A Publication for EurAupair Program Participants and Friends Around the World! Winter 2017 • Volume 65

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Karina Kolbe – Karina Kolbe – EurAupair • EurAupair Au Pair of the Year 2017 Five Wonderful Au Pair of the Year 2017 • Big Sisters By the Caron/Cragg Family from Saint Paul, MN • EurAupair Road Trip A little four year old girl knew Formal, maybe a bit stiff, and very, A month later we would test our • A Year of Meetings immediately. very professional. Perfect. togetherness as we spent a couple in Review As our jobs became more I did worry that my big weeks driving a minivan through EurAupair Photos chaotic, always having someone personality, and my husband’s the Yucatan jungle, seeing pyramids, • to watch our daughter Mavis was endless extroversion and our very itching bug bites, swimming and getting to be a challenge. We had social child would overwhelm this buying spicy gas station candy. worn grandma and the neighbors quiet woman with our Big American Karina was thrown into a huge About Us... thin, and we needed something more Life. But that is exactly part of this adventure in Mexico, in tiny towns EurAupair Intercultural Child Care stable and reliable. I knew we needed experiment. and sprawling cities, awed by Programs is a non-profit, public benefit someone that would be a constant, The first few weeks were part Chichen Itza’s magical pyramids, organization designated by the U.S. and love Mavis as we did. awkward and part blissful excitement, swimming in underground caverns Department of State to conduct the Au Pair cultural exchange program Luke, my husband, at first was and overcoming her fear and learning under the Fulbright Hays Mutual resistant. He didn’t want a live-in to snorkel the reef. Educational and Cultural Exchange Act nanny, he couldn’t imagine how it Karina relaxed, and Mavis grew of 1961 and is intended “to promote could work where it felt that we were comfortable with the stability in mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other all an important part of the family place of the pre-Karina chaos. Karina countries by means of educational and and household. brought things we just didn’t have cultural exchanges”. I began searching the au pair time for with our schedules – paint, EurAupair Intercultural websites, Mavis peering over my bug homes, and long narratives Child Care Programs shoulder at the videos each hopeful involving every doll and stuffed toy 250 North Coast Highway au pair had made of driving, holding in the house. Mavis has a special Laguna Beach, CA 92651 USA children, waving from blooming playmate that has helped her develop Tel: 949/494-5500 gardens. into a smarter, more creative, more Fax: 949/497-6235 E-mail: [email protected] But the videos were empathetic girl. Web: www.euraupair.com unimpressive to 4 year old Mavis, she We told Karina we expected her consistently, day after day, wanted to really live in Minnesota, to develop to see the profile of Karina, with friends and her own community. Requested Service Return Beach,Laguna CA 92651 USA 250 North Coast Highway EurAupair Gazette just pictures and no videos, a well- She soon was the au pair the educated woman from Germany others called in times of stress. currently working in a child care Cuddles during tea-time while being at Before long her network of friends center in Paris. Her credentials a family cookie baking session. grew beyond just other au pairs. She were impressive and Mavis had spends all of her time off camping, me convinced. Luke put away his with all of us figuring out bathroom doing every Harry Potter event she fears as he learned that this is also schedules and other roommate plans, can find, and of course finding all an exchange program: she’s here to and the joy of Mavis anticipating her of the other fun that the city offers. learn as much as we are looking for time with Karina, and my husband Her St. Paul pride shows often, and good child care. and I anticipating time we could her cold tolerance has grown to And we all leaped, and Karina actually be together without chasing Minnesota-native worthy. landed in Minnesota in cold snap. a toddler. My husband and I have watched Karina blossom, from someone a little bit timid into someone that’s quite fearlessly devouring this culture, seeing and learning as much as she can with the time she has here. We are very, very proud that we could nurture and encourage her in her early adulthood. I think our Big American Life has helped her see there are no limits on anything she wants to do with the rest of her life. On Thanksgiving, ten months into this experiment, what that little

4 year old knew when she picked U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 963 California 92651

Karina’s photos finally became Laguna Beach Organization clear. After a huge, raucous, silly, Non-Profit full Thanksgiving day, we drove home from grandma’s through the

Continued on Page 2... Karina and her host sister Mavis relax by the ocean. Five Wonderful Big Sisters By Brad Evans, Host Family in Alexandria, VA

