GAZETTE A Publication for EurAupair Program Participants and Friends Around the World! Summer 2011 • Volume 49 INSIDE THIS ISSUE • German Carnival in Iowa Off the Beaten Path • Ronald McDonald A Single Mom’s Journey through Adoption House Award • Annual Chicago By Community Counselor Catherine Kuntze Boat Tour EurAupair Community Counselor and a brother and couldn’t imagine right. So, in April of 2010 I began • My American Dream Catherine Kuntze shares her touching, my child going through life without the process of adoption. What My Life in Paradise heart-warming story with us: either a sister or brother of her own. followed were months of paperwork, • “While the other kids wanted I can say that now that I’m older. If interrogations, oops, I mean to be teachers, doctors or astronauts you would’ve asked me in my teens interviews by social workers, doctor when they grew up, I always said I if I was thankful I had siblings I’d visits, fingerprinting appointments, wanted to be a single mom with have told you heck no, who needs background checks on everything About Us... two kids! Ok, I didn’t really say them! But seriously, on my 35th from my driving history to credit EurAupair Intercultural Child Care that but that’s exactly where my birthday I made a promise to myself card statements, along with making Programs is a non-profit, public benefit organization designated by the U.S. life has taken me. I’m a never-been- that if I wasn’t married and had payments to my agency. This was one Department of State to conduct the married, 30-something, full-time the financial means, I’d begin the of the most difficult and challenging Au Pair cultural exchange program working mother of two 10 year-old adoption process when I turned 38. times both mentally and physically under the Fulbright Hays Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act girls and I’m where I want and am Fast forward to December of my life. A couple of times I was of 1961 and is intended “to promote supposed to be at this stage in my 2009. My sister and her family made ready to throw in the towel, but with mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other life. My name is Catherine and this the (shocking!) announcement that the encouragement of my family and countries by means of educational and is my story. they were adopting a baby boy from friends kept moving forward, and in cultural exchanges”. For as long as I can remember Ethiopia. I was honored when they December I was matched with a 10 EurAupair Intercultural I’ve wanted to adopt a child. I didn’t asked me to accompany my brother- year-old girl. Child Care Programs know where from, what age, boy or in-law to travel with him to pick up In February of 2011 I traveled 250 North Coast Highway girl, just that I would do it one day. their son. While in Ethiopia at the with my BFF, Deena, to meet my Laguna Beach, CA 92651 USA Tel: 949/494-5500 My first “experience” with adoption orphanages, I kept noticing all the daughter for the first time. Reading Fax: 949/497-6235 was when I was in my early twenties older children who were waiting hundreds of books and talking E-mail: [email protected] and living with my cousin and for families. Everyone has the basic with many adoptive parents cannot Web: www.euraupair.com his wife who adopted a baby boy human need to be loved, and these prepare you for this. I’d like to say from Russia. I didn’t pay attention children were no exception. So, our meeting looked like something Return Service Requested CA 92651 USA Laguna Beach, Highway Coast 250 North Gazette EurAupair to the process they went through, before I left the country I knew I out of a movie but it didn’t even come just celebrated with them in their would be adopting an older child close. Awkward is the first word happiness when they returned from Ethiopia. that comes to mind. We were both home. I chose Ethiopia for a few reserved and couldn’t communicate Since that time many years reasons. One, they allow single very well. I was nervous while she went by, most of them faster than mothers to adopt (important in was withdrawn. Did I mention it was others, and I found myself into my my case), two, Ethiopia has one of awkward? At the end of the week it 30’s with a daughter of my own. I the highest numbers of orphans Continued on back page... grew up with two younger sisters in the world, and three, it just felt U.S. POSTAGE PAID U.S. POSTAGE PERMIT NO. 963 PERMIT California 92651 Laguna Beach Organization Non-Profit Sisters German Carnival in Iowa By Community Counselor Erin Frank On a Wednesday in costume and helped them afternoon in July 2011, design parade floats for a EurAupair au pair Britta parade around the library. It Voihs, hosted by the was a great success, also covered Schwarck family of Eldora, by Eldora’s local newspaper! IA, arranged a German Thank you, Britta, for sharing Karneval (carnival) for a part of Germany’s culture Eldora library’s ‘One World, with the Eldora kids!! Many Stories’ Summer Reading Program. German A big Thanks to Community music played as Britta Counselor Erin Frank for sharing painted faces, gave out the story with The Gazette! candy, had the kids come Ronald McDonald House Award EurAupair au pair Miriam Buballa, hosted by the Reagan family of Chagrin Falls, OH, and Community Counselor Kristina Weindel attended the ‘Ronald McDonald House 2011 Pillar Award’ in Cleveland, OH. After a fantastic dinner reception held at Cleveland’s Judson Manor, EurAupair was presented with the ‘Pillar Award’ as recognition of EurAupair’s ongoing support of the Ronald McDonald House in Cleveland. Miriam and Kristina, as well as Miriam’s twin sister Janine, who visited from Germany, enjoyed the evening and felt honored to receive the award on EurAupair’s behalf. Au Pair Miriam and Community Counselor Kristina in the center, after having received the Pillar Award. Annual Chicago Boat Tour By Community Counselor Dawn Rothermel It was a glorious sunny and cool Sunday, the 28th of August, 2011, when approximately 30 au pairs, 17 Community Counselors and friends boarded Shoreline Sightseeing’s boat for a trip down the Chicago River. The tour departed Ogden Slip, near famed Navy Pier, and proceeded down the Chicago River, taking in parts of both the north and south branches. The docent highlighted various architectural gems along the river, including little known facts such as there are 37 drawbridges that span the Chicago River, giving all aboard an intimate history of Chicago’s skyline. Some of the au pairs and counselors enjoyed a picnic beforehand on the lush lawn of Navy Pier. My American Dream By Au Pair of the Year and IAPA Au Pair of the Year finalist Melanie Bluhm EurAupair Au Pair of the Year and Neither exams nor having a whole IAPA Au Pair of the Year finalist bunch of preschool kids by myself Melanie Bluhm writes about her the first time could make me feel too unforgettable year with the Cameron nervous. On this Friday afternoon, family: sitting in a bus to Philadelphia, PA I “When I started thinking felt more nervous than I would have about being an Au pair - exactly doing five exams at the same time two years ago - I knew it would – unprepared! Talking to the other be an exceptional experience. But au pairs I realized I wasn´t alone back then I didn´t have an idea how with that feeling. That helped. exceptional! I had already worked I remembered like it was with children for five years at that yesterday when my host dad picked point and was almost done with me up at the airport pretending my studying to become a preschool two suitcases were not heavy at all. teacher. Quite a bit of experience Well, his heavy breathing and deep you would think! At least this is red face said something else, but not what I thought when I read the first even Hulk himself could have lifted email sent from an American family a girls one-year luggage without with three little children under three trouble. My host dad talked to me years – two year old twins Chloe in the car – probably about Hulk, and Sophia and 9 months old baby I don´t know. I barely heard yes I was still more nervous than ever host parents who did two things. Hannah. No problem? Well, we´ll and no. Before I came to the US I before in my life. Then I heard a car They showed me their appreciation see about that. thought my English was pretty good. in a driveway and little voices. for what I did and they also managed I liked the Cameron family I guess the reason for that could There they were! Very excited to make me feel like a full family from Wayne, PA immediately and have been that I´d never talked to an I went outside to say hello to my member and they did that so well that impression improved with English person before. Smiling and new family and with a huge relief I that I never suffered homesickness every email and soon followed nodding were supposed to give the realized that they were just as nice as or ever regretted my decision.