We love to hear about our clusters supporting each other, and when our au pairs get to help out in the community, it’s even better! Dawn Middleton, the Local Coordinator of the Bergen & Passaic Counties Cluster in New Jersey, says volunteering is a way to show support and love to one of InterExchange’s longtime host families, the Snyder family, who has a son with autism.
Some of our amazing au pairs who volunteered!
“The au pairs had such a good time getting a chance to participate in this amazing community event and volunteering in the Family Fun area of the Go the Distance for Autism Bike Event. We all love the Snyder family and our close-knit group of au pairs and their host families thought this would be a great way to give back to the community and learn about autism.”
The bike event raised money for four area schools that focus on teaching autistic students. Read More »
Joanna Lehmann, the Local Coordinator of the InterExchange Au Pair USA Brooklyn cluster, has a great blog that we here at Au Pair USA love to read. For Mother’s Day, Joanna had her au pairs say why their host
moms were the best moms around. Click on the link to read the sweet stories. Below are some of the special Mother’s Day notes to host moms from their au pairs:
Host Mom Stacey, Rebeca from Spain
Ilene took a chance on me when all seemed lost. Whether it was fate or chance the chance she took has changed my life. Ilene is one of the kindest and strongest women I have ever met. A fighter and survivor, the pink ribbon should have her name emblazoned on it in her honour. A caring and loving mother to her three wonderful children.
She is:
Incredible
Loving
Extraordinary
Noble
Exemplary Read More »
This weekend was a warm one in New York City. Families were out, the parks were busy and the bike lanes were full. And when the afternoon sun started getting a little bit too hot, the lines at the ice cream trucks grew longer and longer.
Photo courtesy of dippity.comlonger and longer.
If this is your experience on hot summer days, there is a family-friendly way to skip the lines for ice cream and make it yourself! This activity is the perfect summer recipe for au pairs and host families to work together for a party or barbecue.
All you will need is a large plastic bag, rock salt, lots of ice, sugar and salt and whatever flavors you want to add to the mix.
And if your au pair celebrates the International Day of Families holiday on May 15th, this would be the perfect treat! Bon Appetit!
Cinco de Mayo has certainly been adopted and its meaning somewhat muted in the U.S. But what is Cinco de Mayo really? The “5th of May” is the historic day when the under dog Mexican army
Photo courtesy of Kid Culture
defeated France in the Battle of Puebla in 1862. After the surprise upset in Mexico City, the U.S. pledged support and supplies to the Mexican army to help rid them of Napoleon III’s forces (it took 5 more years).
But why do we celebrate Cinco de Mayo? Many people in the U.S. think Cinco de Mayo is Mexico’s Independence Day (that’s really in September) and in Mexico, the holiday isn’t nationally recognized. Perhaps because Americans were inspired by the fortitude of the Mexican army all those years ago, the holiday took hold in American culture and grew. And with the large number of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans in the U.S. today, Cinco de Mayo has turned into a day for everyone to celebrate Mexican heritage and culture.
So how will you celebrate this year? Read More »
by Joana Stueber, Intern at InterExchange Au Pair USA
An InterExchange au pair having fun with one of her host kids!
When you first arrive at your host family’s house, you might be very nervous about what to expect during your year in a new family. Don’t worry! Your host family is just as nervous as you are!
You might ask yourself how you can greet your host parents and the children when you meet them for the first time. The American culture is a very conservative one, even though this may contradict what you see on TV. When you are greeting your host family for the first time, you might want to keep this in mind. Most likely you will shake hands with your host father, your host mother might also give you a hug and be very excited. Although you are very happy to meet the kids, they may be very shy. Read More »
Getting children to eat healthy foods is a constant struggle. As more fruits and veggies are coming into season, why not make them more fun and appealing to little ones?
Photo courtesy of Gaijinlife
In Japan, mukimono (vegetable decorations) is the traditional Japanese art of decorative garnishing and parents frequently make very creative bento boxes for their children (like the pandas pictured at the right).
Here in the States, Susan G. Purdy suggests setting out multicolored fruits and vegetables of varying shapes and letting your children create faces and animals.
This can be a fun and interactive way to introduce your children to new foods, as well as an opportunity to promote a sense of exploration and creativity with food. This can also be an entertaining way for your au pair to introduce foods common to his or her culture!
Here are a few other adorable, fun and visually appetizing ways you can present healthy snacks:
Earth Day is this Sunday, April 22nd and it is an important reminder to love and take care of the Earth all year, not just on this one day. Kids are the perfect people to learn about nature and how to live with and not against it. This Earth Day, get outside and explore your community’s parks and trails and bring a flower or bird book to see how many you can identify.
If your family is the crafty type—and I hope they are— below are some of our favorite ideas to celebrate Earth Day year-round! Click on the photos to get directions for these fun ideas from Kaboose.com!
What does your family do to show love to our Earth? Share your ideas here!
Use sponge and potato stamps to decorate canvas shopping bags for kids! No more plastic bags!
Decorate recycling and compost bins with spring flowers and animals!
Read More »
By Kate Ferrin, Participant Services Manager at InterExchange Au Pair USA
Learning CPR at the Orientation & Training
We get very excited to meet our au pairs at Orientation & Training in New York City! To help with their trip overseas, all of our au pairs receive the packing tips below:
Tip #1: Be sure to pack an extra change of clothes in your carry-on bag just in case your checked luggage (the bags that aren’t with you while on the plane) are delayed or lost by the airline.
Tip #2: Leave your hair dryers at home. The hotel has a hair dryer in each hotel room for you to use. Also you can buy an American voltage hair dryer for about $20. Please keep in mind that standard U.S. voltage is 110V, so you will need to bring a voltage converter for most of the electronic items you bring with you.
Tip #3: Pack lightly. You will be able to buy anything you might need while in the USA. Save yourself the space and buy them once you get to your host family’s house. Read More »
Today marks the first day of Songkran, the Thai New Year. It is a week-long celebration with family and friends that is famous for its water fights and delicious food!
Photo courtesy of Joie de Vivre.com
During April, the hottest month of the year in Thailand, dousing people with water isn’t just to cool off in the hot sun. In Thai culture, it represents washing away the misfortunes of the past year while welcoming the new year with a clean slate. Doesn’t that sound like a good thing to do?
Bangkok.com also describes the festivities by saying “Many Thais observe the holidays by spending time with families and friends. Traditionally, Thais perform the Rod Nam Dum Hua ritual on the first day of Songkran, which is officially the National Elderly Day. During the ritual, young people would pour fragrant water into the elders’ palms as a gesture of humility and to ask for their blessings. Read More »
by Joana Stueber, Intern at InterExchange Au Pair USA
Presents for your host family
Before you start your year as an au pair in the U.S., you have to get prepare! You will need to decide which clothes and personal belongings to take in your 2-3 suitcases (they fill up fast!). As a former au pair, I also think it is important to bring some things from home that you can share with your host family. These little gifts will introduce them to your culture a little bit, as well as help you connect to your new host family.
Here are a few ideas: Read More »
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