Yearly Archives: 2018

October is Month of the Young Adolescent

Parque do IbirapueraDedicated to ages 10-15 this serves as a reminder of the insecurity of young adolescents. Help the young adolescents you care for to recognize their abilities. Help to make home a safe and comfortable place where it is okay to learn from mistakes. Help them to learn about the adult values of hard work, family and discipline.

Even though kids this age are typically pretty independent and may seem like they don’t need or want much interaction from an au pair, this is not completely true. They still enjoy when you take an interest in their activities.  Find ways to connect with them through shared interests or let them introduce you to things they care about.

Photo: Marlon Dias

Where to Get Your Flu Shot

Many au pairs and host families are looking for places to get flu shots this time of year. Au Pair insurance does not cover immunizations, but there are lots of places to get flu shots for $30 or less.  If the host family is insisting that an au pair get a seasonal flu shot and she agrees to get it, the host family would be responsible for the expense.

If you are planning to get the seasonal flu vaccine, it is recommended that you get it as early as possible.

 

Anne Arundel County Health Department – Free

Montgomery County Health Department – Free (proof of residency may be required)

Prince George’s County – Free

Flu shots are also available for a fee at pharmacies such as Target, CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, etc.

Local Fairs & MD Renaissance Festival

What is a Fair?

According to Wikipedia:
A fair (sometimes fayre) is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. Activities at fairs vary widely.

Fairs are also known by many different names around the world, such as agricultural show, carnival, fete or fête, county fair, exhibition or state fair, festival, market and show. Flea markets and auto shows are sometimes incorporated into a fair.

MD fairMaryland State Fair
August 23-September 3, 2018. Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Road Timonium, Maryland. (410)252-0200. The Maryland State Fair was named one of the top 50 fairs in North America. This year’s 11-day festival will feature swifty swine racing pigs, live thoroughbred horse racing, bull riding and barrell racing, concerts, agricultural fair tours, games, rides and more.

Prince George’s County Fair
September 6-9, 2018. The Showplace Arena, Water St., Upper Marlboro, Maryland. (301) 404-5566. Carnival rides, live animals displays, family circus, fireworks, live entertainment, food.

Anne Arundel County Fair
September 12–16, 2018. Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds, Generals Highway, Crownsville, Maryland. (410) 923-3400. Monster truck rides, carnival rides and games, farm animals and exhibits, pig races, antique saw mill, pie eating contest, talent show and much more.

Renn FestMaryland Renaissance Festival 
August 25-October 21, 2018.
1821 Crownsville Rd, Annapolis, MD 21401. Set in a fictional 16th-century English village named Revel Grove, the festival is spread over 25 acres (100,000 m2). The second largest renaissance fair in the United States. Features costumed staff,  food, performances, glass-blowing demonstrations, jousting, crafts and much more.

Stopping for School Buses

At our last cluster meeting, we discussed school bus safety and the laws regarding stopping for a school bus. Here is an overview. If you have questions, please ask myself or your host parents.

The rules regarding stopping for school buses are:

  • It is against the law to pass a stopped school bus while its lights are flashing and its’ stop arm is extended.
  • On undivided roadways, with no physical barrier or median, vehicles must stop on both sides of the roadway.
  • Yellow flashing lights indicate that the bus is preparing to load or unload children. Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop their vehicles.
  • Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate that the bus has stopped, and children are getting on or off. Motorists approaching from either direction must wait until the red lights stop flashing before proceeding.

Police, who observe a motorist failing to stop and remained stopped for a school bus, can issue the violator a citation which carries a $570.00 fine and 3 points. There are also cameras on buses and the camera-generated fine is $125. Drivers failing to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk can be issued a citation for $80.00, and drivers failing to exercise due caution when encountering children can be issued a citation for $70.00.

Volunteering for International Exchange Day

Our cluster volunteered at the Greater DC Diaper Bank as part of International Exchange Day, also know as J-Day.

We collected donations from some of our host families and au pairs. We learned about the great work they do and spent a few hours packaging up diapers for distribution to families in need throughout the greater DC area.

If you’d like to find out more about this organization, and ways to support them, check out their wish list here.

Here is a post on the Au Pair in America Blog about us and other clusters across the country making a difference in our communities.

#EatPlayGive: Celebrating International Exchange Day

 

Hints for Success – Overcoming Homesickness

Almost everyone experiences homesickness and culture shock to some degree, when they come to live in a completely new environment. So much is different and it takes time to adjust.

It is normal to miss your own family, at home. Try to remember that they support you and want you to make the most of this experience. They will enjoy learning more about the U.S., through your eyes, as you share your adventures with them.

Top 5 Tips for Dealing with Homesickness

1. Make Friends – Don’t wait for other au pairs to reach out to you, reach out to them. There are other lots of new au pairs who are feeling the same way you are right now. Set a goal to reach out to a few of them each day. Some will respond and some will not. Don’t let that discourage you. No one will ever be mad at you for sending them a message to say hello or ask if they want to do something together. Make friends from various countries and you will also get a chance to practice your English skills together.

2. Stay in touch with your home country, but not too much. Skyping or talking on the phone every day with your family and/or friends back home normally makes homesickness worse. Try emailing instead and reduce the Skype and phone calls to once a week, until you feel stronger. It’s much harder seeing the faces and hearing the voices of those you miss.

