sad or prevent you from finding happiness in your new home.

Here are my Top 5 Tips for Dealing with Homesickness

1. Make Friends – Don’t wait for other au pairs to reach out to you, reach out to them. There are other lots of new au pairs who are feeling the same way you are right now. Set a goal to reach out to a few of them each day. Some will respond and some will not. Don’t let that discourage you. No one will ever be mad at you for sending them a message to say hello or ask if they want to do something together. Make friends from various countries and you will also get a chance to practice your English skills together.

2. Stay in touch with your home country, but not too much. Skyping or talking on the phone every day with your family and/or friends back home often makes homesickness worse. Try texting instead and reduce the Skype and phone calls to once a week, until you feel stronger. It’s much harder seeing the faces and hearing the voices of those you miss.

3. Get out of the house (or your room specifically) – Go to cluster meetings, have coffee or go to movies with other au pairs, join a gym, go to the library, go for a walk, visit the mall, get a manicure, visit a museum. If someone invites you out, say “yes.” Also, don’t be afraid to do the inviting. If your host family invites you to do things with them, say “yes.” This will help you get to know each other and contribute to your overall happiness.

4. Realize that it definitely gets better – All au pairs experience homesickness and nearly all of them stay and have a successful year (some stay for two years). So, it must get better, right? Once you get past the initial homesickness, most au pairs report how quickly the year goes by.

5. Make Plans – Create your own Au Pair Bucket List (places you want to go, new foods to try, new things to experience during your year in the U.S.) and start doing them now. Post on our cluster group to find others who may want to join you on your adventures.

Photo by: Hernán Piñera (Flickr)

Back to School Planning

Back to school time is here. This can mean changes to the au pair schedule and possibly to the duties.  It is very important to communicate these changes to avoid problems.

Here is a list of topics to consider discussing:

  • Au pair’s work schedule
  • The children’s school and activity schedules
  • Where the children get dropped off and picked up and who will be doing this
  • What to do if a child is staying home sick, late to school, does not get off the bus (if they are supposed to)
  • Driving laws regarding stopping for school buses
  • How to tell if school has been canceled or delayed for bad weather
  • Add the au pair to your list of people allowed to pick up the kids from school and explain the process
  • What to pack for lunch
  • The routine after school (do they have free time before starting homework, what to give for a snack, any chores, where do they put their backpacks & lunchboxes)
  • How to communicate about what’s going on at school. Your Kids in Care logbook from Au Pair in America can be a great two-way communication tool for keeping track of schedules, afterschool activities and day to day info that needs to be transferred between host parents and au pair.
  • If your au pair will be the one going through the children’s backpack and helping with homework, consider designating an area for putting things that need to be read and/or signed by parents.

Here are some Printable Fill-in-the-Blank School Notes for parents. You can print these out and have them ready for times when the kids are absent, late, have an early dismissal or you need to give permission for something.

Check out Au Pair in America’s Pinterest School Tips and Ideas pinboard for things like organization ideas, back to school traditions, printable lunch box notes, and fun lunch recipes.

 

Thrift Shopping

I love thrift shopping!  It’s cheap, green, and far more interesting than shopping in regular stores.  The phrase “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure” is magnified when thrift shopping in a foreign country.  Indeed, I still acutely recall the amazing feeling of shopping at London’s open air Camden Market on a free afternoon alone at the age of 18.  What interesting things I found and what I wished I had the space to bring home!

Not long ago I complimented a friend on her thick wool sweater; it contained a pattern Ive never seen before in a combination of colors I never would have thought of.  I assumed it was a vintage designer find and that she’d paid hundreds for it.  She told me that she had gotten it years ago in Iceland for less than $5.  Apparently, in Iceland these sweaters are so ubiquitus that their value is minimal.  But here in California, it’s a unique and special gem.

Below are some thrift shops in the Pasadena area.  I hope that you are able to find some interesting and special items with a history of great karma!

 

Online Thrift Shops:

Thred Up:  https://www.thredup.com/

GoodWill:  https://www.shopgoodwill.com/

ReStitch (a GoodWill Company):  https://www.restitch.com

Posh Mark: https://poshmark.com

 

Local Thrift Shops

Crossroads Trading Company (a favorite)

104 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena

Store Size: large (privately owned for-profit), “award winning” small chain

Kate says: The place to go if you are young and want designer selections!  There is a ton to dig through, but it’s super easy to find cool stuff.  The more vintage and unique is downstairs, with seasonal on the main floor.  If you can only go to one shop, spend the afternoon here!

Ritz Resale (a favorite)

900 Valley View, Pasadena (go north on Michellinda, on the corner of a tiny side street)

Store Size: small (privately owned for-profit)

Kate says: A wonderful little shop for vintage clothing finds!  Sells only women’s fashion (shoes and accessories).  They are heavy on the smaller sizes, but I have found probably half-a-dozen special items that fit.  This is more of an up-scale reused fashions or vintage shop – not like GoodWill.  

