Movin’ On Up!

From time to time you may have a host family in your group who informs you that they might be moving at some point in the future.  Other families may know exactly where and when they may be moving to a new location.  Whether it’s around the corner or across the country, it’s so important that you let them know that you’ll need to check with your Program Director to make sure that we will be able to continue to service them in their new location.  Therefore, getting the exact address and zip code of the town they are moving to is very important.  

Due to State Department regulations, a Local Childcare Coordinator must live within one hour’s driving time of the host family’s location so it is essential that confirmation of the proper LCC coverage is confirmed.  While host families may move from time to time, LCCs may also do the same so just because an LCC may be in their area today does not guarantee that by the time the family moves that there will still be coverage.  Therefore, we cannot confirm with 100% certainty until close to their move date and after your Program Director has had the opportunity to confirm immediate and long-term LCC coverage with the corresponding Program Director for the new area. 

While moving to a new location may prove to be a great opportunity for the host family and au pair, as the program sponsor, we need to make sure that we always keep the regulations in mind and check it out before they move on up!

German au pair, Benjamin Strauss, wins New York triathlon

Cultural Care au pair Benjamin Strauss, a 22-year-old from Berlin, recently became the Staten Island Triathlon’s first champion with a time of 1 hour, 5 minutes and 1.7 seconds. An article on Staten Island Live said of the event, “There were plenty of good vibrations to go around, starting with Ben Strauss.” “’I had really only been training for this the past two or three weeks,” said Strauss, a veteran of about six triathlons in his native Germany, who only recently learned about this race from the Midland Beach family he has been working for as an au pair.” Benjamin has a passion for triathlons and, in addition to photos of the kids he has cared for, his au pair application is filled with pictures of him swimming, biking and riding. A great au pair and a great athlete — congratulations to Benjamin!  

Happy LCC Appreciation Week

This week’s Nat Chat is dedicated to the amazing Local Childcare Coordinators at Cultural Care Au Pair.  If you want to know how much they mean to their families and au pairs, just take a look at the unbelievable outpouring of support and love they’ve expressed on our community site.  We are so proud of the work that they do each and every day and we are honored to have them represent our organization across the country.  Thank you LCCs and Happy LCC Appreciation Week!

If “Foreign Language a Must” au pairs are the perfect fit!

Au pairs can help their host children learn a new language!

The New York Times posted an article yesterday entitled: Looking for Babysitters: Foreign Language a Must. It reveals a growing trend in the New York City area and beyond: many parents are looking for childcare providers that can help their children learn a second language—one they may not speak themselves.

According to the article, although learning multiple languages simultaneously “doesn’t make kids smarter” multi-lingual children:

• learn additional languages more easily
• do better at complex tasks like isolating information presented in confusing ways
• do well in subjects like science and math due to the flexibility of their thinking 

While some parents initially enrolled their children in classes to help them learn a second language, they all felt that that wasn’t enough for their kids to become fluent. Hiring an in-home caregiver who spoke the language of their choice was a natural next step.

The article mentions families who have foreign nannies and babysitters but not-a-one with an au pair. Even so, our program is a great fit for parents looking to expose their children to a different language. (Perhaps even a superior one due to the affordable cost and the fact that au pairs can stay with a host family for up to two years.)        

A “Grace”ful Extension

The kind of visa that an au pair travels on is called a J-1 and allows them to participate in the program for 12 months.  If they have successfully completed their program year, they are also provided with a 30 day grace period in order to travel and they are not allowed to work during this time. This grace period is meant to serve as an opportunity for them to be able to travel and see parts of the country that they may not have been able to during their program year. 

One frequently asked question I receive is how that 30 day grace period works if an au pair chooses to extend their program term for 6, 9, or 12 additional months. The answer is that the grace period simply shifts to the end of that extension term. It cannot be used in between the first year and the extension term, it can only be used at the end before their departure to their home country. This means that what is often referred to as their “13^th month” simply shifts to become their 19^th month, 22^nd month or 25^th month depending on the length of their extension term. 

Au Pair Weight Gain

Many of us are familiar with the infamous “freshman fifteen.” This is the typical weight gain for American freshmen away at college. One of the main concerns reported by au pairs in the first few months of coming to the states is the weight changes that occur.

Like a young person away at college without the benefit of a parent preparing meals and encouraging healthy eating habits, au pairs are in a new country for the first time and eager to experience everything it has to offer. For many this is their first experience with highly processed, calorie dense foods. Let’s face it, Americans eat more, weigh more, and exercise less than most other European, Asian, and South American countries. When au pairs come here they are often overwhelmed and astonished by the abundance in our grocery stores. One of the most popular destinations when entertaining visiting family and friends is the American grocery store. Au pairs are excited to try all of our indulgent confections and drive thru delicacies. Eating habits change toward the American palette and au pairs find they are driving more and walking less. It is par for the course that weight gain becomes inevitable.

If you are conscious about gaining weight when coming to the states, there are a few simple rules that will help you navigate your next overindulgent feeding frenzy.

1) Try to maintain good eating habits while in the States. While there are many fattening choices in the American pantry, we are also blessed with fruits and vegetables from around the world year round. Take advantage of this opportunity and make an effort to try some of them.

2) Eat similar to how you did in your home country. Most Americans eat 3 meals a day plus snacks through out the day. Depending on size and activity level, most women need between 1200-2400 daily calories to maintain their current weight. This is sometimes the amount of calories found in one fast food combo meal or a large specialty coffee drink. If you find yourself driving through more than once a day, you could be doubling or tripling your needed calories for the day.

3) Limit fast food to once or twice a week and avoid late night drive through runs with your friends. These unused calories add up fast.

4) Remember that everything is “supersized” in the states so eat the portions you are used to or share that combo meal with a friend.

5) Exercise daily if possible. Joining a gym is a great way to meet new people. The more you exercise, the more energy you will have. You can also look for activities to enjoy with the host children to keep you all moving together.

There is nothing wrong with trying new foods and occasionally indulging with friends. However, when this becomes the norm, it is sure to show up in your waistline. As with anything else, having a consistently healthy lifestyle is the best way to ensure a healthy, fit year!

Lisa Bravo, MC, LPC, LISAC, NC
Cultural Care Au Pair
Program Counselor

Home Alone

As you all know, it is a State Department regulation that au pairs work no more than 10 hours in one day. With all of the demands of a busy host family schedule, they may be quick to forget this important rule. Not only is the enforcement of this rule our obligation as representatives of the program, but the enforcement of this rule is there for the protection of the au pairs. 

Host families may decide to take a trip without their au pair and this is certainly their decision. However, they may NEVER leave an au pair alone with their children while they travel unless they have secured alternate childcare which prevents their au pair from ever exceeding the 10 hour rule. Sleeping hours count if the au pair is alone with the children in the home so it is the host family’s responsibility to ensure that this program regulation is never violated by having another caretaker supplement these additional hours. 

It is also the responsibility of the au pair to let you know if their host family has asked them to watch the kids for the entire weekend while they are away or for any extended period of time in excess of 10 hours. Program participants will be immediately terminated from the program if they are found in violation of this regulation. 

I have dedicated this Nat Chat to this important topic because having a wonderful and trustworthy au pair has tempted some host families to try and attempt a quick “get away” without the kids. There are also au pairs who may offer to take on additional hours. This places the au pair in a position of responsibility that is far beyond the scope of this cultural exchange program. The more proactive you are in reminding your au pairs and families of the program rules and regulations, the better quality program we can provide and the best interest of ALL program participants can be maintained.