Getting up at 5am on a Sunday morning was a bit of a challenge, but au pairs were totally cool to forgo sleep in order to help out at the Rock’n’Roll Marathon. As the first runners crossed the finish line, au pairs greeted them with mylars, bananas, pretzels and, of course, big SMILES. It was impossible not to admire the runners’ stamina and determination. Who knows, next year there may be some au pairs crossing the finish line too…
On Sunday, au pairs paid another visit to the New Orleans Arts District, this time so see the exhibitions at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art which showcases the art of the region.
With several floors of fine paintings, collages, installations, video presentations and sculptures, each au pair had a chance to find her favorite piece. Many liked the contrast between the modern building and surrounding old architecture. They also enjoyed the sweeping view of the city from the upper floor balcony.
Au pairs had a “mad” experience during Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
What did they like about it?
Everything!!
Extravagant floats, shiny doubloons, pounds of beads, King Cakes with babies or just cheesecake, dancing cheerleaders, stomping brass bands, flying moon-pies, eye-popping costumes, and crowds of revelers thronging the streets day and night made for unforgettable time.
Some celebrated with their host families, others with friends, but all with the like-minded Mardi Gras lovers!
“I really enjoyed Mardi Gras in New Orleans, I think everywhere else it’s just another Tuesday in February but not in here, there are a lot of things going on, like parades for example, people come from all over the country to celebrate Mardi Gras in New Orleans and to have fun! I had a blast! It was really crazy:) — Marta from Poland
I had a wonderful time during Mardi Gras, made the whole experience of being in the US amazing… — Mbali from South Africa
Mardi Gras 2013 is the best experience I made so far being in the United States. It is much better than the “Karneval” in Germany. But the saying should be: “Throw me something that fits.” =) Sarah from Germany
A little history about Saint Valentine’s Day:
On Thursday, February 14th we celebrate Valentine’s Day in the United States by giving flowers, candy and cards to those we love. We do this in honor of Saint Valentine. You may be wondering, “Who is St. Valentine”? Time to brush up on your Valentine’s history!
Legend has it that Valentine was a priest who served during third century Rome. The Emperor at that time, Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those that were married. With this thought in mind he outlawed marriage for young men in hopes of building a stronger army. Supposedly, Valentine, decided this decree was not fair and married young couples in secret. When Emperor Claudius II found out about Valentine’s actions he had his head cut off making him a martyr of love. Another legend has it that Valentine was an imprisoned man who fell in love with his jailor’s daughter. Before he was put to death he sent the first ‘valentine’ himself when he wrote her a letter and signed it ‘Your Valentine’, words still used on cards today.
Perhaps we’ll never know the true identity and story behind the man named St. Valentine, but this much is for sure…February has been the month to celebrate love for a long time, dating back to the Middle Ages. In fact, Valentines ranks second only to Christmas in number of greeting cards sent. For some fun children’s activities including crafts, coloring pages, games, puzzles and poems go to:
Dear host families and au pairs,
Many of you have been celebrating carnival for days and au pairs attended parades with host families and on their own. However, the final days of the carnival and Mardi Gras itself bring the excitement, entertainment, and the size of crowds up to a different level and I’d like to share with you a few words of advice and caution.
CHILDREN SAFETY
If au pair goes to the parade with her host family, it is very important to discuss beforehand and in detail the following issues:
1. Will au pair be working or just hanging out with the family?
2. If she’ll be working — what EXACTLY will be her duties.
3. If she’ll be looking after a particular child — which one and what she should do when the child gets tired, bored, overexcited, hungry etc.
4. Rules regarding bathroom use.
5. Rules about hand holding and crossing/approaching the street.
6. Rules about NOT coming close to the floats to receive hand-out toys or special beads. If the child is offered a special item, it must be PARENTS who bring the child to the float to receive it, not au pair.
7. Rules about staying close together and not straying with/without child in pursuit of beads/doubloons.
AU PAIR SAFETY
The rules are common-sense but worth repeating:
1. Do not bring valuables to the parade. That includes money, credit cards, expensive electronics and jewelry, etc.
2. Carry your ID, credit card & some cash in a bag that you can keep track of at all times. Keep it zipped and close to your body.
3. Be mindful and protective of your expensive camera if you decide to bring it with you.
4. If you stop for a drink or snack don’t leave your purse or camera on the chair or table even if your friends promise to watch them. Always have them with you.
4. Don’t park on median (neutral ground) unless you want to get a ticket. Meter maids go out in force to give out plenty of parking tickets during Mardi Gras.
5. Be friendly but cautious when making friends. Do not go into people’s houses if you don’t know the owners and never wander away into secluded area (night or day).
6. Remember that in Louisiana legal age for drinking alcohol is 21 years old.
7. Trust your gut. If you have a funny feeling about a person or a situation walk away and join your friends or seek a busy place with other visitors.
LAISSEZ LES BONS TEMPS ROULER!
Hi ladies,
We’ve been talking about SUPER BOWL for a while now, and TODAY IS THE DAY!!
Yes, this year New Orleans has the honor of hosting the Super Bowl for the tenth time. No doubt you’ll be watching THE GAME with your host families, so I thought you’d like to know a few facts about it.
Enjoy THE GAME!
Dear au pairs,
In New Orleans, with our beautiful winter weather, we don’t particularly care what the groundhog says, but your au pair friends in the North, especially Pennsylvania, awaited February 2nd eagerly to see if spring is coming. And what does groundhog have to do with the spring? Well, see below.
Groundhog Day in the US is February 2nd, when the groundhog, also known as whistle pig, wakes up from hibernation and climbs out of its burrow. On a sunny day it sees its shadow and goes back to sleep for six weeks because a sunny day indicates a late spring, Cloudy day and no shadow means winter is over! German settlers who brought this tradition from their native country celebrated the first official Groundhog Day on February 2, 1886 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
To find out more about Groundhog Day traditions and see some cute pics you can go to:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/02/groundhog-day-facts-2013-trivia_n_2600485.html
