Tag Archives: Suffolk county Au pairs
Au Pair Volunteers with Turtles on Long Island
Flora Solorzano Zamora from Costa Rica has spent the past year with a host family in Setauket. Au Pair in America has been a great experience for her. She is looking forward to her travel month and exploring more of the USA before she returns home in October to continue her studies in Costa Rica to become a pharmacist.
Flora volunteered during some of her free time in a study of turtles in the ponds near her host family’s town. Flora said, ” I really enjoyed doing the turtles this year! I am happy I had this experience.
This project was about looking for turtles around the beach, weight and measure them to find out if they lay or not. We followed them until they lay their eggs and then we protected the nests from predators. After days we get to see the baby turtles hatching and we also release the ones we rescued.
It is awesome to have the opportunity of follow all the process!”
For more information on this project, please check out the Friends of Flax Pond.
Flora earned a Volunteer Certificate from Au Pair in America for her work with the turtles. She also earned a completion of her education certificate and will get a certificate for the Au Pair in America program when she returns home to Costa Rica.
APIA Creates Chalk Drawing for Riverhead Festival
Memorial Day weekend festivities included an art chalk drawing festival in Riverhead. The Suffolk County Cluster of Au Pair in America had a lot of fun participating!
Juliana from Columbia designed the square. Sonia from Mexico and Community Counselor Cindy Garruba colored helped create and color the design.
Sonia and Juliana working on the chalk drawing,
Juliana included the words she feels Au Pair in America means to her:
DREAM – BELIEVE – EXPLORE – LEARN
We had a great location right in front of to Suffolk Theater!
Basketball at SCCC
The Au Pairs from APIA Suffolk County enjoyed an afternoon of college basketball. The men’s team at Suffolk County Community College won their game today while the au pairs cheered along.
It was Tabea’s last cluster meeting. She earned her education certificate and we all wished her well on her next journey. She is headed home to Germany and hoping to have a visit soon from the friends she met here.
Happy Best Friends Day
Crepes & Taxes for March Au Pair Cluster Meeting
On Sunday, March 13 the Suffolk Cluster from Au Pair in America met at Crazy Crepe in Mt. Sinai. Everyone had a crepe and a soft drink or coffee while we reviewed how to fill out their tax returns. Au Pairs who made more than $4000 in their stipend earnings in 2015 had to pay taxes on what they earned.
We also had a raffle for wearing their APIA t-shirt, 4 au pairs won gift cards to Starbucks!
We wished Dayanna a safe return to Mexico after spending 2 years as an au pair in Hampton Bays! We all enjoyed spending time together and look forward to our next cluster activity, seeing Rock of Ages on Broadway in April!
Cluster Meeting with Trek America
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.
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
First Major Snow of 2016 Coming!
PLEASE 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.
Keep 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
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. 
Cindy 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!
Thankful Host Families & Au Pairs
At Thanksgiving, we pause and express gratitude to others. This year I want to thank all my au pairs and host families for the love and support they give each other every day. I also thank each au pair for teaching me about their culture, showing me their bravery for coming from far away places and giving so much to your host families. I appreciate that you keep me young and inspire me. I give thanks for the warm, welcoming host families here on Long Island who open their homes and trust the care of their children to these young women. Thank you to my fellow Community Counselors for your friendship, tips and counsel! Thank you, too, to all the staff of APIA for their support of all of us! Cindy Garruba, Senior Community Counselor, Suffolk County Au Pair in America
Here are some quotes of gratitude from Suffolk County au pairs and host families for Thanksgiving 2015:
Au Pair: I’m thankful for my host family who’s doing everything for me. They gave me the chance to fly to my sister’s wedding. I’m thankful that they always when they leave the house say “thank you to me” and when they come back. I’m thankful for my little kids who give me so much love and happiness. I’m thankful for all of my friends and my family. They support me and give me a good feeling.
Host Mom: I’m thankful for our au pair because she loves my children and takes great care of them in my absence. Thankful for your support, too!
Au Pair: This year I’m thankful for the amazing experiences I had, for all the people I met, for all trips I had the opportunity to made, for America, for chosen Au Pair in America, because I know I never will be alone, I thankful for Cindy, my Community Counselor, more the one counselor, one friend, who gives time and attention, thankful for my family and friends, thankful for my life 🙂
Au Pair: This year I am thankful for all that I have learned in the US, changes, second chances to bright and be proud of what are made of, and show the best of you!.
