Deb Schwarz

There are still 3 more baseball tickets left for the July meeting….see details on this website to order (next post).  Did you hear that the Cheesecake Factory on Wed. evening is the new au pair place to meet up?  (no more Barnes and Noble) - it’s the place to go to meet other au pairs, new and old, so head there next Wed.

Please welcome five new au pairs this summer into Mill Valley and Tiburon.

Chrissy from Germany

Chrissy A, 18, from Germany (was in Colorado) arrived on June 9.

Kevin - 2nd year from France

Kevin M, 26, 2nd year from France (spent his 1st year in New Jersey ) will arrive on July 19.

Julia, 2nd year from Germany

Julia G., 23, 2nd year from Germany (1st year in Conneticut) will arrive on Aug. 9.

Bernhard, 2nd year from Austria

Bernhard H., 22, 2nd year from Austria (1st year in Pennsylvania) will arrive on Aug. 24

Patricia from Venezuela

Patricia M., 23, from Venezuela, will arrive on Aug. 27.

You asked - and we listened!  Our July meeting will be a SF Giant’s game on Monday, July 26 at 7:15pm.

Reserve your tickets by this Friday, June 25. If we don’t have 25 spots filled by Friday (to get the lower group price), then we will have to cancel….so sign up!! - it will be fun and a real American experience.  Bring your friends, your host family, or anyone you’d like.
Tickets are $17.  Opponents are the Florida Marlins.  www.sfgiants.com

To reserve your ticket, you’ll need to pay via paypal:
1.  go to www.paypal.com
2.  log in (or create an account if you don’t have one)
3. Click Send Money
4.  Enter LCC Paula’s email address paula.hamann@yahoo.com
5.  Send the money ($17) dollars per ticket.  MAKE SURE IT SHOWS YOUR NAME AND THE WORDS “BASEBALL GAME”.
6. Log Out

There are a number of ways to get to the Giants baseball including a ferry from Larkspur.  http://goldengateferry.org/events/ATTParkSched.php ($8 each way).

……..Play Ball!!!

If you can’t attend, then I’ll be at the Strawberry Village La Boulange Bakery to sign autographs (I mean, to have you sign in), on Tuesday, July 13 from 10am to 11am (I’ll even buy you a coffee!).

Twins experienced! Lina, 22 from Colombia, is about to complete a successful year in NY caring for 2 year old twins. Her current host family says that she is “loving and caring….Lina has a lot of patience and my kids get along very well with her.  She is able to manage my 2.5 year old b/g twins.  They have different likes and interests and she has been able to manage that also.” Prior to her time in the U.S. Lina studied medicine at university, grew up with 3 siblings, and did a lot of babysitting with ages from 2 months old to 3 years old.  She is described as calm, patient, kind and family oriented.  Lina is available July 26 for a year.  (Note:  she is allergic to dogs and cats).

Summer Multi-Lingual Live-In Nanny available now. Mai, 21 years old, was raised in Germany (born in Vietnam), and is one of five children.  Mai is available from now until Aug. 30.  She took care of two children:  a baby (from 6 months to 2 years) and a pre-schooler at the same time in the East Bay for the past 1.5 years.  She knows many languages including French, English, German, Spanish, Dutch and Vietnamese! She also loves to sing, and did so when she volunteered in a children’s hospital in Germany.  She is very open-minded, willing to help, friendly, mature and warm-hearted.

Email or call me to talk or meet these au pairs (or see their full applications) - they are really great girls and I’d love to find them a new home.

The cost of an au pair is only $340 per week (that’s $7.50 an hour), the au pair can work up to 45 hours a week, help with light housekeeping, can help teach your children a language, and keep them active and happy over the summer months and beyond. There is a special promotion on right now (call or email me for the promo code), that waives the application fee and gives an additional $350 off, and a special twins promotion.

I’ve personally hosted 16 au pairs so I can help you with the au pair selection process and beyond.

Deb Schwarz
Childcare and Multiples Specialist
Cultural Care Au Pair
415-990-7571
www.dschwarz.aupairnews.com
Flexible, affordable childcare with a cultural flair!

As a mom to four children (including triplets), market researcher, realtor, and host mom to 16 au pairs, Deb has a passion for helping families navigate the au pair process and find the right fit for their family.

