Yearly Archives: 2015

Christmas “logs”, cookies and elephants – December 2015

A very wonderful APIA holiday party this year happened on Sunday with 9 countries represented!  We shared stories and holiday traditions (cakes baked with special treats for future tamale purchasers, summertime Santas, mean Krampus, posadas, reyes magos, pinatas, caga tios and to look out when walking the streets of Thailand in summer if it’s a water throwing day…).  Deliciously buttery cookies, spicy mango pops, triple chocolate cakes, marzipan, shortbread and so much more.  Wishing all you ladies a magical season here in the US, sharing and learning all that you can!

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Exploring – Today in Seattle and Tomorrow in ? – November 2015

Au Pairs headed indoors this month to hear about all the exploring they could do (and then they explored).   A Trek America representative came to speak about the tours they offer. By the notes taken, I think many are headed to Hawaii!  Au pairs who are seeking potential travel companions also shared timing to travel.

We then discussed our favorite spots in WA to explore which included:

Mt Rainier; Gasworks Park, Lake WA, Snoqualmie Falls, Space Needle, Pike Place Market, Downtown Seattle, UW and the Issaquah mountains.

And finally, we headed underground for a tour of Seattle version 1.0 before the big fire.

A great community day and thanks to all who came out.
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Swimming Against the Current -October 2015

“I think we’re going to the moon because it’s in the nature of the human being to face challenges. It’s by the nature of his deep inner soul… we’re required to do these things just as salmon swim upstream.”       -Neil Armstrong

The choice to become an au pair is a challenging one, one that most young women don’t make.  However, if you feel the pull to travel in your inner soul, it is like the salmon swimming upstream.  You must do it.

Last week, our au pair community gathered to watch something very Pacific Northwest in nature, we watched the salmon spawn upstream.  After witnessing this struggle, we then sat in a warm patch of grass to discuss our own struggles in the houses and with the families we now call home.  We solved each others’ anonymous childcare dilemmas with discussion and au pair to au pair advice.  Then we dispersed to check out the Issaquah Salmon Day festival food and crafts.  It was another beautiful APIA community day.

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Enjoying Here While We are Here – September 2015

“We should enjoy here while we’re here, ’cause there’s no here, there.”

Nearly 80 au pairs representing over 20 countries and their counselors ascended the Paradise trails of Mt Rainier this past weekend.  It was a glorious day of color and laughter and a wonderful time was had by all!

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Island Living…for a Few Hours Anyway… – August 2015

We had a gorgeous day together as three clusters met on Bainbridge Island to welcome one another, see another part of our gorgeous state and perhaps try our hand at some water sports!  Countless countries and almost all continents represented this group of over 50 au pairs, many meeting for the first time, to remember a big part about why we are all a part of this program – for the chance to get to know so many different cultures!  Go, International Friendships!  (A special shout out to those au pairs who took numerous buses and boats to make it to our day together.)  I heard from quite a few of you that you will be headed back.  Thanks to Carol, our host counselor, and to the WA state ferries for giving us some great pictures of the city we are all now calling “home.”IMG_6620 IMG_6639

Another Lovely Host Family Day with Over 150 of Our Closest Friends – July 2015

Our host family and au pair community came together today to meet one another, share international cuisines, do some cross-cultural scavenger hunting and play a lively game of water balloon toss (au pair/host child teams!).  These, once strangers, are now family and we, as counselors, are so privileged to witness this beautiful program in action.

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Maple Valley Days – An Intimate Gathering – June 2015

A group of ladies met me at Maple Valley Days to walk around the booths and sit under the shade of a tree discussing foods they missed, cultural differences and the life of an au pair. It was a nice afternoon spent getting to know each other more and sharing this unique, life-changing experience.

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Giving Back – May 2015

A group of au pairs gathered at the NW Harvest warehouse yesterday to give back to their host community.  1 out of every  7 person in Washington is hungry.  We are ranked 15th in the entire U.S.  NW Harvest and APIA have partnered for a few years now lending a hand to help these statistics.  We worked hard packing 5,368 pounds of edamame which would mean 4,129 meals for families around the state.  The weather outside was gorgeous and au pairs had worked hard all week, so it was very special that these strong, caring young women took time from their cherished weekend to work so hard.  Thank you, ladies!

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Making Whale Sounds On Earth Day – April 2015

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Happy Earth Day!  Reps gathered from various parts of our shared globe – Italy, The Ukraine, Brazil, Germany, South Korea, New Zealand and Poland…and a raccoon and fish for good measure.  We lounged in the sun, signed cougar petitions, took selfies, made whale sounds with PNW Native American flutists, and in between the songs of the big band, did a summer safety quiz!

Rollerskating the Rain Away – March 2015

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A fantastic group of au pairs – seasoned and new – braved the rain and joined me at the rollerskating rink in Bellevue for a quick lesson for some of us less equipped on 8 wheels.  We informally discussed safety elements of being an au pair outside of work hours.  Online dating, buddy systems, and the recent issues at the UW fraternity parties.  Safety is number one with our the kids in our trust, and also number one with those who take care of those kids!