Tag Archives: Suffolk county Au pairs

Join Au Pair in America at Stony Brook Holiday Festival!

Au Pair in America is proud to be a sponsor of the Stony Brook Holiday Festival this Sunday, December 2.  Community Counselor Cindy Garruba, au pairs and host families will be decorating our International Peace Tree for the Promenade of Trees from 1 – 2 pm.  Stop by and learn about Au Pair in America at tree #109 near the Post Office.  Santa arrives at 2 pm!

Wet but fun Wading River Fall Festival

On Saturday, October 13th Wading River’s Fall Festival went on despite a rainy start.  Au Pair in America Suffolk County had a table that was well attended by local families.   The day began with the Zombie Parade!

Viviana from Colombia helped Community Counselor, Cindy Garruba explain what an Au Pair is and how APIA can help busy Suffolk County families with their childcare.  Viviana is a 2nd year au pair who is having a great experience in the USA.  She told families who stopped by about taking care of her host child, teaching him Spanish and how much she has learned about our culture while sharing hers with her host family.

The rain did stop and the event was enjoyed by all who attended.  Meet Suffolk County APIA Community Counselor, Cindy Garruba on Sunday, December 2nd at Stony Brook Village’s Holiday Festival.

 

Back to School & More for Suffolk APIA Au Pairs

Suffolk County Au Pair in America Au Pairs Cluster Meeting September 2018 at Community Counselor, Cindy Garruba’s HomeCluster meetings are so important for au pairs to meet each other,  form friendships and connect with their counselor.

We start the meeting with a craft.  It gives the au pairs time to socialize and to be creative.  They paint ornaments we will use to decorate our International APIA Peace tree at the annual holiday festival in Stony Brook Village.  This is an event attended by au pairs and their host families on the first Sunday in December.

Every September Cindy shares tips to make back to school and routine with host children easier for au pairs.  We review minimizing morning madness, communicating with school through the backpack & how to use it effectively, bus stop and bus safety.  It is also Baby Safety month, so we review tips on how to keep little ones safe. 

There are a few distracted driving and bus safety videos watched that really emphasis how to be the kind of driver who pays attention to the road!  These videos really demonstrate why everyone should stay off the phone while driving and how to keep kids safe!

We got the chance to wish Ana good bye after 2 years as an Au Pair!  Ana has a trip planned around Europe before returning to home to Peru! 

After the learning part o the meeting is done, there is time for dessert and socializing.  Everyone learns, eats and makes new friends!

Canoe Trip Sun to Storms back to Sun!

On a sunny Saturday afternoon 21 Long Island Au Pairs and 3 Community Counselors headed out on our annual canoe trip on the Nissequoque River.  Postponed one week due to storms we were all excited to have a fun afternoon on the river.

8 Canoes headed out with 2 to 3 au pairs per canoe.  Most had never canoed before and they had to get the feel of the paddles and put the strongest au pair in the rear to captain the canoe.

 

Counselors Cindy Garruba, Eileen Friedman and Captain Kristi Halpern joined the group and gave some guidance as they canoed along side the au pairs.

About half way into the trip dark clouds covered the sky and soon a series of intense downpours rained upon the group. Several of the canoe teams pulled to the side and had to dump out their canoes, take shelter and wait for the storm to subside.  After awhile the storms subsided and blue skies returned.

Drenched and tired, we all made it to the end of the river.  Counselor Andrea Wax was waiting for us to return, she had reassured au pairs who called her during the storm.  She took pictures of the returning teams.  Everyone had an unforgettable experience and said it was fun, even with the storm.  Au Pairs from Au Pair in America are adventurous young women ready to tackle any challenge they face!

 

Fun Street Fair & 4th of July Fireworks!

Au Pairs from APIA Suffolk County enjoyed the “Alive on 25” Riverhead Street Fair.  Community Counselor Cindy Garruba invited her cluster to spend the evening enjoying the music, street vendors, and food trucks along Main Street in Riverhead.

There were antique cars and the au pairs enjoyed posing with them!  We all loved the ones that reminded us of the 50s and 60s! 

