Tag Archives: long island au pairs

Happy Boxing Day!

boxing dayWhat exactly is Boxing Day?

Boxing Day is celebrated on December 26th. Boxing Day, also known as the Feast of St. Stephen (after the first Christian martyr), originated in England in the middle of the nineteenth century under Queen Victoria. It originated as a holiday for members of the merchant class to give boxes containing food and fruit, clothing, and/or money to trades people and servants. The gifts were an expression of gratitude similar to the bonuses many employers offer their employees today. These gifts, usually given in boxes, gave the holiday its name, “Boxing Day.”

Today, Boxing Day is a holiday in the United Kingdom, Canada, and many other Commonwealth nations. It is a time for family and friends to gather with lots of food and fun. Outdoor sports such as soccer, horse racing and hunting are popular on this holiday. Retailers offer huge savings on many items on this day, making it the biggest shopping day of the year in Canada.

So Thankful this Year!!

happy-thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a holiday all Americans celebrate and the Au Pairs enjoy the holiday with their host families.  The Suffolk County Cluster of Au Pair in America took the time to express what they are grateful for this Thanksgiving.

2013 Au Pairs are Thankful for………………………..

Staying in America for a year and meeting new girls. I am thankful that my family and friends are healthy.

Being here in the USA and having a great family at home which helps me not getting too homesick.

Travel to the USA, being in Michigan and meeting awesome friends, awesome places, then travel to New York and finding a great host family.

My time here in the United States, the friends I’ve made and my host family has been so supportive.

All the wonderful people I have met thus far on my time in USA. My great host family and all the memories that will last me a lifetime.

All the people who love me.

My mom and my siblings, that they are there for me when I need them and that we help each other every time. I am thankful for the possibility to spend one year here in America.

My new host family, because the rematch was so hard and I feel so happy now in this host family. I can finally enjoy this new experience in America.

Having a lovely host family, the support from my family and friends at home, my strength to go through all this so far away from everything I know, all my possibilities her in the US., all the people I have gotten to know and will get to know…..

The supportive family and friends I left behind. The struggle it has taken to be here, the amazing host family I’ve come to know and the amazing friends I have made and have yet to make.

My host family – my friends and family who are at home – the opportunity to be here – my life and my health

Being here in America, for supportive, loving family and friends back home, to be able to travel and meet new people, to be blessed with such a great host family, to be healthy, etc.

Waking up every day and having the opportunity to learn something new. I am thankful for nature.

Back in Business after Hurricane Sandy!

I am very grateful to have power fully restored, including internet and phone!  I know many of you are still suffering and I hope you will be back to normal soon. 

The latest concern is a shortage of gas at the gas stations.  The trucks are not easily getting to Long Island over the bridges, so therefore there is a shortage.  Please conserve, minimize trips, stay home whenever possible.  This crisis will pass as the roads and bridges reopen.

Be patient and be safe!

Au Pairs Volunteer at Charity Event

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october 2012 092This past Saturday, some au pairs from the Suffolk County Cluster of Au Pair in America volunteered at the Clubhouse of Suffolk Fundraiser.  The Clubhouse helps people struggling with mental illness, many of them returning veterans with PTSD.  The Au Pairs ran the children’s activities at the Clubhouse Chili Cook Off fundraiser.

october 2012 088The au pairs organized childrens games, crafts, and face painting.  They applied Halloween and Global Awareness Tattoos to the children’s faces and hands.  They ran a sack race, helped the kids with 2 pinatas and then led the kids in a Halloween Costume Parade.  The best costume won a family 4 pack to Harbes Farm Fall Family Fun. 

october 2012 091A lucky family won a gift basket filled with Halloween party supplies and a gift certificate worth $1200 off a year’s program fees for Au Pair in America!!!

The weather was perfect, the chili was hot and spicy, the kids had a blast.  One of the au pairs, Natty from Thailand, came dressed as a pirate.  Her Community Counselor, Cindy Garruba, awarded her a gift card to Bath & Body Works!  Fun was had by all who attended, especially the au pairs who volunteered!  They loved the music by the band, too!october 2012 094

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Au Pairs Prepare for the Holidays

Nov AP meeting 498Sunday, November 13 the Suffolk Cluster of Au Pair in America began preparing for the upcoming holiday season in the USA. 

Senior Community Counselor, Cindy Garruba began the meeting by discussing what holidays are celebrated in the USA.  She explained why we celebrate Thanksgiving and how important the holiday is for all Americans.  She then continued the discussion with conversations on the holidays their families may be celebrating, Hanakkuh, Christmas and New Year’s.  There was a discussion on childcare during this happy, but very hectic season. 

