Tag Archives: cultural

Surviving the Holiday Season.

The Holidays should be a time of joy and excitement.  From my experience, we have noticed they can also be a time of stress and disappointment for Host Families and Au Pairs.  I would like to offer some ideas and insights that I hope can broaden everyone’s understanding.

Homesickness

First, let’s face the issue of homesickness.  Host Families, this can be a problem at this time of year even if it hasn’t been in the past. Important people and places are missed.  Our traditions and activities seem “different” just at a time when an Au Pair craves the “familiar” celebration.  My observation has been that an Au Pair’s emotions are closer to the surface during the holidays.  Her highs are higher, her lows are lower.  The enormity of what she is accomplishing…actually living and working in another culture, (which is an amazing thing when you think about it!)… can induce a self-protective mode.  You can help her through this unfamiliar territory by talking to her about what your specific family activities will be such as when the candles will be lit, the stockings hung, the gifts given, the meals prepared and eaten, the relatives arriving, etc.. Let her know what you will be doing, when you will be doing it, and what she can expect.  Talk to her about what must be accomplished and get her involved. Ask her if she has any favorite holiday foods or traditions that could be incorporated into your celebration. Give her some clear, agreed-upon assignments. Remember, her parents have probably handled the organization in previous years, so don’t expect her to “know” what needs to be done. Make her feel a part of things.  And, let her know her contribution is needed and appreciated.  Try to cut a little slack, then be pleased with progress.

Au Pairs, regarding homesickness…you knew when you came for a year that family and religious holidays would be a part of that year.   If you get involved and active in the family’s plans, I assure you that next year you will be thinking about this family and missing their celebrations!  Your Host Family will make many efforts to assure that this holiday in America is special for you.  It is important to your Host Family that you acknowledge their efforts.  Show your appreciation and participate, participate, participate!!!  Look for ways to help.  If you aren’t certain, ask!  Thinking about someone other than yourself is the best way to manage homesickness.

Routine Changes

Host Families, another problem to consider is how the dynamics of the established relationships and routines change during the holidays.  Parents are home more and this demands adjustment for the children as well as the Au Pair.  Different work expectations may be needed since the kids may prefer to hover around the parents.  This can make an Au Pair feel unwanted and unsure of what is expected of her.  She may not see the specific needs of the children other than the usual.  The high emotions and energy of the children (compared to their more reasonable behavior during the rest of the year, I’m sure) may be difficult to handle even for the most confident Au Pair.  Assure her that this behavior is temporary and will be back to normal soon.  In the meantime, suggest specific things she can do to help.  Encourage her to roll with the punches and enjoy the energy of the season.  The quantity of gifts given to the children and the excesses of gifts, food, decorations, etc. can be overwhelming.  In everyone’s best interest, make sure there is some quiet, meaningful time together when the true spirit of the holidays is shared.

Au Pairs, life will be busy and, perhaps, stressful for the Host Family as they do all that they would like during the holiday season.  Celebrations don’t just “happen”…there is a lot of work involved in having fun!  Your Orientation information from Connecticut, under “Policies and Procedures” very clearly states under “Holidays” that there are no automatic  “holidays off.”  You are expected to help with the work and responsibility. Your Host Family may not be at their usual jobs, but they are putting in great effort to prepare for the family celebration.  Your Host Parents are very successful day to day, but, these same people will be in an absolute panic trying to prepare holiday meals, get all of the toys assembled and wrapped, and create a “perfect” day for their family AND for you.  Find ways to help!   Play games with the children, bundle them up and take them for walks, visit the library with them, use up some of their energy.  This can free the parents for other things.  If the children want to be in the middle of the action, then find other ways to help.  You can keep the kitchen floor swept, do the extra laundry, prepare lunch when parents are busy.  BE CREATIVE about what you can do.  During your free time all year, you have the choice to be one of the children or one of the adults in your family…this is definitely the time to be one of the adults!  Keep your eyes and hearts open for moments to help out!

Social Life

Host Families, remember that socially, the holidays are a time when Au Pairs want to be with their friends.  Christmas Eve, in some countries, is spent with friends rather than family.  New Year’s Eve in America is a very special occasion to them.  Discuss your plans and expectations with each other.  Be as generous with free time as possible.

Au Pairs, if you treat family holidays as a time to disappear every evening, and sleep all day, you can expect to disappoint your family.  If you came to learn family customs, then please know that our customs during the holidays include working together, sharing responsibility, and spending time with the extended family.  As for  ‘New Years Eve,’ all of you would like to have this night off to celebrate, but many of you will be asked to work.  If this is part of your responsibility, do it with good grace and cooperation.  It is only one night out of your 13 months here!   If your Host Parents make arrangements so you can be free, express your appreciation.

