Yearly Archives: 2017

Avoiding Homesickness this Holiday Season

Homesickness can be a problem during the holidays, even if it hasn’t been at any other time of the year. Au pairs often miss their friends and family, familiar places and their own traditions and customs. The holiday activities in the United States seem, and may actually be, different just at a time when an au pair would welcome something familiar. 

It is common for au pairs’ emotions to be close to the surface during the holidays. Her highs are higher, her lows are lower. The enormity of what she has done–actually living in another country (which is an amazing thing when you think about it!)–hits her and throws her into a self-protective mode.

Host parents can help her through this unfamiliar territory by talking to her about what your specific family activities will be (gifts, meals, visitors, religious services, in-home traditions, or none of these, as the case may be.) In the spirit of cultural exchange, ask her if she has any favorite holiday traditions or foods that you might be able to incorporate into your family’s celebration of the season. Let her know what you will be doing, when you will be doing it, and what she can expect. Talk to her about what has to be accomplished and get her involved and interested. Don’t expect her to just “know” what needs to be done. Give her some clear, agreed upon assignments. Make her feel a part of things. And, let her know her contribution is needed and appreciated.

Photo: Sheila Sund (Flickr)

5 Thanksgiving Tips for Au Pairs & Host Parents

Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November each year. Even though a few other countries also celebrate Thanksgiving, it’s still considered a uniquely American holiday, one that the au pairs look forward to experiencing. You can learn more about it here.

“I really enjoyed Thanksgiving with my host family. It was as I imagined! So much food to try. Everyone got dressed up and shared what they were thankful for. It was so warm and special. The next day we began to prepare for Christmas. It was magical.” Selina from Germany

Below you will find some tips to help you have a terrific Thanksgiving experience.

 

Host Parents

1.  Please plan to include your au pair in your Thanksgiving celebration, if at all possible. Thanksgiving with an au pair offers an opportunity to consider the relevance of the history and meaning of Thanksgiving as you compare the hospitality offered by the Native Americans to the recently arrived Pilgrims and the hospitality you offer your au pair.

2.  If you are traveling or will not be able to invite your au pair to join you for Thanksgiving, give her plenty of notice and help her make alternate plans. You don’t want to leave your au pair alone over the holiday.

Au Pairs

3.  If you are invited to attend dinner, please let your family know within 5 days of the invitation, whether you are planning to attend. It is considered rude in America to accept the invitation for dinner and then change your mind later in the month. Please be thoughtful.

4.  Make sure to discuss time off during this holiday weekend. Many host families work the Friday after Thanksgiving so do not assume you have this day off or the entire weekend. Talk to your host family, BEFORE you make any plans.

5.  If your host family is unable to include you in their Thanksgiving plans, please let me know if you have trouble making other plans. You may be able to join a friend and their host family for the holiday dinner.

Bonus Tip for the Kids

If you are looking for a fun recipe to make with your au pair, check out these turkey cupcakes. Find more fun activities and recipes on the Au Pair in America Fall Holidays pinboard.

Photo: Tim Sackton (Flickr)

Maine 4th Graders Learn About Poland

The following is a write up the Global Awareness team for Au Pair in America did about a Global Awareness presentation one of our Maine Au Pair’s gave to my daughter’s 4th grade class! When I spoke to Joanna afterward she said the kid’s were most interested in the Polish language and how it has additional letters that the English language doesn’t have and they loved seeing the paper currency she brought! Thank you so much to Joanna for presenting!

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Joanna G. from Poland is spending her year in Biddeford, Maine.  Community Counselor Jennifer Molloy’s daughter’s 4th grade class was doing an immigration project with gave Joanna a great opportunity to share about her home country. This is what she had to say:

“My first Global Awareness experience was great! My local counselor’s daughter’s class is doing an immigration project and they were looking for somebody who is staying in the US for the short term. I really like this kind of project, so I agreed to come to school and talk about my country.

The presentation took place in C.K. Burns School in Saco, Maine on 19th June 2017. There were 45 kids from 4th grade. I was introduced by their teacher as an Au Pair from Poland, who is staying in US for one year, is not a student or immigrant. I started with general information about Poland. I drew a map with the shape of Poland, the Baltic Sea, Sudety, and Karpaty Mountains, the Vistula River and capital city – Warsaw. I showed them pictures of the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw and Tatra Mountains with the highest summit in Poland – Rysy. Then I spoke about the differences and similarities between US and Poland. They saw pictures of paper money and a few traditional dishes. I told them about being Au Pair and how to become one. I also taught them some Polish words – days of the week and counting to 10. They were really interested in Poland and asked lots of questions!