Read my articles about finding the right au pair for your family.
http://www.marinmommies.com/tips-au-pair-trenches-our-fifteenth-au-pair or
http://www.marinmommies.com/node/1157

Here’s a lovely 2nd year Austrian au pair who would like to come to CA (children over the age of 3).

Dear Potential Host family,

My name is Jasmin, I`m almost 24 years old.
I`m from Austria and I spent my first year in Colorado. It was great.
I learned alot about the American culture.
Personally, being an Au Pair is a great and rewarding experience.
Denver is a magnificent place.

A typicall day includes to waking up the kids, cooking them breakfast and bringing them to school.
Before they come home from school I prepare a healthy snack and dinner for them.
I love cooking healthy food but also like baking cakes for the kids.
After their snack/dinner I help the kids with homework and then I drive the girls to their activities every afternoon,
they all have different activities like soccer, tennis, piano, band ,clarinet, irish dance and volleyball.

I love to drive the car and I can easily say that I`m an excellent and safe driver.
Safety is priority for me.
I have never had any accident in my life.

My spare time is spent going to school, meeting friends, and going to the gym on a daily basis. I love learning new things
I love spending time outside, I try to take the 4 dogs for a walk everyday. I love animals, and enjoy every minute I get to spend with the dogs.My Hostfamily
use these words to describe me: funny, active, energetic, friendly, honest, responsible very organized and always on time.

I had such an amazing experience with my family here in Denver.
They were always honest, understanding and very helpful.
They treated me like I was one of their own.
I took care of three wonderful and beautiful girls, a 14 year old and 12 years old twins..
Over the past year, the most amazing thing for me was to see how the girls grew and how much they learned in one year.
One of the best days, that I will always remember, we were spending the week in the mountains and one day my hostmum and I prepared a BBQ on a boat in the middle of the lake for the kids.
We had a unbelievebal time.
The whole family went on a Roadtrip in March 2010 to California, we had an unforgetable time together. Many memories filled with laughter and fun, it was awesome.

I really enjoyed my first year in America and my Hostfamily would like forme to stay but I would love to spend my second year in another part of the country.  I want to experience all that I can, and live with another family and their kids and get to know them. I love traveling and would love to see more of United States.

I`m looking forward to spending my second year with you.

Best regards Jasmin 

Call Deb on 415-990-7571 or email:  DebSchwarz@mac.com if you would like to see Jamin’s application or speak with her

Wondering what to do with the kids now that school is winding down?  These great au pairs are available now!  And these are here in Marin if you would like to meet these au pairs in person. Miriam, Lina and Katrine will be at the Marin Multiples Club social from 7 to 9pm on Friday, June 4 at Marin Catholic.  Or call me on 415-990-7571 and I can arrange an in person interview and provide you their application and more info. about them.

Miriam, 21 from Sweden - is recommended by her current host family (they have a 2 year old and a 5 year old in Mill Valley) - she is great with kids!  Her current host family says that she loves their children and really goes the extra mile with them.  Prior to coming to the U.S. she worked in a kindergarten in Oslo, and was a gymnastics trainer for children for 7 years.     She is available from now until January 2011 and would really like to stay in Marin with her friends.  She has been driving in Marin, and would be great with any age child over the age of 2.

Lina, 22, from Colombia, is very active and energetic.  She loves outdoor activities including camping and loves to keep kids active:  she says, she likes making handcrafts for children, teaching them fun and easy cooking recipes watching films, coloring, painting, gardening, telling stories before going to sleep, going camping, swimming, walking, playing in the parks, and many other things. She would like to study marine biology when she returns to her home country.  She writes:  I am very glad, tender, very patient, and a very creative a person and I believe that I have all the necessary qualities to help in the care of the children. Lina would like to take care of children either newborn to 2 years old, or 5+  She is available from now until June 2011, as she would like to extend her year.  She has driven through Marin and across the bridge to SF.

Katrine is 22 years old and is from Brazil.  Katrine would be best with a family with children 5 years of age or older (she was with a family with 3 year old twins and a 5 year old which was too much for her calm and sweet personality). Her current host family recommends her for older children and really would like to see her go to a nice home.  She loves dogs, and has a university degree, and has taught children as a trainee and would like to return to Brazil and become a teacher after her stay here in the U.S.   She is available from now for a year (possibly two).

