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. 
Tag Archives: eastside
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.
Jan 2020 Kim’s Coffee Chat
Our very own Franzi from Germany has made the cut in the finals for Au Pair In America Au Pair of the Year. She is seen here receiving her award to return to the family who loves her so much. Our cluster sent in more contestants than most others nationwide. People here know how to pick a great family member! Congrats, Franzi! Thanks to Third Culture Coffee for hosting us!
Holiday Cheer Goes Global – December 2019
Au pairs from Brazil, Mexico, Germany, and Colombia shared their holiday traditions, both country and family and we enjoy a spirited game of white elephant and treats from around the globe. Some of these ladies are chefs in their own right! Coming together as a community is important around the holiday time and stopping to take stock in a tough, but amazing year is part of the au pair journey. And this game is just a lot of fun…https://happyhomefairy.com/a-super-fun-christmas-game/
A Sort of Thanksgiving – November 2019
Our crew gathered in West Seattle this month for some pie tasting and craft making. Johanna from Germany led us in a Blidergebnis fur Laternen craft. The story goes that St Martin, being a kind man, cut his cloak in half to share with a beggar during a snowstorm. On Nov 11, this day celebrates altruism and modesty. Since APIA is all about sharing, we thought it relevant this season. Thank you to our host families who sharing their Thanksgiving tables with young women from around the world!
Brazilian Coffee Hour in Kirkland
Brazil in the house! Celebrating birthdays and eating cheese bread. D. Lish.
Mariner’s Game Day with Our Tribe
Au pairs gathered for our annual Mariner’s baseball game this past weekend. It was a beautiful sunny day spent watching a very American past time in a city that the world is also enjoying. Play ball!
Daniela from Brazil Wins Community Service Award for WA State
Absolutely deserved. Daniela has been a leader in our Eastside WA cluster for her entire time on program. She has shared her multicultural views in Global Awareness presentations in schools, worked hard as an au pair with her host family and host son and volunteered her free time teaching others to have the courage to use their voices using their English abilities. Read Daniela’s own words in her winning letter about ELLA to APIA here:
https://www.aupairinamerica.com/communityservice/winners.asp
Hiking our Hearts Out on the No Name Trail
Symbolism abounds in our day together. The counselor is lost. Two au pairs lead the way with better hiking apps and we find ourselves on the No Name trail and have a time. Our adventuous group stops along the way to count our gratitudes and eat some Seattle chocolate and ends our time by sharing what challenges us, but also what we are hopeful for. Heard in conversations, “I’m grateful for the woman I am right now.” Great final words for this Sunday.
Century Link Stadium Tour – May 2019
How many pictures can we take? Ladies were looking great in the sunshine, in the press boxes and in the locker rooms at the Century Link stadium tour. It was really fascinating to hear about the history of the spot where our Seattle Seahawks play and we had a fine time spending time with one another as 12s on a gorgeous day.