Host Families and Au Pairs, these are important days ahead. They will involve adjustment, but will create fun-filled memories if you let them.  This is a time of love and understanding.  Please do your part to reflect these priorities.

I wish you all a very wonderful holiday season and a happy and healthy new year.

2011 Sojourner Douglas Weekend courses.

One of the choices available to our au pairs to complete their education component while in the US is the option to take weekend courses at accredited and APIA approved colleges. I have had lots of au pairs take the Sojourner Douglass weekend courses and they have been very pleased.  They have told me that the instructors and staff are helpful and professional, the courses are interesting and the facilities are nice.  Below you will find information on their upcoming course offerings.

Sojourner Douglass College, Division of Professional and Continuing Studies

The full 2011 schedule is available and posted on their website.  The winter courses are filling up quickly.

The following are offered as Two Weekend Programs:

  • Interior Design
  • English as a Second Language (ESL)
  • Foreign Languages
    • Travel Spanish
    • Travel French

  New for 2011, Non-lodging courses:

  • Microsoft Software Certification:
    • Word
    • Excel 
    • PowerPoint
  • Art History Course that occurs in Washington, DC
  • Volunteerism Course 

 

Registration is ongoing and can be completed online by visiting www.weekendprogram.org Early registration is encouraged. For more information about our courses please visit the website

2011 Schedule of Weekend Classes (subject to change based on enrollment)

January 8-9, 2011 – TOEFL Review Course

January 8-9, 2011 – American Language and Culture,

January 22-23, 2011 – American Government and Personal Development

January 22-23, 2011 – Computer Software/Certification: Word (Non-lodging Course)

January 22-23 and March 12-13, 2011 – Interior Design Two Weekend Program

March 5-6, 2011 – American Culture and Tourism

March 5-6 and May 7-8, 2011 – Hospitality and Tourism Two Weekend Program

March 12-13, 2011 – American Language and Culture

March 12-13 and April 9-10, 2011 – Travel Spanish Two Weekend Course

March 12-13 and April 30-May 1, 2011 – English as a Second Language Two Weekend Course

March 12-13, 2011 – Computer Software/Certification: PowerPoint (Non-lodging Course)

March 12, 19, 26 – Art History (Non-lodging Course), Washington, D.C.

April 2-3, 2011 – Caring for Special Needs Children and American Culture

April 2-3 and June 11-12, 2011 – Child Care Two Weekend Program

April 9-10, 2011 – Understanding American Language Culture and Government 

April 30 and May 1 – Volunteerism in America (Non-lodging Course)

May 7-8, 2011 – American Culture and Personal Development

May 7-8 and June 11-12, 2011 – Travel French Two Weekend Program

May 14, 21, 28 – Art History (Non-lodging Course), Washington, D.C.

  

To register visit our new website:  www.weekendprogram.org

Please note the location of Weekend Courses:

The Conference Center at the Maritime Institute

692 Maritime Boulevard Linthicum, MD 21090-1952

(410)-859-5700 Front Desk ext 0

For questions call Angela Garnett, Program Coordinator at 301-213-2404 or email: info@weekendprogram.org

Check out Education links.

It’s time to start thinking about what you will do for the winter semester (starts in January.)  Don’t wait until the last minute or the class you want could be fully enrolled.

meredith_stdnts190x147

Check out the new links under education options.  There are great options for everyone in our cluster.

Reminder:

Au Pairs and Au Pair Extraordinaires need to complete 6 credit hours or 8 CEUs (continuing education units) or 72-80 classroom hours during their year.

Educare Companions need to complete 12 credit hours or 16 CEUs (continuing education units) or 144-160 classroom hours during their year.

APIA Advantage Course-UCLA Extension program

The next UCLA APIA Advantage Course will run from January 10 – May 16. Registration is already open at www.uclaextension.edu/aupairs
 
The cost of the class is $500 and it satisfies the education requirement for au pairs or half the requirement for EduCare companions.

American Studies Online is a 19-week media-rich, mostly self-paced online course of study. Designed specifically in cooperation with the American Institute For Foreign Study’s Au Pair in America program, UCLA Extension’s course offers successful participants 6 quarter units (4 semester units) and a certificate of completion from UCLA Extension.

 

Participants will read lessons, engage in activities, write, share resources, network with one another, and even collaborate on special projects – all designed to further their understanding of US culture.

The Community Involvement segment of the program takes the au pairs into face-to-face contact with the community. Au pairs will relate these experiences to their academic coursework in American Studies Online.

The interdisciplinary course of study will include:
• US History
• Arts in the US
• US literature
• Career counseling
• English language study (optional)
• TOEFL preparation (optional)

Each group is assigned a “Course Manager” who acts as an “online concierge” to provide high levels of service to ensure a rewarding and trouble-free educational experience.

