Yearly Archives: 2013

International Cookie and Culture Exchange

Close to 50 of our au pairs gathered in the home of one of our host families in Medina this month to celebrate the season.  We heard stories of children’s shoes in the window sills, Santa Lucia, barbeques, Saint Nikolas, songs from South America and Germany, food celebrations with fish on the 24th and many other traditions celebrated in this time around the globe.  Cookies and treats were exchanged as well as information and we ended our time together with a good old fashioned US American white elephant gift exchange.

However you celebrate, APIA wishes you the very best of seasons!

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APIA, Seahawks, Northwest Harvest Battle Hunger – November 2013

Close to 30 au pairs from around the globe gathered around Seahawks stadium for the (now infamous game) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Our selfless ladies, held signs, spoke with fans and gave up a day off to help the 1-5 families in Washington state that find themselves hungry.  WA is the 15th hungriest state in the U.S.  That day, APIA au pairs and other volunteers collected over $14,000 for the cause!

A FEW THINGS ABOUT NORTHWEST HARVEST

  • They are a statewide hunger response network.
  • They distribute food to more than 360 food banks, meal programs and high need schools throughout Washington state.
  • Last year, they distributed

o   More than 30 million pounds of food,

o   Which is 1.9 million meals a month.

  • All of the food and money collected at the Seahawks Tackle Hunger event will stay in Washington.

Thank you to all the APIA au pairs who now call WA their home and who donated a Sunday to this important cause with Northwest Harvest.

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Salmon Days – October 2013

Au pairs from around the globe gathered to share in a very PNW event – Salmon Days in Issaquah!  We made new friends, did a bit of shopping and had a nice picnic with blue grass music after learning about the salmon life cycle… and with 70 degree October weather…nice!

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A Wet Mt Rainier – September 2013

A brave group of 50 au pairs hiked on a windy, hailing Mt Rainier yesterday.  We first watched the video telling us about extremes on the Mountain (an active volcano with glaciers) and the counselors were reminded of the same weekend last year when we hiked with au pairs in 90 degree dry heat.  Truly this mountain does have its own weather system.  Au Pairs hiked up to see the falls on Paradise and, despite the weather, were all wearing smiles, if not the right rain gear.  Expectations are set for those who recently arrived…think they are ready for a Seattle winter…can only get drier than that.

rainier - september snowrainier movie

Back to School Meeting and Au Pair Greeting – August 2013

Au Pairs gathered in my home to discuss the back to school transition and it’s impact on little minds.  We talked about our favorite places to go inside now that the weather will be less lovely.  In addition, we welcomed many new au pairs arriving this summer and shared coping strategies for  getting through homesickness.  It was great to see our new additions to the cluster and some old friends on the end of their second year!

(Watch for Madelene from Sweden to be on the next Cake Czar with treats like this…)

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Host Family Day – July 2013

What a fun beach day!   Over 100 Au Pair In America au pairs, families, and kids gathered in Lincoln Park in West Seattle to share international cuisine, participate in an enthusiastic game of  AP/kid water balloon toss, get tattooed by APIA, color, learn from beach naturalists, and share stories and schedules for the next play date.  What a wonderful community!

100 of our closest friends

Au Pair Love

APIA Joins March of Dimes March for Babies – May 2013

A small, but dedicated group of APIA au pairs got up early on a Saturday to show their support of the March of Dimes and help celebrate 75 years of this amazing organization.  With the streets of downtown closed, we walked and talked thinking about the reasons why.  The money we  raised, with the help of our generous host families and their employers, supports March of Dimes programs in our WA communities that help moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies. And it will fund research to find answers to the problems that threaten our babies.  We were quite proud to march for this mission!

part of the APIA marching for babies team

Germany represents here in WA

St. Patrick's Day Wishes for a Year Abroad – March 2013

Our cluster gathered at my home to talk first about taxes and then about wishes!  A green bowl was passed around where au pairs could put anonymously her wishes (a la leprechaun) for her year in the U.S.  Many wanted to improve their English, make lasting friendships, learn about themselves, travel the U.S. with a must stop in Hawaii and perhaps meet a lovely U.S. American boy during their stay.  Our green dishes went from the savory stuffed green peppers to green tea balls and almost everything green in between.  Wonderful spending the afternoon with such a diverse, smart, caring group of young women with independent goals, but many shared wishes…

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