We met at the Barnes and Noble in Newport News to chat, write cards and to say good bye to Daniela. We'll miss you.
HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Monday, December 04, 2006
Holiday party
Our Holiday party was a good sucess. We had lots of good dishes and yummy desserts. Santa was able to stop by which delighted the children. Click on the December 2006 link in the side bar for more photos.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
It's been awhile
Sorry I have not been updating the blog as much as I should. As you noticed I changed the template a little bit.
On the right sidebar you can now go to all the photos from past meetings.
Our group has grown and we have welcomed many new au pairs this year. If you stop by here please leave a comment so I know someone is reading this.
On the right sidebar you can now go to all the photos from past meetings.
Our group has grown and we have welcomed many new au pairs this year. If you stop by here please leave a comment so I know someone is reading this.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
July
We had a blast at our July meeting. After doing the mandatory CEP meeting part about water and playground safety we all got to go on the jet ski's. The Lind family was nice to lend us the their time and Jetskies and everyone had a good time. Mr. Lind and his brother served as drivers and showed us what the jetskis can do. Follow this link to check out all the pictures from this meeting
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
June meeting
Driving do's and don'ts where our topic today for those of you that could not make it here is what was on the handouts.
Car use do’s and don’ts
For au pairs
It is a privilege to use the car not a right. That means if you DO NOT follow the rules set by your family for the car use, you won’t be able to use it.
DO’s
Always wear a seatbelt
Use car seats and seat belts for the children
Start studying for you Virginia drivers license right away
Get your Virginia drivers license
Only drive when and where your family said you could,
If you damage the car in any way let your family know right way
If you have a dedicated car be sure that the oil is changed every 3000 miles or ever y 3 months
Keep the interior clean
Obey the Virginian laws (speed limits …)
Pay the deductible (not more than $500) for damages that occurred while you were driving in your free time.
If you are involved in a accident (no matter how small) call your host parents right away and the police
If a unmarked police car (looks like a normal car) try’s to pull you over, be sure it is a police officer (go to a public place to pull over, or call 911 to check if there is a police officer that is tying to stop you. If you can’t pull over right away (dark road or unsafe area) turn your emergency signals on and slow down so the officer knows you saw him.
DON’TS
Do not return the car empty (unless the family says so)
Do not lie about where you are going and with whom
Do not leave the scene of an accident, no matter how small.
Do not drink and drive
Do not take the car without asking
If you are asked to be back at a certain time, do not be late (call if you running late) if the car is to be back but not you, dropped it off at that time
Do not take strangers with you (that includes people you just met)
If stopped by the police do as the officer tells you, call your LCC or host parents if you have questions.
For au pairs
It is a privilege to use the car not a right. That means if you DO NOT follow the rules set by your family for the car use, you won’t be able to use it.
DO’s
Always wear a seatbelt
Use car seats and seat belts for the children
Start studying for you Virginia drivers license right away
Get your Virginia drivers license
Only drive when and where your family said you could,
If you damage the car in any way let your family know right way
If you have a dedicated car be sure that the oil is changed every 3000 miles or ever y 3 months
Keep the interior clean
Obey the Virginian laws (speed limits …)
Pay the deductible (not more than $500) for damages that occurred while you were driving in your free time.
If you are involved in a accident (no matter how small) call your host parents right away and the police
If a unmarked police car (looks like a normal car) try’s to pull you over, be sure it is a police officer (go to a public place to pull over, or call 911 to check if there is a police officer that is tying to stop you. If you can’t pull over right away (dark road or unsafe area) turn your emergency signals on and slow down so the officer knows you saw him.
DON’TS
Do not return the car empty (unless the family says so)
Do not lie about where you are going and with whom
Do not leave the scene of an accident, no matter how small.