For further information call (310) 206-6671 or email online@uclaextension.edu

 Hanukkah_6

Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is one of the most joyous times of the Jewish year. The reason for the celebration is twofold (both dating back to c. 165 BC and the miraculous military victory of the small, ill-equipped Jewish army over the ruling Greek Syrians, who had banned the Jewish religion and desecrated the Temple and the miracle of the small cruse of consecrated oil, which burned for eight days in the Temple’s menorah instead of just one.

Hanukkah is often celebrated by:

  • Lighting a menorah for eight nights with olive oil or wax candles; one on the first night and an additional one each succeeding night, so that the last night has eight lights
  • Eating food fried in oil, especially potato pancakes and jelly doughnuts
  • Playing with a dreidle, a four-sided top; the player wins or loses money depending on which side it lands on (each is marked with a different Hebrew letter)
  • Celebrating with family and friends

Here are some websites with activities for the kids:

Hanukkah Coloring Pages

Crafts and Activities

Dreidel Hanukkah Cookies

Handling Expenses

Miscellaneous Expenses

There are different ways to handle the little expenses that may come up.  Things like when an au pair takes the kids out for ice cream or picks up a gallon of milk.  Some families keep a cookie jar fund, a little cash that they set aside weekly or monthly for this kind of expenses.  Here are some suggestions for avoiding problems with that.

Host Families

  • It’s important to be clear about how long this money should last and what types of expenses are approved.
  • Let the au pair know whether or not you expect receipts.

Au Pairs

  • Only spend the money on approved expenses.
  • If it is something you are not sure about, ask first.
  • Put your receipts in the cookie jar in place of the money to avoid any confusion.

Gas and Fare Cards

Host families are responsible for the au pair’s transportation costs:

  • to and from classes and cluster meetings
  • driving the kids

It is a good idea to figure out how much gas an au pair will use for these trips and either put gas in the car or give a gas allowance.   If your au pair is riding to classes or cluster meetings with another au pair, you should offer to share the cost of gas.

Au pairs are responsible for their own transportation at all other times.  You should replace the amount of gas used for personal use.

Back to School Safety Tips 

It won’t be long and school will be starting again. It is time to go over a few, simple rules.  Practice with your host children how to safely wait for and board the school bus. Go over safe bicycling procedures if they’ll be riding. And don’t forget children who are in your car. They are at particular risk and need your guidance.

School_Bus_Cartoon_1

 

 

Riding the Bus

  • Have a safe place to wait for your bus, away from traffic and the street.
  • Stay away from the bus until it comes to a complete stop and the driver signals you to enter.
  • When being dropped off, exit the bus and walk ten giant steps away from the bus. Keep a safe distance between you and the bus. Also, remember that the bus driver can see you best when you are back away from the bus.
  • Use the handrail to enter and exit the bus.
  • Stay away from the bus until the driver gives his/her signal that it’s okay to approach.
  • Be aware of the street traffic around you. Drivers are required to follow certain rules of the road concerning school buses, however, not all do.

crossing street2

 

 

 

      

Walking and biking to school

Even if you don’t ride in a motor vehicle, you still have to protect yourself. Because of minimal supervision, young pedestrians face a wide variety of decisions making situations and dangers while walking to and from school. Here are a few basic safety tips to follow:  

  • Mind all traffic signals and/or the crossing guard — never cross the street against a light, even if you don’t see any traffic coming.
  • Walk your bike through intersections.
  • Walk with a buddy.

Wear reflective material…it makes you more visible to street traffic.

Riding in a car

carseat2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Safety belts are the best form of protection passengers have in the event of a crash. They can lower your risk of injury by 45%. You are four times more likely to be seriously injured or killed if ejected from the vehicle in a crash.

Remember: One Person – One Belt

  • Everybody needs a child safety seat, booster seat, or safety belt!
  • There must be one safety belt for each person. Buckling two people, even children, into one belt could injure both.
  • Everyone needs to be buckled up properly. That means older kids in seat belts, younger kids in booster seats and little kids in child safety seats.
  • The back seat is the safest place in a crash. Children age 12 and under should ride properly restrained in back. Infants riding rear-facing must NEVER be placed in front of an airbag.
  • People who are not buckled up can be thrown from the car or around inside the car, and seriously hurt themselves or others.
  • Never hold a child on your lap! You could crush him/her in a crash, or the child may be torn from your arms.
  • Never ride in the cargo area of a station wagon, van, or pickup! Anyone riding in the cargo area could be thrown out and severely injured or killed.
  • No one seat is ‘best’, The ‘best’ child safety seat is the one that fits your child and can be installed correctly.

