The au pairs gathered at the Gates Foundation this month to bear witness to all the good works being done around the world and learn about US American philanthropy. The Gates Foundation made our international community feel right at home amongst those who cherish the idea of helping and understanding one another better on this planet we all share.
Au pairs gathered in my home to think about their new year’s resolutions, get to know one another more and discuss conflict resolution skills. (We really just had a nice, long brunch together as a family away from family!)
New Year’s resolutions included: saving money, being more positive, playing more sports, studying more English, taking a course that helps a resume, extending the program on the east coast, traveling more, making more friends, meeting as many people as possible, passing the TOEFL, reading one book per month, having fun in Canada, meeting more au pairs, planning the travel month, jumping from a bungee, shopping less, seeing a friend in Atlanta, learning as much about the US as I can, teaching my host kids more about my culture, staying true to myself and becoming confident, making the best of the rest of the au pair year.
A group of our dedicated au pairs came together in a host family’s home in Kirkland this season to be together as a community. We shared stories and holiday traditions (including home made delicacies from around the globe). We then partook in a white elephant where everyone was on their best behavior and stole nothing! Afterward we discussed how to overcome homesickness and hot travel spots were shared. Wishing everyone a magical season here in the US, sharing and learning all that you can.
International Education Week (IEW) has been designated as Nov 14-18 by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. It comes just before the Thanksgiving holiday here in the US. In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. This was a celebration of two cultures and their peacefully learning about one another’s differences, starting from a common ground with the most basic of human needs. Food!
Our Greater Seattle cluster event this month focused on how to best share their culture, gathering for our own “non-traditional” Thanksgiving dinner at IKEA. We had more meatballs and mac-n-cheese than might be found at most host family tables perhaps, but we enjoyed a shared meal none-the-less, and spent some time learning about each other and the important cultural stories we hold dear.
Young women from Croatia, Sweden, Portugal, Germany, Mexico, South Africa, and Brazil shared sports jerseys, picture books, money, candy, chocolate, common holiday traditions and thoughts on their exchange year in the US. The hope now is that they continue to share. With families. With one another. With their childrens’ classrooms. With a boys/girls club. With a church group. With a library. At a birthday party. Anywhere. With anyone. After all, cultural exchange is the name of our game and what makes our world an exciting place. APIA provides tools via our Global Awareness program.
One of the most rewarding aspects of my 20 year career within J-1 visa programs has been in watching young women from around the globe test their inner strength and find their outer voice. Yesterday this group below did just that. The fear of public speaking crosses cultures, so we talked about how to best overcome this – practice. The goal of the J-1 visa is to gain a cross cultural understanding, but then ensure that learning is spread to others. These ladies spoke out loud and proud and are just getting started in making this world a better place.
Click here to read more about Global Awareness, a program of Au Pair In America.
Click here to read more about the State Department’s IEW events and how people on visa exchanges around the US are sharing cultures and appreciating differences.
This past Sunday was a bit cloudy, a bit rainy (some of us thought the sun may come out and donned shorts…ok one of us and it never did…), but a cheery day for an international community to come together to get to know one another. We found fewer views, but a plethora of animals. Chipmunks and marmots posed for us on rocks as the au pair crew of this 2016 hike ascended to new heights. Also of note, a nice sing-along to the top 40s, including our own Seattle boy, Macklemore. They are true Seattle-ites now!
Well, we thankfully saw no cougars, but we also saw little water on our hike to Coal Creek Falls (too late for much more ice to melt, so falls were a nice, dry picnic spot). Our crew took the many different paths leading up to the Falls and discussed the American culture – the surprises and the challenges. Newly arrived au pairs also received some good advice from au pairs headed home after almost a year. The discussion reminded everyone what an individual journey cross-cultural exchange can be at times, but that if we stand together, we are stronger!
A crew of 60 au pairs headed to the ball park to enjoy a game (with amazing seats heavily subsidized by a generous host dad to celebrate his son’s birthday!) We watched from a view just above third base as the Royals and Mariners went head to head. Our team lost, but the sunshine and smiling community of international friends made us all winners.
The world went to Snoqualmie this month to see the power of the falls, breathe the fresh air of the state and hike as a community of international friends. South Africa, Poland, Brazil, Croatia, Portugal, Italy, Mexico, Thailand, Germany, Sweden, New Zealand and Costa Rica all representing! We capped our luxurious hike with a summer safety quiz – clearly all passed with flying colors. Summer, we are ready.
Our au pair community is strong and mighty and we always have a meal. We are lucky that way and learned about the thousands of hungry in our state of WA, helping NW Harvest make a difference in a few lives by working in the warehouse on a Saturday. These strong ladies from 10 countries packed up 5,800 pounds of corn that would equate to 4,461 meals around our state. APIA was thrilled to be a part of something bigger than any one of us that day. Thanks, North West Harvest!
