Archive for December, 2007
SHARE YOUR BEST AU PAIR MOMENT
No Comment |Posted by: lrappaport on December 31, 2007
CONTEST ENDED. NO ENTRIES FOR FEBRUARY, THEREFORE NO WINNERS. Too bad. Stay tuned for March PHOTO CONTEST!
Poetry, haiku, essay or short story. Bring them on!
<object id=”flashapp_1024363310″ type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” height=”226″ width=”300″ data=”http://program.flektor.com/program/fplayer.swf” name=”\” returntype=”\” shutdown=”function () {
return eval(instance.CallFunction(”" + __flash__argumentsToXML(arguments,0) + “”));
}” share=”function () {
return eval(instance.CallFunction(”" + __flash__argumentsToXML(arguments,0) + “”));
}”>
If you are still overseas, waiting to come to your new host family, write about what would be your perfect day as an au pair.
If you are a current au pair, please write about a great experience you have had since coming to the USA.
Here’s some ideas to get you started:
- Host children
- Host mom or dad
- Great time with another au pair
- Place you have visited or where you’d like to travel
- Life lessons you could pass on to a new au pair
Do not be afraid to make grammar mistakes. Your ideas are what is going to be judged.
SAME CONTEST FOR FEBRUARY. This is leap year, so you have ONE MORE DAY this month. Entries are due by FEBRUARY 29th! Get your fingers typing and respond in the COMMENT SECTION or email me your stories. THERE WILL BE A GRAND PRIZE WINNER and 1st, 2nd & 3rd.
|
|
|
|
CHAT WITH FRIENDS
No Comment |Posted by: lrappaport on December 31, 2007
Keep it clean, keep it fun, enjoy your friends! NO GOSSIP!
<object id=”flashapp_1111799900″ type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” height=”226″ width=”300″ data=”http://program.flektor.com/program/fplayer.swf” name=”\” returntype=”\” shutdown=”function () {
return eval(instance.CallFunction(”" + __flash__argumentsToXML(arguments,0) + “”));
}” share=”function () {
return eval(instance.CallFunction(”" + __flash__argumentsToXML(arguments,0) + “”));
}”>
|
|
|
|
|
VOTE FOR APRIL MEETING by Clicking on “Your Choice”
No Comment |Posted by: lrappaport on December 31, 2007
THIS IS REALLY COOL! INTERACTIVE–Check it out!
<object id=”flashapp_483852425″ type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” height=”226″ width=”300″ data=”http://program.flektor.com/program/fplayer.swf” name=”\” returntype=”\” shutdown=”function () {
return eval(instance.CallFunction(”" + __flash__argumentsToXML(arguments,0) + “”));
}” share=”function () {
return eval(instance.CallFunction(”" + __flash__argumentsToXML(arguments,0) + “”));
}”>
MAGIC MOUNTAIN WON!! http://www.sixflags.com/magicMountain/index.aspx
Check out the link above to see what exciting rides you will be experiencing on Sunday, April 6th. GROUP RATE PRICE per person: $23.50
TIME: To be determined. I will get some feedback from you & let you know what time to arrive at Magic Mountain.
RSVP: I MUST HEAR FROM YOU BY MARCH 28th to get this rate. If you do not respond & still want to attend, you can show up on Sunday, April 6th and play FULL ADMISSION OF $60!! Therefore, please make sure I get your response email that will be sent to you by 3/15/08.
If you have friends or other au pairs in another group (but if their LCC is having a meeting that day they CANNOT attend my meeting) that wants to join us, I will need to know that information with your response.
|
|
|
|
|
JANUARY ARRIVALS
No Comment |Posted by: lrappaport on December 29, 2007
LET’S WELCOME THE FIRST OF OUR NEW 2008 AU PAIRS!
<object id=”flashapp_906288808″ type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” height=”226″ width=”300″ data=”http://program.flektor.com/program/fplayer.swf” name=”\” shutdown=”function () {
return eval(instance.CallFunction(”" + __flash__argumentsToXML(arguments,0) + “”));
}” returntype=”\” share=”function () {
return eval(instance.CallFunction(”" + __flash__argumentsToXML(arguments,0) + “”));
}”>
Here’s who will be joining our group in January.
