Global Awareness is exemplified in everyday life of our Au Pairs.  Community Counselor Jennifer Stein shares how the Houston-based Au Pairs were able to be part of an amazing cultural experience during their last cluster meeting.
Houston rodeo

On March 12th the North and South Houston Clusters attended the largest rodeo in the world, The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo! Twenty three Au Pair in America au pairs (and three au pairs from another agency), along with two second year Au Pairs, who returned to Texas, on vacation, to attend the rodeo, were guests of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s International Committee.

The International Committee, in recognition of global interest, annually designates a series of International Days to express hospitality to the show’s foreign guests. During this time, volunteers staff the International Room to help welcome and inform visitors,” taking guests on VIP tours, providing interpreters and hospitality services. The au pairs received credentials and a Houston Livestock Show.  Additionally they were each given the Rodeo International Committee pin which allowed them access to the Rodeo’s International Room, where they could come and go throughout the day for food, drink and rest.

 IMG_6397We began our day with a VIP tour of NRG Center and NRG Arena, where the Au Pairs visited the livestock newborn nursery and watched Future Farmers of America (FFA) high school students present their livestock to judges.

After the tour, the Au Pairs had time to walk around NRG Park and explore the more than 300 vendors, exhibitions, food fair, and carnival. We returned to the Rodeo International Committee Room for lunch where we enjoyed a typical Texas BBQ plate which included brisket, sausage, baked beans and potato salad.

After lunch, we walked over to NRG Stadium, home of the Houston Texans and Superbowl LI, for the Rodeo Super Series. The Super Series is a 19-day tournament-style competition that crowns an event champion in bareback riding, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping and women’s barrel racing.
IMG_6442

Each night after the Rodeo Super Series there is a concert. Much to the Au Pair’s delight, their concert was, “The Chainsmokers.”

“The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a Section 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to benefiting youth, supporting education, and facilitating better agricultural practices through exhibitions and presentation. Since 1932, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has grown to be the largest livestock show and rodeo in the world, attracting more than 2.4 million people to the annual event from across the world, and the Show’s support of Texas youth is nearly $430 million.”