Monthly Archives: May 2022

Memorial Day

happy-memorial-day1

Memorial Day is a patriotic holiday in the United States of America, celebrated on the last Monday in May.  It is a celebration of remembrance for the brave service of men and women who gave their lives for their country. Memorial Day was declared a federal holiday in 1971. We now, designate this day to remember loved ones who have passed on, as well as remembering our service men and women. Flowers and flags are placed on graves in remembrance of them. Parades and dedications of memorials usually are part of the day’s activities. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, local marching bands, members of the armed service, fire departments, police departments, and fraternal orders often march in parades and attend ceremonies to commemorate the day.  

Here are a couple of links to website that have activities you can do with the children in honor of Memorial Day.

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/memorial-day/

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/memorialday/

Au Pair Bucket List

Here’s a “bucket-list” with 52 fun ideas for every week of the year. Have fun! 

1. Travel to NYC

2. Attend an outdoor concert

3. Travel to California

4. Carve a pumpkin

5. Travel to Niagara Falls

6. Attend a baseball game

7. Eat a banana split

8. Travel to Philadelphia

9. Go camping

10. Travel to Boston

11. Go on a cruise

12. Go to Disneyland or Disneyworld

13. Travel to Chicago

14. Attend a football game

15. Attend a live concert

16. Travel to New Orleans

17. Get an American driver’s license

18. Attend an American college

19. Make American friends

20. Shop at Target

21. Go to an American mall

22. Try American BBQ

23. Eat crabs!

24. Halloween

25. Thanksgiving

26. Christmas

27. Try classic American foods

28. Visit a county or state Fair

29. Try a root beer float

30. Try pumpkin pie

31. See historical places

32. Visit the museums and monuments in D.C.

33. Shop on Black Friday

34. Eat peanut butter

35. See the Atlantic Ocean

36. Watch the fireworks on the 4th of July

37. Travel to Hawaii

38. Walk through a corn maze

39. Travel to Florida

40. Try American pizza

41. Travel to the Grand Canyon

42. See the Fall leaves

43. See the Pacific Ocean

44. Attend a Broadway (or off Broadway) show

45. Learn about colonial history/visit sites

46. Learn about the civil war/visit sites

47. Tour great museums and galleries

48. Attend school at a local college

49. Go to a diner or a drive in diner

50. Explore your local community

51. Take a train ride

52. Get to know your host family

Vacation And Holiday Reminders

“Rest and be thankful.” – William Wordsworth

Holidays and vacations are a great opportunity to rest, recharge and explore the U.S.

Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start of summer travel season. Here are some reminders about program rules regarding holidays and vacations.

Photo: torbakhopper (Flickr)

Holidays

  • Host families are not required to give au pairs any specific holidays.
  • Each host family will make different arrangements on holidays, some au pairs will be off and others will be required to work.
  • Au pairs should not make plans for holidays without checking with your host family first.

Vacations

  • During the pandemic, it is important that au pairs and host families discuss what travel and activities are an acceptable level of risk before plans are made.
  • Au pairs earn 2 weeks of paid vacation during the course of their year.
  • Vacation time should be mutually agreed upon.
  • All vacations should be preplanned (at least 4 weeks in advance).
  • All au pair’s friends and/or family visits/vacations should be pre-approved prior to purchasing tickets.
  • If an au pair travels with her host family, it should be discussed in advance whether this is the au pair’s vacation or if she is working.
  • If an au pair travels with the host family to work, the host family is required to pay for her transportation, lodging, and meals. Regulations still apply while on vacation (i.e. not working more than 10 hours/day and 45 hours/week, minimum 1 1/2 days off, and private bedroom).

Traveling outside the US

 

Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is celebrated each year in the U.S. on the second Sunday in May.  This year that is May 8th.

It is always a nice gesture to do something for your host mom. You could help the children make a surprise for her or give her a card yourself.  Any gesture is appreciated.

Don’t forget to send a special message to your own mom back home.  Without her love and support, you wouldn’t be here today.

You will find great ideas for projects you can make with your host children here on the Au Pair in America Mother’s Day Pinboard.

Wishing a Happy Mother’s Day to all the host moms in our cluster!