Bringing International Childcare to Delaware!

Even experienced drivers can have difficulty driving in snow and ice! Although we have had a mild winter thus far, it’s only just begun! We could be hit by snow or ice at any time over the next few months. It’s important to keep in mind that even the best au pair driver may not have experience driving in this type of weather, as many of our au pairs come from countries that never see snow and ice. It will be best to let her get used to it or have her avoid driving in altogether (although, I know that’s not always possible :).

Here are some helpful tips from The Weather Channel:

Driving in Snow and Ice

• The best advice for driving in bad winter weather is not to drive at all, if you can avoid it.
• Don’t go out until the snow plows and sanding trucks have had a chance to do their work, and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination.
• If you must drive in snowy conditions, make sure your car is prepared (TIPS), and that you know how to handle road conditions.
• It’s helpful to practice winter driving techniques in a snowy, open parking lot, so you’re familiar with how your car handles. Consult your owner’s manual for tips specific to your vehicle.

Driving safely on icy roads

• Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
• Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
• Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
• Keep your lights and windshield clean.
• Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
• Don’t use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
• Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
• Don’t pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you’re likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
• Don’t assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.

If your rear wheels skid…

• Take your foot off the accelerator.
• Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they’re sliding right, steer right.
• If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.
• If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.
• If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse — this is normal.

If your front wheels skid…

• Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don’t try to steer immediately.
• As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in “drive” or release the clutch, and accelerate gently.

If you get stuck…

• Do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper.
• Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way.
• Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out.
• Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car.
• Pour sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels, to help get traction.
• Try rocking the vehicle. (Check your owner’s manual first — it can damage the transmission on some vehicles.) Shift from forward to reverse, and back again. Each time you’re in gear, give a light touch on the gas until the vehicle gets going.

Sources: National Safety Council, New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Washington State Government Information & Services

When you made the big decision to become an au pair, you most likely had several reasons for doing so. You probably had several ideas of goals you want to reach and accomplish while you’re here, in addition to program requirements, such as coursework.

Are you on track to reach the goals you set for yourself as an au pair when you got here? Did you hope to improve your English? If so, what are you doing to accomplish that? Are you using only English all the time? Do you speak English with your friends? If not, what can you do to improve?

Have you started working to complete your educational component? If not, what kinds of classes are you interested in? What classes are available that fit your budget and schedule?

It’s important, of course, that you are fulfilling your commitment to your host family by providing them with great childcare, but make sure you are using your free time wisely and working toward your goals, too!

Many professions have their employees set and write down their professional goals, so this is a common practice. As an LCC, I have to do this at the start of the year as well. This could be a good exercise for you too, not only for completing your au pair year (or years the way you hoped, but also to think ahead to what you will do when you get home. Is there anything you have to complete for your life at home before you get back there (like a college application or TOEFL test)?

This is just one of many goal setting worksheets you can find online. Perhaps this will help you to reach your goals and do everything you set out to do during your year in the US!

It’s important to ensure that you and your au pair are on the same page in order to make the relationship work.  It is very common to have ups and downs throughout the year and it may be necessary to sit down and reassess what’s working and what isn’t and get back on the right track.  With the start of the new year, this is a great time to wipe the slate clean and move forward into 2012 making sure everyone is on track to finish the year on a positive note.

You can find some great advice and tips on how to go about having this conversation in this post at aupairmom.com.  She is a seasoned host mom who offers practical advice to host families, both new and experienced and it’s a very helpful forum to explore if you haven’t yet.  Her suggestion is to hold a “reset conversation” to discuss the overall situation and to reinforce any rules or expectations that may have lapsed or need to be refreshed.  She also stresses the importance of keeping the tone of the conversation positive, in order to encourage success moving forward.

Don’t forget you also always have the support of your LCC and Cultural Care staff should you need any assistance or advice!

Weekend courses are an easy, affordable and fun way to complete your educational component. As demand for these classes grows, so do the topics offered! Many of our local au pairs have taken classes at these three locations and have had good things to say, so if you are still looking for ways to complete your program requirements, I encourage you to take a look! Remember to discuss your educational plans with your host family before registering to ensure that any time off you need can be arranged! All classes can be reached by public transportation. See the individual program websites for transportation options. Costs include meals and accommodations in most cases. Why not sign up with a friend or two??

