Tag Archives: seattle

Ascending our Active Volcano – September 2019

90+ APIA fans headed up into the clouds of Mt Rainier at Paradise.  We didn’t have clear skies, but we didn’t have rain either.  And while the beauty of the mountain might have alluded us in the bigger picture, we did enjoy the wild flowers, wild beasts (some even caught a glimpse of a bear) and one another in the wild.  A bit of speed dating on the way up on the bus and we are off to another beautiful fall season as a community of interculturalists, set to support one another on this cross-cultural journey.

 

APIA Community Day and Culture Fair – August 2019

Au Pair In America has the best cross cultural child care community out there.  Yep, I said it.  (and I used alliteration for bonus points…).  This WA community gathered to celebrate our connections – people who are globally minded, adventurously spirited and just good ole’ kid fans.  And boy did those kids party.  We were 165 people and 12 nations strong in Redmond with our multi-cluster day: sharing culture in a culture fair put on by hard working and proud au pairs, throwing water balloons, scavenger hunting, tattooing, face painting and crown making.

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.

 

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…