Congratulations Anita Csatari and the Esparza Family!

At our annual InterExchange Au Pair USA conference in San Francisco in early November, we announced the winner of our 2011 Au Pair of the Year contest. And here she is: Anita (Nitta) Csatari from Hungary!

Anita and Jake

Au pair to the Esparza family in San Diego, CA, Nitta came to the U.S. in September 2010 and will be extending with her host family for another year. The family has three boys: Jake, who is 5 and autistic; and twin 2-year-olds, Luke and Ryan.

In order to prepare for working with Jake, Nitta read books about autism and how to work with autistic children. She has now become Jake’s official Kindergarten aide in addition to helping with the twins at home.

“We have come to love Nitta so much, that as we enter into our second year, the idea of not having her in our lives is almost unbearable. There is no doubt in my mind that no matter how far apart we will likely live one day, Nitta (and her family) will be a part of our family for the rest of our lives,” says Nitta’s host mom, Rebecca Esparza.

Nitta was awarded the Au Pair of the Year award in San Francisco in front of the InterExchange Au Pair USA staff, International Cooperators and Local Coordinators. Everyone was so happy to meet her and enjoyed her impromptu speech at the conference!

To read Nitta’s winning essay, and the essay of her host family, the Esparzas, check out our website. We wish we could have more than one winner, but to highlight some of our favorites every month, we’ll be posting essays on our blog, our Facebook page and our Twitter feed. To get updates each month, “like” us, “follow” us and check in regularly to read some amazing stories, maybe even your own!

Let’s all congratulate Nitta for winning the 2011 InterExchange Au Pair USA Au Pair of the Year award!

Kind Regards,

The InterExchange Au Pair USA Team

Fall is officially here! InterExchange Au Pair USA loves fall and all the fun activities, and good food that appears as soon as the leaves start to change. Cooler weather in the U.S. brings many new things: an abundance of apple cider in every grocery store, pumpkins and gourds to decorate and piles of autumn leaves that are just begging to be jumped into! There are many great outdoor activities to enjoy. Here are just a few of our favorites. So, we encourage au pairs and their families to get out there and play!

1. Hayrides and Pumpkin Picking: It’s hard to find one of these activities without the other. Fall hayrides and pumpkin picking are American traditions that originated in the farming communities of the Midwest. Grab a sweater and a thermos of hot apple cider and enjoy the ride!

2. Apple Picking: It is always fun for adults and kids to see where our food actually comes from. It not only gives kids a chance to actually become conscious of the origins of their food, but teaches them about healthy eating habits and the benefits of local food versus the pre-packaged, processed foods. Besides that, it’s fun! Pack a picnic to accompany the fresh, yummy fruit you will pick and make a day of it!

3. Pumpkin Carving: One of the most recognizable symbols of Halloween, pumpkin carving started as a way to scare away spirits that would awaken on All Hallow’s Eve. Scary! But now, we just carve pumpkins because it’s fun! Jack-o-Lanterns are a fun and easy way to let kids get creative. And don’t forget to roast and salt the pumpkin seeds in the oven after you clean the pumpkins out!

4. Haunted Houses: This may not be suitable for younger kids, so check with your host parents before you go. This time of year, you can find many options for all ages: from haunted houses to haunted hayrides and even haunted mazes! Happy haunting!

Visit www.interexchange.org/au-pair-usa to keep up-to-date with everything going on with Au Pair USA!

Au pairs can be a great homework assistant throughout the school year. Sitting with the children and helping them work through any problems they have can be a great way to spend time together and have fun. This is also a great way to teach them about your culture and country. You may even learn something new too!

Here are some tips for making the most out of homework time!

• Be Organized: Help make To-Do lists and teach your host children how to check off tasks as they are completed. Difficult tasks can earn stickers!
• Be Consistent: Set aside a certain time for homework each day. Make sure the homework space is cleared of distractions and ready to go when they are.
• Be a Role Model: Read a book, newspaper or magazine while the host children are busy working on their assignments. Do not turn on the television or computer.
• Be Involved: Take an active interest in the subject area. Have them explain the concepts to you and then relate it to everyday life. i.e. So if you have three apples…
• Be Encouraging: Everyone likes to be rewarded for a job well done. So put those drawings and quizzes up on the refrigerator and go out for a treat!

Before you know it, this new addition to your routine will become an anticipated part of the day. If you think of any fun or creative ideas during the year for helping with homework time, share it with your fellow au pairs. And as always, share your funny and cute stories with us!

