Tag Archives: au pair in america

Fall Was Buckets of Fun – October 2021

The au pairs in Seattle/Tacoma know how to have a good time.  We started the month dancing for Latinx Heritage Month and ended it with a Halloween extravaganza and a challenge!  Mayra from Colombia opened her home and taught us all some dance moves, Nicol, also from Colombia and her host family won the Fall Bucket List Challenge and completed 16 of the items on the list, and the strong au pairs chose their favorite strong characters to be this Halloween.  Real life inspirations dressing up as make believe ones.

Viva la Vida! Latinx Heritage Month

Taking Tacoma by Storm – September 2021

The weather has turned this September here in WA, but this small but mighty group of au pairs took Tacoma by storm and bid Laura a fond farewell as she heads out to year 2 in another part of the US.  We walked the (rain-free) streets, sharing in the journey of exchange and just simply getting to know one another.  Back to simple. And to celebrate Peace Day took this shot.

Hiking for a Fall – Snoqualmie Falls

What a day!  Au pairs made the journey to bear witness themselves to this iconic WA site.  Snoqualmie Falls is gorgeous and powerful and these women fit right into that scenery.  In that moment in time, countrywomen representing Poland, Mexico, Colombia, Thailand, Panama and Argentina came together as one.

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. .

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

Team USA (Unbelievably Smart Au pairs) Makes Top 16 in Trivia – March

March Madness Trivia stars shown above know their stuff.  When questioned about arts, culture, geography, history, they pulled out some great facts and figures and represented well.  Our team “Team USA (unbelievably smart au pairs)” came in with only 16 other teams remaining.  Smarties in Seattle!  Thank you especially to Anna, Laura, Sharon, Natalia, Mariana and Sofia for representing. We are still apart, but we are together.

Getting our Happiness on for the New Year – Jan 2021

After watching an inspirational TED talk, we launched a happiness challenge as a group and over the next 21 days, those willing to take the challenge will be doing these 5 things daily:  1 random act of kindness, list 3 daily gratitudes, journal about something good that happened within last 24 hours, exercise, and meditate.  We will be sharing our efforts in our WhatsApp group throughout the month to inspire one another.  Au pairs also are encouraged to take an amazing class (this APIA counselor very much enjoyed) offered by Yale University entitled The Science of Well Being https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being.

The world is in a dark place right now, but we are digging deep for the light and these ladies have what it takes!  Their American adventure this year and last is like none others yet in history and the teachings are deep.  We will emerge even more wise, strong and fierce.  This is our pledge.

Not a Normal Holiday – December 2020

Au pairs gathered by zoom to talk about their favorite spots to go with kids, family traditions from home – swimming and eating fresh fruit in South Africa in the heat, BBQs in New Zealand and Brazil, sending letters off by balloons to Santa in Colombia, the Austrian Krampus, the German passion plays and Christmas Eves, and cooking in pajamas in Panama. They revealed gifts and secret Santas and shared the 2020 silver linings:  baby yoda, cheese plates, new romances, great families, wonderful host kids, and traveling around the state.

Turkey Trot and Culture Share Zoom – November 2020

Au pairs and host kids did some walking last month!  Together we donated our time and money to Northwest Harvest, an APIA local partner for over a decade, which helps to supply our food banks around WA.
 
Congrats to Camila from Brazil, living in Lacey, and her host kids for winning our Top Turkey of the Turkey Trot Contest!  She and her family walked a total of 575,225 steps in November. Way to go…and they are not done yet…checking their pedometers this month too!  Thank you to everyone who went walking!  The walks are clutch about now.
And on a zoom call, au pairs shared a bit of their culture with the group and asked some questions about childcare and education.  Low key and just us.  Attached is a shot of some of our lovelies in this zoom (black background shot) and of me, in perfect zoom spirit with eyes closed.  Hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving holiday.