Monthly Archives: September 2010

Maryland Renaissance Festival

It was hard to explain exactly what the au pairs should expect at the Maryland Renaissance Festival.  It is an event that you have to experience to truly understand. A bunch of au pairs, host families and friends did just that on Sunday.  It was a cloudy day with rain in the forecast.  We brought our umbrellas and took a chance.  It turned out to be a very nice day.

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Thank you Liz for sharing her great photos with me.  I have some more to add later.

If you missed our visit to the Renaissance Festival, I encourage you to check it out.  It runs weekends through October 24.  Visit their website for more information.

Free Ice Cream at Coldstone on 9/30 – Support Make A Wish

Be a part of Kate’s Wish
September 30 • 5-8pm
Receive Kate’s CreationTM FREE

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Click here to visit the website

All month long, Cold Stone Creamery is helping make wishes come true for children with life-threatening medical conditions. Visit any Cold Stone Creamery store and show your support for the Make-A-Wish Foundation by purchasing a Make-A-Wish paper star for just a dollar!

Free ice cream refers to 3 oz. sample of Kate’s Creation served out of a ready to love pan in a Like ItTM cup. Waffle products and extra mix-ins available for additional charge. Valid only during published date and time. While supplies last. No substitutions. Limit one per customer.

We have lots of Coldstone locations in the area: Silver Spring, College Park, Bowie, Largo, Laurel, Gambrills &  Edgewater.  Find the nearest one to you here.

Study & Travel Class – NY City Trip

Class Description
Participants are invited to explore the history, geography, landmarks, arts and customs that characterize North America. Learn about fascinating cultures and locales through classroom lectures, films, articles and discussions while improving your English comprehension skills.  As part of the course, you will participate in a weekend “I-Witness” tour to the destination you are studying!

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There's no better time to visit NYC, than when it's all decked out for the holidays.

To see a detailed itinerary of the tour, please visit the Cultural Hi-ways website:  http://www.culturalhiways.net/newyorkdc2010.htm

Program Fee: $379 (includes tour). Who should enroll: Anyone living in the tri-state area.

How do I register? Sign up online here with payment of $379 (includes tour). We will process your registration and send you a receipt letter via e-mail.

Class location: George Mason University/ Arlington Campus 3401 Fairfax Drive Arlington Va. There is NO PARKING – must take Orange line subway to Virginia Square/GMU station.

Credits: When you have successfully completed the course, you will obtain a CERTIFICATE stating you have earned 45 HOURS or 4.5 CEUs CREDIT
Please read: Class dates: Saturday October 23, Saturday November 6 and SUNDAY November 21. Tour date: December 4-5, 2010
Saturday, Sunday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm; 3 sessions starting October 23, 2010, ending November 21, 2010

Summer Photo Contest

I asked au pairs in our cluster to share some photos from their summer travels. Please vote for your favorite by clicking HERE.  The winning au pair will receive a free ticket to the Maryland Renaissance Festival for our upcoming cluster meeting.

Vote as many times as you would like and share the link to this page with your friends via email, Facebook, Twitter and where ever else you can think of.  Voting will end on Thursday, September 23 at 12 noon.

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Please vote for your favorite by clicking HERE

UCLA APIA Advantage Class Has Begun

Updated 9/23/2010: I just spoke with a representative from UCLA and she said that if an au pair would still like to enroll in this class, she may do so this week.

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The Fall 2010 UCLA Au Pair in America Advantage Course

begins on September 20th and runs until January 31st.

It’s not too late for au pairs to enroll at www.uclaextension.edu/aupairs.

This interdisciplinary online course is designed specifically for au pairs who are required to continue their education as a part of their experience in the U.S.The 19-week program is in a blended online format, with media-rich, self-paced sessions and some instructor-led, cohort-based sessions. Participants read lessons, write, share resources, network with one another, and collaborate on special projects. They explore web links, play games, and take virtual field trips, all designed to further their understanding of U.S. culture.

The Community Involvement segment of the program takes au pairs into face-to-face contact with the community. Au pairs are required to do a Global Awareness presentation, volunteer at local organizations, and participate in historical and cultural activities. Au pairs will relate these experiences to their academic coursework. A follow-up writing assignment will consist of a reflection on the community-based experience.

Participants who successfully complete the program receive 6 quarter units (4 semester units) and earn a certificate of completion from UCLA Extension.Participants also have access to a UCLA Extension transcript, should they wish to request articulation of this program into a degree program at another college or university.

View the program brochure here.

For more information, call the Distance Learning Program office at (310) 206-6671 or email mhochstr@uclaextension.edu.
The Fall 2010 course will take place from September 20 – January 31, 2011.
To enroll* in this course, click here.

*Students wishing to enroll online and who do not have a Social Security number can skip that field when supplying the enrollment information.

Women's Business Leadership 2010 – Fall Semester

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Women’s Business Leadership – Part I

Wednesdays 8-10 PM, 10/6-12/15 in Washington, DC a workshop series taught by GWSB faculty member Kathy Korman Frey in cooperation with the George Washington University School of Business, Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence. Prof Frey is the founder of the Hot Mommas Project award-winning women’s leadership initiative, and faculty at the George Washington University School of Business. This class is designed for women aged 18 to 30.

When: 10/6 through 12/15, 8-10 PM, (Weds nights – no class 11/24)
Hours: 36 hours per semester. A letter will be provided to all participants confirming their participation. University credit is not provided. Cultural exchange students: This class fulfills 36 of your 72 hours of required education.
* In addition to homework, there is approximately one hour required each week for group meetings outside of class.
Cost: $362
Course material cost: $0 All materials are online.
*Access to a computer and phone each week will be required.
Where: GW’s Foggy Bottom Campus.

Women’s Business Leadership – Part II

Summary: In this class, students move beyond core lessons from WBL Part One to develop their own business plan, engage in a mini-internship, and practice leading groups of WBL students and each other in group exercises. This class is taught by the instructor of the award-winning Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Class. as seen in the Washington Post Magazine article, “CEO of ME, Inc.”
Timing:

  • 3 Wednesdays 7:30-10 PM, between 10/6-12/15 in Washington, DC (10/20, 10/27, and 12/1)
  • 4 group meetings
  • 1 internship experience, 10/9, 8:30 AM-12 PM or other event TBD
  • LOTS of individual work drafting and re-drafting business plans. Only disciplined students ready for this commitment are encouraged to take WBL PART II.

Cost: $362
Where: Three sessions at GW’s Foggy Bottom Campus, group meeting locations to be determined by student group members.