Savers (a favorite)

16 East Live Oak Ave, Arcadia, cross street: Santa Anita

Store Size: very large (privately owned for-profit)

Kate says: Savers is a large generic thrift shop with very large selection of clothes.  They also have well sorted bric-a-brac / “stuff,” furniture, sporting goods and a small fabric / sewing /craft supplies section.  If looking for clothes, expect to dig through a lot to find what you want.

Out of the Closet

1726 East Colorado Blvd, Pasadena (near Pasadena City College)

Store Size: medium (supports free AIDS testing)

Kate says: This used to be the place to find cool, unique items, but selections have gotten more generic now; you can still find good clothes there as well as furniture and bric-a-brac / “stuff”

Does not sell kids’ items

Wistaria Thrift Shop

550 W Sierra Madre Blvd, Sierra Madre

Store Size: tiny (supports the Women’s Club of Sierra Madre)

Store Size: tiny

Kate esays:  Though small, has some interesting items, including craft supplies .  Not open on Wednesdays.

Treasure Fair Thrift Shop

3239 E Foothill Blvd, Pasadena (cross street: Sierra Madre Villa)

Store Size: small (supports Assistance League of Pasadena -programs for the underserved)

Kate says:  A great general-purpose thrift shop with a little bit of everything.  Sometimes I make wonderfully surprising finds there and sometimes they have nothing for me. 

ACTS Thrift Store

1311 N Altadena Dr, Pasadena (cross street: Washington)

Store Size: medium (Supports Lake Avenue Community Foundation- programs for the underserved)

Kate says: recently down-sized, they no longer have much in the way of furniture, but bric-a-brac / “stuff” and clothes a-plenty.  If looking for clothes, expect to dig through a lot to find what you want.

Good Will

340 S Fair Oaks Ave Pasadena

Store Size: large (supports Alcoholics Recovery Services & the underserved)

Kate says: This is what I think of as a generic thrift shop.  You won’t find antiques in here.  If looking for clothes, expect to dig through a lot to find what you want.

Good Will

183 Altadena Dr, Pasadena

Store Size: large (supports Alcoholics Recovery Services & the underserved)

Kate says: This is what I think of as a generic thrift shop.  You won’t find antiques in here.  If looking for clothes, expect to dig through a lot to find what you want.

Bargain Box

64 East Live Oak, Arcadia, cross street: Santa Anita

Store Size: medium (supports Assistance League of Pasadena -programs for the underserved)

Kate says: a good place for “stuff,” though the few clothes seem to be conservative and dated.  Try this place if you don’t find what you are looking for at Savers (around the corner).

The Huntington Collection

100 W. California Blvd., Pasadena (cross street: Fair Oaks)

Store Size: large (supports Huntington Hospital)

Kate says: The place to go for furniture or a lovely tea set.  You might also find dressy shoes, a formal gown or designer coat.  This shop is supported by ladies who lunch, and things are not cheap, though you could make a spectacular vintage find. 

Vintage Treasures & Antiques  340 E Foothill Blvd, Arcadia (between Santa Anita and Fifth)

Store Size: tiny

Kate says: More of an antique shop than thrift store, there isn’t much in the way of clothes, but definitely has many unique accessories. I don’t go here very often, but stop if you are driving by anyway.

Valley Thrift

777 W Foothill Blvd, Azusa (take the 210 freeway east, on Route 66)

Store Size: large (supports Vietnam Veterans of America)

Kate says: a large selection of every-day clothes and shoes, some furniture

If looking for clothes, expect to dig through a lot to find what you want.

 Specialty Thrift Shops

Remainders (for fabric and sewing / crafting supplies)

1713 East Walnut Street, Pasadena

626.533.5129

Habitat for Humanity RE-Store (for home repair or building supplies and furniture)

410 S. Irwindale Ave, Azusa

626.387.6900

Pasadena Arcitectural Salvage (for vintage home items)

2600 E. Foothill Blvd, Pasadena

626.535.9655

I’ve not yet tried, but would like to:

The Big Yard Sale Thrift Store 2110 N Fairoaks Ave, Altadena

Full Circle Thrift

2245 Lake Ave, Altadena

High Low Vintage

1031 East Green Street, Pasadena

LA Road

Eagle Rock

Meowmeowz ?

2423 East Colorado Blvd, Pasadena

Uncharted Antiques

27 N. Altadena Dr., Pasadena (cross street: Colorado)

De-Cor Antiques

30 So San Gabriel Blvd., Pasadena (cross street: Colorado)

The Bearded Beagle

5926 N Figueroa Street, Los Angeles

Hotbox Vintage

1127 Mission Street, South Pasadena

Owl Talk

5060B Eagle Rock Blvd., Eagle Rock

More Thrift Shops to the East (of Pasadena):

Vintage Odyssey

201 W Bonita Ave., Claremont, CA 91711

A Lot of Good Thrift

1980 W Foothill Blvd., Upland, CA 91786

ACTS Thrift Store

232 E Foothill Blvd., Pomona, CA 91767

Goodwill

210 East Foothill Blvd., Pomona, CA 91767

2nd Chance Thrift Shop

1028 W 9th St., Upland, CA 91786

 

Big Kids Need Interaction Too

Just because a child is old enough to occupy themselves, doesn’t mean that they should be expected to do so the majority of the time.  Host families have a certain expectation of activity and involvement for their children. Get the kids engaged and active. You can be more fun than the TV or a video game.