Nov AP meeting 497The au pairs divided into small groups to discuss childcare challenges by age group.  Then they came together to discuss the best ways to deal with these challenges.  Cindy emphasized using each other as resources for how to deal with situations.   Holiday childcare can bring on tired, over excited behaviors and it is important to minimize stress during this season with their host children.

Nov AP meeting 496We also discussed being homesick at this time of year, best ways to deal with missing family and friends.  Cindy encouraged the au pairs to bring some of their holiday traditions into their host families celebrations.  Then the au pairs decorated ornaments to be hung on a Au Pair in America Holiday Tree in Stony Brook Village Promenade of Trees.  The meeting concluded with pumpkin pie and apple cider.  The au pairs enjoyed the Thanksgiving dessert and spending time with each other.

Old West Show at Old Bethpage Village this Saturday!!`

Do you want to see a cowboy show here on Long Island? 

cowboyCowboys 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.

Jaripeo = Rodeo in Baiting Hollow May 29

A rodeo featuring bull riding, live music, Hispanic food and children’s games is being planned for May 29 on a farm in Baiting Hollow, according posters promoting the event.

Emma Saldierna and Edgar Morales, both from East Quogue, have applied to Riverhead Town to hold the rodeo on May 29 on Gold Rush Farms, a 48-acre farm at the corner of Sound Avenue and Oakleigh Avenue.

The event is called a “Jaripeo” —  a form of rodeo that involves bull riding and is popular in Mexico.rodeo

The posters say in Spanish that the best bulls from the ranch of Sr. Jose Campos will be featured, along with Hispanic food, face painting, games, a mechanical bull, pony rides, several musical acts and the election of a queen of the event.

Mardi Gras Fun With Kids

March 8 Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras, French for “Fat Tuesday” marks the end of Carnival and the beginning of the Christian fasting of Lent.  The biggest Mardi Gras celebration in the US is in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Rio de Janeiro in Brazil also has a huge celebration.  Find a Brazilian au pair in your cluster and ask her to tell you all about it.

Make Mardi Gras Pasta Necklaces

Coloring pasta is easy to do and gives kids something bright and beautiful to work with. Once the pasta is colored and dried, necklaces can be made by stringing on yarn.

colored pasta necklace

Supplies for Colored Pasta:

  • Dried Pasta – any pasta works, but for stringing you will need tubed pasta. I used macaroni, penne, and wheels.
  • Food coloring
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Plastic baggies
  • Paper towels
  • String or Yarn

Place your dried pasta in a zip plastic baggie. Pour in 3-4 drops of your food coloring. Pour in 1 Tablespoon of Rubbing Alcohol. Now seal the bag and shake it all together. Make sure each piece of dried pasta gets coated.

Pour your colored pasta out on paper towel lined trays. Food coloring can stain, so be careful. You’ll want it completely dry before you start to work with it again, as you don’t want any color to drip. I put mine out in the sun to dry faster.

Get out your string or yarn and cut the length of a necklace for your child. Then tie a knot at one end, big enough that the pasta will stay there. I like to tie pasta in my knotted end so the others won’t fall off. I also like to put a little tape around the top of the string so it won’t fray as you string. 

Have your child string on pasta, all sizes and shapes. You can introduce patterns or do counting with your child.  Once they’ve hit the end of their string, tie the two sides together for a necklace around your child’s neck.

Make Mardi Gras Paper Plate Masks 

PaperPlateMask5

Supplies for Masks:

  • Paper plates
  • Color construction paperPlastic baggies
  • Markers and/or crayons
  • Glue
  • Stickers
  • Glitter
  • Craft feathers
  • Hole punch
  • String

 

Cut a paper plate in half (you can make two masks per plate this way).

Cut eye holes in the half plate.

Shape the mask by cutting around the edges–scallops, points, curves or whatever suits you. Be sure to cut a curved groove between and beneath the two eye holes for the nose.

Place a line of white glue around the eye holes and along the edges of the mask. If you want, you can also create swirls or other patterns with glue on the mask.

Sprinkle glitter on top of the glue while it is still wet. Allow the glue to dry.

Decorate the mask as you see fit once the glue is dry. Use markers to color the white paper plate; glue feathers, beads or cut-out construction paper shapes to the mask; or add anything else that might make the mask colorful and festive.

Punch one small hole on each side of the mask and tie a string into the holes.