Tag Archives: Au Pair in America

Celebrate the Statue of Liberty today!

Statue of Liberty 7.jpg

The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the people of France in 1885 to recognize the French-American

cooperation during the American Revolution (War of Independence against Britain in 1776).

It stands 93 meters (305 feet) high in New York Harbor.

The seven rays on her crown represent the seven continents and seven seas of the world.

Look at a map with the children and find the seven continents and the seven seas.

Why do you think New York Harbor was chosen for the statue?

Click here for more history of the statue.

Do you and the children know where their families lived before they moved to the United States?

Ask your host parents to tell you about their family history. Explore the history with the children.

Make a family tree or find a book about the country where their family once lived.

Celebrate Flag Day!

Flying the American flag is more popular than ever. It is a symbol of the country’s values and traditions. The design has particular significance. Its 13 red and white stripes represent the original colonies, and the 50 stars stand for the states. You might also want to use this day to teach the children about your own flag. You can find a printout of the American flag and flags of many other countries in the Kids Culture Corner:www.aupairinamerica.com/resources/kids/culture_corner/.

Artwork from bestforpuzzles.com

Download the Red Cross First Aid App!

red cross logoWe are pleased to recommend the official American Red Cross First Aid app, which puts expert advice for everyday emergencies in your hands. Available for iPhone and Android devices, this app gives you instant access to info about how to handle the most common first aid emergencies. With videos, interactive quizzes and simple step-by-step advice it’s never been easier to learn more about first aid…invaluable for au pairs and host families!

Join the hunt!

The Free Lance-Star 10th Annual Itty Bitty

City Scavenger Hunt of Downtown

Fredericksburg.

HOW TO PLAY: Head to downtown Fredericksburg between May 25 and July 8 to find the 20 objects

or architectural elements pictured in The Free Lance-Star MAY 25. Missed the printed version? No worries!

Click HERE to download a PDF of photos, map, and details.

Submit your entry (fill out the electronic form below) and you could win one of the cash prizes.

PRIZES: First Place Winner $400, Second Place Winner $250, Seven Third Place Winners $50.

Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place with the correct answers.

Cash prizes generously donated by the Fredericksburg Department of Economic Development and Tourism

ENTRY DEADLINE: July 8 at 5 p.m. One entry per person.

HINTS: Follow us on facebook. We will post 6 unique hints on The Free Lance-Star and

fredericksburg.com facebook pages throughout the contest.

Plus, WIN BONUS PRIZES during the hunt on our facebook pages.

OFFICIAL RULES: No purchase necessary. Entry forms available at The Free Lance-Star front desk,

616 Amelia St., Fredericksburg and on fredericksburg.com/ittybittycity. One entry per person.

Prizes must be picked up by the winner within 30 days of first announcement in The Free Lance-Star.

Winner must show picture identification at pick up. All decisions made by The Free Lance-Star are final.

Employees of The Free Lance-Star Companies and our contest sponsor and their families are ineligible to win.

Entry deadline: July 8 at 5 p.m.

It’s Memorial Day Weekend!

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MEMORIAL DAY is Monday, and a host of commemorative events are planned in the Fredericksburg area. Here is a sample of this weekend’s celebrations to honor our fallen soldiers:

FRIDAY

Thunder for the Cause, Fredericksburg Fairgrounds, 2400 Airport Ave. Bike show, bike rodeo, barrel race, waitress tray race, FMX stunt show, beer belly contest, bikini contest, motorcade to Washington (Sunday). 6–11 p.m. $10 each day or $20 for a three-day pass, ages 5 and younger free. Runs through May 25. thunderforthecause.com.

Rolling Thunder, Old Mine Ranch, 17504 Mine Road, Dumfries. Live music, bonfire, vendors, food. Weekend camping: $20 person/$30 couple; day passes $10. 540/628-0907; packitvnvmc@comcast.net.

SATURDAY

Memorial Day Activities, Historic Ellwood Manor. Friends of Wilderness Battlefield volunteer Dale Brown will give a talk on “Archeology at Ellwood” at noon; music by Evergreen Shade at 2 p.m.; “Last Days of Stonewall Jackson,” by the Fredericksburg Spotsylvania National Military Park Service at 3:30 p.m. House tours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free. 540/226-8378; fowb.org.

Fifth annual Fredericksburg City and Confederate Cemetery Tour, William Street and Washington Avenue. Walking tour led by local amateur historian Dan “BigFrench” Janzegers. The tour covers notables, military and local citizens’ burials. New research from the past year highlighted. 6:30–8 p.m. Donations to the Fredericksburg City Cemetery welcome. Rain date: May 25, 6:30 p.m. This is in conjunction with the annual luminaria within the Fredericksburg Confederate Cemetery hosted by the Fredericksburg United Daughters of the Confederacy.