Do not drink and drive
Do not take the car without asking
If you are asked to be back at a certain time, do not be late (call if you running late) if the car is to be back but not you, dropped it off at that time
Do not take strangers with you (that includes people you just met)
If stopped by the police do as the officer tells you, call your LCC or host parents if you have questions.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
May meeting - Coffee shop
We said good bye to Karen and wrote 25 cards to be sent to Parris Island, so that they can be handed out to the injured recruits.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
MEETING DATES
I updated the website with all the meetings for the rest of the year. On some meetings I will not know the excat time and date so I wrote TBA (To Be Announced) I will update them as soon as I can. If there are things you guys want to do for meetings let me know. As always if you have friends that want to come they are welcome just be sure to enter the amount of guest you are bringing in the EVITE response. Click here to go to the event page on the website.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Daily Press Article
Here is the Article that was published today in the Daily Press. I am also posting it below. There are a couple Typos. The Platoon number is 4013, Jenny Marino is from Columbia not Ecuador and Jenny Wegners last name is misspelled but all in all it's an awsome article.
Hands that rock the cradles lift Marine spirits
Peninsula au pairs write thank-you notes to recruits, with whom they have much in common.
BY JULIE HAGY SPECIAL TO THE DAILY PRESS April 27 2006
A group huddles at a table in the cafe at Barnes and Noble, sipping lattes and dipping forks into huge slices of cheesecake. Suddenly, two young women break off into a conversation in Russian."The rule is English only," they are told by Katy Schwarzenberg, local childcare coordinator for Cultural Care Au Pair.
The last Wednesday of each month, Schwarzenberg and au pairs from Hampton, Newport News, Mathews, Yorktown, Williamsburg and Hayes meet at the Barnes and Noble in Newport News. They talk about their weeks, drink coffee, practice their English and write to female Marine recruits serving in the Papa Company, Platoon 4014, at Parris Island, S.C."We do it just to put a smile on their face and say thanks for doing this," said Schwarzenberg, opening packets of note cards. They bear depictions of Snoopy, dragonflies, bunnies and American flags.
"It's no picnic, going through basic training."The letters the au pairs write are intended to motivate and tell the young women in the Marine Corps that we are proud they choose to serve and protect this country."Schwarzenberg started the program last month. She takes the cards made at each meeting and sends them to Papa Company.
Schwarzenberg, 28, is originally from Germany and knows what it feels like to be in these young adults' shoes. She was an au pair - the term is a French one that roughly translates to "equal"- for a family in Illinois from 1996-1997."I remember being an au pair and running to the mailbox," said Schwarzenberg. For her, receiving a simple letter from friends or family at home brightened her entire day. For the female recruits and the au pairs, a letter can go a long way in making them feel loved.She hopes that pen-pal friendships will result from the au pairs' efforts, but she doesn't expect it. "A lot of the girls in boot camp don't have time to write back," she said. "They are very busy; we don't expect it."
Schwarzenberg has a special place in her heart for Platoon 4014. Her former charge, Maureen, now 17, is a part of that unit. Schwarzenberg took care of Maureen when she was 8, and still remains close to the family. The cards made by the au pairs go to Maureen, who hands them out to platoon mates who don't receive a lot of mail.The program is successful, Schwarzenberg said, because au pairs are going through much of the same thing recruits are facing. For instance, their ages are about the same. Au pairs in the group that meets at Barnes and Noble range from 18 to 24, and the recruits are 17 to 26.
Jenny Wenger, 20, from Germany, is serving as an au pair for a family in Yorktown. "I know how it is being away from home," she said. Like many of the recruits, this is her first time away from her family.Wenger, like many of the au pairs, works in the home of an active-duty military family. Writing postcards to military recruits is yet another way to immerse herself in the culture of her American family.
Receiving mail is very important to recruits, said Staff Sgt. Rachel Eltz, who has been working with recruits in Parris Island for the past three years."It's vital, especially if they don't get mail from family. It's motivational, their only connection with the outside world."Eltz is enthusiastic about the au pairs' efforts."Receiving mail from family is important, but to receive it from people they don't know helps them with a sense of duty and patriotism, knowing that there are other people in the country who support them and what they are doing," she said. "It gives them a sense of nationalism."
