Tag Archives: nanny

What Made You a Better Person in 2021? & APIA Tops the Charts – January 2022

Au pairs were asked this and many more questions in our zoom reflections of the year.  Here were some highlights of what was shared:

What were your good moments and gratitudes?  travel, northern lights, snowfall, culture sharing with my host family, learning English…

What did you do right or how did you grow as a person?  learned to say goodbye, improved communication, got the courage to speak up and talk about tough moments…

What are your 2022 plans or mottos for the new year?  “ask myself, ‘why not?'” “stay safe, live more,” make more friends, say yes not no, volunteer, exercise, use social media less, be more generous,…

And speaking of 2022, we are thrilled to report that APIA again has been named the top au pair agency from VeryWell Family.   Proud of our state, regional and national team of dedicated employees!

A Night of Light and Gifts – December 2021

We were beyond thrilled to be together again in person and are finding our groove with joining clusters again.  The au pairs of the Eastside, Tacoma and Seattle areas gathered together to see the gorgeous lights on display at the Bellevue Botanical Gardens.  Before heading out, au pairs shared customs from their countries and traditional songs, recipes, weather, and the meaning for them behind the season. After our eyes danced with the garden displays, we exchanged secret santa gifts and many headed down the hill for the Snowflake Lane parade in Bellevue.  ’tis the season for sharing and here is more about how to best do that!

10 Tips for Sharing Global Holiday Traditions (and Making New Ones)

 

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.

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.