Tag Archives: Au Pair

Dealing with Social Distancing

The coronavirus has caused lots of temporary changes to our daily routines. Right now, we are being asked to practice “social distancing” to reduce the spread of the virus.

What is social distancing?
Social distancing is a way to keep people from interacting as closely or frequently enough to spread the virus. Schools, sporting events and concerts are being canceled. People are being asked to stay at home more to avoid being in contact with a large number of people.

What are some ways to take care of yourself?
Some people may feel anxious, lonely or frustrated and that is totally normal. It can be very helpful to talk with friends and family about those feelings. It helps to know that others are going through these same emotions. Reach out to your community counselor if you need support during this time.

It is very important to practice good self-care. Connect with people you love via Skype and text, maintain a healthy diet, stay active, make plans for things you want to do once things get back to normal. Staying out of crowds doesn’t have to mean just staying in the home. You can go for walks and enjoy nature. Both exercise and spending time in nature are beneficial for your mental health.

Where can you get practical tips for dealing with social distancing?
We recognize that some of these changes will require patience and resourcefulness. During this time, we will be doing a series of blog posts with resources to assist you with two specific aspects of this situation:

  • Ideas for keeping the kids occupied (while they are home from school)
  • Ways to continue your cultural exchange from home

Photo: Meg Willis  

Making Thanksgiving Memories Together

Thanksgiving is a public holiday celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November every year in the United States. It started as a harvest festival and has been celebrated nationally on and off since 1789.  The most important part of Thanksgiving for American families is to spend family time together.

Martin Cathrae

 “My favorite holiday was Thanksgiving. Firstly, it was my first holiday with the whole family in America. Secondly, the whole family came together. All aunts and uncles and their kids came to grandma’s. We played football with all of them, including grandma and grandpa. It was the first time I played it and it was so much fun for all. We had a great dinner with all the typical things you can imagine … it was deeeelicious! It was so great to be with such a big family and I really enjoyed that day. I will remember it my whole life, I hope.” – Swantje from Germany

Here are a few tips to help you have a terrific Thanksgiving experience.

Host Parents
Please plan to include your au pair in your Thanksgiving celebration, if at all possible. If you are traveling or will not be able to invite your au pair to join you for Thanksgiving, give her plenty of notice and help her make alternate plans. You don’t want to leave your au pair alone over the holiday.

Au Pairs
If you are invited to attend dinner, please let your family know within 5 days of the invitation, whether you are planning to attend, so they may make plans. If your host family is unable to include you in their Thanksgiving plans, please let me know if you have trouble making other plans, so I can assist.

Make sure to discuss time off during this holiday weekend. Many host families work the Friday after Thanksgiving so do not assume you have this day off or the entire weekend. Talk to your host family, BEFORE you make any plans.

Bonus Tip for the Kids
If you are looking for a fun recipe to make with your au pair, check out these turkey cookies. Find more fun activities and recipes on the Au Pair in America Fall Holidays pinboard.

 

Avoiding Homesickness this Holiday Season

Homesickness can be a problem during the holidays, even if it hasn’t been at any other time of the year. Au pairs often miss their friends and family, familiar places and their own traditions and customs. The holiday activities in the United States seem, and may actually be, different just at a time when an au pair would welcome something familiar. 

It is common for au pairs’ emotions to be close to the surface during the holidays. Her highs are higher, her lows are lower. The enormity of what she has done–actually living in another country (which is an amazing thing when you think about it!)–hits her and throws her into a self-protective mode.

Host parents can help her through this unfamiliar territory by talking to her about what your specific family activities will be (gifts, meals, visitors, religious services, in-home traditions, or none of these, as the case may be.) In the spirit of cultural exchange, ask her if she has any favorite holiday traditions or foods that you might be able to incorporate into your family’s celebration of the season. Let her know what you will be doing, when you will be doing it, and what she can expect. Talk to her about what has to be accomplished and get her involved and interested. Don’t expect her to just “know” what needs to be done. Give her some clear, agreed upon assignments. Make her feel a part of things. And, let her know her contribution is needed and appreciated.

Photo: Sheila Sund (Flickr)

5 Thanksgiving Tips for Au Pairs & Host Parents

Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November each year. Even though a few other countries also celebrate Thanksgiving, it’s still considered a uniquely American holiday, one that the au pairs look forward to experiencing. You can learn more about it here.