Cultural Care Au Pair started in 1989. Since then, the Cambridge, Mass.-based organization has placed more than 35,000 au pairs from more than 30 countries in homes nationwide."I want to learn English, and the only way to do it is to live with people who speak everyday English," said Lorena Sanchez, 24, a native of Ecuador and an au pair for a 2-year-old child in Mathews.Sanchez has been with her family for almost 11/2 years. The Cultural Care Au Pair program is deigned to allow young adults to stay for a year within the United States. However, upon the completion of a year, au pairs can re-apply for an extension of up to one year.Sanchez finishes a card and hands it down toward the end of the table, where a stack is quickly accumulating. Schwarzenberg estimates the group makes about 25 cards per session.Beside Sanchez sits Jenny Marino, 22, from Ecuador. She carefully glues spongy yellow dots into the center of one of the cards, creating a large smiley face. The dots, made of foam, are an art supply that the former art and English teacher brought with her to Poquoson, where she is an au pair for a 12-year-old."It's healthy to smile," says Marino, flashing one of her own."I try to make a post card," Henry Cadena, 25, a native of Ecuador says, holding up a card and chuckling. "It's the first time," he said. Cadena is waiting to be placed with a Peninsula family.
The future for au pairs who go through the program varies, said Schwarzenberg."Some come back as students, some fall in love and get married," she said. "The majority go back and have very fond memories."Schwarzenberg hopes writing to female military recruits will be one of those memories.
Copyright © 2006, Daily Press
Hands that rock the cradles lift Marine spirits
Peninsula au pairs write thank-you notes to recruits, with whom they have much in common.
BY JULIE HAGY SPECIAL TO THE DAILY PRESS April 27 2006
A group huddles at a table in the cafe at Barnes and Noble, sipping lattes and dipping forks into huge slices of cheesecake. Suddenly, two young women break off into a conversation in Russian."The rule is English only," they are told by Katy Schwarzenberg, local childcare coordinator for Cultural Care Au Pair.
The last Wednesday of each month, Schwarzenberg and au pairs from Hampton, Newport News, Mathews, Yorktown, Williamsburg and Hayes meet at the Barnes and Noble in Newport News. They talk about their weeks, drink coffee, practice their English and write to female Marine recruits serving in the Papa Company, Platoon 4014, at Parris Island, S.C."We do it just to put a smile on their face and say thanks for doing this," said Schwarzenberg, opening packets of note cards. They bear depictions of Snoopy, dragonflies, bunnies and American flags.
"It's no picnic, going through basic training."The letters the au pairs write are intended to motivate and tell the young women in the Marine Corps that we are proud they choose to serve and protect this country."Schwarzenberg started the program last month. She takes the cards made at each meeting and sends them to Papa Company.
Schwarzenberg, 28, is originally from Germany and knows what it feels like to be in these young adults' shoes. She was an au pair - the term is a French one that roughly translates to "equal"- for a family in Illinois from 1996-1997."I remember being an au pair and running to the mailbox," said Schwarzenberg. For her, receiving a simple letter from friends or family at home brightened her entire day. For the female recruits and the au pairs, a letter can go a long way in making them feel loved.She hopes that pen-pal friendships will result from the au pairs' efforts, but she doesn't expect it. "A lot of the girls in boot camp don't have time to write back," she said. "They are very busy; we don't expect it."
Schwarzenberg has a special place in her heart for Platoon 4014. Her former charge, Maureen, now 17, is a part of that unit. Schwarzenberg took care of Maureen when she was 8, and still remains close to the family. The cards made by the au pairs go to Maureen, who hands them out to platoon mates who don't receive a lot of mail.The program is successful, Schwarzenberg said, because au pairs are going through much of the same thing recruits are facing. For instance, their ages are about the same. Au pairs in the group that meets at Barnes and Noble range from 18 to 24, and the recruits are 17 to 26.
Jenny Wenger, 20, from Germany, is serving as an au pair for a family in Yorktown. "I know how it is being away from home," she said. Like many of the recruits, this is her first time away from her family.Wenger, like many of the au pairs, works in the home of an active-duty military family. Writing postcards to military recruits is yet another way to immerse herself in the culture of her American family.