Sojourner Douglass College Weekend Program - Maryland
This program is offered in multiple locations, but the most convenient for our au pairs is the weekend offered in Linthicum, MD, near Baltimore. They offer one-weekend courses for 3 credits and two-weekend courses for 6 credits. Prices vary depending on when you enroll (the earlier, the better!). Topics include Interior Design, Spanish, Psychology, French, American Sign Language, Hospitality & Tourism, American Culture, Language & Tourism, American Culture & Caring for Special Needs Children, Understanding American Language & Government.

Upcoming weekends are listed below. Check the program’s website for topics - note that some of the course offerings are “Two Weekend,” which requires participants to attend both weekends for the 6 credits.

March 3-4
April 14-15
May 5-6
June 2-3
July 14-15
September 8-9
October 6-7
November 3-4
December 1-2

Long Island University - C.W. Post Campus
The C.W. Post campus of Long Island University is located in the town of Brookville, NY. These courses are worth 3 credits per weekend. (Please note the Fashion course is several Saturdays, not an entire weekend!) I have registration forms that I received in a mailing if you wish to register for one of these classes! For course descriptions, visit the website.

Upcoming weekends & topics:
January 20-22: Fashion Through the Decades; History of American Music

February 10-12: Growing Up in America- American Culture; History of American Women

March 2-4: TOEFL/English Preparation Course; History of American Sports; Regional Identities - American Culture

March 9-11: American Government, Politics & Social Issues; Celebration of Holidays - American Culture

April 27-29: Marketing & Social Media; History of American Music; Study, Learn & Speak English

Silver Bay Au Pair Course - College of St. Rose
The Silver Bay Au Pair Course is sponsored by the College of St Rose in Albany, NY. The course itself takes place at the YMCA of the Adirondacks, near Lake George (except in the winter, when it is held in Albany). There are numerous course topics that vary from weekend to weekend. All courses are related to personal development, American culture or will help you in your role as an au pair.

Upcoming weekends:
January 20-22, 2012 in the Albany, NY area
March 16-18, 2012
April 13-15, 2012
May 4-6, 2012
June 8-10, 2012
July 20-22, 2012
Sept 7-9, 2012
Oct 26-28, 2012
Nov 16-18, 2012

For our January meeting, we met at Mid County Lanes in Middletown for an hour of bowling.  We got a chance to catch up after the holidays and got to meet our newest arrival, Amanda, who has joined us from Brazil!  She will be living with her host family in Bear.  We also said goodbye to Elisa, who has finished up her 2nd year extension and is heading back home to Brazil.  We will miss you, Elisa, and wish you all the best!

I also awarded a $10 Starbucks gift card to the winner of our bowling game, so congratulations to Perla!  Enjoy your prize

Here are some pictures from our meeting:

For our February meeting, I gave the au pairs the option to choose what we would do via our Facebook group.  The feedback I got was that they would like to go ice skating, so that’s what we’re going to do!

We will meet on Sunday, February 12 at the Fred Rust Ice Arena on the University of Delaware campus in Newark at 1 pm.  The ice arena is located next to the Delaware Field House and Delaware Stadium.  The Field House is a long building with a rounded roof that says “University of Delaware” on the front with a picture of a Blue Hen.  There is Public Session skating from 1 to 3 on Sunday afternoons, so that is when we will skate.  If you are using the ice rink, you should be able to park in the university lot located in front of the building.

If you are not familiar with the UD campus, here is a map.  To find the ice arena, go to the search box above the map and type in “Fred Rust Ice Arena.”  It will then show you where it is.  Meet in the lobby area of the arena no later than 1 pm.

Admission for adults 7 and older is $8, for children 6 and under, the cost is $5.  I will cover the cost of your skate rental for au pairs.

Host families and host kids are welcome to join us! Please note that children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times!

We will meet on Sunday, January 15th for an afternoon of bowling at Mid County Lanes in Middletown.  This will give us a chance to catch up and also to have a little fun!

Please meet in the lobby of the bowling alley no later than 2 pm.  We can rent a lane for one hour.  Please bring $3 for your shoe rental (bring exact change!); you must wear proper bowling shoes on the lanes.  You will need to wear socks.  I will cover the cost of the lane rental. Bring any additional cash if you wish to purchase snacks or drinks - please bring cash, not just a debit or credit card!!!