The cost of an au pair is only $340 per week (that’s $7.50 an hour), the au pair can work up to 45 hours a week, help with light housekeeping, can help teach your children a language, and keep them active and happy over the summer months and beyond.  There is a special promotion going on right now (call me for the promo code), that waives the application fee and gives an additional $350 off.

I’ve personally hosted 16 au pairs so I can help you with the au pair selection process and beyond.

Deb Schwarz
Childcare and Multiples Specialist
Cultural Care Au Pair
415-990-7571
www.dschwarz.aupairnews.com
Flexible, affordable childcare with a cultural flair!

As a mom to four children (including triplets), market researcher, realtor, and host mom to 16 au pairs, Deb has a passion for helping families navigate the au pair process and find the right fit for their family.

Read my articles about finding the right au pair for your family.
http://www.marinmommies.com/tips-au-pair-trenches-our-fifteenth-au-pair or
http://www.marinmommies.com/node/1157

Au pair weekend classes at Silver Bay are educational AND fun!

Looking for affordable classes to fulfill your educational requirement? Wanting to made new friends and learn new things? Eager to explore one of the most beautiful spots in the U.S. in one jam-packed, fun-filled weekend? The College of Saint Rose offers great weekend classes on the Silver Bay YMCA of the Adirondacks campus on Lake George, in Silver Bay, NY. The College of Saint Rose is an accredited U.S. post-secondary educational institution which means these class will count towards fulfillment of your educational component. Each weekend plus required papers and projects are worth the equivalent of three credit hours of class work (half of your required hours).

The cost of the course is $275 and includes the course, lodging, meals, some snacks and beverages. (It does not cover your transportation from your host parents home to and from the campus, but flight are fairly inexpensive into Albany on Southwest Airlines www.southwest.com) Each weekend plus required papers and projects are worth the equivalent of three credit hours of class work.

Classes at Silver Bay are varied and may include: The United States and the World, American Holidays; Cultural Differences, American Criminal Justice System, Creative Journaling, Digital Photography–Equipment and Techniques, American Literature for Kids, Native American Storytelling and many, many more!

The next weekend session is coming up: June 25-27, 2010. Register today!

Click here for a great slideshow of the camp:  http://buzz.culturalcare.com/post/641100187/au-pair-weekend-classes-at-silver-bay-are

Looking for a fun thing to do on Monday??

It’s that time of the year again - the 31st Annual Mill Valley Parade, this coming Monday, May 31.  Every year, au pairs in Marin walk as a “sea of blue” in the beloved parade.  It’s an All American tradition.  The more people the better - so bring your host kids, your friends, anyone is invited to march with us! 

The parade starts at 10:30am in front (or behind) Old Mill School at 352 Throckmorten Ave, so please try to be there between 10 and 10:15am so we can line up.  Look for our blue CC t-shirts (and decorated Black Honda Pilot) and I will post our # soon (or you can ask the guys with the clipboards where we are).   Please be there between 10 and 10:30am.  If you have a blue CC t-shirt, please bring it - otherwise, I’ll have some.  The parade will take about an hour - we’ll walk down Throckmorten to Miller and end at the High School.  Bring your ideas for chants along the way (Cultural Care Au Pair….We Care!…..I’m sure you can do better than this terrible one that I just came up with).

A great time will be had by all! (Photos from previous years…)

The After Party - bands, food, fun!

After the parade we are going to head over the “After Party” at the MV Community Center (a block away from where the parade ends) from noon until 5pm.  It’s a fun event with music by the James Moseley Band and Tim Hockenberry.  The Cafe of Life (host mom and dad Jen and Josh Deitch) has graciously offered to give us a corner of their table where we are going to do face painting - I’m looking for volunteers - even 10 minutes would be great!  For anyone who volunteers, I’ll give out drinks and yummy treats…..so come on by (if you spend the most time at the booth facepainting, you will win a $20 ITunes or Starbucks card!)   See you by Old Mill School around 10am for the parade (I’ll post our number on my website when I get it - so check this website www.dschwarz.aupairnews.com on Sunday to see our # or just look for our blue t-shirts).