 

Problem:
But, my kids don’t want to do anything but watch TV or play video games.

Solution:
Instead of saying,  “Would you like to (fill in the blank with any activity)?  The answer will often be, “No.”

Try this, “Now we are going to (fill in the blank with any activity.) or “Would you rather do  _____ or ______?”  Make sure both the choices are good options.
Your chances of co-operation are greatly increased. Even kids who are reluctant to try new things will usually get in the spirit of things and have fun, if you pick a good activity.

Problem:
I don’t know what to do with school age kids.

Solution:
Look for ideas online. Google “activities school age kids” or “activities tweens”. Below is a list of some ideas to get you started.

  • Cooking
  • Making things (check craft stores like Michael’s for kits and models that are age appropriate)
  • Going fun places (pottery painting, jewelry making, farms, museums, mini-golf, go-karts)
  • Sports (soccer, tennis, swimming, bicycling, roller skating, ice skating)
  • Let them teach you to do something they enjoy. Kids this age love being the expert.
  • Get outdoors and visit local parks.  You can even make a project of reviewing all the local parks (what kind of equipment they have, is there shade, water fountain?)  They can write this up and keep, so they remember which ones they want to go to again and which ones to skip in the future.
  • Let them help you search and plan some activities.
  • Check on the APIA Pinterest page and here on our cluster blog for ideas.
  • If you have a GPS, try taking them geocaching. Here is a website with all the details.

Note: Always get permission from your host parents before taking the kids places.

Photo: Killian77

Privacy & Personal Information Online

We live in a time of constant sharing through social media. We often share pictures, plans of somewhere we are going or rants about problems, without thinking much about who will see it and what could be the consequences.

Before clicking “post”, stop to think:

  • Am I violating someone’s privacy?
  • Am I sharing personal info. that could put me in danger?
  • Would I want my current or a future employer to see this?

This will help protect your privacy and safety as well as that of your host family. It is important to respect your host family’s privacy and not share personal details and information.  This applies to all kinds of situations, including: personal conversations, email and social websites.

For your own safety, it is a good idea to be careful what personal information you share about yourself as well. You should not give out information like your telephone number and address to people you don’t know. Safer to meet a new friend in a public place, than to give them your address before knowing them.

Once you post something on the internet (even if you later delete it), it can show up elsewhere.  Unless you have specific permission from your host family, you should never post pictures of them, their children or their home on the internet.

If you have a blog or website where you post in your native language, remember there is translation software. So, even if you say it in your native language, be sure it is not something that might be misinterpreted in translation or something you will regret saying.

Happy Lunar New Year!

Lunar New Year begins tomorrow, February 5, and sparks the Year of the Pig.

Lunar New Year is celebrated widely throughout Asia.  It begins on the second new moon after the Winter Solstice and is celebrated until the first full moon of the lunar year, 15 days after the celebrations begin.

Sometimes known as the Spring Festival, traditions include:  visiting family and gathering for meals, especially the New Year’s Eve Feast; gifting children and young adults with special red envelopes containing money; fireworks or lantern displays, accompanied by a Dragon Dance, especially on the last night of celebration.

Individuals born in the Year of the Pig are known for the following traits:

  • Successful, hard-working, responsible, diligent, energetic and enthusiastic
  • Friendly, generous, and compassionate
  • Realistic, calm, sometimes thrifty, though materialistic, and prefer to handle things properly and carefully.

Sharing Cultures: If you’d like  to celebrate Chinese New Year with your host children (or with your Au Pair friends), check out these websites for more information:

  • Chinatown

One of the largest Chinese New Year celebrations in the United States!

951 N. Broadway, Los Angeles

Saturday, February 9, 12noon to 8pm, Free!

lagoldendragonparade.com

 

 

  • Pacific Asian Museum

46 N. Robles Ave., Pasadena, In various areas of the museum

Sunday, Feb. 3, 10 a.m., Free!

https://pacificasiamuseum.usc.edu/calendar/details/?event-id=1525835

 

 

  • The Original Farmer’s Market & the Gove LA

click here for flyer

6333 W 3rd St., Los Angeles

Sunday, Feb. 17, 12noon to 5 p.m., Free!

https://www.farmersmarketla.com/

 

Make Your Own Play Dough

Play dough is the perfect modeling material for children. Their small hands can pat, poke, pinch, roll and knead it into many shapes. Keep it in an airtight container to use another day, or let it air dry into favorite shapes.

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Measure 2 cups of flour, one cup of salt and 4 teaspoons of cream of tartar into a bowl. Add 1/4 cup of oil to one cup of water in a separate bowl then add the mixture to the dry ingredients. For colored play dough, squeeze 10-20 drops of food coloring into the water before you add it to the mixture. Cook the dough at low heat in a wide pan, stirring constantly until it becomes rubbery. Remove the dough from the heat and knead it for a few minutes. When it cools the kids can play too!

Photo: Kevin Jarrett (Flickr)