Juneteenth – Learn More and Celebrate this American Holiday

History Juneteenth (Emancipation Day, Jubilee Day) is a day to honor and celebrate the abolishment of African American slavery. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and “the state’s residents finally learned that slavery had been abolished.” All those who were enslaved celebrated their newfound freedom in song, dance, and prayer. This [...]

By |2022-06-15T12:08:34-04:00June 13th, 2022|Blog|Comments Off on Juneteenth – Learn More and Celebrate this American Holiday

10 Tips for Sharing Global Holiday Traditions (and Making New Ones)

The winter holidays are celebrated differently around the globe depending on culture, religion or family values.  Appreciating differences and sharing them is what cultural exchange is all about.   This past Fall, APIA Field Representatives and Senior Community Counselors, Cindy Garruba of Riverhead NY and Melinda Brooks of Boston, MA, presented a webinar to host families nationwide, entitled, "Holidays [...]

By |2021-12-15T16:00:20-05:00December 14th, 2021|Blog|Comments Off on 10 Tips for Sharing Global Holiday Traditions (and Making New Ones)

Float Away the Sorrow – The Lessons of Loy Krathong

 (Wanida, an au pair from Thailand at a temple in MA, sharing the lessons of the holiday with her friends from around the globe.)  Today is a day to cut your hair and your nails and set them afloat on a banana leaf as you symbolically let the negativity of the year float away and welcome [...]

By |2021-11-19T16:59:13-05:00November 19th, 2021|Blog|Comments Off on Float Away the Sorrow – The Lessons of Loy Krathong

Holidays in Illinois for Maria from Mexico

Au pair Maria from Mexico is spending her year on the program in Lana Hamman's Illinois cluster.  Here is a picture of her with her host family and the big man himself...Ho, Ho, Ho! "Merry Christmas! It is the price of having your heart in two places, missing my family and at the same time [...]

By |2020-01-09T19:48:31-05:00January 9th, 2020|Blog|Comments Off on Holidays in Illinois for Maria from Mexico

Polish Pierogi’s in Maryland

Maryland Community Counselor, Cynthia Chan, shared this great post from her Polish au pair Patrycja: In preparation for Christmas, Patrycja, from Poland, currently residing in Southern Maryland, and her host dad spent all day making traditional Polish pierogi! She said, "I wasn't sure if we can actually do it since I've never made pierogi by [...]

By |2020-01-09T19:41:36-05:00January 8th, 2020|Blog|Comments Off on Polish Pierogi’s in Maryland

Au Pair Holiday Celebrations – France

This year we asked au pairs to submit a picture of them celebrating a holiday while on program with Au Pair in America. French au pair Sarah P. in Natalie Skidmore's Washington, DC cluster sent in a photo of her family exchanging gifts: "My father whom I manage to surprise every year."

By |2020-01-02T14:47:07-05:00January 2nd, 2020|Blog|Comments Off on Au Pair Holiday Celebrations – France

Cookie Exchange

Cynthia Chan, Community Counselor from Southern Maryland shared on her facebook page about their recent cluster meeting: An international cookie exchange!  Cynthia emphasizes that it was a great way for the au pairs to share favorite cookies from their home country. For the full facebook post please visit the Au Pairs in Southern Maryland facebook [...]

By |2017-12-19T02:27:19-05:00December 19th, 2017|Blog|Comments Off on Cookie Exchange
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