Already a very busy families go wrong, I also made for the rest of his life. professional, I became a single sure they understood that I was He and I love them Dad just before my son’s eighth all dearly, and they birthday. It was a huge decision, us. They served as my but after careful consideration I son’s tutors, mentors, decided to get an au pair through piano teachers, EurAupair. It was one of the best language teachers and decisions I have ever made. general life coaches in Getting an au pair means ways that were often bringing a stranger half way impossible for me to around the world and into your provide, and in some home for an entire year and giving ways, for me to even that stranger responsibility over imagine. And I gave the single most important thing in them the security, your world – your child. You will autonomy and the hear some horror stories. There mobility they needed are some au pairs who should not in order to explore be au pairs. And there are some their new American Fun at the river with Au Pairs Janine and host families that shouldn’t be host world. We travelled Adelina (both from Germany). families. My philosophy was that widely and often, if I felt I couldn’t trust a potential which was good for my son as well Thank you so much, Brad, for au pair to behave like an adult, then A beautiful photo of Patricia from as the au pairs. They asked and I sharing your experience with us I shouldn’t hire that au pair. And if Germany with her host brother. answered thousands of questions and for giving such helpful advice I could trust the au pair to behave about language, culture, politics, to (new) host families. We are glad like an adult, then there should committed to giving them the best food, and life. And my son heard that you and your son have found be no need for curfews or heavy- possible home life and cultural those discussions – between new family members for life! handed oversight. Before I offered exchange I could. I believe that adults, not watered down “for them the position, I made sure made all the difference. a child’s ears”. Through their they understood that they needed Now my son is thirteen and questions, he learned things about to hold up their end of the bargain. we have had five au pairs - and now his own culture that would never But, and this is where I think many he has five wonderful big sisters have occurred to me to mention otherwise. And, perhaps just as important, those five young women are now back in their home countries, and when one of their friends or acquaintances says something incorrect about the US, they have the tools to correct them. Everybody wins. So think carefully about whether you are really ready to be a host family, hire an au pair that is a good fit for how your family actually lives, commit yourself to meeting the spirit of the arrangement as well as the letter, and let the magic happen. Done right, it’s absolutely worth it! Snow White (aka Valentina from Winter Wonderland with the Evans Family and German Au Pair Angelina. Colombia) and Batman!

...Continued from Front Page countryside in the dark, and we all In less than one year, Karina recounted what we were thankful will leave our home. Each day for. each of us tucks the dread of that Karina told us that in upcoming day away. Germany her family was just There’s been three of us her and her mom, but now she loving this little 4 year old as she realized that this large, laughing, turned 5, growing and becoming loud American family had really a bigger and better person, but become her family. And it really the other part of this story is was something to be thankful for. there is an incredible woman At that moment, we all that bloomed into her beautiful realized Karina had become an self at the same time, under the irreplaceable member of our same roof. family. It hit hard, how much we have become a true family in such Thank you for this beautiful This summer, Mavis learned how to a short time, and I might have and fun essay about your time ride the bike with safety wheels. cried a little bit during that dark with Karina. Congratulations, Little legs got tired at the Karina got her running workout car ride (please don’t tell Karina Karina, for winning this year’s May Day Parade. done while chasing her. :) her unflappable host mom cried!). Au Pair of the Year Award!! EurAupair Photos

Indiana Community Counselor Nancy Paschal and her German Au Pairs West Virginia Community Counselor The Thompson Family from Wiebke and Sara prepared a typical German meal: Schnitzel, Rotkohl and Michelle Duez and her Au Pair Fairy Wichita, KS shared this adorable Kartoffelknoedel. Looks delicious!! (China) had a great time putt putt golfing. Christmas Eve photo of their Fairy had never been before and had a Au Pair Laura (Colombia) and her really great time! host siblings.

Alice Smith, our Omaha, NE Community Counselor, and her crew went bowling. Thanks for sharing this cute picture!

Orange County, CA Community Counselor Laura Piunno and her group of au pairs had lunch at the Irvine Spectrum Center followed by arcade games at Dave & Busters.

EurAupair Road Trip By Natalie Kratzer-Gushwa, our Community Counselor in Seattle, WA

Our cultural meeting in October 2016 was burgers, fruit, salad, chips and a very typical American thing to do: a road trip! s’mores for dessert. Meanwhile Fifteen people and three cars went on the road everybody also dressed up in their on Saturday morning, October 29th 2016 at 5:30 Halloween costumes and we started am. We started in Seattle and our destination playing Pie Face, which was lots of was Florence, OR where we would meet up with fun! We played the night away, had an au pair group from Eugene, OR and a former great conversations, got to know Euraupair au pair who now lives in Eugene as one another more and made new well. connections with the group from We stopped for breakfast at Starbucks Eugene, OR. along the way and had sandwiches later for After a very nice breakfast the lunch. Then finally we arrived at the cottage next morning we started to pack right by the water. We got settled, played guitar up and headed out back to WA At the Halloween Costume Party. hero, listened to music, and talked about all state. We all agreed on doing such kind of stuff. We then decided to go to the beach a nice and fun trip sometime soon again, and seem smaller than it is! and watch the sunset – this was such a beautiful the Eugene group also wanted to come visit us Thank you so much, Natalie, for organizing and happy moment to enjoy. in Seattle. This trip was exactly what Euraupair this super fun monthly meeting and for writing After that the group of almost 20 went is about, connecting the world and making it about it. We love the photos! back to the cottage and we started to get ready for dinner. Typical American food: chicken

We love this EurAupair dessert! Beautiful photo of the Washington and Oregon au pairs and community counselors. A Year of Meetings in Review By Joana Godinho, Community Counselor in the Washington, D.C. Area