There is info. about the parade at:  http://www.mviloveaparade.com/

- The 31st annual Mill Valley Memorial Day Parade starts at 10:30 a.m. and the theme is “Doing Our Part.” The event kicks off with a pancake breakfast starting at 7 a.m. at the Masonic Lodge, 19 Corte Madera Ave. The parade, which attracts thousands of spectators, starts at 10:30 a.m at Old Mill School and proceeds down Throckmorton Avenue and up Miller Avenue to Tamalpais High School. There will be floats, costumed marchers, antique vehicles, public dignitaries and an appearance by the Famous For Our Look Fashion Police, who cite bystanders for infractions such as “failure to yield to good taste” and “causing temporary blindness.” A post-parade party at the Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto, runs from noon to 5 p.m. and includes music by the James Moseley Band and Tim Hockenberry.

Here are two au pairs that I am actively helping to look for new families.  I think that both of these au pairs are great! - they are both active and energetic.  (for those that aren’t familiar with au pairs - they are a flexible, cultural live-in childcare option - at a very affordable price of only $7.50 an hour).  If you’d like to talk to or meet these au pairs, call me on 415-990-7571 or email me on DebSchwarz@mac.com.  These au pairs will go quickly!

Meet Lina from Colombia!

-  Lina is 22 years old, and is available NOW (so you can meet her).  She prefers to be in Marin or the Bay Area as she has friends here.  She is from Colombia and is very active and energetic.  She has experience with all ages of children.  She has driven every day in Marin with her current host family.  Her hobbies are aerobics, photography, camping - and any outdoor activities. (see more about Lina below)

Meet Sarah from Germany!

-  Sarah, 20 from Germany, is a second year au pair (she has spent the last year in Washington, DC).  She has taken care of 3 boys (3,5 and 10), two of which have autism.  She is   She likes to jog, play volleyball, being outdoors, swimming, music and travel.  Her local coordinator in DC describes her as:  great personality, outgoing, proactive and very energetic.  She is available July 5.  See more about Sarah below.

More about Lina from Colombia

Hi! My name is Lina Maria Galvis, but my friends call me “Li”, I am 22 years old, I was born in Bogota the capital city of Colombia.

I am looking for a new family to work for in the next week or two as a live-in nanny/au pair, and I can live with you until January (end of my first year) and then another year if you’d like. I can work with any age children and I am very familiar with driving in Marin and to San Francisco.

A little bit about me: One of my hobbies is to go to gym. I adore to do aerobics as I am active and energetic. I like to listen music, to see films and I enjoy taking photographs(jto keep printed memories from memorable moments) so I hope to take many photos of my time with you. I am finishing my university degree in Colombia. I adore outdoor activities, I like camping (in fact, some weekends I go with my family or my friends to the Mesa de los Santos, a touristic site of beautiful landscapes where you can camp), I love traveling, I am a very practical person, very versatile, I adore the cultural activities like going to the theater, the museums, etc.

As an au pair, what really matters is the care and the time to share with the children, I am a responsible person and I am very clear about the roll I am going to carry out so much as in the life of the children as in the coexistence with the whole family. From the formal and ethical point of view, as a person who is going to share as much time with the children is important to contribute something good to their lives, to make emphasis in a formation with good values, in the respect for themselves, to the others, to everything and everybody around them. And from the informal point of view I am going to be the person who is in charge of their care and the proper use of their free time, therefore I have planned many activities for them, like making handcrafts for children, teaching them fun and easy cooking recipes watching films, coloring, painting, gardening, telling stories before going to sleep, going camping, swimming, walking, playing in the parks, and many other things.

At this moment of my life I have made the decision to be part of this program because I love children, I believe they can not only learn from us but also teaching us. I have great affinity with the kids, I am very glad, tender, very patient, and a very creative a person and I believe that I have all the necessary qualities to help in the care of the children and why not, to be part of a family, in addition I love the idea of a cultural exchange, I am open to the change and to learn new things that enrich my life.

More about Sarah from Germany

My name is Sarah Hundertmark and I’m 20 years old. Right now I’m living with my current family in Washington DC. For the past year I have taken care of 3 lovely boys at the ages of 3, 5 and 10. In this time I have noticed that I can get along with children very well even though they’re a handful sometimes. I really enjoy playing together, reading out loud to them, preparing their meals and just spending time with them.I’ve learned that children often are “going crazy” and then you just need to know whether it’s the moment where you need to be a little crazy yourself in order to be their friend or if it’s time to act like an adult and stay calm to get them back to normal again.

