Monthly Archives: August 2016

First Day of School – WATCH OUT FOR SCHOOL BUSES

School for most students in Montgomery County begins on Monday, 8/29. Wibusth that come the thousands of school buses on the roads which transport children to Elementary, Middle and High Schools in the morning and afternoons.

Please look at this video today. Eventhough it is by a news crew in Kansas City, it still is valid to all drivers.

LOOK at these examples of what to do in various road types…

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Here is an article from BETHESDA PATCH which explains:

What to Do When Approaching a School Bus

  • When a school bus stops, the flashing red lights go on and the stop sign flaps come out, drivers in BOTH directions are required to stop. This is the most dangerous time with children getting on or off the bus.
  • It is against the law to pass a stopped school bus with its flashing red lights activated and stop arm extended.
  • Never pass on the right side of the bus, where children enter or exit. This is illegal and can have tragic results.
  • Two-lane road: When a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic in both directions, must stop.
  • Two-lane road with center turn lane: When a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic in both directions, must stop.
  • Four-lane road without a center median: When a school bus stops for passengers, all traffic in both directions, must stop.
  • Divided highway of four lanes or more with a center median: When a school bus stops for passengers, only traffic following the bus must stop.

Tips for Kids, Parents

  • When the bus approaches, stand at least three giant steps (6 feet) away from the curb, and line up away from the street.
  • Wait until the bus stops, the door opens, and the driver says it’s OK before stepping onto the bus.
  • When getting off the bus, look before stepping off the bus to be sure no cars are passing on the shoulder (side of the road). Move away from the bus.
  • Before crossing the street, take five “giant steps” out from the front of the bus, or until the driver’s face can be seen. Wait for the driver to signal that it’s safe to cross.
  • Look left-right-left when coming to the edge of the bus to make sure traffic is stopped. Keep watching traffic when crossing.
  • Use the handrails to avoid falls. When exiting the bus, be careful that clothing with drawstrings, and bookbags with straps don’t get caught in the handrails or doors.
  • Never walk behind the bus.
  • Walk at least three giant steps away from the side of the bus.
  • If you drop something near the bus, tell the bus driver. Never try to pick it up because the driver may not be able to see you.

 

Bethesda Big Train Baseball was a BIG Hit with Au Pairs!

IMG951936What could be more American than baseball in the hot summer sun?  Many Au Pairs joined Victoria Paton and Imelda Farrell for a Friday evening of minor league baseball with at a Bethesda Big Train game.af9690593ed42c34a078b1fa42b8899d.300

Au Pairs were treated to dances with the mascot. A few took home t-shirts that were shot into the audience between innings.

 

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C’est La Vie – Au Pairs Celebrate France at Crêpes A Go Go

An annual favorite, Au Pairs from Potomac all the way north to Frederick, MD gathered together to enjoy a variety of French crêpes at Crêpes A Go Go in the Kentlands.

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Au Pairs who completed their year in July or August received their completion certificates and offered advise: “Communicate with your host family”, “Make lots of friends”, “Travel whenever you can”..

5079It was a scorching evening but the feelings of Au Pairs getting to know new friends and saying goodbye to old was warm.

                 A bientôt mes amies!

bon voyage

Spartan Race a Great Milestone for Au Pair from Poland

Magda was 18 months into her 2nd year as an Au Pair, when she heard about the Spartan Race in Blue Mountain, PA from a friend.

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Muddy crawl under wires.

She decided that would be a super goal and an accomplishment to aim for as she finishes her two years in Potomac, MD.  So, Magda and her friend trained every day for at least half-a-year to be ready for the Race.

“It’s a 5-mile race total and it involved so many things: jumping walls, climbing ropes, monkey bars (I don’t think there is a word in Polish for these…). We had to go on our stomach in the mud under wires, and in the end we had to jump over fire!”

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Hauling rocks up and down the hill.

When asked how long it took to complete the race, Magda replied “About 3 hours because it took a while to do some of the running: up and down one hill we had to have a big, wooden board on our backs. For another we had to fill a bucket with rocks and carry it up and down the hill.”