- Kata Horvath (Hungary)
- Carla Hartwig (Germany)
- Ariane Hartmann (Germany)….arrived on 12/26
- Nely Bedon Vasquez (Peru)
- Erica Froms (Sweden)
- Zsuzsa Soos (Romania)
- Sara Zanato Tureck (Brazil)
- Ana Hoyos Pareja (Columbia)
- Marketa Pistekova (Czech Republic)
- Ana Moconja (Bosnia)
- Marilena Hoeder (Germany)
- Martina Woergoetter (Austria)
- Daniela Sumkova (Slovakia)…February 1st
- Hellys Vidal Garces (Columbia)…February 1st
<object id=”flashapp_1113930025″ type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” height=”226″ width=”300″ data=”http://program.flektor.com/program/fplayer.swf” name=”\” shutdown=”function () {
return eval(instance.CallFunction(”" + __flash__argumentsToXML(arguments,0) + “”));
}” returntype=”\” share=”function () {
return eval(instance.CallFunction(”" + __flash__argumentsToXML(arguments,0) + “”));
}”>
HERE’S A FEW MORE AU PAIRS THAT ARRIVED IN TINSELTOWN THIS MONTH. Lights! Camera! ACTION!
<object id=”flashapp_889978605″ type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” height=”226″ width=”300″ data=”http://program.flektor.com/program/fplayer.swf” name=”\” returntype=”\” shutdown=”function () {
return eval(instance.CallFunction(”" + __flash__argumentsToXML(arguments,0) + “”));
}” share=”function () {
return eval(instance.CallFunction(”" + __flash__argumentsToXML(arguments,0) + “”));
}”>
I will need volunteers to be Big Buddies for these au pairs. Please add comments to this blog or send me an email, as to whom you would like to assist in getting acquainted with Los Angeles.
|
|
|
|
|
TREK AMERICA RETURNS to Cultural Care Au Pair
No Comment |Posted by: lrappaport on December 18, 2007
LATEST NEWS! March meeting will have more information.
What is Trek America? One of the reasons au pairs travel to the United States is for a chance to see our great country! But how can they ensure they get the most bang for their buck and do it safely? Trek America offers au pairs the experience of a lifetime in a safe and affordable way by providing fun and flexible adventure travel tours – ranging from 7 day trips up to 64 day journeys – to men and women between the ages of 18 and 38. Au pairs are assured of an unique travel experience embraced by single travelers around the world. In fact, over 70% of their trekkers are young, solo travelers! Cultural Care has collaborated with Trek America to provide au pairs with affordable tours that offer au pairs the opportunity to see regions of North America many of them have only dreamed of. Thousands of Cultural Care au pairs have seen the continent this way during their two week vacation or “13th month” and highly recommend it!
What is in it for the au pair?
Aside from a great opportunity to see the world, Trek America offers au pairs a 5-10% discount depending on the tour (15% for those in their second year).
|
|
|
|
|
What is KIDS FIRST?
No Comment |Posted by: lrappaport on December 16, 2007
How can we make a positive impact to better children’s lives? Read about how you might be able to help.
|
|
|
|
|
HASSLE-FREE CAR TIPS
No Comment |Posted by: lrappaport on December 16, 2007
Driving around L.A. can be challenging, an adventure or loads of fun! Here are some tips for a smoother ride around town!
Tips for Au Pair Car Use
When an au pair is expected to drive as part of their daily responsibilities, they are frequently given the opportunity to utilize the car for personal use as well. This arrangement can work out well as long as the rules of car use are clear to everyone involved. It is important for host families to not only review the car rules in the first few days of the au pair’s arrival and at the 2 week orientation meeting with their LCC, but also keep a list of important reminders about car use rules and expectations in the glove compartment of the vehicle. Better yet, host parents can laminate an index card with this information, attach a Velcro sticker to the back of the card and an area of the dashboard and adhere this to the dashboard so it’s always visible.
Here is a list of the top 10 rules and expectations. These represent some of the most frequently asked questions as well as the “gray” areas that can cause the most conflict.
