Monthly Archives: January 2010

Our Snowy Day at the White House

I have heard it is not an easy road to get to the White House, but I always thought that meant to be elected president.  On Saturday, it was a difficult trip for us just to get to the White House for our tour.

Since White House tours are not easy to come by, we could not let a little thing like 6 inches of snow stop us.  Over 70 au pairs from two clusters braved the snow and had their chance to catch a glimpse of some of the famous rooms inside the White House.  And I caught a glimpse of the president’s car leaving for the Georgetown basketball game.

Here are some photos of that day.

The view from my driveway before I left for the Metro.
Here I am dressed more like I’m going skiing than to the White House. My three shirts and pair of snow pants did keep me pretty warm though.

Some of the snow covered scenery on the White House grounds.
Some of the snow covered scenery on the White House grounds.
Just as I am walking back to the Visitor Center, out comes the Presidential Motorcade! Is the President in this one?
Just as I am walking back to the Visitor Center, out comes the Presidential Motorcade! Is the President in this one?
Or maybe in this one?
Or maybe in this one?
No, hes got to be in this one.
No, he’s got to be in this one.
The White House looks so beautiful covered with snow.
The White House looks so beautiful covered with snow.
A closer view.

A closer view.

How is that fountain still working at 20 degrees?

How is that fountain still working at 20 degrees?

A few au pairs warming up in the White House Visitor Center after the tour.

A few au pairs warming up in the White House Visitor Center after the tour.

A snowy view of the Washington Monument.

A snowy view of the Washington Monument.

Washington Monument

Washington Monument

Spring Session UCLA APIA Advantage Course

American Studies Online is a 19-week media-rich, mostly self-paced online course of study. Designed specifically in cooperation with the American Institute For Foreign Study’s “Au Pair in America” program, UCLA Extension’s course offers successful participants 6 quarter units (4 semester units) and a certificate of completion from UCLA Extension.

Participants will read lessons, engage in activities, write, share resources, network with one another, and even collaborate on special projects – all designed to further their understanding of US culture.

The Community Involvement segment of the program takes the au pairs into face-to-face contact with the community. Au pairs will relate these experiences to their academic coursework in American Studies Online.

The interdisciplinary course of study will include:
• US History
• Arts in the US
• US literature
• Career counseling
• English language study (optional)
• TOEFL preparation (optional)

Each group is assigned a “Course Manager” who acts as an “online concierge” to provide high levels of service to ensure a rewarding and trouble-free educational experience.

For course descriptions and current schedule, visit http://www.uclaextension.edu/aupairs
For further information call (310) 206-6671 or email online@uclaextension.edu

Haiti Service Project a Success

At our Cultural Fair on Saturday, we collected lots of supplies to make Hygeine Kits for Haiti.  On Sunday,  I purchased any items we still needed and with the help of my kids, we put the kits together.  They are being donated to Presbyterian Distaster Assitance.

Here is a photo of the 40 kits we made!

haiti kits

We had a handful of items left and we gave them to another group who is putting together kits.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this project.

Education Requirement

pgcc pic

Au Pairs need to complete:
6 credits or 8 CEUs or 72 classroom hours
Host family will pay $500 education allowance.

Educare Companions need to complete:
12 credits or 16 CEUs or 144 classroom hours
Host family will pay $1000 education allowance.

  • Au pairs should budget at least $200 ($400 Educare) of her own money to complete her education.
  • You must complete your educational requirement to be eligible to extend and to receive your completion bonus (if applicable.)
  • For each class completed, you need to turn in a certificate, transcript or letter from the college stating how many credits you received, course name, and dates of the class.
  • Classes must be taken at an accredited institution.
  • Check the links under Education Options on the right side of this page,  for the most current list of colleges and weekend courses and their links.

Community Colleges for Each County:
Anne Arundel Community College
Montgomery College
Prince George’s Community College

Additional Options, if you Have Access to Metro:
LADO College
International Language Institute
Georgetown Continuing Education

Weekend/Distance Learning Options:
Sojourner-Douglass Au Pair Weekend
Borough of Manhattan College
UCLA Au Pair in America Advantage Course

New Education & Travel Option

In 2009, Borough of Manhattan Community College – City University of New York (BMCC-CUNY) began providing a new educational opportunity for students living in the metro New York City area through our Learning Across America courses.  They recently announced an expansion of these courses to our area!

Courses are offered through BMCC-CUNY.  The classroom sessions will be held at the George Mason University campus in Arlington, VA (a two minute walk from the Virginia Square/GMU metro stop.)  The certificate of completion will be issued by BMCC-CUNY.

Photo from Niagara Falls Cultural Hi-Ways Trip

Photo from Niagara Falls Cultural Hi-Ways Tour

Course breakdown for DC area students (exactly the same as NYC area students):

  • Students register for a course on the BMCC-CUNY website.
  • Each course consists of 3 classroom sessions (10am – 4pm on 3 separate dates) and a mandatory tour (tour is included in tuition price) to the destination studied.
  • Outside work will be required of each student
  • Upon successful completion of the classroom sessions and tour, a certificate of completion will be issued showing 4.5 CEUs (or 45 hours) have been earned.

Photo from Boston Cultural Hi-Ways Trip

Photo from Boston Cultural Hi-Ways Tour

How much does the program cost?
Course fees (which include the tour) start at $379. Please see website for more information.

How many credits will I earn?
You will earn for 4.5 CEU’s (or 45 hours) for each course.
Certificate of completion will be issued by BMCC-CUNY.

How do I register?
Sign-up on line at www.bmcc.cuny.edu/ce
Your registration will be processed and a confirmation email will be sent.