Every year the U.S. au pairs to experience it. (Credits its tropical weather... and we leg work and found free lodging receives approximately one to Community Counselor Anne couldn’t resist to have crepes post at a monastery. They described million exchange students. As Krohn for taking the lead on this swimming pool. this event as exhausting (60.000+ a community counselor I am a volunteer opportunity.) thirsty runners stopped by their cultural broker that helps a small mile) and life changing. Let me group to adjust to a new country. make you envious, they gave My goal: After our au pairs water to elite runners and famous go through the bureaucracy of people. Ah! getting their driver’s license, a social security number, opening their bank account, and figuring out how to get around in this town, we move on to the next item From left to right: Community - appreciating their host home. From left to right: Community Counselor Joana, Anna (Italy) and Marine (France). I want them to have the time of Counselor Anne Krohn, Anna (Italy), Carmen (Brazil), Marine their lives! AUGUST: (France). My method: I aim to make Starbucks the meetings a fun experience. APRIL: (Price $5) From left to right: Bruna (Brazil), Planning ahead, I schedule most O Street Mansion Urgh. I don’t want to be a Anna (Italy) and Community Counselor Joana. Yes, I can, NYC! meetings two months in advance, at Washington DC Starbucks CC. But here’s the silver aiming to obtain a goal like fitness (Price $10) living: Starbucks is American! DECEMBER: or about some cultural aspect. The April is cultural month. We SEPTEMBER: Brunch with gift exchange, meetings should also be budget toured the O Street Mansion and Super Hero Bar Crawl Gatsby’s Tavern friendly. I find activities the explored the museum and its at Washington DC (Price $14) au pairs like by involving them collection of more than 20,000 (Price $10) The founders of the American in the decision making process. paintings, photographs, sculptures, The girls dressed up and we Independence had lunch at this I also try to negotiate lower rates books, artifacts, and music, from had a social drink in some bars in restaurant. And if you haven’t with organizations by sending an all over the globe. Among the 100 DC. visited it, you are missing out. I introduction email. rooms we searched for secret doors, OCTOBER: tagged along with Community When I hosted the last signed guitars, memorabilia, and Hold US Flags at the MCM, Counselor Anne Krohn; we hosted meeting of the year in December enjoyed the art. volunteer with Wear Blue brunch and did some Secret Santa and signed the au pairs’ folios, I MAY: (Price $0) gift exchange. (The restaurant is realized how diverse my meetings Color Run - 5k One American quirk that I au pair budget friendly, brunch were. We did a bit of everything at Gaylord Center, MD love is to have flags everywhere. starts at $7.) – races, volunteering, we learned (Price $40) Even if we want to forget where we about American culture, and had Fitness is as important as live, we can’t. Americans are very If you are reading this and lunch at the same place former culture! Living abroad brings protective when it comes to their would like to be part of my President Obama goes to. So I some extra pounds. I convinced flag - can’t touch the floor, needs meetings, please email me - decided to write this article to my girls to run the color run. They to be held high and free… So we whether you are a community share with the community what had a great time and at the end volunteered with Wear Blue, a counselor or an au pair who just our year looked like! they said, “Let’s do this again next veterans non-profit organization, wants to make new friends. We JANUARY: year!” And I might take them on to hold US flags in honor of those will make room for you. Brunch at Colloton Family that offer! (The organization took who served this great country. I would like to dedicate this (Price $0) $5 off, the price above reflects that We learned more about the flag article to my AMAZING 2016 The Colloton Family is a role discount.) etiquette. AU PAIRS: Bruna D’Avila (Brazil) model family. They welcomed and Anna Rossi (Italy) who always Anna as a member of the family. want to do fun things. This would On this date, they hosted this not be possible without them. One brunch so they could say goodbye last note, Bruna and Anna recently to Pia, their previous au pair, and surprised me by signing-up for introduce Anna to family and the Rock and Roll half marathon friends. They were kind enough in D.C. and challenged me to join to allow me to bring the rest of my them. Being a runner myself, I group to the event. think I have motivated them into FEBRUARY: From left to right: Anna (Italy), the world of fitness! Community Counselor Joana and Au pairs and Joana volunteer Lunch at Ben Chili’s Bowl The planning for the 2017 Bruna (Brazil). holding US flags at the Marine (Price $5+) Corps Marathon. meetings is still in the works. In President Obama and other JUNE: addition to Anna and Bruna, I VIP guests had lunch at this June Meeting NOVEMBER: recently got two au pairs - Tiphaine location. It’s located in a historic (Price $0) NYC Marathon - (France) and Vittoria (Italy). I am neighborhood of Washington DC This monthly meeting was Volunteer NYC, NY sure they will have a great time too. – U Street. conducted by Area Coordinator (Price $0) Meetings can be fun! MARCH: Holly Brown. My girls were more excited THANK YOU, Joana, for this Feed Homeless People JULY: than I, and when I offered the wonderful article and the great at Lincoln Park, Washington DC Swimming Pool possibility to volunteer, they photos - it was a lot of fun to “join” (Price $0) (Price $0) immediately accepted. There your 2016 meetings! Thank you for Giving back to the community A hot afternoon in was a total of 1000 au pairs from coming up with such exciting ideas is something that is part of the US Washington DC requires to get ALL over the states. I offered a for the monthly get-togethers. culture and we would like our a tan. YES! DC is known for RT bus ticket and the girls did