We strolled along the Peconic River and looked at the boats docked waiting for the fireworks to start.  Everyone was treated to a Ralph’s Italian Ice by Cindy.  Chocolate was the most popular flavor!

The fireworks was the highlight of the evening.  Au Pairs were surprised by how great the display was and how many people gathered to watch.  We talked about the reason Americans celebrate the 4th of July.  The Au Pairs enjoyed hearing about how much Americans value the birth of our nation and celebrating our Declaration of Independence back on July 4, 1776!

Easter and Passover

Wishing all of you who celebrate Easter and/or Passover a very happy holiday!  Some lucky people get to enjoy double the festivities!

Celebrating Easter

easter

Easter is one of the most awaited Christian festivals. It is celebrated throughout the world by the followers of Christian community. It is considered to be very auspicious as it is believed that this was the day when Christ resurrected after crucifixion. This day is of immense religious as well as social significance amongst the Christian community.

Church services and festive celebrations blend together during the Easter weekend. On Easter Sunday in New York and other cities, large Easter parades are held.  Easter in USA is also very much commercialized. Easter symbols like bunnies, Easter tree, Easter Eggs and Easter lamb are found in different forms during the Easter festivities throughout the market. The popular trend of Easter symbols such as the Easter bunny and egg tree were introduced to the American folklore by the German settlers who arrived in the Pennsylvania Dutch country during the 1700s. Gradually American people took to crafts such as egg and Easter tree decoration. Easter in US is also a time to enjoy special Easter foods such as baked ham, potatoes and vegetables. Several special recipes are made at each home. Easter parties are also organized where traditional Easter delicacies are served and people enjoy wonderful get together along with Easter games and music.

For children’s Easter games and activities go to:  http://www.thekidzpage.com/easter_games/index.html

Observing Passover

Chanukah 05_VariantenPassover is an eight day celebration observed each year by the Jewish religion. It commemorates the freedom of Jewish slaves from Egypt during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II.   Families celebrate Passover by having a seder. With special foods, songs, and customs, the Seder is the focal point of the Passover celebration. Seder means order, and the Passover story is read in order from a book called a haggadah.

Fearing that Jews were becoming too strong, a Pharaoh decreed that all male Jewish babies were to be killed. Jocheved and Amran, a Jewish couple, wanted to save their infant son – so they put him in a basket that floated him down the river. The infant was rescued by the Pharaoh’s daughter and she raised him as her own son. She named the baby Moses, which means “take from the water.”

When Moses grew up, he empathized with the Jewish slaves and tried to get the Pharaoh to free them. The Pharaoh refused – so there were 10 plagues sent down to Egypt: Blood, Frogs, Lice, Beasts, Cattle Disease, Boils, Hail, Locusts, Darkness, and Slaying of the Firstborn. The name Passover comes from the Plague of Slaying the Firstborn. The Angel of Death passed over the homes of the Jews who had put lambs blood on their doors.

After the 10th plague, Pharaoh agreed to let the Jewish slaves go. They gathered up their belongings quickly, and didn’t have time for their bread to rise, so they had to bake it and take it the way it was. This is why the Jewish people eat matzah during Passover.   As the Jews were fleeing, Pharaoh changed his mind, and sent his army after the people to bring them back. Moses parted the Red Sea for the Jews to cross, and as soon as they were safely to the other side, the waters closed on the soldiers, drowning them all. The Jewish people were free.

For children’s activities go to:  http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/passover/

Trek America Cluster Meeting

Travel and adventure awaits young women when they come to America with Au Pair in America.  Trek America offers APIA au pairs 20% off their trips throughout North America!

Trek America guide Julie Patterson, comes fresh from an incredible season on the road, full of stories and enthusiasm to get au pairs out of their comfort zone and travel the incredible North American continent!

The au pairs listened intently to all the great trips offered.  Great camping and hotel trips are available.  Small groups travel together and everyone has a unique experience.Community Counselors, Cindy Garruba and Kristi Halpern invite Trek America every year to one of the cluster meetings.  Cindy and Kristi also presented some tips on pedestrian safety and preventing distracted driving.  Every quarter all Au Pair in America counselors teach their au pairs safety or childcare tips.

