Category Archives: Uncategorized

Au Pair in America & Stony Brook Promenade of Trees

Au Pair in America decorated a tree for the Promenade of Trees in Stony Brook Village.  Host Families and Au Pairs spent a few hours enjoying the wonderful festival in Stony Brook.20161204_135320_resizedThe tree will be on display through the New Year Holiday. Go down and take a look, we are located just to the left of the post office.

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Santa arrived by horse drawn carriage to listen to the wishes of the kids.  There was some carolers and lots of fun!

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Dorothea and her host kids visit with Santa

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Annual NYC Scavenger Hunt

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250 Au Pair in America Au Pairs!

On Sunday October 23rd, 20 Au Pair in America clusters gathered in NYC for the Annual APIA Scavenger Hunt.  Teams left from the NYC Library steps and searched for 3 hours!

Some au pairs won raffle prizes:

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When the teams arrived back they were given a candy bar and their points for arrival time.  Community Counselors from APIA checked their lists for items found.

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4 winning teams were awarded.  Points were awarded for return time, and the most items found.  Everyone had fun!

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First Place

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Second Place

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Third Place

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Fourth Place

 

 

Au Pairs learn Safety and Back to School Tips

20160918_152122_resizedOn Sunday, September 18th the Suffolk County Cluster of Au Pairs gathered for a fun and useful cluster meeting.  Each au pair painted a heart ornament for a holiday tree we will decorate in December.  The hearts represented their country or time in the USA.

The craft project gave each au pair a chance to be creative.  She also had time to socialize with other au pairs.  Many of the au pairs arrived during the summer months and this was their first meeting!20160918_134650_resized 20160918_135720_resized Beautiful ornaments will be added to the holiday tree20160918_135733_resized20160919_102112_resizedThen we had a few safety and back to school tips to review:

  • Playground safety
  • Minimizing morning madness
  • The backpack – communication between school and home
  • School bus stop safety
  • Distracted driving
  • Driving tips for all au pairs
  • September is Baby Safety Month and safety was reviewed

We also went over some upcoming great activities for au pairs this fall.  Then everyone enjoyed socializing while having some pumpkin pie and apple cider. 

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J-Day Celebrated on Long Island

5e66b7ff-2162-48a6-8b92-355c40cce896Saturday, July 30th Au Pair in America and Camp America J-1 Visa au pairs and camp counselors came together to give back to the local community.  They spent an afternoon cleaning and sorting shoes donated by AIFS staff, host families and campers.  The shoes will be given to charities here on Long Island who help families.  The event took place at Camp Pa Qua Tuck in Center Moriches. 

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287 pairs of shoes were gathered, sorted, cleaned and bagged by the volunteers.  20160730_134649_resized (1) 20160730_150458_resized

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then we had a great lunch together and played some games.  20160730_143348_resized 20160730_140106_resized (1) 20160730_140121_resized (1)

 

 

 

Everyone worked hard, enjoyed the day and earned a certificate from AIFS, the American Institute of Foreign Study.  Check out all the AIFS programs here.  We bring the world together!

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J Day is being celebrated all over the USA and Au Pair in America is always happy to give back to the communities we serve.

 

Happy 4th of July!!

4th-of-July-with-FamiliesThe Fourth of July or Independence Day, July 4th has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution (1775-83). In June 1776, representatives of the 13 colonies then fighting in the revolutionary struggle weighed a resolution that would declare their independence from Great Britain. On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later its delegates adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 until the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with typical festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues.

Here are some fun facts about the food you are likely to enjoy while celebrating the 4th of July!

Although there is no fixed menu for the celebration of the Fourth, you can count on traditional favorites such as hamburgers and hot dogs, chicken, ribs, garden salads, potato salad, chips and watermelon.

  • There’s a 1-in-6 chance the beef on your backyard grill came from Texas. The Lone Star State is the leader in the production of cattle and calves.
  • The chicken on your barbecue grill probably came from one of the top broiler-producing states: Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama, North Carolina and Mississippi.
  • The lettuce in your salad or on your hamburger probably was grown in California, which accounts for nearly three-quarters of USA lettuce production.
  • Fresh tomatoes in your salad most likely came from Florida or California, which, combined, produced more than two-thirds of U.S. tomatoes. The ketchup on your hamburger or hot dog probably came from California, which accounts for 95 percent of processed tomato production.
  • As to potato salad or potato chips or fries, Idaho and Washington produces about one-half of the nation’s spuds.
  • For dessert, six states — California, Florida, Texas, Georgia, Arizona and Indiana — combined to produce about 80 percent of watermelons last year.
  • And the apples in your apple pie? They most likely came from Washington or New York, the two top apple producing states.

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And for the children, visit this link for fun coloring pages, craft ideas, puzzles and games to celebrate the 4th of July holiday

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/fourth-of-july/

Water & Summer Safety Cluster Meeting

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20160612_144409_resizedThis Sunday, June 12th the Suffolk County Au Pair in America Cluster learned about Water & Summer Safety.  The meeting was held on a deck overlooking the beautiful Long Island Sound.  It was a very windy day, the water was too rough to swim, but the au pairs learned about being safe around the water from their Community Counselor, Cindy Garruba, who was a swim instructor and lifeguard.

