Tag Archives: cluster meeting

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

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 🙂

“We Love Our Au Pairs” Awards Party

It was a perfect night for our Annual Au Pair Awards Party this year titled “We Love Our Au Pairs”.cake

Each Host Family was asked to nominate their Au Pair for an award for whatever she does best. Some awards were serious and some were humorous, but they all were intended to show gratitude for the hours and care that their Au Pair brings to their family.Group photo1

Held at the Kentlands Clubhouse, in Gaithersburg, the invitation from Senior Community Counselor, Victoria Paton, to each Au Pair read: “Put on Your Party Dress and be my guest as you are honored at our Annual Au Pair Awards Dessert Party”.  And dress-up they did!

Eating cake Party roomEach Au Pair was asked to come up one-by-one to the podium as Victoria read their Award. Then, the Au Pair was presented with a rose (a la The Bachelor) and a paper certificate as she posed for a souvenir photo.

Awards included: “Simply the Best Au Pair”,  “The Au Pair Most Eager to Join the Family for Anything and Everything:, “Most Mileage Driven,”Best Playdough Creater, Baker and Friend”, ” Most Caring Cook Ever”, ” Best Birthday Decorator”, “Best to Bond with Entire Family”, “Most Like a Big Sister”, “Best Banana Pancake Maker”, “Best Minecraft Coach”, “Sweetest, Kindest Au Pair”, “Most Punctual”, “Happiest and Most Accommodating Au Pair”, “Most Laid Back Au Pair”, “Queen of Hide and Seek”, “Safest Driver”, “Best Science Tutor and Chef”, “Best Uno Player and Most Beautiful Smile”, “Most Trustworthy and Sensible”, “Best Lego Builder, Hairdresser, Manicurist and Cuddler” etc.

Lots of love, good wishes and  a Karla great evening for all!

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Polish galsballoon releaseThe cake was almost too pretty to cut up and serve, but we all enjoyed the dessert during the ceremony then we all went outdoors as the sun set for a balloon release. Each Au Pair was asked to write on a card what her hopes, dreams or a wish was. It was attached to an APIA red balloon and sent off into the sky. Let’s hope all their dreams will come true!balloons off

Au Pairs Prepare Now for Summer with Pool Safety Class

Au Pairs in Victoria Paton’s Cluster gathered in our Rockville “Cluster Cottage” to brush-up on their pool safety skills for both public and home swimming this year.kids jumping in

Life guard Aileen Farrell of Montgomery Country spoke about being vigilant (do not rely on the pool life guard to watch your children – you must also be vigilant), what drowning looks like across a crowded pool – hint: it is less obvious than you’d think, talking to host parents before pool season about escorting children to changing rooms/toilets, using objects at pool-side for water rescues etc.pool safety

Please take a look at the video now. It could save a life.

Here is another useful video.

The American Red Cross provides very useful information here.

DC Region of Au Pair in America – Scavenger Hunt at the National Zoo on Sunday, October 27, 2013

What aau pair and panda 2n incredible day at the Zoo! Sun was shining, temperatures were great, the zoo was decorated for Halloween…Camila and Claire

Approximately 30o Au Pairs from all around the DC area and their 15 Community Counselors gathered on Lion/Tiger Hill early Sunday to participate in the first-ever DC Regional Scavenger Hunt at the National Zoo!

Each Au Pair team of 10, sought out specific animals as specified on a bingo card. All Au Pairs were winners and took home a 6″ Panda bear in honor of the new baby panda born at the National Zoo last month.ZOO

A wonderful day for Au Pairs and Counselors alike!

Victoria and group and pandas 2Ann and group and pandasLisaElephantPat and groupDiane and group and pandasEverybody ready for huntSigning in on cluster rosterFernanda

Au Pairs Tour US Capitol on a Glorious Saturday Morning

It was a sunny and crisp morning in May when 65 Au Pairs from all over Montgomery County gathered to tour the US Capitol with Senior Community Counselors Imelda Farrell and Victoria Paton. Au Pairs learned a lot and an Au Pair from Brazil even taught the tour guide something…that Tom Hanks and George Clooney both claim to be distantly related to Abraham Lincoln…who knew?

