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Tag Archives: culture
Au Pairs Holiday Party
Suffolk Au Pairs celebrated the holiday season with an International Feast. The au pairs all prepared something from their country for the feast. A storm was raging outside with high winds and pounding rain, but in Cindy’s home the atmosphere was cheery and warm. The feast was yummy and everyone enjoyed the bountiful desserts!
After dessert, the au pairs exhanged grab bag gifts they each brought. Cindy handed out gifts and then it was time for pictures. Everyone took turns modeling the Santa hats and posing by the Christmas trees. We shared our plans for the season, some of the au pairs are traveling with their host families over the holidays, some are going off on vacations of their own, and some are taking day trip into to the city to see the holiday decorations, visiting Santa with their host families. Everyone is enjoying the season! Happy Holidays one and all!
Au Pairs Decorate Homeless Shelter for the Holidays!
The Suffolk County Cluster of Au Pair in America decorated HELP Suffolk Homeless Shelter for the holidays! They transformed the recreation room into a WINTER WONDERLAND filled with snowflakes suspended from the ceiling, 2 snowpeople and some cheerful packages on the walls! The decorate the holiday tree, too! The residents and staff were thrilled with the results!!
HELP Suffolk is a 76-unit transitional housing facility for homeless families housing a maximum of 100 adults and 200 children at any given time. Units are available for people with disabilities.
HELP Suffolk is the largest housing facility for the homeless on Long Island. The complex sits on seven acres of property and consists of four residential buildings, a community building, two playgrounds and a baseball field.
Since its inception in 1990, HELP Suffolk has served over 4,000 families and places approximately 60 percent of families into permanent housing.
International Holiday Tree in Stony Brook Village
The Suffolk County Au Pair in America Cluster decorated a tree for the Stony Brook Festival of Trees. The theme of the tree is “We bring the World Together.” Each ornament on the tree was decorated by an au pair. Some created designs from their country, others made ornaments representing their time here in America, all are colorful and beautiful. Our tree is right in front of Talbot’s in the Inner Court of the Village. The inner court has many trees decorated by Girl and Boy Sout troops.
Come see the tree until January 2, 2011!!
Au Pair in America freezes Prices in 2011 to Celebrate 25 Years of Legal Au Pairs!!!
The nation’s largest au pair agency celebrates the 25th anniversary of America’s legal au pair program by freezing their prices in 2011.
D-2010 –STAMFORD, CT – December 3, 2010 – To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the United States’ legal au pair program in 2011, Au Pair in America (www.aupairinamerica.com), the nation’s first au pair program, announced today that they will not increase their fees for a second straight year.
“We are delighted to offer families the high quality child care that has become synonymous with Au Pair in America at our affordable 2009 prices,” said Ruth Ferry, Sr. Vice President and Director of Au Pair in America. “We have been honored to work with the Department of State over the last quarter of a century to help the au pair program emerge as a child care solution for all types of American families.”
At just $347 per week (regardless of the number of children in the family), parents can utilize the flexible program at a cost that can be less expensive than day care arrangements.
Founded in 1986, the U.S. Department of State’s au pair program allows 18 to 26-year-old international visitors who travel to the U.S. on a J-1 Visitor Exchange Visa to acquire a better understanding and appreciation of American life while living with an American family and caring for their young children.
“Au Pair in America gave this program its foundation to build to where it is today,” states Stanley S. Colvin, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Private Sector Exchange, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. “Au Pair in America is one of the founding members that introduced the model, advocated for it and established it.”
The United States Information Agency (USIA) designated the American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS) Scholarship Foundation as one of two sponsors of an au pair program for a two-year trial period beginning in 1986. AIFS then launched Au Pair in America which has served as the definitive au pair program in the U.S. for the last 25 years, helping set U.S. program regulations as well as placing more than 85,000 au pairs in the homes of American families.
Au Pair in America matches potential au pairs that meet the different criteria posed by host families. Both au pairs and families complete a thorough application and matching process to ensure the best situation for all parties.
To learn more about the program, contact Au Pair in America at (800) 928-7247 or visit them on the web at www.aupairinamerica.com.
The nation’s first and largest au pair program, Au Pair in America combines live-in child care and cultural exchange for a mutually rewarding and enriching experience for the entire family. Since 1986, they have placed more than 85,000 au pairs in 43 states. Headquartered in Stamford, CT, Au Pair in America maintains offices in 5 countries and has a network of more than 600 employees worldwide.
Shopping Bags for Thanksgiving Food Delivery
Suffolk County Community Counselor Cindy Garruba and her Au Pairs donated Au Pair in America shopping bags to HELP Suffolk. They were used to distribute food to feed hungry families this Thanksgiving. The bags are reusuable shopping bags and the families will be able to use them even after the food has been eaten.
Au Pairs and Host Families are Thankful for Each Other
On Sunday November 21 the Au Pairs in Suffolk County learned about the holiday season in the USA. The discussion began with Thanksgiving and what we are grateful for this year. Many of the host families had sent messages to their au pairs on what they are grateful to them for this year and the au pairs were very touched to see how much they are appreciated! They expressed their gratitude as well. The au pairs loved the pumpkin pie served at the meeting, too!
Here are some thanks from the Host Families:
Thankful Host Families
I am thankful to my au pair because she doesn’t leave us even though my children (especially my son) are very naughty and give her a hard time.
We are thankful for our Au Pair for the great care she takes of our daughter. We are thankful that she is considerate and willing to always help out.
