A Publication for EurAupair Program Participants and Friends Around the World! Fall 2015 • Volume 62
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Welcome to Mongolia! • Welcome to Mongolia! EurAupair’s Network of Since EurAupair has a new partner office in Mongolia and is starting to receive Mongolian • Support au pair applicants, we would like to introduce the country and its culture to you. • Reunion in Minnesota Mongolia is a landlocked How do you entertain a country located between China • 20-year-old when you’ve and Russia. It is a vast country that forgotten what it’s like to links land and sky and is one of the be 20? last few places on the planet where nomadic life is still a living tradition. • EurAupair Photos & more Mongolia’s nickname is the “Land of Blue Skies” and with good reason: there are said to be about 250 sunny days throughout each year. About Us... Mongolia is the sixth-largest EurAupair Intercultural Child Care country in Asia and 19th in the world, Programs is a non-profit, public benefit but the population is only 2,727,966, organization designated by the U.S. which makes Mongolia one of the Department of State to conduct the least densely populated areas in Asia. Au Pair cultural exchange program under the Fulbright Hays Mutual The geography of Mongolia is varied, Educational and Cultural Exchange Act with the Gobi Desert to the south Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. of 1961 and is intended “to promote and with cold and mountainous mutual understanding between the regions to the north and west. Much Mongolia is mutton or sheep. The for children until at least the age of 3 people of the United States and other of Mongolia consists of steppes, with boodog or goat/marmot barbecue years old. After that, children usually countries by means of educational and cultural exchanges”. forested areas comprising 11.2% of is particularly worth experiencing. go to day care. It will be common for the total land area. Almost half of the There is a theory that Mongolian Mongolian au pair applicants to have EurAupair Intercultural Child Care Programs population lives in Ulaanbaatar, the horseman may have invented ice experience in caring for relatives cream, when they took cream on 250 North Coast Highway long journeys across the Gobi desert Laguna Beach, CA 92651 USA Tel: 949/494-5500 in winter. As they galloped, the cream Fax: 949/497-6235 was vigorously shaken, while the E-mail: [email protected] sub-zero temperature caused it to Web: www.euraupair.com freeze. The expansion of the Mongol Empire spread ice cream through Return Service Requested Service Return Beach,Laguna CA 92651 USA 250 North Coast Highway EurAupair Gazette The Yurt is a portable, China, from where Marco Polo Mongolian nomads. round tent used by nomads. reputedly brought the idea to Italy when he returned from his travels in (nephews & nieces, cousins). They capital of Mongolia. Due to its high 1295. will usually have experience with elevation, high latitude, landlocked As an Asian culture, Mongolians fewer children but for a longer period location and the effects of the can be expected to be punctual and of time. Siberian anticyclone, Ulaanbaatar respectful of schedules and family It is quite common for is the coldest national capital in the rules. However, contrary to popular Mongolians to pursue post- world, where the average temperature belief, the young generation is quite secondary education near their is -1 degree Celsius. out-going and you can expect your home and continue living with The extreme continental climate Mongolian au pair to have an open their parents while completing their has affected the traditional diet, so communication with you. studies, unless from the countryside. Mongolian cuisine primarily consists Mongolian couples have an Mongolians may even continue to of dairy products and meat. Use of average of three children per family. live at home when getting a job, vegetables and spices is limited. Due It is very common to live in close and only to move out when getting to geographic proximity and deep communities with relatives. Family married. historic ties, Mongolian cuisine is is very important and relatives rely The official language of influenced by Chinese and Russian on each other in times of need. Mongolia is Mongolian which is cuisine. The main diet in rural Grandparents and relatives will care spoken by 95% of the population. A variety of dialects of Oirat and Buryat are spoken across the country. Starting in 4th grade, Mongolians must choose a second language, usually English, Chinese, Russian, German or French. Are you interested in finding out more about this fascinating country?
Why not welcome a Mongolian U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 963 California 92651 Laguna Beach
au pair to your family? What better Organization way to continue learning about this Non-Profit beautiful country and culture.