Receiving mail is very important to recruits, said Staff Sgt. Rachel Eltz, who has been working with recruits in Parris Island for the past three years."It's vital, especially if they don't get mail from family. It's motivational, their only connection with the outside world."Eltz is enthusiastic about the au pairs' efforts."Receiving mail from family is important, but to receive it from people they don't know helps them with a sense of duty and patriotism, knowing that there are other people in the country who support them and what they are doing," she said. "It gives them a sense of nationalism."
Cultural Care Au Pair started in 1989. Since then, the Cambridge, Mass.-based organization has placed more than 35,000 au pairs from more than 30 countries in homes nationwide."I want to learn English, and the only way to do it is to live with people who speak everyday English," said Lorena Sanchez, 24, a native of Ecuador and an au pair for a 2-year-old child in Mathews.Sanchez has been with her family for almost 11/2 years. The Cultural Care Au Pair program is deigned to allow young adults to stay for a year within the United States. However, upon the completion of a year, au pairs can re-apply for an extension of up to one year.Sanchez finishes a card and hands it down toward the end of the table, where a stack is quickly accumulating. Schwarzenberg estimates the group makes about 25 cards per session.Beside Sanchez sits Jenny Marino, 22, from Ecuador. She carefully glues spongy yellow dots into the center of one of the cards, creating a large smiley face. The dots, made of foam, are an art supply that the former art and English teacher brought with her to Poquoson, where she is an au pair for a 12-year-old."It's healthy to smile," says Marino, flashing one of her own."I try to make a post card," Henry Cadena, 25, a native of Ecuador says, holding up a card and chuckling. "It's the first time," he said. Cadena is waiting to be placed with a Peninsula family.
The future for au pairs who go through the program varies, said Schwarzenberg."Some come back as students, some fall in love and get married," she said. "The majority go back and have very fond memories."Schwarzenberg hopes writing to female military recruits will be one of those memories.
Copyright © 2006, Daily Press
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Hello from Parris Island, SC
Here is Maureen posing for all of us to take pictures. I like this one because it has the flag in it.
So I just wanted to post some pictures from my trip to the Marine Boot camp in South Carolina. I met up with Maureen and I got to see some of her Platoon Mates.
Maureen said to say "THANK YOU" to all of you for writing the cards it meant a lot to her and the other girls.
She also told me that even so she got in 
trouble for it (the reporter called the Drill Sergant - which was not to happy about having to answer questions for an article) it was worth the smiles it brought to everyones face. However I believe getting in your face is part of the Drill Sergants job describtion.
Here is a picture of my former Host family also know as my American Family. They are great and always make me feel like I am part of their family even now 10 years later.
From Left to Right Grandma Diane, Oma Jo, Mom Joanne, Dad Jeff, kids Maureen, Erin and Mitchell and Papa Mel.
And here me and "my Kids". I still can't believe they are so grown up. I mean it feels like it was yesterday when Erin and I went to tea parties at her preschool and I went to soccer matches of Maureen and Mitchell. Now Maureen is a US Marine, Mitch and Erin are both in Highschool. Times flies.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Rct. Holly
Hi Ladies,
I just found out that one of the Recruits in 4013 got hurt, so I took 3 cards out of the letter to Rct. Maureen and send it to Rct Holly to cheer her up. Thanks again for writing all these cards, I know they will bring smiles to the Recruits.
Katy
I just found out that one of the Recruits in 4013 got hurt, so I took 3 cards out of the letter to Rct. Maureen and send it to Rct Holly to cheer her up. Thanks again for writing all these cards, I know they will bring smiles to the Recruits.
Katy
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Wednesday meeting
Tonights meeting was a great sucess. We wrote 30 cards which I will sent to the ladies of Platoon 4013 from the Papa Company at the Marine Boot camp at Parris Island tomorrow. Awsome job, thank you! I will be sure to take pictures of the Platoon when I go down to Parris Island for Maureen's graduation. Also thank you for taking time to talk to the Daily Press reporter tonight. I will let you all know when the article will be published.
I will see you all next month at Busch Gardens.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Welcome
A BIG WELCOME
to our 2 newest group members. Ksenia from Russia is arriving today to live with the Konstantinou family in Williamsburg. Ilona from Germany is arriving today as well and will be staying with the Lind family in Suffolk.
