Category Archives: Uncategorized

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

August 15, 2016 – 2:22 pm

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.

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.

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…

Victoria brought “The Birthday Poster” a bit worn with bits of miscellaneous tape all over the back from years of adhesion to walls.
Heidi received a montage of photos of Victoria’s sons celebrating a decade + of birthdays in front of the “The Birthday Poster”
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

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 🙂

Senior Community Counselor Visits Panama

June 1, 2016 – 8:57 pm

“More and more fantastic Au Pairs are coming from Panama. I wanted to better undertanding of their country and the culture. I was lucky to have a chance to visit Panama City as well as the outlying islands, ” explained Victoria Paton, Au Pair in America’s Senior Community Counselor for Potomac, Bethesda, Cabin John and Glen Echo. In my 16 years as a Community Counselor, Au Pair in America has recruited an increasing number high-quality, childcare providers Latin America: Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Peru, Argentina, Chile, El Salvador, Mexico and, now, Panama.

Panama City was bussling with life from its Cathedral and Presidential Palace to the cozy piazzas for dining and music, and the famous Panama Canal.

I flew from Panama City to Bocas Del Toro, and from there, by boat from island to island amongst the indigenous peoples, cocoa plantations, and beautiful beaches.

Visiting the gorgeous islands, I often had the chance to play with children. Life on the islands is simple: and cut off are from the rest of the world…no electricty, cars, internet or even a soccer ball to replace the one that was deflated.

The children on the left live in a beachside community and were fascinated with videos on my phone.

“So now when I welcome Au Pairs from Panama to my Cluster, I know so much more about their beautiful country, abundant in warm people and natural beauty.”

Country Line Dancing Was a Big Hit!

May 15, 2016 – 6:52 pm

Over 60 Au Pairs in Montgomery County participated in a heel-kicking, boot-tapping country line dance class with our favorite instructor Mary who is always thrilled with the Au Pair’s enthusiasm.

Potomac Community Center was the venue for this year’s class which featured country line steps to more contemporary tunes….and it was a blast!

Something so fun and aerobic, was a great way for the Au Pairs, from over 20 countries, to experience something so truly American!

Three Pairs of Sisters in Victoria’s Happy Cluster

April 25, 2016 – 3:33 pm

The best thing about having a sister was that I always had a friend.

– Cali Rae Turner

This quote could not be more true for 6 young women in my cluster – each is one of a pair of sisters who are currently Au Pairs in my cluster!Being far from home is certainly helped by having a friend, a sister, nearby – not just in the USA at the same time, but in our cluster (about 20 minutes end to end)!

I recently invited all of my sister pairs to come together for a photo to celebrate this wonderful, and historic, Au Pair year. They had never met each other, so it was fun for them to become friends.

Pictured above are:

Diana and Nicky Glorius from Germany – They arrived to their host families on the exact same day!

Shantal and Seshnie Chetty from South Africa – Their 3rd sister wants to join the program soon!

Lorena and Laura Lopez from Colombia – They work for the same host family!

Coats Off in Car Seats BEFORE Buckling

December 30, 2015 – 4:59 pm

As cold weather may be coming our way (at last), new safety studies are indicating that it is unsafe to buckle a child into a car seat with his/her coat on. Please v iew this video from the TODAY show illustrating what can happen...the car seat is loosened by the extra fabric of a coat and in a crash situation, the child flies up and out of car seat.

If weather is cold, put the child’s coat ON TOP of the car seat buckle/belt for warmth.

Victoria Paton, Senior Community Counselor of Au Pair in America, has advised her Au Pairs to make note of this and for added safety to take the car with car seat to the next Safe Kids Worldwide “Car Seat Check-up Event:

Check Up Event – Safe Kids Montgomery County – 1/12/2016 – 8:00AM-6:00PM

Tuesday, January 12, 2016 – 8:00am to 6:00pm

Council Office Building
100 Maryland Avenue, Room 225
Rockville, MD 20850

or make an appointment at one of Montgomery County’s Car Seat Inspections Stations…click here.

Au Pair in America Au Pairs Celebrate Christmas at Krispy Kreme

December 29, 2015 – 4:29 pm

To celebrate Christmas away from home, Au Pair in America Au Pairs in Victoria Paton’s cluster in Maryland (Potomac, Bethesda, Cabin John and Glen Echo) donned Santa hats and enjoyed a dessert party at Krispy Kreme in Rockville.

Au Pairs brought a gift to exchange, and in the spirit of the holidays, they also generously donated personal items for Streetlights USA (a charity that supports young women saved in America from trafficking).

Four lighted trees were decorated by the Au Pairs and then raffled-off to four happy winners.

Many Au Pairs would be spending the holidays with their Host Families while others were looking forward to learning more about America with travel to Florida, Las Vegas, San Diego etc.

Au Pair in America AU PAIR COLLEGE FAIR in Maryland

November 30, 2015 – 9:40 pm

FIRST EVER – Maryland Regional Au Pair in America

AU PAIR COLLEGE FAIR!

