Category Archives: Fun Things We Do
Sunday, December 11 was the International Holiday Party for the Suffolk County Cluster of Au Pair in America. Each au pair brought a dish from their country for the International Feast. There were dishes from Germany, Thailand, France, Poland, Slovakia, Bolivia, Croatia, Peru and the USA. 
Each au pair brought a wrapped gift for the gift exchange. The gifts were placed under the tree as the au pairs arrived. After our wonderful feast, we gathered around the tree for the exchange, numbers drawn from a basket determined who, went 1, 2, 3 and so on. Everyone enjoyed their gifts.
Cindy Garruba, Suffolk Community Counselor, handed out her gifts to each au pair. A snow scraper, knit gloves, an ornament to remember their holiday in the USA and some candy kisses. 
Holiday Tree Decorated by Suffolk Au Pairs
Sunday, December 3rd 2011 the Suffolk County Cluster of Au Pairs decorated a tree for Stony Brook Village’s Promenade of Tree.
The theme of the tree is “We Bring the World Together!” The decorations have been made by au pairs from this year’s au pairs, as well as au pairs from previous years.
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Santa Claus arrived at 2 PM on a fire engine. Children lined up for a chance to tell him what they want this year for Christmas. Santa will be available every weekend till Christmas for the children. There is a red mailbox outside the Stony Brook Post Office just for letters to Santa. The trees are on display until January 1st. The APIA tree is right in front of the Brook House Restaurant, just to the right of the Post Office. Hope you visit Stony Brook and visit our tree!!
See You in Stony Brook
Tan is Heading Back to Thailand
Angsumalin Jittangkoon, nicknamed Tan, arrived in the USA back on October 12 2009. After spending 2 years here as an Au Pair in America, it is time to go home to Thailand. Her host family will miss her, as will her friends and her Community Counselor, Cindy Garruba. Cindy says “Tan has been a wonderful addition to our cluster! She has participated in most of our activities and did many of the volunteer activities as well!”
At the Cultural Fair at the Children’s Museum. Tan even dressed in traditional Thai costume!
Tan receives her Completion Certificate at her last Cluster Meeting! We will miss you and wish you all the best in your future!
Old West Show at Old Bethpage Village this Saturday!!`
Do you want to see a cowboy show here on Long Island?
Cowboys and cowgirls will ride into Old Bethpage Village Restoration Saturday for an event billed as the “Gunfight at the Gulch,” the group’s second Long Island match of the season. http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/Parks/wheretogo/museums/central_nass_museum/old_bethpage_rest.html
Gunfight at the Gulch
WHEN | WHERE 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Old Bethpage Village Restoration, 1303 Round Swamp Rd., Old Bethpage
INFO islandlongriders.com or email joe@islandlongriders.com
ADMISSION Included with general museum admission of $10 ($7 ages 5-12)
Spectators look on as mounted contestants will compete in fast-action, timed events using two .45 caliber single action revolvers each loaded with five rounds of specially prepared blank ammunition — like the stage props used in Hollywood movies — to pop balloons.
WHAT YOU’LL SEE
As part of the match, participants dress in period clothing, replete with boots, chaps and cowboy hats, in keeping with the Old West spirit. Courses of fire are set in a variety of patterns, with the first five balloons arranged randomly and the last five positioned in a straight line known as a rundown. Riders score points based on accuracy and time, and at the end of the match, which usually consists of four “stages,” the rider with the best total time, including any penalties such as missed balloons or overturned barrels, is declared the winner.
EARTH DAY – APRIL 22nd
For over 40 years Earth Day has mobilized and motivated people and organizations around the world to demonstrate their committment to environmental protection.
REDUCE, REUSE & RECYCLE!!
Visit http://www.earthday.org/ 
Some Earth Day Activities for Kids at http://www.epa.gov/region5/publications/happy/happy.pdf
Broadway in April
On Saturday, April 2nd the Long Island Clusters of Au Pair in America went to NYC to see the new Broadway show “Baby It’s You!” The show is in previews and officially opens April 27th. We all loved the show which featured songs made famous by the Shirelles. 
BABY IT’S YOU! is the original Broadway musical inspired by the true story of Florence Greenberg, a suburban housewife from New Jersey, who discovered one of the greatest girl groups of all time, The Shirelles, and created Scepter Records, becoming the music industry’s first female powerhouse.
Beach Snowman
This was in the Sunday Parade Section of the newspaper. What a great idea!
Winter Fun For Au Pairs and Host Children
ABC’s of Winter Fun
A is for Art – try drawing, painting or gluing
B is for Baking – bake a dessert together for dinner
C is for Clay – Use non-hardening clay or play dough to shape and mold
D is for Dance – put on a lively tape
E is for Exercise – be sure to get some everyday
F is for Friends – invite some over
G is for Greenhouse – find a local greenhouse to visit to enjoy the sights and smells
H is for House – make a playhouse from a large appliance box
I is for Ice skating – take the children to a local rink
J is for Jigsaw puzzle – be sure to pick one that isn’t too difficult
K is for Kitchen science – try a safe experiment
L is for Library – borrow some new books
M is for Movie – make one with a video camera, or watch one
N is for Necklace – make one out of cereal or macaroni
O is for Origami – learn to make simple paper creations
P is for Puppets – socks make easy and fun puppets – put on a show!
Q is for Quiet Time – everyone needs some of this
R is for Reading aloud – choose a good book and a comfortable place to sit
S is for Seeds and Suet – put out food for the birds and watch them eat
T is for Tent – make one from old blankets and chairs
U is for Unplugged – do a day with no TV
V is for Variety – try something new everyday
W is for Walk – take one in any weather (be sure to dress appropriately)
X is for Xylophone – make your own with glasses, water and a metal spoon
Y is for Year – make a calendar or scrapbook to remember the year
Z is for Zoo – play zoo, pretend to be animals in the zoo, what noises do they make?
Holidays Around the World
On Monday, December 20th au pairs from China, Brazil, Thailand, Guatemala and Brazil visited the HELP Suffolk Homeless Shelter’s daycare center. They did a Global Awareness lesson called “Holidays Around the World” for the children. The class of 3 – 5 year olds loved the passports and stickers. There were stickers for each country with a greeting of Happy New Year or Merry Christmas in the language of the au pair. The kids learned how to say the greetings. Marie from Germany told the kids about the Christmas tree and how the tradition began in Germany. Then the children decorated foam trees with colorful decorations. We ended with a story about Santa Claus and a lively round of” O Tannebaum” (O Christmas Tree)!