Memorial Luminaria, Fredericksburg Confederate Cemetery, William Street and Washington Avenue. Period music, color and rifle guards, taps and the luminaries, which will be lit at dusk. Sponsored by the Fredericksburg Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. 6–10 p.m. Free. Rain date: May 25, 6 p.m.

Annual Lumination, Fredericksburg National Cemetery, Sunken Road and Lafayette Boulevard. Memorial tribute to the soldiers buried in the cemetery. 9 p.m.

Thunder for the Cause, Fredericksburg Fairgrounds. See Friday’s listing.

Rolling Thunder, Old Mine Ranch, Dumfries. See Friday’s listing.

SUNDAY

“Battle of Falling Waters 1863: Custer, Pettigrew and the End of the Gettysburg Campaign,” Graffiti House, 19484 Brandy Road, Brandy Station, Culpeper. Light refreshments. 2 p.m. Donations accepted. brandystationfoundation.com.

Band of America’s Few, National Museum of the Marine Corps, 18900 Jefferson Davis Highway, Triangle. Traditional and patriotic music. 10:30 a.m. to noon. 703/784-6116; usmcmuseum.org.

Thunder for the Cause, Fredericksburg Fairgrounds. Motorcade to Washington. See Friday’s listing.

Rolling Thunder, Old Mine Ranch, Dumfries. See Friday’s listing.

MONDAY

Memorial Day Ceremony: “Honoring the Fallen Through Our Actions,” Fredericksburg Area War Memorial Park, George, Barton and Liberty streets. Speakers, flyover by the Experimental Aircraft Association. Hosted by Fredericksburg Area Veterans Council. 2:30–3:30 p.m.

Rappahannock POPS Orchestra, Mary Washington Hospital, Ambulatory Care Entrance, 1001 Sam Perry Blvd. Bring a chair and picnic. 6 p.m. Free. Rain location: Grace Center of the Arts, 1141 Heatherstone Drive, Spotsylvania.

Ladies Memorial Association’s 148th Observance of Memorial Day, Fredericksburg Confederate Cemetery. Speaker will be J. Terry Dougherty, director of the Spotsylvania County Museum. 10 a.m. Rain location: Historic Kenmore, 1201 Washington Ave.

Memorial Day Ceremony, Fredericksburg National Cemetery at noon. Ed Bearss, a Marine Corps veteran of World War II and military historian, will be keynote speaker. The ceremony will be preceded by a procession through the streets, led by the re-created 23rd United States Colored Troops. The procession will depart from Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site), 801 Sophia St., at 11:15 a.m. 540/373-6122.

Memorial Day March. Beginning at 9 a.m. at the Fredericksburg Masonic Cemetery, George and Charles streets, Fredericksburg Masonic Lodge members will honor their members from Fredericksburg’s past. At 9:15 a.m., a public procession, led by the Masons, will march to the Hugh Mercer statue on Washington Street (trolley provided for those who cannot march), where J. Robert DuBois will offer an oration recognizing those who sacrificed everything.

Rolling Thunder, Old Mine Ranch, Dumfries. See Friday’s listing.

Memorial Day Service,  11 a.m. at Shiloh Cemetery,  Littlepage Street and Monument Ave. Minister Julian Ferguson of Shiloh Baptist Church will be speaker. Inclement weather: Shiloh Baptist Church (new site), 525 Princess Anne St.

Meet an au pair –

Mariana used to be an Au Pair in America! Now she works for our partner agent in Brazil helping other applicants achieve their dreams! Here’s her story:

“My experience as an Au Pair in America was one of the best things I ever did in my life. I was able to meet lots of people from all over the world, improve my English, learn more about how to live with different people and travel to several places in the USA.

My Host Family was so amazing to me! I traveled a lot with them. The kids were nice to me too – they taught me how to ski, to play lacrosse and to pronounce words correctly. I celebrated all the American holidays – on 4th July 2011 I was in NYC, I would say it was a wonderful celebration, with lot of fireworks and good food.

I have good memories of all the moments that I spent in the US. This program gave me an opportunity to see places and meet people that I will never forget. I still miss them all and I hope to see them soon.

Here’s a photo of me with my Host Family!

“

Photo: Mariana used to be an Au Pair in America! Now she works for our partner agent in Brazil helping other applicants achieve their dreams! Here's her story: "My experience as an Au Pair in America was one of the best things I ever did in my life. I was able to meet lots of people from all over the world, improve my English, learn more about how to live with different people and travel to several places in the USA. My Host Family was so amazing to me! I traveled a lot with them. The kids were nice to me too - they taught me how to ski, to play lacrosse and to pronounce words correctly. I celebrated all the American holidays - on 4th July 2011 I was in NYC, I would say it was a wonderful celebration, with lot of fireworks and good food. I have good memories of all the moments that I spent in the US. This program gave me an opportunity to see places and meet people that I will never forget. I still miss them all and I hope to see them soon. Here's a photo of me with my Host Family! :)"