It was an amazing, but short time. I learned that kids want to know a lot about other countries and the best way to get them into topic is teach them some words! At the end I handed out the Global Awareness “My travel journal” books and poster.”

Original Article https://www.globalawareness.com/2017/07/maine-4th-graders-learn-about-poland/

Personal Support While In The Au Pair in America Program

With exceptional child care, you can expect exceptional support and service

  • You will receive comprehensive program support including:

    Maine's Au Pair in America Community Counselor, Jennifer Molloy

    Maine’s Au Pair in America Community Counselor, Jennifer Molloy

  • assistance with selecting your au pair
  • coordinating logistics, providing orientation for your family and au pair
  • year-round local support
  • medical insurance for your au pair
  • 24/7 emergency assistance

As an Au Pair in America host family, you receive the services of a personalized support team. One of Au Pair in America’s strengths is our network of more than 180 community counselors in the United States. One of these experienced counselors will reside in or near your community and maintain contact with you and your au pair throughout the program.

The Role of Your Community Counselor

Your community counselor is there to help you throughout the exchange year. In addition to meeting with you during your interview, easing the placement process and conducting your orientation, your community counselor will contact you within 48 hours

Cluster Meetings

Once a month your Community Counselor will host a “cluster meeting”. This is an event for all of the au pairs in the “cluster”, or territory that counselor is responsible for. Cluster meetings can vary from a fun outing like ice skating or bowling, to a self defense class, or tour of the local area. These meetings help au pairs in the area get to know one another, and see other parts of the state, as well as lets them get to know their Community Counselor. 

Community counselors act ongoing as a sounding board for both the family and the au pair, a mediator if needed, a neutral opinion, a hug when needed if an au pair is homesick or having a tough time, guidance when a family or an au pair has program questions, travel questions, healthcare questions for the au pair and a plethora of other topics.

Ongoing Support

Don’t hesitate to ask them questions! Guidance and support is an integral part of having a successful year with your au pair or as an au pair and it’s the Community Counselor’s role to help assist.

Have a wonderful year!

https://www.aupairinamerica.com/applying/yearahead.asp

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)

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Preventing Dehydration in Hot Weather

Dehydration means that the body lacks the necessary amount of fluid. Infants and small children are more likely to become dehydrated than older children or adults, because they can lose relatively more fluid quickly.

Here are some steps to take to make sure children remain hydrated in the summer months:

  • Encourage your child to drink plenty of water. On hot days, children should drink significantly more water than usual, as they are losing more due to the heat.
  • Do not wait until your child is thirsty to give him water. By the time they feel thirsty, they are already becoming dehydrated.
  • If your child is resistant to drinking enough water, have other liquids on hand for your child to drink throughout the day.
  • Be alert to changes in behavior. A child may act confused or more irritable when they are becoming dehydrated/overheated. Get them into cooler temperatures and drinking more fluids.
  • Dress your child in lightweight clothing in the summer months, particularly if she’ll be playing outdoors in warm weather. You may also consider clothes that are well ventilated as they do not trap heat close to the body.
  • When there are heat and/or air quality advisories because the weather is dangerously hot, you should avoid taking the children outdoors. Check with your host parents for further guidance on this topic.

Remember to follow these tips for yourself too, so you stay well hydrated.

Photo: Darwin Bell (Flickr)

Holiday & Vacation Reminders

“Rest and be thankful.” – William Wordsworth

Holidays and vacations are a great opportunity to rest, recharge and explore the U.S.

Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start of summer travel season. Here are some reminders about program rules regarding holidays and vacations.

Holidays

  • Host families are not required to give au pairs any specific holidays.
  • Each host family will make different arrangements on holidays, some au pairs will be off and others will be required to work.
  • Au pairs should not make plans for holidays without checking with your host family first.

Vacations

  • Au pairs earns 2 weeks of paid vacation during the course of her year.
  • Vacation time should be mutually agreed upon.
  • All vacation should be preplanned (at least 4 weeks in advance.)
  • All au pair’s friends and/or family visits/vacations should be pre-approved prior to purchasing tickets.
  • If an au pair travels with her host family, it should be discussed in advance whether this is the au pair’s vacation or if she is working.
  • If an au pair travels with the host family to work, the host family is required to pay for her transportation, lodging and meals.

Important: If an au pair is traveling outside of the U.S., she must have her DS2019 signed (travel validation) PRIOR to her departure from the US. More information about this may be found here on the Au Pair in America website.

Photo: torbakhopper (Flickr)