- No cell phone use while driving
- Seat belt use
- Speed limit reminders
- Occupancy rules (no more than 2 other people in the car, etc.)
- Mileage/distance limitations
- Prohibited driving locations
- Car curfew
- Frequency of use/on-duty vs. off duty driving time
- Type of gasoline to use
- Local police phone #, state police phone #, AAA phone # & other emergency contact numbers.
Conflicts often arise when either the au pair or host family assume that the other knows the rules of car use.
These tips were received from Natalie Jordan, director of Marketing at Cultural Care. We hope these rules are clear and will make personal car use conflict free.
|
|
|
|
|
Establishing a Strong Relationship with Your Au Pair
No Comment |Posted by: lrappaport on December 16, 2007
HOST FAMILY TIPS!
The relationship with your au pair is an important one for your family and for you, as a working parent. It can be wonderful but also complicated. As with any working relationship, it is important to discuss and reach agreement about key issues. This process is especially important for a live-in helper who participates in family life while providing an important service. An intentional and organized effort to communicate expectations for roles and boundaries can prevent many problems, while providing a solid foundation for any issues that do arise.
While you will begin your au pair’s orientation by reviewing your child’s personality and temperament, preferences and routines, and by providing practical life training on the use of the household appliances, you will also want to establish common understanding about the topics listed below. You will need to revisit these issues weekly during the first month, and then in subsequent daily and monthly check-ins to maintain clear communication.
Clarify needs regarding food: allergies, preferences, personal, religious and cultural issues.
Define what kind of activities are acceptable and which are not.
-
Can the au pair paint with the child, and if so, where is an acceptable place to do this activity?
-
What are the family practices for television and video-game viewing? Can the children watch television or play with video games? If so, how much and what can they view?
Provide a schedule for the typical week, clarifying the au pair’s responsibilities. It is important that the au pair is provided the three mandatory orientation days with one of the parents as a training tool.
-
State what you would like the au pair to do during the morning routine and evening routines, as well as guidelines for what you would like to happen if the children are at home all day. For example, which park is okay to visit?
-
Discuss driving needs to and from the children’s organized activities.
-
Discuss what help you need for the children’s meal preparation.
Define roles. David Elkind writes: “-because parents share child rearing with so many non-family members, it is not always easy to keep the roles clear.” (The Power of Play, p.74) Make a list of your expectations for the au pair.
-
Define the au pair’s role while you are home. What time will you consider the au pair to be officially working? When, during the day, will you as parent take over as the official caretaker?
-
If you work from home, define for yourself how you would like conflicts to be handled and if you will have a role in handling conflicts during your official work hours. Then share this plan with the au pair, and with both of you present, define this for the children. For example, “When Mommy has the “I’m at work” sign turned on the door, I am working and can not be disturbed. Janice will help you with anything you need, and if you have a disagreement, you need to work it out with Janice. If there is an emergency, Janice will come get me or send one of you.”
-
If there are two parents, discuss how you will communicate with the au pair to provide consistency and clarity. Much like you might do with your own children, identify who is the point person to answer questions or concerns that the au pair may have, and for key issues, wait for the designated weekly meeting time to have a discussion with all adults present.
Discuss what constitutes free time for the au pair.
-
Can the au pair’s free time be spent at the house? Can the au pair have friends over? If of a legal age, can the au pair drink alcohol in a responsible and reasonable manner in your home?
-
Clarify how you will define family time and when the au pair is invited to be a part of family activities.
A new relationship is filled with hope, excitement, anxiety and expectations. A structured approach to beginning and maintaining the relationship will set the tone in promoting and nurturing this relationship. As you get to know each other and share experiences, the communication and understanding you have established and maintained will form a successful relationship for both the au pair and your family.
|
|
|
|
|
Two’s company-Three is NOT a Crowd-BUT MORE FUN!
No Comment |Posted by: lrappaport on December 9, 2007
Let’s get together—Yeah YEAH Yeah!
Post in this area if you’d like to let everyone know about a time for au pairs to meet up.
If you know that a group of you are going to an event, let everyone else know. Last year, Veronica emailed everybody about a fun Swedish Fest.
|
|
|
|
|