I learned to be very patient since I’m working with an light autistic boy ( 6 years old ) and unfortunately we just found out that the youngest one has Asperger as well.  But I have to say that this challenge really changed my personality and I’m really glad that I was able to experience it. In addition I learned that another characteristic trait I’m very good at is planning and organizing the schedules of my little ones because I needed to do this almost every day. My Interests and Hobbies are jogging, playing volleyball, being outdoors, swimming, music, movies, dancing, travel. Back in Germany and here at my host family’s place we’ve got a cat - so I don’t mind pets at all quite the contrary I really do love animals
//
- Driver’s license since 2007.  I feel comfortable driving in America and with children
- Available to join a new family on 7/05/2010

More photos of Sarah:

Now that Barnes and Noble has decided to close their doors at 9pm every night, some of you might be thinking…..where can we meet up in Marin?  Yes, Marin isn’t San Francisco, but there are still places to go and things to do after 9pm besides the Cheesecake Factory.

Au Pairs over the years have gone to the following places.  I encourage everyone to go on the Facebook Page, “Au Pairs in Marin”, and let everyone know a day and time to meet up….and maybe one of the places will become a regular au pair spot…..

-  Cafe Aroma (4th and B Street in San Rafael) - open until 11pm (11:30 on the weekends) - many of the international students at College of Marin and Dominican College tend to hang here, I’m told. Here’s the yelp review (they also have food here):  http://www.yelp.com/biz/aroma-cafe-san-rafael

-  Marin Brewing Company in Larkspur Landing, in the shopping center across from the Larkspur Ferry - great place to hang, grab a drink and a burger.  They have outdoor seating, on Mondays they have $3.50 tacos.  www.marinbrewing.com Open until midnight on weekdays and 1am on weekends.  Yeah!

-  Cafe Trieste (Taste of Rome) in Sausalito, 1000 Bridgeway.  Open until 10pm on weekdays and midnight on Fri/Sat.  Outdoor seating, live music some nights.  Check the website at www.taste-of-rome.com

-  Wellington Wine Bar in Sausalito - sofas, overstuffed chairs, good music, and a views of the Sausalito waterfront…..GREAT place to hang.  Open until 10pm Tue, Wed., Thurs. and until 11pm on Fri/Sat.  http://www.yelp.com/biz/wellingtons-wine-bar-sausalito-2 or wellingtonswinebar.com

Meet Sandra - The best Mother’s Day gift ever!

A Swedish au pair in my group has a friend, Sandra, that arrived two weeks ago and is allergic to their cat.  Sandra needs a new home in the next week or so….she can go to a home with children over the age of 2. Her friend said that she is very “with it” and a great multi-tasker.   I have photos of Sandra - just email me at DebSchwarz@mac.com and I’ll forward them (and her phone number if you’d like to talk to her after you open up all your Mother’s Day presents…..)

Here is what Sandra writes about herself:  About me: I´m an outgoing, funny girl that love being around children. I have always been babysitting my cousins and brother and his friends, so I have a lots of childcare hours. I love sports and have been playing soccer for almost 15 years, have also been a trainer for kids in the age between 6-8 years. I´m a girl that likes being busy and doesn´t have any trouble keeping many things going at the same time. Likes the beach, all kinds off sport and have big interest in fashion. I´m very flexible and have an open mind for eveything. Good at cooking and have had my driving license for almost 3 years, I´m a good driver.
Anything else you would like to know? Just ask

Au Pairs live-in, can have flexible schedules, and the cost is $340 a week, or $7.50 an hour.

Deb Schwarz
Multiples Specialist
Cultural Care Au Pair
415-990-7571
www.dschwarz.aupairnews.com
Flexible, affordable childcare with a cultural flair!

As a mom to four children (including triplets), market researcher, realtor, and host mom to 15 au pairs, Deb has a passion for helping families navigate the au pair process and find the right fit for their family.

Read my articles about finding the right au pair for your family.
http://www.marinmommies.com/tips-au-pair-trenches-our-fifteenth-au-pair or
http://www.marinmommies.com/node/1157