Mid County Lanes is located at 875 N. Broad Street, Middletown, in the Middletown Square Shopping Center.  It is located at the far end of the shopping center near the Goodwill and Dollar Tree.  Make sure to check out Google Maps or the map on the link above before leaving.

This month, we will say goodbye to Elisa, as after 2 years, this will be her last meeting before going home to Brazil.  We will also get to meet Amanda, who will be joining Elisa’s host family.  She is also from Brazil - please make her feel welcome!

On Sunday, December 4th, au pairs from southeastern Pennsylvania and parts of Delaware met up at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square for our annual holiday meeting.  We toured the outdoor gardens and indoor conservatory to see the “Christmas at Longwood” display.  After visiting the conservatory, we got to experience the outdoor lights as well; it’s always a lovely way to ring in the holiday season!

Special thanks to my colleague, LCC Carol Steinbrecher in Media, PA, for organizing the trip and securing our timed group tickets!

Please enjoy some pictures of our afternoon:

Our December meeting is this Sunday, December 4th.  We will meet up with some other Cultural Care Au Pair groups to tour Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA and see the Christmas displays.  This is an annual tradition for au pairs in the area and visiting the gardens at Christmas time is a very popular holiday activity.  The lights, fountain shows, music, decorations and trees should get you in the spirit for celebrating the holidays in America!

We are meeting at 3:30 in the Visitor Center.  Please be in the lobby of the Visitors’ Center by 3:30 - not pulling into the parking lot!  It can get crowded on weekends and it may take some time to find parking, so please plan ahead and allow yourself plenty of time to get there; if you need a ride, please contact an au pair friend near you for a carpool.  If you get to the Visitors Center and can’t find me, I may be with the other LCCs arranging tickets - just find the large group of au pairs and wait; it will be hard to miss

You don’t need to worry about buying tickets - group tickets have already been reserved and your ticket is FREE - I am paying for your admission as my Christmas gift to you.  Dress for the outdoors - A Longwood Christmas is both indoors and outdoors. Please dress accordingly and wear comfortable shoes. To see all of the outdoor lights, there is ample walking involved.  You may take pictures, so don’t forget your camera!  If possible, I’d like to try and get a group picture at some point too

Conservatory Map (indoor gardens)

Outdoor Map (includes parking, Visitor Center location and outdoor paths and gardens)

The weather for Sunday is calling for highs in the 50s (10 to 13 C) and lows in the upper 40s (7 to 10 C), so make sure you are dressed warmly for walking outside after sunset; layers would be best as it may be warmer in the conservatory.  It can get crowded in the indoor areas as well, so you may want to bring a smaller bag or purse.

Check the Directions site to plan your drive.  They give you addresses and coordinates for GPS units.  Longwood Gardens is about 12 miles from Wilmington.

For our November meeting, we gathered at my house for an international Thanksgiving lunch.  The au pairs all chose a recipe that reminded them of home - it could be a traditional ethnic dish, but it could just be anything that they would typically eat back home with their families and friends.  I will share the recipes below, which were emailed to me prior to the meeting.  We also had some time to reflect on their time here so far and catch up a bit.

We had some delicious main dishes, as well as desserts!  Everyone did an excellent job preparing their dish and I hope everyone enjoyed eating them as well!

Scroll down to see what was on the menu and some pictures of the afternoon (some pictures courtesy of Aline

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Ground Beef Pie (made by Aline from Brazil):

The ground beef in this dish can also be replaced with another type of meat, such as chicken or tuna.  This dish is typically prepared as a comfort food in Brazilian homes.

DOUGH
3 cups flour
1 cup olive oil
4 eggs
1 ½ glass of milk
1 tablespoon baking powder
salt
50 gr grated cheese
Put everything in the blender, first the liquids, flour bit by bit, and at last baking powder.
Add more milk if necessary. The dough has to be almost liquid.