Please be sure to tell them Hello. Their first meeting will be at the Barnes and Noble Bookstore. Come on by and say hello and help us write cards to the Marine recruits.
See you then
to our 2 newest group members. Ksenia from Russia is arriving today to live with the Konstantinou family in Williamsburg. Ilona from Germany is arriving today as well and will be staying with the Lind family in Suffolk.
Please be sure to tell them Hello. Their first meeting will be at the Barnes and Noble Bookstore. Come on by and say hello and help us write cards to the Marine recruits.
See you then
Sunday, March 12, 2006
ICE Skating
We had a great time at the ICEPLEX in Yorktown.
Jenny, Daniela, Pati and I helped Karla, Vilma, Cecilia skating. Karla and Vilma had never been skating but they got the hang of it really fast and only fell a couple of times.
Ashley and Pati were helping Zora to skate. This was the first time for Zora as well.
This was Cecilias last meeting. We all wish her well and good luck, we'll miss you.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Time change in Sundays meeting
I have changed the time for Sundays meeting, in hopes more of you can attend. Also this way Cecilia can make it as this will be her last meeting. I sent out an email and I updated the website with the new time. We will meet at 12:30pm. See you then.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Good bye's and hello's
Well this month we are saying good bye to two Au pairs from our group and we are welcoming 2 new au pairs. Askya left to go home this past Monday and Cecilia will leave next week. I know we will miss you both very much.
We are welcoming next week 2 new au pairs, Ksenia from Russia and Ilona from Germany. Please be sure to send them an email and or call them to welcome them to our group. They are both arriving on Friday of next week. I hope I get to see most of you at the Ice skating ring this Sunday afternoon.
We are welcoming next week 2 new au pairs, Ksenia from Russia and Ilona from Germany. Please be sure to send them an email and or call them to welcome them to our group. They are both arriving on Friday of next week. I hope I get to see most of you at the Ice skating ring this Sunday afternoon.
Appology
I wanted to appologize, I just found out that the website was down. I don't know what the problem was but I fixed it (not quite sure how either). Anyhow the site is back up and running so check it out for new info about upcoming events, photos from past events and more.
Thanks to those of you that could make it to the meeting at Barnes and Noble. We wrote 13 cards to the Recruits from Platoon 4013. Here is the photo from the meeting.
Thanks to those of you that could make it to the meeting at Barnes and Noble. We wrote 13 cards to the Recruits from Platoon 4013. Here is the photo from the meeting.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Horsesssss
We also did some horseback riding after our Mary Kay party. Yes we got all dolled up for horse back riding. However Molly and Butterball (the horses) did not care at all.
February meeting
Our February meeting was a Mary Kay party.
Jennifer, the Mary Kay consultant told us about the history of the company.
We all removed our make up for the before picture. 
After that we learned about different products and how to apply them. We all picked out shade samples that came with instructions on how and where to apply them. It was interesting to do especially for me since I never use make up.
Here is the after picture of all of everyone with their make up on. Look how beautyfull.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
January meeting
I'd say our Sunday meeting was a success. Everyone in our group was able to attend and we learned a few new things. This was great for our two newcomers, Daniela from Germany and Jenny from Columbia, they got to meet everyone right away.
There are not many new things happening. We said good bye to Pocha and Claudia earlier this month. Cecilia and Aksya are getting ready to leave in the next few months as well.
Tati send an email to say Hi to everyone. She likes Sacramento and her new family and is very happy there.
Hey don't forget to bring your riding clothes to the next meeting since we will be at the farm and I am sure Molly and Butterball would love to give you a ride around the pasture.
Oh before I forget here is a link to a blog by a New York City cabdriver. She writes about the stuff she sees and hears everyday. She is alsmost famous after a few news papers picked up her site.
Intro
Hello everyone,
one of my friends in the military uses this system to stay in touch with everyone around the world and I thought this would be great for us. Our group has been growing and au pairs are coming and going almost every month and this way everyone can check in and say hi and stay connected. So ... its your turn.
I started it on yahoo 360 but it seems they will not let you post comments unless you are a member of yahoo 360. So this should work better.
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