Out in the wide open. How do you entertain a 20-year-old when you’ve forgotten what it’s like to be 20? By Wichita, KS Community Counselor Pamela Porvaznik
I ask this question since I travel forever. This was in 1960 having breakfast and find myself at the age of 72 in an when it was relatively inexpensive then toured College Hill interesting situation: to travel to and live in Europe. where Wichitans go all A good 15 years ago, an Today, it would be a different out with Halloween old high school friend asked if story altogether. That’s why decorations. We then I’d be interested in becoming bringing Europe into one’s home travelled to our new Pop- a community counselor for an would be the next best thing for Up park downtown, took international au pair program. a host family’s child, and that’s photos, and then on to the why I think the Keeper of the Plains where whole EurAupair we walked the suspension experience is bridge over the Arkansas terrific. River and studied the So, here I American Indian wall am with my first writings at the other end. au pair. Her name What’s Wichita is Kim, from without its past? Some Germany, and refer to our city as “encased she’s a darling girl. in the ‘50s”. There is so So bright, speaks much history here, but Kim with her host siblings – English without not much physical beauty. what an adorable photo! an accent, can The wheels of government even find her way move slowly, but it is a great family I’ve been a Friends Board member Crossing the suspension bridge in Wichita, KS. on an American town. I want Kim to get to know for a dozen years. But do these computer, typing her new city intimately and take things really interest a 20 year old? Community counselor? English like a pro (remember back a little western-leaning I know Kim likes to shop, What’s that? Well, my friend at her home her keyboard is romance from the “Peerless go to basketball games and eat. explained, you help qualify the entirely in German). I’m in awe Princess of the Plains” when she Basketball is a way off, shopping host family who applies for an of her poise and diligence, her returns to Germany next year. is a given, and eating…well, we au pair through EurAupair, an willingness to learn and please. So off to the Sedgwick both like to eat. But the addition of intercultural child care program, She’s an excellent caregiver to County Historical Museum to more young people would be ever and then you check in with both three adorable children. And I love see an exhibit on prohibition, so welcomed. parents throughout the year and her host family. They are terrific rooms devoted to the early days I guess I’m writing this to meet the au pair once a month in and have welcomed spread the word. We person to ensure things are going Kim into their home want more au pair well with her host family as well as as both an au pair families in Wichita. I enjoying cultural activities. and as a daughter. can personally vouch That sounded easy enough, I’m just completely for the excellence of so I signed up. Now years later, I impressed with the EurAupair. Both the finally have my first assignment. whole situation. families and au pairs The whole idea of having Our first outing are screened within a foreign girl come into one’s was to a store opening an inch of their lives. home to take care of their child or – I’m a writer for a The company has children while they work sounds family-owned chain been at this a long ideal to me. Learning about of health food stores time and has a stellar people, their experiences, tastes – where Kim got to reputation. It gives the and culture as well as having your take pictures of the company, families and child become acquainted with the event and post them au pairs reassurance outside world through a caregiver’s to Facebook. From that their placements eyes just delights me to no end. there we went to will be successful, I was given the opportunity lunch at my favorite everyone will be safe as a 17-year-old to delay going to restaurant, shopped and well cared for and college a year in exchange for living at an outrageous the whole experience in Europe. I lived six months in boutique and then Community Counselor Pam and Au Pair Kim admiring worth the money and Paris and six months in Rome with went to a movie Halloween decorations during one of their monthly meetings. effort. a month-long holiday in England theater to see “The Now, what to in between. I attended classes at Intern.” do with a 20-year-old the Institute Catholique in Paris Kim is so appreciative and of aviation and an entire house on our next outing! and at the Trinita Dei Monti in joyful; it was difficult knowing if memorialized on a floor unto its Thank you so much, Pam, for Rome, which at that time was an she really had fun. Cognizant of own, complete with zinc-lined sharing your Community Counselor international girls’ school located the age gap, I want to make her bathtub, wood stove, Prairie- experience and your enthusiasm at the top of the Spanish Steps. experience in Wichita interesting. Victorian furniture and clothing about the EurAupair program! I studied French and Italian, Art I just wish I knew other young worn by the gentry of the day. It sounds like you and Kim have and Art History. I never had so people that would make our There are still tons of things a lot of fun during your monthly much fun in my young life and outings more meaningful for her. that interest me in my home city: meetings. the experience honed my love of Our next meeting was Old Cowtown, Exploration Place, art and architecture, fine food and a cultural one. We started out the Wichita Art Museum where EurAupair Photos
Milwaukee Community Counselor Tracy Adams and her Au Pairs from Colombia, Germany and France enjoyed carving pumpkins for their No pumpkin carving or eating for this crowd. Once again the Chicagoland Au Pairs, Community October cultural event. For many girls, this was San Francisco Community Counselor Counselors and Area Coordinator enjoyed a boat tour. the first time they carved a pumpkin! Jeanette Schoonman and her group of This year they did the Shoreline Architecture River Cruise. Au Pairs sweated it out with a Zumba class! The buildings along the river looked beautiful and a lot In the picture, from left to right: of photos were taken by all the Au Pairs. The guide did a Anaïs (France), Miriam (Germany), great job of explaining the history of the buildings. Amina (France), Satu (Finland), Jeanette, the Luca, an Italian exchange student with our sister Zumba teacher and Alejandra (Colombia). company World Heritage, was also along for the ride.
