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!
The au pairs headed this month to the Gates Foundation to hear about the work this important group is doing both here in WA and abroad. The interactive museum and our guide helped to focus our attention on the areas of most concern such as clean water, malaria and education. The work done by the Gates family and US. entrepreneurs throughout our nation’s history made for an interesting back drop on the current capitalist discussion and how this idea of altruism differs around the world. Through simulations, we were able to try our own hand at lifting and envisioning how children would carry water to their village for miles and make it last for a full day. We might now better empathize with the need for resource management and shut off the tap when we brush our teeth each day.
A very wonderful APIA holiday party this year happened on Sunday with 9 countries represented! We shared stories and holiday traditions (cakes baked with special treats for future tamale purchasers, summertime Santas, mean Krampus, posadas, reyes magos, pinatas, caga tios and to look out when walking the streets of Thailand in summer if it’s a water throwing day…). Deliciously buttery cookies, spicy mango pops, triple chocolate cakes, marzipan, shortbread and so much more. Wishing all you ladies a magical season here in the US, sharing and learning all that you can!
We had a gorgeous day together as three clusters met on Bainbridge Island to welcome one another, see another part of our gorgeous state and perhaps try our hand at some water sports! Countless countries and almost all continents represented this group of over 50 au pairs, many meeting for the first time, to remember a big part about why we are all a part of this program – for the chance to get to know so many different cultures! Go, International Friendships! (A special shout out to those au pairs who took numerous buses and boats to make it to our day together.) I heard from quite a few of you that you will be headed back. Thanks to Carol, our host counselor, and to the WA state ferries for giving us some great pictures of the city we are all now calling “home.”
Our host family and au pair community came together today to meet one another, share international cuisines, do some cross-cultural scavenger hunting and play a lively game of water balloon toss (au pair/host child teams!). These, once strangers, are now family and we, as counselors, are so privileged to witness this beautiful program in action.
A group of ladies met me at Maple Valley Days to walk around the booths and sit under the shade of a tree discussing foods they missed, cultural differences and the life of an au pair. It was a nice afternoon spent getting to know each other more and sharing this unique, life-changing experience.
A group of au pairs gathered at the NW Harvest warehouse yesterday to give back to their host community. 1 out of every 7 person in Washington is hungry. We are ranked 15th in the entire U.S. NW Harvest and APIA have partnered for a few years now lending a hand to help these statistics. We worked hard packing 5,368 pounds of edamame which would mean 4,129 meals for families around the state. The weather outside was gorgeous and au pairs had worked hard all week, so it was very special that these strong, caring young women took time from their cherished weekend to work so hard. Thank you, ladies!
Happy Earth Day! Reps gathered from various parts of our shared globe – Italy, The Ukraine, Brazil, Germany, South Korea, New Zealand and Poland…and a raccoon and fish for good measure. We lounged in the sun, signed cougar petitions, took selfies, made whale sounds with PNW Native American flutists, and in between the songs of the big band, did a summer safety quiz!
A fantastic group of au pairs – seasoned and new – braved the rain and joined me at the rollerskating rink in Bellevue for a quick lesson for some of us less equipped on 8 wheels. We informally discussed safety elements of being an au pair outside of work hours. Online dating, buddy systems, and the recent issues at the UW fraternity parties. Safety is number one with our the kids in our trust, and also number one with those who take care of those kids!