CHOOSING AND USING THE CORRECT SEAT

AGE: Birth to 1 year 
WEIGHT: Up to 35 pounds
TYPE OF SEAT: Infant-only or Rear-facing Convertible
DIRECTION TO FACE: Infants should ride rear-facing to at least 1 year of age AND at least 20 pounds, longer if possible. The seat should be at a 30-45 degree angle to keep the child’s head from falling forward. Do not tip it too far back or the child could come out of the seat in a crash.
NOTE: Infants who outgrow a smaller infant-only seat before 1 year of age should ride rear-facing in a child safety seat with a higher rear-facing weight limit (over 22 pounds).
   
AGE: Over 1 year to 4 years old 
WEIGHT: Over 20 pounds, up to 40 pounds
TYPE OF SEAT: Convertible or Forward-Facing Only seat
DIRECTION TO FACE: A child over 1 year of age AND over 20 pounds may ride facing forward. Use the upright position or the position recommended by
the manufacturer.
NOTE: Keep the child in a child safety seat with a full harness as long as possible, preferably until 4 years old. For children 40 pounds or more who are too young or too active to sit still in a booster seat, or if a vehicle has only lap belts, look for child restraints with harnesses labeled for use over 40 pounds.
   
AGE: 4 to 8 years old  
WEIGHT: Over 40 pounds
TYPE OF SEAT: Belt-positioning Booster Seat, backless or high-back
DIRECTION TO FACE: Forward-Facing
NOTE: All children who have outgrown child safety seats should be properly restrained in booster seats until they are at least 8 years old, unless they are 4′ 9″ tall.

Fun in the Sun

Posted by Silga Vasilevsky on Jun 30, 2010 No Comments

Summer Safety Tips

sun

 

1. Never leave a child unattended in a car, even with the windows
rolled down.
2. Always lock the car when not in use so kids can’t play in it.
3. Make sure to check the temperature of the car seat and seat belt
before buckling a child in the car.
4. Don’t keep a baby in the infant carrier for long periods of time
on hot days. It can feel much hotter in the seat than outside.
5. Dress children in light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
6. Have children drink a lot of water (this is good advice for everyone).
7. Reduce or eliminate strenuous activities during the hottest parts
of the day.

Swimming Pool Safety Tips

pool
An adult should be at arm’s length of any child under the age of 5
in a swimming pool
Never leave any child alone in or near the water
Keep a phone by the pool at all times
Always check the gate is closed properly when leaving the pool
area
Host families should review their own home and pool safety rules
with the au pair.
DON’T FORGET THE SUN SCREEN!

  • Activities outside.  Try to keep children out of the sun during the middle of the day when the sun is the strongest.  If you take care of a baby, make sure it is never under the direct sun.  Please make sure you put on a sunscreen on your kids and yourself 30 minutes BEFORE going outside.  Make sure your kids are wearing hats, and you have plenty of drink with you.
  • Car safety.  I don’t need to repeat that you never ever leave kids alone in the car.  However, I want to add that temperatures during summer can reach extremely high in the car.  Before putting kids in the car, I advise you to turn it on for a few minutes with the air-conditioning running.  This way, the car will be cool when you get inside with your kids.
  • Personal  Americans shower and use deodorants every day, and you all are expected to do the same.  As the weather most likely is hotter and more humid here than in your country – you don’t want to have a body odor problem.  Also, be careful with the choice of your clothes – overexposure will make your family and kids feel uncomfortable.
  • Pool safety.  No running near the pool – the area is wet and slippery, and your kid might slip and fall on the hard concrete floor.  No glass containers (bottles, drinking cups) in the pool area.  Make sure you watch your kids ALL the time – never take your eyes away from them even with the life guard on duty.  Don’t let your kids to be in the pool too long.  Once in a while take them in the shade to have a drink and some calming activity – read a book, etc.  Don’t let your kids to jump in the pool from the side – have them walk down the steps.
  • Plan activities.  Many of you work more hours during summer because kids don’t have school then.  Maximum hours you are allowed to work per week is 45.  Make sure you plan your activities so they are fun not only for your kids, but also for you!  Make playdates, take them to the park, to the zoo, museums, movies, etc.  Discuss with the host parents what are you planning to do with the kids.  Make sure you pack the bag you will take with you early enough so that you don’t run around looking for things in the last minute.
  • Sunburn.  How to treat it: apply a cool compress (an easy one: a small carton of milk or juice) for fast relief, or have a bath in a tepid water with ¼ cup each of baking soda and cornstarch.  Aloe-vera plant gel is a good relief, too.  Call the doctor if you have blisters from the sunburn