3. Get out of the house (or your room specifically) – Go to cluster meetings, have coffee or movies with other au pairs, join a gym, go to the library, go for a walk, visit the mall, get a manicure, visit a museum. If someone invites you out, say “yes.” Also, don’t be afraid to do the inviting. If your host family invites you to do things with them, say “yes.” This will help you get to know each other and contribute to your overall happiness.

4. Realize that it definitely gets better – All au pairs experience homesickness and the vast majority of them get through it, stay and have a successful year (some even extend for a second year!) So, it must get better, right? Once you get past the initial homesickness, most au pairs report how quickly the year goes by.

5. Make Plans – Create your own Au Pair Bucket List (places you want to go, new foods to try, new things to experience during your year in the U.S.) and start doing them now. Post on our cluster Facebook group to find others who may want to join you on your adventures.

Photo by:  Shimelle Laine (Flickr)

Newseum Summer Fun Deal

From the Newseum website:

The Newseum offers everything from the Berlin Wall and Pulitzer Prize-winning photos to interactive games. This summer, there’s one more great reason to visit — kids get in free! July 1 through Labor Day, the Newseum waives admission for youth visitors age 18 and younger. Up to four kids visit for free with each paid adult or senior admission, or Newseum Membership.

Whether you have just a few hours or want to spend all day, you’ll find something for everyone in the Newseum’s 15 theaters and 15 galleries. Time running short? Remember to save your admission ticket and come back the next day for free!

SUMMER FUN DEAL TICKET PRICES

Plus save 15% off the prices below when you buy your tickets online using  PROMO CODE: SUMMER)

Adults (19 to 64)  $24.95 plus tax
Seniors (65+) $19.95 plus tax
Youth (7 to 18) Free
Children (6 and younger) Free

  • Summer Fun Deal tickets are not valid in conjunction with other discounts
  • Up to four discounts per transaction
  • All ticket sales are final
  • Summer Fun Deal tickets purchased online must be used between July 1 and Sept. 3, 2018
  • There are no refunds for no-shows or unused tickets

National Blueberry Month

July is Blueberry Month. It’s a great time to pick blueberries and prepare blueberry treats with your kids! In Maryland, blueberries are normally ready to pick in July.

Check on this website for Pick Your Own Farms in our area. They have them listed by county.

Easy Blueberry Cobbler Recipe

½ stick of butter or margarine
¾ cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup of milk
1 pint blueberries (rinsed and drained)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Melt butter and pour into a 3 quart casserole baking dish. Mix sugar, flour and milk. Pour over the butter, but do not mix. Pour the blueberries on top, but do not mix.  Bake at 350 degrees F for one hour.  Serve with or without ice cream. Enjoy!

Smithsonian Folklife Festival

The Folklife Festival will take place June 27-July 1 and July 4-8. 

The annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival is an international exhibition of living cultural heritage. Attracting more than one million visitors yearly, the two-week long celebration is the largest annual cultural event in the United States.

The Festival is held outdoors on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., between the Smithsonian museums. There is no admission charge. Visitors should dress for hot and humid weather. Parking around the Mall is extremely limited, so visitors are advised to use public transportation. L’Enfant Plaza is the closest Metro station to the Festival site. National Archives, Smithsonian, and Federal Center stations are within a half-mile. For assistance planning how to get around, visit www.goDCgo.com. For general Smithsonian visitor information, http://www.si.edu/Visit or call 202.633.1000 (voice).

Festival hours are 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with special events taking place most evenings beginning at 6:30 p.m. View the schedule here.

I highly recommend that you visit their website to plan your visit http://www.festival.si.edu/

$1 Summer Movies for Kids

When the kids are out of school for the summer, one place to cool off is at the movie theater. Below are three theaters in different parts of our cluster area that are offering $1 kid’s movies each week of the summer. Regal Summer Movie Express

Tips to maximize your movie enjoyment:

  • Movie admission is $1, but bring additional money for popcorn and/or drinks, if desired.
  • I suggest you arrive at least 15 minutes early to get a good place to sit.  Some of the movies can be very popular and fill up.
  • Have all the kids make a bathroom stop before going into the movie.
  • Do your homework and google the movie that’s playing in advance to make sure it will be a good one for your child/ren.
  • As with any outing, ask your host parents before taking the child/ren to the movies.

After the movie, do activities related to the movie:

  • Ask the children what were their favorite parts of the movie.
  • Find crafts related to the movie to complete with them.
  • Let the children act out parts of the movies.  Use household items as props and dress up in costumes to make it more fun.

June 19- Aug 22, Doors open at 9:30 am, Movie starts at 10 am

Each week, both movies play on both days. 

BOWIE STADIUM 14 – 15200 Major Lansdale Blvd, Bowie, MD

REGAL HYATTSVILLE ROYALE STADIUM 14 – 6503 America Blvd, Hyattsville, MD

REGAL WAUGH CHAPEL – 1419 S. Main Chapel Way, Gambrills, MD
  • 6/19-20 – Storks & Mr. Peabody & Sherman
  • 6/26-27 – Despicable Me 2 & How to Train Your Dragon 2
  • 7/3-4 – The Lego Movie & Alvin and the Chipmunks
  • 7/10-11 – Sing & The Peanuts Movie
  • 7/17-18 – The Lego Ninjago Movie & Ferdinand
  • 7/24-25 – The Secret Life of Pets & Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
  • 7/31-8/1 – The Lego Batman Movie & Trolls
  • 8/7-8 – Minions & The Boss Baby
  • 8/14-15 – Paddington 2 & Captain Underpants
  • 8/21-22 –Despicable Me 3  & Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked