Au pairs had fun playing a game of golf on Louisiana course at City Putt in City Park. Their best efforts were rewarded with great scores and two holes-in-one!
Tag Archives: nanny new orleans
Host Family International Day in City Park
Host families, children and au pairs gathered for our annual picnic and Host Family International Day in City Park this past Sunday.
Great company, delicious food and beautiful weather made the event especially successful.
While the parents enjoyed conversation, the children exercised their creativity at the crafts table, tried to eat a bagel off a string (look, ma, no hands!) and gamely faced the challenge of tied-leg races.
Multicultural awareness was brought to the forefront by everybody trying to connect world capitals to their respective countries!
The whole group enjoyed tasty food typical of different countries prepared by our wonderful au pairs.
A great time was had by all!
Stockholm – Sweden
Canberra – Australia
Bratislava – Slovakia
Windhoek – Namibia
Bern – Switzerland
Warsaw – Poland
Helsinki – Finland
Quito – Ecuador
Sucre – Bolivia
Budapest – Hungary
Beijing – China
Brasilia – Brazil
Paris – France
Santiago – Chile
Berlin – Germany
Zagreb – Croatia
At Lakeside Shopping Center on Labor Day Weekend
The start of school year coincides with the arrival of many new au pairs who join their host families just in time to help with childcare, driving, schoolwork, sports and playground activities.
For au pairs getting to know all the new friends is exciting, especially when combined with a bit of shopping (and bargain hunting) at the Lakeside Shopping Center.
Au Pairs Participate in Color Run
Following the example of thousands upon thousands of participants across the globe, several au pairs in our cluster took part in the Color Run in City Park, New Orleans on August 26th.
The Color Run is an event series and five kilometers paint race that takes place in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The untimed event has no winners or prizes, but runners are showered with colored powder at stations along the run. (wiki)
http://thecolorrun.com/about/
Back to School Check List
Many children in our cluster have already started school and the rest will start it shortly. To ease the transition, it’s important for host parents and au pairs to discuss changes in schedules, duties, and routines.
You may want to review the following:
- Au pair’s schedule
- The children’s schedule, including school and extracurricular activities
- Breakfast routine and types of healthy food to serve
- What to pack for lunch
- What to do when a child is staying home sick
- What to do when a child is late for school
- After school routine (snacks and free time before starting homework)
- Designated spot for school bags, lunch boxes and papers that need parent’s signature
If au pair drives children to and from school, it’s important to discuss:
- Buckling seat belts securely
- Lining up in a car queue
- Making sure children get on/off on the right side of the car
- Holding a young child’s hand in the parking lot
- NEVER leaving a child in the car when dropping off a sibling
- Observing 20 mph speed limit in school zones
- Never passing a school bus when it shows a stop sign
Happy Fourth of July!
Known as the Fourth of July and Independence Day, July 4th has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution (1775-83). In June 1776, representatives of the 13 colonies then fighting in the revolutionary struggle weighed a resolution that would declare their independence from Great Britain. On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later its delegates adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 until the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with typical festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues.
Welcoming New Friends
Summer months are the busiest arrival times for au pairs. Hundreds of APIA au pairs from many different countries arrive in Tarrytown, NY for a three-day orientation (and an introductory tour of NYC!!) before fanning out across the USA to join their host families for a fun and exciting year together.
For our Louisiana cluster it’s a busy time too – welcoming new friends, getting to know host families, sharing au pair advice, planning great times together.
Old friends, Sarah from France and Melisa from Costa Rica.
New arrivals, Alicia and Doris, both from France.
Seasoned au pair, Kasia from Poland and a newbie, Anali from Peru.
Ana from Colombia Shares Her APIA Advantage Experience
All au pairs participating in the State Department approved au pair programs are required to complete 6 credits hours of academic work during a year-long match.
Au pairs who participate in Au Pair in America program can satisfy this educational requirement by taking APIA Advantage course offered online by UCLA. https://www.uclaextension.edu/aupairs/Pages/default.aspx
Part of the UCLA course consists of Community Involvement segment. Many au pairs find it especially interesting and enjoyable. Here Ana from Colombia shares her experience with APIA Advantage – American Studies Online.
Global Awareness and Volunteer work
I had the opportunity to share my culture and Language with a great class of children at The Chapel Church in Baton Rouge, LA. The kids belong to 3rd to 5th grade. They learned about my country, geographic information, customs, food and interesting facts. Also they learned some Spanish words and greetings. They had a lot of questions for me and I answered gladly. It is great to know that the kids in USA are very interested in different cultures.