“I really enjoyed Thanksgiving with my host family. It was as I imagined! So much food to try. Everyone got dressed up and shared what they were thankful for. It was so warm and special. The next day we began to prepare for Christmas. It was magical.” Selina from Germany

Below you will find some tips to help you have a terrific Thanksgiving experience.

 

Host Parents

1.  Please plan to include your au pair in your Thanksgiving celebration, if at all possible. Thanksgiving with an au pair offers an opportunity to consider the relevance of the history and meaning of Thanksgiving as you compare the hospitality offered by the Native Americans to the recently arrived Pilgrims and the hospitality you offer your au pair.

2.  If you are traveling or will not be able to invite your au pair to join you for Thanksgiving, give her plenty of notice and help her make alternate plans. You don’t want to leave your au pair alone over the holiday.

Au Pairs

3.  If you are invited to attend dinner, please let your family know within 5 days of the invitation, whether you are planning to attend. It is considered rude in America to accept the invitation for dinner and then change your mind later in the month. Please be thoughtful.

4.  Make sure to discuss time off during this holiday weekend. Many host families work the Friday after Thanksgiving so do not assume you have this day off or the entire weekend. Talk to your host family, BEFORE you make any plans.

5.  If your host family is unable to include you in their Thanksgiving plans, please let me know if you have trouble making other plans. You may be able to join a friend and their host family for the holiday dinner.

Bonus Tip for the Kids

If you are looking for a fun recipe to make with your au pair, check out these turkey cupcakes. Find more fun activities and recipes on the Au Pair in America Fall Holidays pinboard.

Photo: Tim Sackton (Flickr)

Photo 01Photo 09 Last night, Brian Eggers from TrekAmerica spoke with our cluster about travel in the U.S.A. As part of this event, everyone present was asked to fill out a form to be included in a raffle to win a free trip.

Those who weren’t able to join us and those who did and would like another raffle option, check out the following:

Global Awareness is developing a new section on its site, Learning about the U.S. This will highlight different areas and cultures in our country. APs will be asked to write about their travels for the site.

For a fantastic kick-off, TrekAmerica has designed a scavenger hunt on their website and the winner will receive a free trip with Trek!!

Go to the global awareness site (www.globalawareness.com) to learn more about this opportunity and to participate in the scavenger hunt!

Link

Westchester Au Pairs Celebrate an American Thanksgiving

On November 19th Au Pairs from five clusters got together to share an amazing dinner and dessert buffet dinner as a prelude to Thanksgiving they would later share with their host

The Dinner Buffet table

The Dessert Buffet

families and friends. Counselors provided four very large and perfectly roasted turkeys along with gravy, apple cider and other beverages. Au Pairs were asked to bring vegetables, salads, other side dishes and desserts and, once again, they outdid themselves with an unbelievable variety of dishes representing their country or favorite food.

To see the entire album of International Thanksgiving Dinner photos, go to http://s791.photobucket.com/user/MS-APIA/slideshow/November%202014%20-%20International%20Thanksgiving%20Dinner

Westchester Au Pairs Celebrate Thanksgiving

On November 20th, the Westchester Clusters of Au Pair in America gathered to share an International Thanksgiving dinner. Counselors provided four large roasted turkeys and a variety of beverages and Au Pairs contributed side dishes and desserts for all to share. Working together, we created an amazing feast for the eyes and taste buds in keeping with the tradition of an American Thanksgiving. Everyone there agreed that it was a most delicious dinner and a wonderful way to start off the this year’s Holiday Season. Come share the evening with us…Thanksgiving 2013-2

Here’s the link to the library of photos from the 2013 International Thanksgiving Dinner. All the photos are of high quality for printing:

http://s791.photobucket.com/user/MS-APIA/library/2013%20November%20-%20International%20Thanksgiving%20Dinner

For easy viewing, here’s the link to a slideshow of all the photos from the evening:

http://s791.photobucket.com/user/MS-APIA/slideshow/2013%20November%20-%20International%20Thanksgiving%20Dinner

Westchester Au Pairs Celebrate Summer

Ice Cream Party 2-7Ice Cream Party 9-17Ice Cream Party 27-40

Pizza Party 2Pizza Party 10Pizza Party 12

The Westchester clusters of Au Pair in America launched summer with a sweet and yummy “Make your own Sundae Ice Cream Party” and concluded with a delicious “All You Can Eat Pizza Party.” Such get togethers are not only great fun, they’re provide opportunities for au pairs from around the county to meet, mix, mingle and forge new friendships.