Au pairs can be a great homework assistant throughout the school year. Sitting with the children and helping them work through any problems they have can be a great way to spend time together and have fun. This is also a great way to teach them about your culture and country. You may even learn something new too!

Here are some tips for making the most out of homework time!

• Be Organized: Help make To-Do lists and teach your host children how to check off tasks as they are completed. Difficult tasks can earn stickers!
• Be Consistent: Set aside a certain time for homework each day. Make sure the homework space is cleared of distractions and ready to go when they are.
• Be a Role Model: Read a book, newspaper or magazine while the host children are busy working on their assignments. Do not turn on the television or computer.
• Be Involved: Take an active interest in the subject area. Have them explain the concepts to you and then relate it to everyday life. i.e. So if you have three apples…
• Be Encouraging: Everyone likes to be rewarded for a job well done. So put those drawings and quizzes up on the refrigerator and go out for a treat!

Before you know it, this new addition to your routine will become an anticipated part of the day. If you think of any fun or creative ideas during the year for helping with homework time, share it with your fellow au pairs. And as always, share your funny and cute stories with us!

A SPECIAL EVACUATION PLAN FOR ALL INTEREXCHANGE PARTICIPANTS IN THE OCEAN CITY, MD AREA IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
The following is a notice from the Town of Ocean City Emergency Services

At this time, the Town of Ocean City Emergency Services Officials have ordered that all J-1 Visa participants must be evacuated from Ocean City today, Thursday, August 25, due to expected arrival of Hurricane Irene to our coast.

This is a mandatory evacuation for all J-1 participants. All guests and residents will be evacuated after the participants.

At this time, all participants must follow the instructions below:

• Participants must go to the Convention Center (located on 41st Street & Coastal Highway) starting at 10:00am EST today.
• From the Convention Center participants will be taken by bus to Perdue Stadium in Salisbury. There participants will board a second bus that will take them to a Red Cross shelter outside of the Eastern Shore, in Baltimore, MD, where participants will be safe from the hurricane.
• Participants must bring ALL of their important documents and travel papers, including their passport and DS-2019.
• Participants will be allowed to carry one backpack OR one small carry-on that can fit in their lap on the bus. In that bag, participants need to bring valuables, medicine, some toiletries and some clothes. (This bag will remain with the participant at all times).
• PARTICIPANGS CAN NOT BRING ALL OF THEIR SUITCASES WITH THEM. There is no way to transport them with participants (and they can not be left behind at the Convention Center). They will be safest left in participants’ apartment or if their employer has a place they can store them. Participants should leave their suitcases labeled with their address in their home country in case they need to be shipped to them.
• Participants will be given blankets, a cot to sleep on, food, drink, and all things necessary including medical care while they are at the shelter in Baltimore.
• There will be computers for participants to use at the shelter in Baltimore, so that they can keep in touch with their family and your program sponsor.
• After the hurricane passes, and it is safe to return to Ocean City, participants will be transported back by buses.
• If the hurricane causes so much damage that the town of Ocean City is not inhabitable, participants will be assisted by their sponsor to either return home, or go to another area with the USA for the remainder of their program.

Au pairs must be sure to contact their family before leaving Ocean City, so that they are aware of participants’ plans to evacuate. Participants’ sponsors have been notified already, and participants should stay in contact with their sponsor in the coming days.

The phone number for up to the minute information regarding the hurricane is 410-723-6666. You can also go to www.oceancitymd.gov and there is a storm update button on the page

Remember, participants’ safety is important to everyone. Please go to the Convention Center immediately.

Thank you for your cooperation,

Seasonal Workforce Committee
Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce.

FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS CLOSELY AND STAY SAFE.

YOUR SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY. Make sure to follow safety instructions provided by local city offices and your employer regarding hurricane emergency procedures. Also check with your local city offices to get information about whether an evacuation plan is in place and what you will need to do if the hurricane affects your area.

You can track the progress and reports of Hurricane Irene using the following website links:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/#IRENE
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT4+shtml/231450.shtml%27%20rel=%27nofollow
http://www.weather.com/weather/hurricanecentral
http://www.weather.com/outlook/videos/tropical-update-6584
http://www.hurricaneprepcenter.com/hurricane-irene-2011

FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS FOR SAFETY RELATED PROCEDURES, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE TRAVEL PLANS.