Questions?

Visit www.bmcc.cuny.edu/ce or call (212) 346-8410
25 Broadway, 8th Floor, Lower Manhattan

Cluster Service Project for Haiti

At our Cultural Fair on Saturday, 1/23, we will be collecting items to be donated to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.  They collect and distribute items to people recovering from disasters, including the most recent devastating earthquake in Haiti.  My goal is to put together at least 25 Hygiene Kits from our cluster.  The necessary items are listed below.  You may bring one item, multiples of the same thing, packages that I can split up like bars of soap or Band-aids or a complete kit.  Anything you can bring will help. I will purchase any items needed to complete the kits and drop them off.

helping-hands

This project is something that you could involve the kids with. Many of them have been hearing about the earthquake at school.  You can discuss what earthquakes are and how people need help afterward.  They can help find the items at the store to feel like they are doing something to make a difference.

This would be a great activity to work on with them on Monday, when they are out of school.  There has been a campaign in recent years, for people to look at the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday as a Day of Service to honor his legacy, rather than just a day off of work or school.

Hygiene Kit (previously Health Kit)

1 — hand towel (approximately 16″ x 28″, no fingertip or bath towels)
1 — washcloth
1 — wide-tooth comb
1 — nail clipper (no metal files or emery boards)
1 — bar of soap (bath size in wrapper)
1 — toothbrush (in original packaging)
6 — Band-Aids® or other adhesive bandage strips
Please do not add toothpaste to the Hygiene Kit. Toothpaste which has an extended expiration date will be added to Hygiene Kit shipments just prior to shipment. Seal all items in a one-gallon plastic bag with a zipper closure.

Disney Give a Day. Get a Disney Day FREE!!!

I recently found out about a very exciting program that is a win-win situation.  I am a firm believer in volunteerism.  Giving your time and talents to a worthy cause is a very rewarding experience and can help do so much good in the community.  Disney has a great program to thank people for giving time to organizations in their community.  Please read an overview below and go to their website for complete information and to sign up.
Give-a-Day-Get-a-Day-784751
Program Overview (from the Disney website)
We want to inspire one million people to volunteer a day of service to a participating organization in their communities. So we’re celebrating these volunteers’ good works by giving each of them a 1-day, 1-theme park ticket to the Disneyland® Resort or Walt Disney World® Resort, free. There’s no better time to make a dream come true for others and let us make a few come true for you.
You must pre-register and sign up through this site to volunteer and complete your service at an eligible volunteer opportunity in the fifty United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico or Canada to receive a ticket after verification of such service. Ticket quantities for this program are limited. You must be at least 18 to sign up. You may only sign up a maximum of 8 members of your household. Children must be at least 6 to participate in the program. One ticket per person, regardless of the number of times you volunteer. Program begins January 1, 2010 and continues until tickets are distributed or until December 15, 2010, whichever occurs first. Your voucher for a free ticket must be redeemed by December 15, 2010, and used on the same day of redemption.

Other terms and conditions apply. See complete Program Terms & Conditions and FAQs.

Haiti Earthquake

haiti_map

Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti.  I am working on a cluster service project to help in the disaster recovery efforts.  I will send out details as soon as it is confirmed.

If you would like to do something immediately, here are some links for organizations collecting monetary donations:

American Red Cross International Response Fund

Mercy Corps Haiti Earthquake Fund

William J. Clinton Foundation

Central & Southern Maryland Cultural Fair

ga globe

Local au pairs from countries around the globe, will share their cultures through visual displays, food samples, games and performances.  Children will receive passports and have them stamped as they visit each country.  There will be an “Around the World Scavenger Hunt” for kids with prizes. Admission is free.  If you have any questions, please post them in the comments below.

What:     Au Pair in America Central & Southern Maryland Cultural Fair
When:    Saturday, January 23, 2-4 pm
Where:   Bowie Library (Large Meeting Room)
15210 Annapolis Road (Rt. 450), Bowie, MD 20715

Update: We are doing a Service Project for Haiti, see details HERE.

Here is a video from last year’s Cultural Fair

Happy New Year Around the World

11888_HappyNewYearFirewordsCard_medHere are some New Year greetings from around the world.  If yours is not listed, please share it with us by posting it in the comments.

  • Chinese (Cantonese) – Sun nien fai lok
  • Chinese (Mandarin) – Xin nian yu kuai
  • Danish – Godt Nytår
  • Dutch – Gelukkig nieuwjaar
  • Farsi – Aide shoma mobarak
  • French – Bonne année
  • Gaelic – Aith-bhliain Fe Nhaise Dhuit
  • German – Gutes Neues Jahr
  • Hawaiian – Hauoli Makahiki Hou
  • Hebrew – Shanah tovah
  • Hindi (Indian) – Nav Varsh Ki Badhaai/ Naya Saal Mubarak Ho
  • Hmong – Nyob zoo xyoo tshiab
  • Indonesian – Elamat Tahun Baru
  • Italian – Buon Capo d’Anno
  • Japanese – Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu
  • Norwegian – Godt Nyttår
  • Pilipino (Tagalog) – Maligayang Bagong Taon
  • Polish – Szczesliwego Nowego roku
  • Portuguese – Feliz ano novo
  • Romanian – La Multi Ani
  • Russian – S Novym Godom
  • Spanish – Feliz Año Nuevo
  • Sudanese – Wilujeng Tahun Baru
  • Swedish – Gott Nytt År
  • Turkish – Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
  • Welsh – Blwyddyn Newydd Dda

Thanks to my fellow community counselor, Lisa Burger for compiling this great list!