It was one of the best things she has ever done she announced. “It was so cool – I got a medal too!  I want to participate in this in Poland also.”

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Magda running over fire at the finish.

Victoria beams: “As a Counselor for more than 16 years, Au Pairs like Magda always makes me SO proud.  I see Au Pairs reaching for the stars…setting goals and accomplishing them.  I encourage my Au Pairs to create a Vision Board at the beginning of their year to pin-up their photos of their goals (academic, travel, athletic, social etc.), and the board can remind them what they came to America to achieve as the year unfolds.”

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Magda is an all-around winner

 

Magda departs her current Host Family on Tuesday for a trip out-west before returning to Poland. Both her Host Family and her Counselor, get tearful thinking about saying goodbye. But Magda has goals, and we all know that wherever she is, she will achieve whatever she puts her mind to.

After 16 Years, Counselor and Au Pair (now Award-winning Film-maker) REUNITED!

For years, Senior Community Counselor, Victoria Paton, had been trying to locate a former Au Pair from her first years as a CC…Heidi Brandenburg from Germany.  Heidi was special to the Paton family because in the year 2000, Heidi lived temporarily in their Potomac home. (Her host mom had become ill and they needed a full time nanny to care for the family while the mother recovered so she was housed by CC until a new family could be found). Heidi had made an important impact on the Paton’s lives in those 2 weeks she stayed with them, but she didn’t know it, and Victoria was determined to thank her 🙂

The background: It was September 2000 and time for Victoria’s son’s 6th birthday pool-party. Heidi wanted to pitch in, so she made trays of cut up sausages and fruit on sticks- German-style. She walked to the Right Aid and purchased a large green poster board and made a marker/glitter sign “Happy 6th Birthday, Jai”. The party was great, and soon Heidi matched out of state and they all, sadly, lost touch.

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Hari’s birthday with Jai standing 2006.

But that was not all…”That birthday poster became a special treasure for our family…EVERY year thereafter that  poster was hung as part of the family’s  ‘birthday throne’ and subsequently was in the background of EVERY photo of EVERY Paton family member’s birthday from that year forward age: 7,8,9…15, 16…20, 21. And not just for Jai but for his brother and me too. When we moved a few times, we always had to be sure that ‘The Birthday Sign’ was included.”

A wonderful Au Pair,  Jasmin from 2014, helped Victoria find Heidi via Social Media…to our surprise Heidi was nearby – currently living in Silver Spring, MD (30 minutes away!!) And, in February of this year, Heidi and Victoria connected via text promising to meet soon not disclosing to Heidi about “The Birthday Poster”. Victoria wanted it to be a surprise!

Heidi Brandenburg, who is half Peruvian, had been living in the Peruvian jungle for many years after film school. She had since married and has two adorable daughters. Heidi has been very busy and created and filmed “When Two Worlds Collide” a documentary about the devastation of the Peruvian rain forest.  The film won awards at Sundance and has made the documentary circuit around the world. It was recently shown at AFI Cinema and Tribeca in NYC.

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Heidi on right receiving award for her film at Sundance.

On July 29th, Heidi and Victoria were able to hug in person: Heidi and her family, came as guests of honor to Victoria’s Cluster S’mores Party. Now in her 30’s, Heidi briefly spoke to the young Au Pairs about her life and film career.

Victoria had a surprise presentation for Heidi…

  1. Victoria brought “The Birthday Poster” a bit worn with bits of miscellaneous tape all over the back from years of adhesion to walls.
  2. Heidi received a montage of photos of Victoria’s sons celebrating a decade + of birthdays in front of the “The Birthday Poster”
  3.  Jai (now almost 22 years old, a rising-Senior at Pitzer College, living in CA,  and 6’2″) emerged from the audience to greet Heidi in person
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Victoria, Heidi and Jai (21) display “The Birthday Poster”…together at last!

It was a an emotional reunion, 16 years in the making…with a significant message: Au Pair in America “Brings the World Together”…and touches Host Families, Au Pairs and Community Counselors alike 🙂