I have been volunteering with this class since the beginning of May and I will stay with them for the summer term and maybe more time. This opportunity has gave me to me the chance to get involve with The Chapel community, other teachers and leaders who have supported my staying here in USA.
Cultural and Historical activities
Reef Bay Trail: This is one of the best hiking trails in the world, located in St. John USVI, it contains a great historical richness. The trail goes crossing the Reef Bay Valley in the island and during the way you can find ruins and old buildings from the colonization age. Sugar plantains, old houses, workers houses and Petroglyphs made by the ancients natives in the island, time before the colonizers arrived to the Americas.
Cemetery Tour New Orleans: New Orleans cemeteries have a great history and architecture, the thumbs belongs to very important and historically recognized families in the state.
Mardi Gras 2014: The famous festival in New Orleans and Baton Rouge shows in a fun way the history of the kings in Louisiana. Music, customs and food all at the same time at the same place.
St. Patrick’s Day: This is not an American date but they celebrate as own. All the Irish culture celebrate and shows to the world their culture.
5 de mayo: this is a Mexican day but USA has adopted it it. Mexican music and food is the celebration theme for this day.
Kirsty Completes Two-Year Match with Her Host Family
After two years with her host family, Kirsty will be going back home to England in the middle of April. Here she reflects on her “amazing” experience.
What made you decide to join Au Pair in America?
I have always loved to work with children, and wanted to travel! Joining Au Pair in America was my best opportunity to do both of the things I love to do!
You obviously enjoyed being with your host family because you extended for another year. What was the biggest difference between year 1 and year 2?
When I first became an au pair for my host family I worked every day taking care of my 2 year old boy whilst my older 4 year old boy was at school. Where as in my second year both boys were in school and so this was the biggest change! Having both boys in school in the mornings! I also went to the gym in my second year and not in my first year!!
What are some of the favorite activities your host children and you have enjoyed?
There have been so many activities we have enjoyed together! Some of the favorites are baking (cookies, cupcakes and decorating a gingerbread house) colouring and making Christmas decorations out of salt dough for their special tree 🙂
What’s your favorite American food?
My favorite American food would have to be the Cheese Braid Bread that my host mom has made for Christmas morning the last 2 years! It is delicious!!!
But also I tried Sushi for the first time when I got to Louisiana, and this has also become a favorite food of mine!
You traveled quite a bit in the States. Which city or area impressed you the most?
I have seen some beautiful places whilst traveling! The most breath taking sight I’ve seen so far would have to be Niagara Falls! It was amazing to see such a beautiful place! I still have a lot more places to see with my last 2 weeks traveling the West Coast which I’m very much looking forward too 🙂
What will you remember ‘forever’ about your au pair experience?
I will remember all the amazing people I’ve met on my journey! Especially my host family, my cluster counselor, and my friends from all over the world!
Also all of the beautiful places I’ve visited and all the special occasions that I have celebrated whilst being here for 2 years! 🙂 I’ve had the time of my life being an au pair in America and I am so glad that I had this amazing opportunity!
Spring Is Coming!
Au pairs joined the crowds in City Park to enjoy a delightfully warm and sunny day heralding the arrival of spring.
March and April are great months to enjoy the outdoors in New Orleans. They are also the perfect time to engage kids in garden activities. Planting veggies, building a snail farm, digging for worms, or painting a rainbow trellis are just a few of many fun projects that will keep them busy and entertained. For inspiration and instructions you can visit:
http://spoonful.com/crafts/gardening-crafts-gallery
http://www.thecraftycrow.net/garden/
Also, for those of you who are not squeamish (kids seldom are) here is another activity: Building a snail farm.
http://www.kidspot.com.au/kids-activities-and-games/gardening-for-kids+31.htm
Build a Snail Farm
Get the kids outside and into the garden during the holidays and weekends with this fun kids activity. Building a snail farm is easy as you most likely already have everything you need sitting around the house. So get the kids ready for some slimy fun as you establish your farm today.
What you need:
- clear plastic bottle
- scissors
- clear tape
- soil
- lettuce or weeds
Activity:
Seal the bottle top onto the bottle.
Carefully cut a 10cm long and 5cm wide opening in the side of the plastic bottle.
Lie the bottle on its side with the opening at the top.
Place moistened soil and some lettuce or weeds inside the bottle.
Find some snails in your garden and place them in the bottle.
Tape over the opening with tape, but make sure to punch holes in the tape to allow for air.
Enjoy watching your snail farm for a few days before releasing your snails and replacing them with new ones.