Please contact InterExchange to connect with your program’s staff if you have any questions: 212.924.0446

Hurricane Irene – Warning Information for Ocean City, MD

At this time, Ocean City is preparing for possible affects from Hurricane Irene. The safety of au pairs and host parents is important to us, so please follow safety rules and instructions provided by your local officials.

Please know that Ocean City has an official hurricane evacuation plan in place specifically for work/travel participants, with the cooperation of FEMA, MEMA, MD DHR, and other State, County, and Local agencies. There currently is not an evacuation ordered for residents and guests in Ocean City. However, government agencies are keeping a close eye on Hurricane Irene.

For updates on the hurricane status, the phone number for up to the minute emergency information in Ocean City is 410-723-6666. You may also go to www.oceancitymd.gov where there is a storm update button on the page.

For this year’s contest we want to highlight stories where an au pair has been successful in making unique contributions “Outside the Comfort Zone” of traditional expectations.

When a person does something “outside the comfort zone”, it means they enjoy trying new things and approaching tasks in unusual ways.

Are you a current host family? What makes your au pair special? How has hosting an au pair moved your family out of their comfort zone and how has this new approach improved your au pair experience? Tell us about the unusual ways he or she makes your experience together even better than you imagined. Submit your essay.

Are you an au pair? Coming to the U.S. as an au pair proves you already know how to take on new challenges. While living with your host family, what other things have you done to expand your perspective of the world? How has working with your host family affected you? Submit your essay.

Each host family or au pair can enter by writing a 500-850-word essay detailing how the au pair experience has improved his or her life and the life of the host family. This contest is open to any au pair still living and working with the host family as of November 6, 2011. InterExchange must receive all essays no later than 11:59p.m. EST on Friday, September 30, 2011. We would love to hear from you!

For more details about the 2011 Au Pair of the Year Award and all the contest rules, please click here.

During this especially difficult time, we at InterExchange would like to reach out to any of our au pairs or host parents who need additional support or assistance.

As always, we encourage you to contact us with any questions or requests.

InterExchange Au Pair USA
1.800.287.2477 (U.S. Only)
+1.212.924.0446
aupair@interexchange.org

Local families in the Metro Detroit area who currently have full time nannies or children in school with no back up child care for vacation or sick days were surprised at how flexible and affordable hosting an au pair can be. Au pairs provide up to 45 hours of child care per week arranged around each family’s busy schedule. Au Pair USA also offers several discounts for new and reapplying host families throughout the year. For more information about our Metro Detroit area cluster and why hosting an au pair is the perfect child care choice for your family, please contact Heidi Karakashian at aupair@interexchange.org or visit the InterExchange Au Pair USA website.

Here at Au Pair USA, we want to make sure that you are aware of the hazards of cycling in the U.S. and to prepare you for your summer of cycling. Even if you are an experienced cyclist in your home country, the rules on the road in the U.S. may be very different to what you are used to. Please read and follow these important safety tips:

ALWAYS

• When you first get your bike, make sure the brakes and gears are working well and that reflectors and lights are installed and working properly.
• Wear a bicycle helmet
• Install reflective lights on your bike, especially when riding at night
• Ride on the right hand side of the road, in the same direction with the traffic
• Make sure you are visible to drivers – wear bright clothing
• Pay attention to cars and trucks on the road – they may not be used to sharing the road with cyclists
• Pay attention to local traffic laws. Every state has different cycling rules. Learn about them before you ride!
• When making a turn, use hand signals and always look behind you
• In popular tourist areas, pay attention to slow moving vehicles and people crossing the road or opening their car doors in the middle of the street
• Stop at red traffic signals and pay attention to road signs
• At traffic lights, stop behind cars, not beside them
• Use your bike bell to alert others of your presence

NEVER

• Bike under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
• Text, talk on your cell phone or listen to music while biking
• Allow anyone to ride with you on a one-person bike. If you need to travel with a friend and they don’t have a bike, walk together or try to take public transport.
• Bike too fast in towns and busy areas

When riding with kids:

• Make sure the child bike seat is properly installed on your bike if biking with kids over 12 months and under 4 years.
• If you are using a trailer, make sure that it is properly fixed to the bike and that the child is properly strapped in.
• All children must wear bike helmets.
• Make sure kids under the age of 10 who are riding on their own bike, ride on the sidewalk close to you (check with your local town for rules on bicycle riding on the sidewalk).
• Kids on their own bikes must remain visible to you at all times.

For more information about bicycle safety, visit:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
BicycleSafe.com
Kids and Bicycle Safety