Au Pairs on US Capitol Tour

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Imelda Farrell, Counselor for Northwestern Montgomery County

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V at Capitol

Today is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day!

What could be more American than chocolate chip cookies? nestles choc chipCertainly my absolute favorite over apple pie!

My fellow Community Counselor, Pat Van Haste in Virginia, offered this website of Best Chocolate Chip Cookies…http://allrecipes.com/recipe/best-chocolate-chip-cookies/

It is a gray and chilly day here in the MidAtlantic, I think I’ll whip up a batch to surprise the kids!

Here is a website with recipes that children can help with for chocolate chip cookies and other really great ideas

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Au Pairs, if you haven’t tried to make the American favorite, today might just be the day!  Oh, and don’t forget the ice cold milk to go with and ask your kids to show you how to dunk!

dunking

"We Love Our Au Pairs" Mother's Day Au Pair Dessert/Award Party

Award presentations

Delicious cake!

On  Mother’s Day Victoria Paton’s cluster (Potomac, Bethesda, Glen    Echo, Cabin John) dressed-up and gathered for a party in honor of the Au Pairs who were the guests of honor. The theme was “We Love Our Au Pairs” and the decor of mylar heart balloons, a special heart cake and even a cardboard Elvis for photo opps made for a festiveA Special Award - Au Pair of the Year Finalist

After socializing, the Au Pairs were treated to a video montage made from Au Pair photo submissions and set to poTable at our festive evening p music. A DVD of  the “yearbook” was in a goody bag at each place setting. The highlight of the evening was the Award Ceremony in which Victoria presented each Au Pair with a certificate congratulating her for an exceptional skill indicated by her Host Parents. This was a surprise to all the Au Pairs who were touched and amused by the nominations: Most Conscientious Au Pair, Best Crepe Maker, The Best Teacher, The Best Lego Builder, The Best Mind Reader of Her Host Mom’s Needs, The Most Responsible and Organized Au Pair etc. Three princesses compressedThe final award was given to Jasmin from Austria who had earned the title of top three Au Pairs nationwide for 2013 by Au Pair in America Headquarters and went on to compete in the International Au Pair Association’s Au Pair of the Year competition. The nomination was unusual in that it was for both Jasmin and her sister Verena (who had been the Host Family’s Au Pair last year). The unusual combined nomination submission was about these two amazing young women who over 2+ years supported, loved and assisted the Host Family during the illness and subsequent passing ofBlowing up balloons! their wonderful Host Dad.Posing with Elvis

AAA Winter Driving Class for Au Pairs

Over 70 Au Pairs filled a room at the Potomac Community Center on Thursday night to better their winter driving skills with a presentation by AAA MidAtlantic’s Joe Beddick. Joe showed the girls a film with lots of  vehicles slipping and sliding and also instructed the Au Pairs what to keep in their car: cat litter or ice melting salt, blanket, first aid kit. He alerted us all that there are some key things to pay attention to especially in winter: properly inflated tires, filling washer fluid, and more. Photos of what it means to clean off a car with snow i.e., no snow left on top and all windshields, lights and mirrors completely cleared off.

Each Au Pair departed with a AAA booklet on Winter Driving Safety and a custom-made Au Pair in America Ice Scraper to keep in her purse should she need to clear off a car.

I think we all learned a lot…and possibly just in time!  🙂

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Our 12th Year in the Potomac Day Parade

DSCF0835 resizedDSCF0834 resized cropDSCF0848 resizedThe announcers welcomed back the Au Pair in America group for the 12th year!  A group of au pairs marched in the parade on Saturday 10/22/11 and gave prizes and coloring books to children along the route. While waiting for the parade to begin, the girls delighted in meeting the Chick-Fil-A cow. It was a wonderful day and and we were all proud to represent the au pairs of the Potomac Shoreline Cluster.DSCF0844 resizedDSCF0846 resizedDSCF0840 resizedAPDC0126 resize