Au Pairs from around the region are invited to find out the options for fulfilling their Au Pair in America education requirement…

Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at 1230-230pm
Potomac Community Center
11315 Falls Road, Potomac, Maryland

Plenty of parking and is on the T2 bus stop in front (Friendship Heights/Rockville Metros)

Representatives from many Au Pair educational options will be there to help you:

Montgomery College Continuing Ed. and Credit Departments

LADO (English and TOEFL prep)

English House/International Language Institute (ESL and TOEFL prep)

Stratford University (event management)

Georgetown University (English related courses)

L’Academie de Cuisine (culinary)

Virginia International University (museum classes)

UCLA online program for Au Pairs

BMCC Travel courses

Come and find out what is available for Spring 2016!

Meetings at Montgomery College: Au Pairs and Educares Plan Their Academic Studies with Counselor

July 29, 2015 – 4:35 am

Au Pair in America’s Au Pairs and Educares arrive Thursday nights to their new Host Families in the Potomac, Bethesda, Cabin John and Glen Echo Cluster. To facilitate signing-up for Fall courses, they are invited to meet their Senior Community Counselor, Victoria Paton, Fridays at Montgomery College. There she will assist each young woman to register at MC, or chat with the new arrival to determine if there might be another local institute of education that would better suit her academic goals.

Au Pairs work 45 hours/week and Educare Companions 30 hours/week and in their free time it is mandated by the State Department that they study at an accredited, secondary institute of education for 72 hours (Au Pairs) or 144 hours (Educares).

Au Pairs in Montreal with BMCC Travel Course

“It is great fun to help Au Pairs and Educares think about how they might like to fulfill their State Department education requirement: Years ago an Au Pair from Sweden had wanted to try acting, but was afraid to do it back home, fearing her friends would laugh. So she signed up for Intro to Acting at MC and enjoyed it so much she decided to apply to the New York Academy of Music and Dramatic Art – and was accepted after she completed her Au Pair year! An Au Pair from Poland came to my cluster as a non-swimmer. She took swimming at MC and finished her Au Pair year as an accomplished swimmer. An Au Pair from South Africa was taking accounting courses but decided to get in shape with MC’s Intro to Personal Training class. She had such great results and she enjoyed the supportive nature of the group, that she chose to pursue further classes in the subject and went home to become a Certified Personal Trainer.

Lives can be enhanced and career directions changed, when a young woman, as an Au Pair/Educare, has a chance to explore the educational options in the DC area with her Counselor or Host Family.” Victoria Paton

Au Pairs participate in Culinary Program at Stratford University.

We are very fortunate to have MANY affordable options for the Au Pairs/Educares in the DC area:

Montgomery College (Credit and Workforce Development)

LADO, International Language Institute and Inlingua

BMCC Study/Travel Courses (Nashville, Boston, Chicago, Niagara Falls, NYC etc.)

Stratford University in Tysons and Alexandria has created Au Pair survey courses in Event Management and Culinary Arts.

L’Academie de Cuisine has a series of Au Pair courses,

Georgetown University Continuing Education offers English language – related classes.

Virginia International University offers Saturday courses at museums in Washington, DC.

Au Pair in America has a joint program with UCLA for an online course with volunteer hours

Close Call…When a Deer Runs in Front of Your Car

December 10, 2013 – 10:54 pm

What To Do to Avoid a Deer, Or Other Animal, that Might Run In Front Of Your Vehicle:

deer crossing road

Watch this excellent video to see a large herd crossing – where there is one there is usually more..

· Scan the road ahead: Looking ahead helps provide enough reaction time if an animal is spotted. Also, remember some animals, like deer, move in groups, so when there is one, there are usually more in the area.

· Use high beam headlights if there’s no oncoming traffic: This can help you spot deer or other wildlife sooner and give you time to slow down, move over or honk the horn to scare the animal away. High beams also help in spotting animals’ reflective eyes.

· If a collision is unavoidable, apply the brakes firmly and remain in your lane: Swerving to avoid an animal can often cause a more serious crash or cause you to lose control of your vehicle. What’s more, drivers who swerve to miss a deer and hit something else may be charged for an at-fault accident.

· Be extra cautious at dawn and dusk: Deer tend to be more active in the early morning and at dusk.

· Slow down and use extra caution when traveling through areas with a high and active wildlife population: Be aware of increased deer movement in rural areas during the fall and early winter, as this is both hunting and mating season.

· Always wear a seat belt and remain awake, alert and sober.

(Source: AAA)

Fro-Yo Fridays at Orange Leaf for Monthly Cluster Conversation Meetings

November 3, 2013 – 2:28 am

Everyone likes a treat at the end of a long week, so once a month, about 30 au pairs gather at Orange Leaf in Cabin John Mall to chat with their Community Counselor and friends old and new. In addition to the major cluster meeting each month, we have an informal gathering also each month, just to chat and get to know each other.

We are so fortunate that a Host Family owns Orange Leaf and have been super accommodating to our Friday meetings – even staying open late on some nights if we get carried away in our conversations and stay after the Mall closes.

This is a super time for new Au Pairs to be welcomed into the Cluster, and this week a fantastic newly-arrived Au Pair from Croatia decided to organize a “Club” for Au Pairs caring for children under the age of three (3) to organize play dates, give each other support and to organize fun activities in the evenings after providing excellent childcare for very small children during the day.