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. 
Tag Archives: host family
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.
Lake Talks and Pride Parades – June 2018
A smaller group of au pairs headed to the lake to have brunch and soak our toes just talking and another crew headed to show their support and experience the Pride Parade in Seattle. The lake crew discussed some highlights and lowlights of their experience so far on program and what they have learned, experiencing all of them. We shared cross-cultural frustrations, memories of travel adventures, and personal growth moments. I personally appreciate the small group setting for getting to better know one another, but also loved there being a group experiencing the zeitgeist of Seattle.
Au Pairs Tour Century Link Stadium
Getting an insider view on the Seahawk’s home turf, these au pairs got to see the press room, media center, locker room, jersey wall, and special box seats during our day at the field. We learned more about the #12 fans ability to create seismic earthquakes with their enthusiasm and see the city from the gorgeous views of the stadium’s upper decks. A beautiful day together being 12s from around the world.
Au Pairs Fall for the Falls – Snoqualmie, that is – April 2018
What was more gorgeous – these falls or the new found strength of these globally-minded women? Au pairs headed to see the famous Snoqualmie Falls this past sunny Sunday. We “hiked” down the hill, allowing the strong water to mist our faces as we talked about the impact of the program and the confidence and voices gained when challenged by differing languages, cultures and styles. We bid a fond farewell to three special friends from Poland, Germany and China who had great advice for the group. To paraphrase, “Put yourself out there and don’t be afraid. This year will be what you make it!”
