Monthly Archives: November 2017

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)

Volunteering at Super Saturday in City Park

Au pairs did a super job at Super Saturday in City Park on November 4, 2017. After recent rains, the trails in Couturie Forest were muddy and needed mulching to make them passable for hikers and joggers. The work started promptly at 9am with instructions from Tyler, volunteer manager. Together with other volunteers, au pairs picked up mulch with pitchforks from a mulch pile and loaded it on wheel wheelbarrows. Then they pushed the wheelbarrows to the trail to distribute the mulch over the ruts and hollows.

The weather cooperated and was mild and sunny. Despite a few mosquito bites and quite a few ant bites from the ants that occupied the mulch pile, au pairs enjoyed the experience and were happy to contribute to City Park beautification.

http://neworleanscitypark.com/super-saturdar

Au pairs Attend Krewe de Boo Parade

APIA au pairs who spend their year in the program with host families in New Orleans are amazed and delighted by New Orleanians’ fondness for street parades. Wow! So much excitement! So much FREE entertainment!

In order to explore this cultural characteristic of the Crescent City inhabitants, au pairs try to participate in as many parades as possible. That’s why they were delighted to attend Krewe de Boo Parade that rolled thru the French Quarter in anticipation and celebration of Halloween. Au pairs joined the festive crowd to vie for the throws and admire the fantastic floats and costumes. They listened to the music and cheered on the parading bands. Great time was had by all!

October Picnic at Sugar Roots Farm

Sugar Roots Farm, located on the outskirts of New Orleans, was the perfect place for au pairs to enjoy a bit of a country atmosphere on a lovely October day. After paying a visit to resident horses, a cow, a couple of turkeys and geese and a friendly lama, au pairs sat down to a nice picnic spread. General conversation soon turned toward highly anticipated Halloween, one of the American holidays that all au pairs heard about and were eager to experience for themselves. They shared ideas for different costumes and games they could enjoy with their host kids on Halloween.

https://www.sugarrootsfarm.org/