STUFFING
Ground Beef
2 Tomatoes cut into dices
Onion cut into very small pieces
Oregano
Peas
Corn
salt
pepper

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F
• In a pot, cook the ground beef, put salt, pepper, oregano, let it cool. Mix the onions, tomatoes, peas and corn.
• In a greased baking pan, pour half of the dough, place all the stuffing over the dough carefully and cover it with the rest of the half dogh left. Put in the oven for about 45-60 min.

Schupfnudeln (made by Theresia from Germany):

This dish is typical of the southwest region of Germany and this particular version comes from an old family recipe.

INGREDIENTS:
400g Flour
400g Potatoes
1 Egg
1 teaspoon Salt

You have to cook the potatoes and let them cool. When they’re cool you can grate/shape them.
Mix everything together. You have to do it with your hands till it’s a good dough.
Put flour in your hands and form these noodles.

After you formed them you can put them in boiling water with salt. They will sink and later they will come to the top of the water. Let them stay there for 5 more minutes and then you can take them out of the water. Put it into cold water. After you can roast it gently in a pan.

And you need white cabbage. You cut it very small up. Put it in a bowl and put salt on it. You have to knead it till it’s softer. Then you put it in a pot and let it cook. You have to keep an eye on it, so that it won’t get black. And after you cooked it, you can put the noodles together with the cabbage.

LASAGNE!! (Made by Ashlee from Australia):

This is a typical dish in Australia as well as the US.  This is something Ashlee’s mom makes often and reminds her of home.

INGREDIENTS:
Minced Beef 450g
Tin of Tomatoes 400g
Chopped onion 1
Tin of Olives
Garlic 1 clove
Premade Tomato pasta sauce
Butter 25g
Lasagne flat sheet pasta packet
1 chopped red pepper
Grated Cheese

FOR THE WHITE SAUCE:
Milk 300ml
Whipping Cream
Butter 25g
Plain Flour 25g
Parmesen Cheese 50g
Oregano leaves

METHOD:
1. To prepare the Meat Sauce, fry the Mince Beef and Onion until brown.
2. Stir in the Sauce, Garlic, Tomatoes and red pepper (sliced), and olives
3. Cook for about an 10mins until thick and rich.
4. If necessary add 2 tablespoons of Cornflour dissolved in a small amount of cold water to thicken.
5. Grease an oven proof dish.
6. To make the White cheese sauce, melt the Butter, stir the Flour in and add the Milk,
stirring until thickened.
7. Add parmesen cheese, oregano leaves and salt and pepper to taste.
8. Layer the ingredients repeatedly, starting with the Meat Sauce, then the Lasagne, ending with the cheese Sauce.
9. Sprinkle some Grated Cheese on top and bake in the oven at 400F / 200C / Mark 6 for about 45 minutes.
10. Serve with Parmesan Cheese.

Serves: 4
Preparation time: 20 mins
Cooking time: 60 mins

Chicken Fricassee (made by Elisa from Brazil):
Although this is not traditionally Brazilian, it is a common dish that is prepared there.

INGREDIENTS:
12 chicken thighs
2 (12 ounce) packages andouille sausage, sliced
5 green onions, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup all-purpose flour
8 cups water
5 stalks celery, chopped
2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
1 teaspoon minced garlic

DIRECTIONS:

• Saute chicken and sausage in a large skillet for 4 to 5 minutes. Remove meat from skillet, add green onions and onion and saute until soft. Set aside.
• To Make Roux: In a small saucepan stir together oil and flour over low heat; cook until color is caramel and mixture is reduced to 1 cup of roux. Set aside.
• Put water in a large pot. Add the chicken, sausage, onion mixture, celery, seasoning, cayenne pepper, salt, ground black pepper and garlic. Bring all to a boil and cook for 20 minutes. Add 1/2 cup roux and stir together; the mixture should have the consistency of chowder. If necessary, add the remaining 1/2 cup roux.
• Reduce heat to medium low and simmer uncovered for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Serve hot over rice, if desired.
• Makes 12 servings.

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We also had desserts - a chocolate fondue with fruit prepared by Perla from Mexico, a Merengue (a Brazilian dessert) that was also made by Elisa, and I provided a Shoo-Fly Pie and Whoopie Pies - traditional Pennsylvania Dutch dishes from Lancaster County, PA, where I come from.

Here are some pictures to enjoy - Happy Thanksgiving!