Refreshments were served, too.  All the au pairs had a chance to ask questions and to socialize with each other. Cluster meetings provide au pairs a chance to make new friends every month!

Next month the Long Island clusters will be see SpongeBob the Musical on Broadway!

 

 

Happy Valentine’s Day

Valentine's day card

Valentine’s day is celebrated in the United States every year on February 14th. There are many stories and legends behind who the real St. Valentine was, but most scholars agree that he was a martyr who was killed by Roman soldiers because he was marrying people in secret at a time when marriage was outlawed.  Later in the Middle Ages, a great writer named Geoffrey Chaucer wrote a poem as a present to King Richard II, who was going to be married soon. In it, he mentioned St. Valentine, and over time, the idea of Valentine’s Day became associated with the idea of love.

During the Victorian times (in the 1800s), Valentine’s Day became extremely popular! Men and women spent a lot of time making beautiful Valentine’s cards with ribbon, fancy paper and even lace. In those days, people were very reserved and they did not often say what they were feeling. Valentine’s day gave them a way to express their feelings to someone they were in love with anonymously.  The sender would remain a mystery until they could speak more freely.

In the last few decades, Valentine’s day has changed a lot! Today we still exchange cards, but many people buy ready-made cards instead. We also give flowers or chocolates as a gift to remind people of our friendship and love for them. Most Valentine’s gifts and cards make use of the colors red and pink, and are decorated with images of hearts or roses. Another common symbol of love on this day is Cupid, the Roman god of love. He is usually shown as a little angel with a bow and arrow. According to legend, anyone who is struck by his arrows will fall in love.

Here are some links with ideas about how you can celebrate and have fun with the children you care for over the next couple of weeks!

Click here for Valentine’s Day Cards, coloring pages, recipes, crafts, games and puzzles: http://www.dltk-holidays.com/valentines/

 

Check out our Au Pair in America Pinterest page for Valentine’s Day for more ideas: https://www.pinterest.com/aupairinamerica/valentines-day/

 

Have fun!

Photo: Nathan Cooprider

Suffolk Au Pairs Celebrate the Holiday Season!

  Sunday December 10th the Suffolk Au Pair in America      Au Pairs celebrated the holiday season with a party at           Senior Community Counselor, Cindy Garruba’s home.  


Each au pair prepared a dish from their country for the International Feast!  So much yummy food and everyone enjoyed tasting the treats from so many countries!  Lively conversation followed the feast!

We played a game with some prizes.  Everyone placed a paper plate on their head and had to try and draw a Christmas Tree, fireplace with a stocking and a present under the tree! 

We had a grab bag exchange and played the left right gift exchange T’was the Night Before Christmas Game!  Lots of fun and giggles through the game and everyone got a grab bag gift!  Cindy handed out gifts of travel mugs, hot chocolate, candy cane and marshmallows.

Cindy congratulated Suppatra “Nink” from Thailand for finishing her 2 years as an APIA au pair with her host family in Southampton. 

Stony Brook Holiday Festival Enjoyed by APIA Families & Au Pairs

Sunday, December 3rd was the annual Stony Brook Village Holiday Festival.  This year APIA was one of the sponsors of the festival.  Host families and au pairs came together to decorate the APIA International Peace Tree.  Decorations were made by au pairs and host children.

Santa arrived on a fire truck and then listened to the wishes of the children.

The new 14 foot tall Legends and Spies parade came next.  The parade celebrated the Culper Spy Ring of Setauket that helped win the Revolutionary War for America’s independence.  Also featured was Ward Melville, the Stony Brook businessman, conservationist and philanthropist. He supported the restoration and preservation of historic buildings in the area to encourage his vision of a New England village in Stony Brook.  The event was run by the Ward Melville Heritage Organization.

Their are 70 trees on the Promenade of Trees that will be on view until the New Year!  The day included a petting zoo, music, and a model train exhibit. 

The day concluded with Santa and friends lighting the big tree on the Village Green!