We’ve got gamers, hikers and readers. Au pairs will be finding their special interest groups for 2024. The things they love will be more fun with friends this year!
Category Archives: Uncategorized
A Night of Light and Gifts – December 2021
We were beyond thrilled to be together again in person and are finding our groove with joining clusters again. The au pairs of the Eastside, Tacoma and Seattle areas gathered together to see the gorgeous lights on display at the Bellevue Botanical Gardens. Before heading out, au pairs shared customs from their countries and traditional songs, recipes, weather, and the meaning for them behind the season. After our eyes danced with the garden displays, we exchanged secret santa gifts and many headed down the hill for the Snowflake Lane parade in Bellevue. ’tis the season for sharing and here is more about how to best do that!
10 Tips for Sharing Global Holiday Traditions (and Making New Ones)
A Pool of Our Own – July 2021
Our second in-person cluster event was a night pool party – with the pool reserved just for APIA for safety. We relaxed in water and got to know one another a little bit more from a distance, outside. It’s been a long time coming and it was nice to gather young women from around the globe together in one place for a moonlight dip.
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The Crystal Ball for a Year of the Unpredictable – May 2021
We had the au pairs vote on the cluster zoom they would find most entertaining this month and a guided Tarot card reader won with most votes. It was a fascinating night with personal stories and encouragement from a woman who learned these arts from her grandmother growing up in Mexico City. And some others joined to just listen and learn about another way of knowing and seeing the unpredictable world… Open minds, open hearts and forward movement prevailed. 
Earth Day Contest and Spring Celebration – April 2021
Au Pairs celebrated Earth Day this year by purchasing and using earth friendly products, collecting trash, planting seeds, hiking, biking, going to the beach, doing yoga, taking pictures, and of course, visiting the tulips in the Skagit Valley. Our Earth Day winner, earning the title of Earth Mothers of the Cluster and a gift card was Marine from South Africa for her self watering vegetable garden. Congrats to all for their dedication to cleaning up 
Disney Trivia Zoom and Chocolate – February 2021
Do you know your Disney trivia? These ladies from around the globe do and they got some chocolate mailed to them for being so wise. We enjoyed some community time and some giggles this month of love. 
https://parade.com/1041219/alexandra-hurtado/disney-trivia/
Fall Bucket List Challenge – October 2020
We got the spirit! The au pairs and their host kids were off to the races this month, making the most of their October. We got tons of pictures of them in action, getting out and about this Fall. Here are just a few of them and the photo contest that started it all. Congrats to Annika from Austria and Anna from Brazil who won gift cards to spend with their host children teammates. Such fun to watch virtually from the side lines! And in addition to those two teams, Ikky from Italy and Mariana from Brazil also made the national APIA instagram account. Inspiration!
https://www.instagram.com/theaupairinamerica/?hl=en
APIA Class Reps Run Games in Zoom – April 2020
We kept safe and at home and in our zoom room this month again. Au pairs shared their favorite television shows, favorite zen places, and we did a temperature check of the moods/feelings we are all going through. These women are strong (together we are stronger) and their program will go on…just not how they had imagined.
APIA Community Day and Culture Fair – August 2019
Au Pair In America has the best cross cultural child care community out there. Yep, I said it. (and I used alliteration for bonus points…). This WA community gathered to celebrate our connections – people who are globally minded, adventurously spirited and just good ole’ kid fans. And boy did those kids party. We were 165 people and 12 nations strong in Redmond with our multi-cluster day: sharing culture in a culture fair put on by hard working and proud au pairs, throwing water balloons, scavenger hunting, tattooing, face painting and crown making.
Hitting the Pool – August “coffee day” 2019
Our cluster gathers more intimately monthly for coffee meetings around town and this month, we hit the pool and left the coffee behind. Au pairs gathered for sandwiches and ice cream at the Arbor Heights pool in West Seattle. Delightful to soak with this crew and just unwind. #welovesummer