20160612_145345_resizedThey also learned about prevention and treatment of sunburn by how to use sunscreen and when to avoid the sun.  Also covered was identifying poison ivy, preventing exposure and what to do if a rash occurs.  We discussed ticks and Lyme disease.  We also discussed playground safety, and basic first aid.

20160612_145356_resizedA former au pair, Nikoleta Todtova, from Slovakia, talked about her time as an au pair, returning home and then returning to the USA with a student visa several years later.  She is currently attending a local college with a 4.0 average!

20160612_154839_resizedCindy presented Alessia  Agistri with a good bye gift and education completion certificate because she is finishing her 2 years as an Au Pair with APIA!

We finished the meeting with local strawberries on shortcake with cream.  Everyone had time to socialize before heading home.

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Cluster Meeting with Trek America

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Trek America gave a presentation to the Suffolk County Au Pair in America au pairs on Sunday, Feb 28.  The au pairs learned about the great trips they offer for their vacations and their travel month.  All au pairs who complete their 1 to 2 years in the program successfully can travel for one month in the USA before they return home to their country.  Clayton, a tour guide with Trek America, gave a lively presentation with a great slide show.  He asked and answered questions, too.20160228_145923_resized


After the Trek Presentation, Cindy Garruba, Community  Counselor for Au Pair in America talked about playground and bike safety.  Each quarter the au pairs are taught a safety lesson.

The meeting included a chance for the au pairs to make friends and mingle.  We welcomed new au pairs who just arrived in the USA for a year in America and said good bye to a few going home.

Corrina Moore from South Africa, Cindy Garruba Senior Community Counselor, Kristi Halpern Community Counselor, Karolina Vitt from Germany

Corrina Moore from South Africa, Cindy Garruba Senior Community Counselor, Kristi Halpern Community Counselor, Karolina Vitt from Germany

First Major Snow of 2016 Coming!

 

SLOT1_LIPLEASE DO NOT DRIVE DURING A SNOW STORM!

This is a major snow storm and no au pair should be driving!  Please be very careful, the snow is supposed to stop Tuesday afternoon.  The roads will get cleared, but it may take some time.  The kids will be off of school tomorrow, some schools will be sending the kids home early today.  Be prepared and enjoy the snow days at home!

STAY HOME, YOU CAN GO OUT WHEN THE STREETS ARE PLOWED, BE SAFE!!

AAA recommends the following winter driving tips:

  • Avoid driving while you’re tired. Get the proper amount of rest!!
  • Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage.
  • Make certain your tires are properly inflated.
  • Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up.
  • If possible, avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy and snowy weather.
  • Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface (wet, ice, sand).
  • Always look and steer where you want to go.
  • Use your seat belt every time you get into your vehicle.
  • Watch weather reports and do NOT drive in bad weather is expected. If you must leave, let others know your route, destination and estimated time of arrival.
  • If you become snow-bound, stay with your vehicle. It provides temporary shelter and makes it easier for rescuers to locate you. Don’t try to walk in a severe storm.
  • Make sure the exhaust pipe isn’t clogged with snow, ice or mud. A blocked exhaust could cause deadly carbon monoxide gas to leak into the passenger compartment with the engine running.

Tips for driving in the snow:

  • Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method for regaining traction and avoiding skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry. And take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
  • Drive slowly. Everything takes longer on snow-covered roads. Accelerating, stopping, turning – nothing happens as quickly as on dry pavement. Give yourself time to maneuver by driving slowly.
  • The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to ten seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
  • Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, the best way to stop is threshold breaking. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
  • Don’t power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts your wheels spinning. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed down hill as slowly as possible.
  • Don’t stop going up a hill. There’s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road. Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.
  • Stay home. If you really don’t have to go out, don’t. Even if you can drive well in the snow, not everyone else can. Don’t tempt fate: If you don’t have somewhere you have to be, watch the snow from indoors.

snow scraper 001Keep in your car for safety during the winter:

  • An ice scraper and brush
  • Spray de-icer
  • Cat litter – for getting out of a rut, for traction in the snow
  • Collapsible show shovel
  • Blanket
  • Cell phone – know who to call in an emergency
  • Flash light

Au Pairs and Host Families Enjoy Stony Brook Holiday Festival

20151206_132540_resized (1)On Sunday, December 6th Au Pair in America Suffolk County Au Pairs and Host Families decorated a tree for the Promenade of Trees in Stony Brook Village.  It was a beautiful, warm day and everyone enjoyed the festivities.  20151206_132012_resized

20151206_132501_resizedCindy Garruba, Senior Community Counselor for APIA, had decorations for the kids to make.  We handed out coloring books to the kids waiting online to see Santa.  Santa arrived in a horse drawn carriage at 2 pm to listen to all the kids’ Christmas wishes.  There was a petting zoo, performers doing skits and singing songs.  100s of trees were decorated throughout the village and will be up through till the New Year.

Come down and check out Au Pair in America’s International Peace Tree just to the east of the Post Office right in front of the Stony Brook Gift Shop!20151206_140610_resized20151206_143526_HDR_resized20151206_143421_HDR_resized