Below is a gorgeous group of giving girls. This past weekend was beautiful outside and here in Seattle, we wait for those sunny, winter days. But this crew went inside and for their precious time off, helped pack thousands of pounds of oats for those hungry around WA state at NW Harvest. It is not the most popular of our cluster events, but it is a favorite for those who feel its true meaning and impact on the community this global village shares together for one or two years. In this picture are representatives from Bolivia, Mexico, Brazil, Austria, Germany, China, South Africa and Colombia helping out the US – one person at a time.
Tag Archives: cross cultural
Au Pairs Learn the Art of Giving Back – Gates Foundation – Feb 2019
Au pairs gathered from a few clusters to hear about some of the amazing things happening around the globe in the name of the Gates Foundation. From the innovative design of green toilets competing for attention in Europe, to the stoves made on Vashon Island, WA, inspiration abounds. Relying on data, the Gates family educates us about all the progress in the world with regard to disease and poverty. There really is so much to be excited about as a world citizen. We closed our time together talking about the APIA Explorer program and ways in which we might individually help our local community…enter the next cluster event stage right as we soon head to NW Harvest in March…
UW Women’s Basketball Has Hundreds of Au Pair Fans
Nothing better than the power of a strong woman! We were 110 au pairs strong from around the globe watching these young UW college basketball athletes. Our joint cluster event was an inspirational success this January. Go Huskies! http://gohuskies.com/index.aspx?path=wbball
Holiday Sharing and Swapping – December 2018
Our community gathered in Kirkland this season to share holiday traditions, sweets and gifts. Thanks to a generous host family who opened their home, we snuggled up with hot cocoa, socks, hats and trees to play games and reconnect. It’s tough to be far from home during this season, but being together, makes it that much easier. 
International Education Week and a “Sort of” Thanksgiving – November 2018
We had an important week last month in the year of a J-1 visa exchange – IEW was Nov 13-17!
This taken from the Department of State link:
International Education Week (IEW) is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is part of our efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences. Learn more about it here:
https://eca.state.gov/programs-and-initiatives/initiatives/international-education-week
In light of this IEW, our cluster event was about how best to share our cultures. Thanksgiving itself was the celebrations of two cultures getting to know more about one another, starting from common ground with the most basic of human needs. Food! Nearly 40 au pairs brought money, flags, stories of their sisters and grandmothers, and many other items that represented home to them. And one au pair from Brazil shared how she shared – her tips and tricks for the Global Awareness presentations that APIA supports and encourages. Thank you, Danielle!
Mutual respect for diversity and this inclusive community are inspirational to watch in action. That, after all, is the heart of the Thanksgiving holiday…
A Spooky Night at the Circus – Oct 2018
Au pairs gathered at the Emerald City Trapeze Arts Studio to enjoy an amazing (and really spooky) show. Strong women from Costa Rica, Brazil, Germany, Austria, South Africa, and Poland watched as more strong women from around the globe dazzled us with their balance and strength. (The guys were pretty good too.) Taking their cues from popular music and movies and music movies, the performers were true artists. It’s a lesser known fact that Seattle hosts one of the largest circus school in the US, but these au pairs now know the truth.
Scavenger Hunting on Bainbridge Island – October 2018
This fun loving group ran the streets of this gorgeous island this month, taking selfies at various vendors and getting to know new APIA community members. Au pairs worked on teams and raced to the finish line for ice cream prizes. We took some time beforehand to talk about how to best talk through conflict when you work where you live and how to support one another through the most rewarding, but most challenging year many will face. Together we are stronger!
The Yearly Rite of Passage on Our Volcano – September 2018
Au pairs ascended the Mt Rainier volcano this past Sunday and another class of young women came down from that mountain stronger than ever. We had a nice day getting to know one another on the long bus ride there, playing a state trivia game and sleeping on the bus ride home. These pictures tell the rest of the story…
Host Family Day and Culture Fair – August 2018
Over 100 people- parents, au pairs and kids joined our casual picnic and culture fair this year on the east side! We had a wonderful location this year and as a J-Day add, donated clothes and shoes to Treehouse. All this alongside the amazing contributions by the au pairs from Thailand, Brazil, Germany, Austria and The Czech Republic, our APIA host kids got stickers for their passports, tattoos, face paint and dined around the globe. We ended the day with some diversity bingo and our enthusiastic water balloon toss.
This year is the best thus far in their young lives say 85% of our APIA au pairs and events like these with cultures and families coming together, are a big reason for this.
Hellos and Goodbyes – July 2018
This gorgeous group humored me and my phone’s new portrait mode as we strolled through the Bellevue Botanical gardens. These young women from around the globe, some just arrived, some headed home after a year, ate ice cream and summer safety quizzed. It was casual and it was nice.