Au Pair: I am thankful for all the support that I got from Cindy and always being available to answer all my doubts. Also, I am very thankful with my host family for letting me continue with this experience for another year, for all the things that they taught me, for all the support that they gave me to continue with the school to improve my skills and for letting me be part of their family. Last but not least, I am very thankful to my family for encourage me to follow my dreams, for every word of encouragement and for all the love they give me. I’m going to spend Thanksgiving with my host family and some friends of them, it’s going to be an awesome day! Happy Thanksgiving! Lots of blessing!
Au Pair: This year I am thankful for the support I have from my family back at home and for my host family that make it feel like a never left 🙂
Au Pair: This year I’m thankful for all changes life gives me. I’m thankful for the people who gave me the opportunity starting a new adventure e.g. my family back home, my host family in the U.S., my agency and all the people behind Apia. Thank you Cindy and thank you Annika, my counselor in Germany :). I’m thankful for being at places I’ve ever wished for, knowing people from other nationalities and get to know the American culture! I am thankful that I have seen myself grown because of all the situation the life here gives me. I’m thankful that I learn a different language and can improve a language which is not my mother language (I’m working at it :D). I’m happy with my host family and thankful because they are treating me like a real family member and give me the chance to feel like home here. I’m so thankful for so much things the list will be endless! All in all I’m thankful that I be happy and healthy and for all the people who making me to this person! Thank you!
Host Mom: This year I am thankful to my au pair because she has been my right hand. With three children under five and the new transition to a single mom role (and all of the stress divorce can bring) she has graciously been eager to help and truly is a member of our family. My children call her their big sister and she loves them as such, providing them additional comfort and stability during such a difficult time. I love her and feel very protective of her, like my own. It was very cute, I took the children to the bagel shop very early one morning to eat breakfast. My daughter made friends with the children sitting at the table behind us. The mother commented to her, wow how lucky, you have two brothers and you’re the only girl. She proudly answered, no I have a big sister (her au pair). I didn’t correct her because she is right. The visual thought of this woman actual meeting my 25 year old Thai daughter made me smile to think I was eight when my first daughter was born! Our au pair is truly a blessing. She is very mature. Today is her 25th birthday!
Au Pair: I am thankful for my family, my host family and for my best au pair friend.
Au Pair: I am thankful for getting the possibility to spend a year in America with a nice host family. For all the new experiences I made so far, and I’ll make and especially for my family and friends!!!
Host Mom: We are thankful for our Au Pair because she takes good care of our daughter and helps with the dog, too!
Au Pair: My amazing au pair year and all of my new friends that I met in the USA. I am thankful especially for having a great host family.
Host Mom: We are thankful for our au pair for so many reasons. She is always there to lend a hand and help to keep the household together during the busy work week. Whether it is helping with dinner, doing homework, shuffling the kids to activities or reading bedtime stories, she is there to assist us. We are lucky to have a kind, caring and helpful au pair.
Au Pair: I am thankful for the wonderful experience this program gave to me. And how through it I can appreciate more everything I have in my life especially family and friends
Host Mom: This year I am thankful to my au pair because she is very organized, very helpful, makes the best jam & spätzle, is very sweet, is loved by my kids & the host dad and me!
Au Pair: I am thankful for my family, my host family, for all the little things I don’t appreciate every single day and for my best friend here in the USA.
New Host Mom: I am thankful for my au pair because I can already see my son and husband and I already have another trustworthy and loving family member to add to our clan.
Au Pair: This year I’m thankful for Au Pair in America agency and my host family! The agency help me a lot and bring me a chance to see the colorful world. And my host family give me an opportunity to go abroad! You all keep me warm as if I’m in my own home! You are nice and dynamic! Everything is going smoothly! Thank you very much!
Host Mom: I am thankful for our Au Pair. She has a sweet and calm disposition which is especially helpful during this busy time of year. She is a responsible and is a dedicated Au pair. Last week I was ill and needed to go to the ER. She is wonderful with my daughters and I knew I was leaving them in good hands.
Au Pair: I am thankful for my Host Family and friends who support me in every single way. I’m thankful for their love and their food!
Host Mom: This year I am thankful for my au pair because she is a warm and welcoming addition to our family who has brought love and fun to our home.
Au Pair: I’m thankful for having the opportunity of living with a wonderful American family, meeting many new friends and also learning about the American culture. Im sure that this year will be the best of my life.
