For more info, you can also read the Buzz Blog featuring Maria and her grand idea:

http://buzz.culturalcare.com/post/20184672982/got-or-need-au-pair-stuff-one-au-pair-is-trying-to

Happy shopping!

Adri

Christian Kindermann, an au pair from Germany, shares his family Bratwurst recipe which can make a fun and yum combination with a variety of vegetables

Here is Christian`s recipe:

http://buzz.culturalcare.com/post/19780690276/au-pair-christian-shares-culture-and-family-bratwurst

Enjoy it!!

Adri

Here is the link:

http://buzz.culturalcare.com/post/18863974512/top-5-differences-between-an-au-pair-and-a-nanny

And here is the post:

Although many people use the terms au pair and nanny interchangeably, there are important differences between these two types of caregivers.

Here are the top 5 differences between an au pair and a nanny:

1. Au pairs are, by definition, young people from overseas who travel legally to the U.S.to care for children on a cultural exchange visa. Nannies can be anyone employed to care for a child in its own home.
2. Nannies can work part-time, full-time or even overtime. Au pairs working conditions are regulated by the U.S. Department of State, so there are rules that must be followed. An au pair can work up to (but no more than) 45 hours a week, 10 hours per day.
3. Nanny fees vary widely depending on if they are part-time or full-time and where you live. Most resources quote from $400 to $600 per week. Au pairs are paid a set weekly stipend of $195.75, as dictated by the U.S. Department of State. When an agency’s fees are factored in, the total weekly cost is about $350.
4. Some nannies are professionally trained and are in the field as a career. Others become nannies as a temporary way to earn money while they decide on college or other career paths. Au pairs are not professionally trained but many of them have hundreds, even thousands, of hours of experience as babysitters, tutors, kindergarten assistants, camp counselors and sports instructors.
5. Nannies are employees. Au pairs are not considered an employee but rather an extended family member. The term au pair means “on par”.

I hope you all enjoy the newsletter!

Thanks,

Adri

Most au pair like to use their free time to join the outdoors and they also know their English will be great by the end of their au pair year. For those two simple reasons, the weekend classes are a popular option amongst them.

Cultural Hi Ways and BMCC from NYC put together a great travel/education option where you can earn some of your educational hours while traveling around after few classes about the subject. Please, read below the concept, also found at the Cultural Hi Ways website.

http://www.culturalhiways.net/bookbmcc.htm

Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC-CUNY) is offering educational courses (Niagara Falls-The Flow of History / Boston - A Revolutionary City / Washington, DC - Monuments and Memorials) as part of their Learning Across America program for students living in the METRO NEW YORK CITY / TRI-STATE area and WASHINGTON, DC METRO area.  You will earn 45 hours of credit, or 4.5 CEU’s per course.  The price of these educational courses start at $289 and include on-campus classroom sessions AND a weekend tour to the destination you study.

For the au pairs who live in the Washington, DC area there are three options coming up:

1. Niagara Falls - The Flow of History

Classes: August 28,  September 10 and 18

Tour: September 30 - October 2

http://culturalhiways.net/niagaradcfall.htm

2. Washington, DC - Monuments and Memorials

Classes: October 23, November 13 and 20.

Tour:  November 25-27 (Thanksgiving weekend)

http://culturalhiways.net/washingtononownnovember.htm

3. New York City

Classes: October 23, November 5 and November 13

Tour: December 3-4

http://culturalhiways.net/washingtononownnovember.htm

Have fun and don`t forget to let me know what think about the classes!

Adri