Above are some event photos and below are the direct links to the albums and slideshows for all the photos from these events. All photos are of high quality and may be downloaded and printed.

June Ice Cream Party Album:  http://s791.photobucket.com/user/MS-APIA/library/2013%20June%20-%20Ice%20Cream%20Party

Ice Cream Party Slideshow:  http://s791.photobucket.com/user/MS-APIA/slideshow/2013%20June%20-%20Ice%20Cream%20Party

August Pizza Party Album:  http://s791.photobucket.com/user/MS-APIA/library/2013%20August%20-%20Pizza%20Party

Pizza Party Slideshow:  http://s791.photobucket.com/user/MS-APIA/slideshow/2013%20August%20-%20Pizza%20Party

Au Pair is America is a program of the American Institute for Foreign Study which has a world-renowned reputation for excellence in the field of cultural exchange since 1964.  Au Pair in America (APIA) was established in 1986 to help American families meet their child care needs; it is the first and largest organization of its kind to be designated by the United States Department of State. Today APIA recruits from more than 60 countries and has placed over 84,000 au pairs in  27 years. More than 175 professional community counselors, with an average of 10 years in the program,  provide support services to host families and au pairs in communities throughout the U.S. What do American families think of APIA? 94% of host families would recommend the program to a friend!

Westchester Au Pairs Enjoy an American Thanksgiving

On November 14th, the Westchester Clusters of Au Pair in America gathered for an American-style Thanksgiving Dinner that everyone helped to prepare. Counselors provided four very large roast turkeys (excellently carved by Jim) and lots of Apple Cider, and Au Pairs brought an amazing variety of side dishes. The bountiful and delicious feast was enjoyed by eveyone present as witnessed by the following photos:

 

And here’s the link to all the photos from our Thanksgiving dinner: http://s791.photobucket.com/albums/yy197/MS-APIA/2012%20November%20-%20International%20Thanksgiving%20Dinner/?albumview=slideshow

Luncheon Get Together at Maralyn's

An important part of the Au Pair experience is getting to make friends from around the world, and informal cluster get togethers play an vital role in making it possible for Au Pairs to meet one another. With more than 30 new summer arrivals, Maralyn hosted a welcome lunch at her home. The weather was perfect as everyone gathered in the backyard for a group photo…

Lunch Bunch 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here are two of the recipes we enjoyed:

South-of-the-Border Rice and Bean Pie (8 servings)

2 medium or 1 large onion, chopped
4 cloves of garlic, chopped
1-2 peppers (red and or green), chopped
Several stalks celery, chopped
2-3 tablespoons olive oil
1- 2 tablespoons chili powder (sweet or hot or combination – adjust to your taste)
1 tablespoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon salt
2-10 ounce cans beans (I used combination of red kidney and black beans), rinsed and drained
4 cups cooked brown rice
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar, Colby, Jack or “Mexican” combination
1 ½ cups milk
4 beaten eggs
¼ cup cilantro, chopped (optional)

In a saucepan, sauté the onion, garlic, peppers and celery in the olive oil until tender, but not brown. Stir in chili powder, cumin and salt. Cook for a minute more. Cool.

Stir in beans, cooked rice, cilantro, cheese, milk, and beaten eggs.

Put a little oil in a 9″X13″ baking dish or spray with a non-stick cooking spray. Spoon mixture into the pan and bake, uncovered, in a 350° oven until the center is set, about 35-45 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Can be made ahead and reheated. Can also be frozen.

Chocolate Biscotti

3 Eggs
1 Cup sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla
3 Cups flour
1 ½ tsp. baking powder
¾ Cup Oil
Chopped nuts (optional)
Handful (about 1 cup) semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted.
1 cup chocolate chips (whole, not melted) 

Beat eggs, sugar and vanilla till well blended.

Sift flour and baking powder and add to egg mixture, alternating with oil.

Stir in whole chocolate chips and nuts, if desired, and then cut in melted chocolate with a knife.

Form two loaves on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake at 350° for ½ hour.

Cool 10 minutes.

Cut loaves into slices slightly less than 1/2 inch thick. Lay slices on cookies sheet and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Return to ovenand bake for 10-15 minutes.