What a fun event. Nearly 40 of us submerged ourselves in the town that was the town before the town of Seattle. Most came as witches, some as animals, one as a flight attendant and many came as they are (so very Seattle). Beneath the Streets https://www.beneath-the-streets.com never disappoints on the fun facts and historical look at our community from the starts of our community.
Our cultural fair and APIA Family Day was a great success with over 100 people in attendance! Au pairs hosted an amazing cultural fair, greeting the touring kids as they traveled the virtual world with their fake passports, getting stickers from the countries as they went. We had representatives from Argentina, Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Spain and Thailand. We ate donut holes, made flyers, did scavenger hunts and tossed some wet water balloons. Fun times with an amazingly supportive global community. We are all feeling grateful.
The au pairs in WA state gathered up for some swimming, singing and donating of shoes for the J-1 exchange day national celebrations. We enjoyed one another’s company and sang along to our joint Spotify global jam mix. Summer fun!
Exchange Day is coming soon on August 5, and APIA was excited to celebrate with a shoe drive. Held on the first Monday in August, Exchange Day is a nationwide celebration of the power of international exchange. Program participants come together with their American hosts to share cultural experiences, give back to their communities, and have some fun. This day is also an opportunity to raise awareness of international exchange programs and spread the word about the power of cultural exchange.
APIA has historically celebrated Exchange Day in August with shoe drives, au pair get togethers, and more.
Delightful day at the ballgame this past weekend with nearly 70 au pairs from around WA in a multi-cluster ball game. Not everyone knew the rules, and we started the day pretty wet from our atmospheric river running through it, but by the end, we were all smiles with a Mariners win and a nice day of hot dogs and Americana.
Thanks to all the au pairs who shared in our culture share and sculpture walk this past May. We learned more about one another and about what makes our cultures unique.
We had a wonderful joint cluster meeting with au pairs from around the globe as we “discovered” more about the Gates Foundation together. Au pairs were able to share the main export crops from their own countries and put together the bigger picture of how we are battling poverty and hunger and willing around the world. It was a nice day of witnessing what can happen when we work together to make big changes. We arrived curious and indeed left inspired.
This cluster event is close to my heart as a former participant, turned practitioner, in cultural exchanges. Decades ago, while living in Spain, and later, while living in Japan, I was followed and attacked. Luckily, walking with a partner freed me from the first attacker and later, my wits and my legs got me out of the second incident. I’m one of the lucky ones. And as one, this particular cluster meeting’s contents are full circle moments, empowering the next generation.
The World Health Organization estimates that 1 in every 3 women in the world experience violence and these stats have not improved over the past decade. While overseas, young women are an especially vulnerable population to acts of violence. It is the world we live in and it is happening everywhere. The good news is that people like Officer Craig and the Bellevue Police are doing something to help combat these statistics in a real way.
Over the weekend, a group of au pairs from Poland, Thailand, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, France, and South Africa learned the techniques. From using our strong voice, to standing firm so as to not fall and in the right direction leaving the option open to run, Officer Craig reviewed the jiu jitsu mechanics that could help if we are overpowered. Using frames with our arms, the power of our strong legs and closing the gaps (getting closer to an assailant when needed) to lessen impacts.
We are so grateful to the Bellevue Police Department and to people like Officer Craig who work in this proactive way “to protect and to serve citizens” and visitors of WA. These young women are just starting their practice and it’s because of free workshops such as these that women might be safer, walking the streets of any town.
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The community of Au Pairs in Washington gathered up to watch another group of strong women – the UW women’s basketball team. Basketball, like cultural exchange, is full of lessons in teamwork, pivoting, communicating, and adapting. A fun day was had by all with close to 100 Au pairs joining the fun.
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!
This year our cluster had monthly coffee days like last to get to know one another better than having just our one monthly cluster event. (Those tend to be very well attended and active, but less intimate!) I personally adore these coffee times – rotating around our cluster towns – with smaller groups sharing and getting deeper into their experiences and one another. And kids are always invited. 