Happy pumpkin patch season!! Here are some shots from Community Counselor Natalie Kratzer-Gushwa’s Seattle group of Au Pairs. For their cultural meeting in October they visited the Trinity Tree Farm in Issaquah, WA and also enjoyed a hayride. In the pictures are Lena (Germany), Trecia and Nastelle (South Africa), Angeline (and her friend), Delphine, Lucile and Caroline (all from France).
Long Island Community Counselor Rosey Rivera writes: This month we (my group along with Danny Rivera’s Can I hear a Hallelujah? The Chicago girls group) ventured off to a farm in Queens for in Gila Peller’s group went to the House of our cultural event. Who knew there was a Blues Gospel Brunch in Chicago, IL for their farm in QUEENS?? The Queens County September meeting. This event is a must Farm Museum is located on 47 acres of the see for all! The brunch was a meal fit for a New York City neighborhoods of Floral Park king. Just when you thought it couldn’t get and Glen Oaks in Queens. This historic any better, the music started and the girls farm occupies the city’s largest remaining were tapping their feet and clapping their tract of undisturbed farmland, and is still a hands. The Au Pairs left saying it was a great working farm today. We were able to walk experience, one they will never forget. through the Corn Maze... that was fun and a bit confusing as you had to find the pieces to the map... so most of the time we had no idea where we were going but we made it out.
Area Coordinator Holly Brown as well as Chicago Community Counselors Vicki O’Leary and Ashley Ridgley with their group of Au Pairs Community Counselors Kelley Land and Linda Jimenez enjoying fall at the County Line Orchard and Corn Maze and having fun at the roller-skating park. took their groups of Au Pairs to do face painting at the Virginia “Mom’s Run This Town” fun run for kids. They had a great time! EurAupair’s Network of Support By Chicago Area Coordinator Vivi Frumkin and German Au Pair Pia Mohr
Nobody wants a placement with the mental strength of someone coordinators, regional directors to grandparents in Darcy and Tom to fall apart, but it happens. much older. Pia stayed with Darcy the executive director. that I personally never had! Pia from Germany needed and Tom for a couple of weeks until Sometimes we forget what it We had so much fun and were housing when her placement she left to join her new family. As truly takes and how many people are laughing a lot. Here are some did not work out and luckily you can see from the photos, Pia had involved when we have an au pair in pictures of what we did during community counselor Darcy a great time during her transition need. So this is my thank you to all. the last two weeks. Voreis from Noblesville, IN – period. ~ Vivi ~ Pia who was not Pia’s counselor – They say it takes a village A letter from Pia to Vivi EurAupair sends a big Thank and her husband opened their and in this case it certainly did. I just wanted to thank you for You to Darcy and Tom for helping home to house her. Pia arrived Housing was needed and found. The everything you did for me during the Pia and making her transition unsure of her future. I talked au pair needed a new family and last few weeks! Thanks for giving me period fun and worry-free. with her several times and found was placed. EurAupair is that village the opportunity to stay with Darcy her to be a sweet young au pair from community counselors, area and her husband. I literally found
Pia ‘racing’ at the Pia doing a handstand in front of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame. Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Reunion in Minnesota By previous Au Pair Waltrun Gleich from Germany
This past summer I had the the States Kate and I became very au pair Natalie from South Africa. up North together and so Kate possibility to fly out and meet close friends – being from the same The Koenig’s have always done a and I got to see our American my previous host family. I was country (Germany) it worked out great job to make their au pairs feel grandparents, too. Another their second au pair for 1.5 years that both of us are now studying in like family, so it just seemed natural highlight was the St. Paul Saints starting in April 2013. Lucky for the same city and are actually almost to welcome our new “American baseball game that we visited me, the Koenig’s first au pair neighbors. sister”. Kate, Natalie and I spent great together. Kate also spent two weeks in This July we also met the times with our two little boys Tavin All in all this has been the Minnesota. During my time in Koenig’s newest family member – (8) and Asher (5). Also, we all went best summer of my life – thanks to my amazing and loving host family, my great former host kids and my lovely sisters. I am thankful that we all met and are still continuing to have contact!!! Thank you for the article and fun photos, Waltrun. Forming strong bonds with your host family and making new friends from all over the world is what the au pair program is all about!!
The whole Koenig family, including three au pairs! The previous and current au pairs Waltrun, Katrin and Natalie with their host brother.