We are thankful to our au pair because she is flexible, friendly, honest and caring. She loves playing soccer with the kids and she is always having fun and hearty laugh with the boys. Thanks to her for joining our family.
We are grateful to our au pair because she is a lovely and kind person. She truly cares for our children and she is interested in everything that our family does. In just a few months, she has become an integral member of our family (much appreciated also by grandparents on both sides) and we cannot imagine being without her!!!
She hasn’t quit even though our children can be difficult and a bit bratty!
She eats well and keeps the junk food away from us!
We are thankful because she plays so nice with our son. He LOVES her so much! I am very thankful for her because she is very flexible and accommodating with her schedule all the time. We appreciate her helping us out with our busy lives!! 🙂
We are grateful to our au pair because she takes such good care of our kids, and is a great cook and a terrific Spanish and salsa teacher.
We are grateful to our au pair because she is more than just an au pair…she is the second best thing to mommy, a sister, a friend, an angel sent to our family…we love her so much!We are thankful beyond all reasonable expectations for the wonderful, thoughtful, kind, smart, funny and all around easy going yet amazing au pair. We are lucky to have her in our lives and all five of us in our family feel the same way about her!
We are grateful to our au pair because she has done so much to fit into our lives, while having to give up so much of hers.
We are thankful for her kindness and creativity. She has also quickly assimilated into our family and we cannot imagine our lives without her.
We are grateful to our au pair because she has become a wonderful addition to our family. She takes wonderful care of our children and we know she loves them too. That makes it so much easier for us to leave and go to work because we know our children are in such great hands. Every mother should be blessed enough to have an au pair like ours. We can’t thank her enough for all of her help and the wonderful things she does for our family. The kids say “I is thankful because “she makes great brigadero and she has fun with me and my brother!” The brother says, “I am because “she has fun with me!” The baby says he is thankful because “aaaa!”
And thanks from the Au Pairs:
I am thankful for the great year I’ve been spending in USA, for my awesome host family, lovely and fun children and for the great friends I’ve made here!
I am thankful for being happy here in the USA. I’m having the biggest experience of my life. That’s just amazing! I love my host kids and I feel they love me back and that’s wonderful!
I am thankful for living here, for my host family being friendly with me and for knowing new people and visiting a lot of places.
I am thankful for my host family who are very very nice to me.
I am thankful for having a good host family and for because I’m here in the USA living this experience.
I am thankful for the support of my family because they supported my dream to come to America!
I am thankful for being in America and having a wonderful, caring and loving host family.
I am thankful for having the most awesome host family that anyone could wish for. I am also over the top thankful for finding my BIF (Best International Friend. I know she’s going to be a friend for life! <3
I am thankful for being a really great host family and staying in amazing country!
I am thankful for my great host family and that they treat me like a family member, taking me to all their activities. I’m also very thankful to have found such a great friend!
I am thankful for a host family who makes me happy and gives me a good time in USA!
I am thankful for being an au pair in my host family, having a chance to stay in America, and having a good time with the kids and host parents, and meeting new friends from all over the world!
I am thankful for the great opportunity to spend one year in the USA and to live with a very interesting and nice host family. I am very happy to meet everyone!
I am thankful for my whole year with my host family and friends. I am thankful for having this opportunity.
I am thankful for the opportunity of being here and enjoying this great time with my host family and friends!
I am thankful for having this opportunity. I am thankful for the babies I take care of and for all the friends I have.
I am thankful for having been here 9 months with one of the most great host families. For the good friends and for this great experience in my life! Dreams come true!
Chinese Culture Comes to Long Island Classroom
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Sihui earned a Global Awareness Certificate for teaching 2 lessons on Mandarian to fifth grade classes in Joseph Edgar Elementary School, Rocky Point, Long Island, NY. Cindy Garruba, Senior Community Counselor for Au Pair in America in Suffolk County presented the certificate to Sihui Tan at the Annual International Holiday Party for the Suffolk Au Pairs. The au pairs were excited for Sihui and several mentioned their plans to do Global Awareness presentations in classrooms very soon! If you would like a Global Awareness presentation in a Suffolk County classroom, please email Cindy at Cindy722@aol.com. If you are outside Suffolk, go to the Global Awareness website at http://www.globalawareness.com/. 
Special Promotion for New Host Families, Apply Now and Save up to $1000!
Apply before Tuesday, November 30, 2010 and we will waive the $350 application fee, plus receive $150 off your family’s program fee. Save an additional $500 when you select an au pair in 2010! Register today to access to hundreds of au pair profiles with no obligation.
Learn more about these special offer for host families by contacting Alex Ramirez at (800) 928-7247 ext. 5161 or at aramirez@aifs.com.
Register now to get started with your application today or request a free brochure.
NYC 2010 Scavenger Hunt for Au Pair in America NY Clusters
October 24, 2010 was the 2nd annual NYC Scavenger Hunt for the NY Au Pair in America Au Pairs. Au Pairs from as far east as the Long Island Hamptons ventured into the city to join other Long Island Au Pairs, Au Pairs from NYC and Westchester to spend two hours running all over NYC to find items on the list. We started out on the steps of the main NYC Library and ended in Bryant Park. There were awards for 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th place won by the teams who were the quickest and found the most items on the list. Some au pairs also won raffles and everyone went home with a Halloween goody bag! Lots of fun and a great way to experience NYC!