Activity Tip of The Week

Posted by: mchazen on July 29, 2007

Seashell Mobile 

Make a great souvenir of a beachside stay with this seashell mobile. Kids love collecting shells, sand dollars, pinecones or whatever else they may decide to use in this classic summer craft.

Click more for details

What you’ll need: 

• Shells or other finds 

• String 

• 2 pieces of dowel rod, about 1 foot length 

• Glue 

How to make it: 

1. Use string to make dowels into an ‘X’ shape. 

2. Glue shells onto several different lengths of string. 

3. Let dry about a day. 

4. Tie string with shells to dowel rods at all four corners and some between. 

5. Hang somewhere you, your friends, and neighbors can all see it and enjoy it. It will also give you a chance to tell everyone about your adventures in collecting your treasures. 

Monmouth County Fair

Posted by: mchazen on July 24, 2007

July 25-29, 2007

Old-fashion fun with 4-H exhibits, rides, entertainment and more
Click more for details

East Freehold Park
Kozloski Rd & Center St, Freehold
Wednesday-Friday 5 pm - 11 pm;
Sat 11am-11pm & Sun 11am-6 pmAdmission: $6.00 per person
Children 12 yrs & under Free

Important Information if you are travelling internationally

Posted by: mchazen on July 24, 2007

As you consider your vacation plans some of you may be considering traveling internationally. I have included some important reminder regarding international travel for both first year and second year au pairs.

Please click on more for all the important facts.

For Au Pairs in Program Year 1

·         Before traveling internationally au pair need to make sure that the visa in her passport has not expired.  The au pair’s DS-2019 form must be signed by an Alternate Responsible Officer from the Cultural Care office in Cambridge.  The DS-2019 form (also referred to as Certificate of Eligibility for the J-1 visa) is the letter-sized white piece of paper that contains the biographical information of the au pair.  Au Pairs do not need to send their passport or I-94 card to be signed for travel.  Au pairs must send in their DS-2019 form 3-4 weeks before their travel date and must include the following information:

o        Destination country

o        Date of departure

o        Date of return

o        All countries being entered/exited during trip  (this includes cruises visiting multiple countries)

All of this information must be included in a self-addressed stamped envelope.  It is very important that the au pair writes this information clearly so that there is no delay in the return of the signed form.

·         If an au pair sends in the DS-2019 form less than 3 weeks before the dates of travel, he/she should include a pre-paid Federal Express return envelope. If a FedEx return envelope is not included and expedited shipping is required, a fee of 10 USD will be charged.

·         If an au pair has moved or has an incorrect U.S. address on the DS-2019 form, he/she should call the Operations Department to request that a new form be sent to them, signed for travel.

• Many au pairs will need a tourist visa to visit different countries and the best way to check if they will need a visa is to contact the embassy for the country they are visiting, usually they will have a website with information about who needs a visa and how to apply for one.  It is the au pair’s responsibility to confirm this information prior to travel.   Au pairs can visit the website: www.embassyworld.com for a listing of the embassies for various countries. Au pairs from Eastern Europe, South America, or South Africa should always check this website as they are more apt to be required to obtain a tourist visa when traveling internationally.  

• We recommend that au pairs not travel outside the U.S. within 2 months or less of their visa expiration date as re-entry to the U.S. may be difficult.  It is very important that au pairs check the dates on the visa in their passport, not just the dates on the DS-2019 form. It is possible that a visa could expire earlier than the dates on the DS-2019 form.  

For Au Pairs in Extension Program Year

• Au Pairs may travel to Mexico, Canada and the adjacent islands without renewing their J-1 visa but they will need to call in to the Cultural Care Operations Department at 1-800- 448-5753 to find out about the process.  

• If an au pair would like to travel in their extension year anywhere other than Mexico, Canada and the adjacent islands they need to return to their home country to renew their J-1 visa prior to returning to the U.S.  An au pair who does not renew her/his J-1 visa risks not being allowed to reenter the United States to continue on the program.   

• Au pairs and host families should be aware that it can sometimes take six to eight weeks to obtain an appointment to renew a J-1 visa at U.S. embassies around the world.  Contact information for U.S. Embassies abroad can be found at usembassy.state.gov   Cultural Care Au Pair cannot guarantee the renewal of a J-1 visa. Although an au pair has been approved by the U.S. Department of State to participate in the extension program, the decision to renew the visa is at the discretion of the consular officer who interviews the au pair.  

• Extension au pairs must always send in their DS-2019 form to be signed for international travel.  The au pair’s DS-2019 form must be signed by an Alternate Responsible Officer from the Cultural Care office in Cambridge.  Au pairs do not need to send their passport or I-94 card to be signed for travel.  They will need to do so 3-4 weeks prior to travel and will need to include the following information: 

o        Destination country

o        Date of departure

o        Date of return

o        All countries being entered/exited during trip  (this includes cruises visiting multiple countries)

All of this information must be included in a self-addressed stamped envelope.  It is very important that the au pair writes this information clearly so that there is no delay in the return of the signed form.

It is important to note that there is a risk that any au pair can be denied re-entry to the United States when traveling internationally in their first or extension program year.  While they may have followed all of the steps above, the discretion of the border official at the point of entry supersedes these processes.  

Does your au pair have a specific question about traveling during their first or second year?  Please have them call the Cultural Care Operations Department directly at 1-800-448-5753.  Whether they are traveling by plane, train, or automobile, there could be important details they need to know to make sure that they are completely prepared.

Au Pair Stipend Increase

Posted by: mchazen on July 23, 2007

Reminder that the weekly stipend for au pairs effective week of July 24th has increased from $139.05 to $157.95 per week. This increase is due to the rise in federal minimum wage signed by President Bush on May 24th. If your families forget to give you the new stipend please remind them. If you have any questions please feel free to call or e-mail me anytime.

Activity Tip of the Week

Posted by: mchazen on July 22, 2007

July Meeting Recipes

Posted by: mchazen on July 16, 2007

All of you made such wonderful side dishes and deserts for our meeting please add them to this web site to share with all. Just click on the word thread to add the recipe. Remember to include ingredients and directions

July Meeting Pictures

Posted by: mchazen on July 16, 2007

Thank you Martha for welcoming us to your home and giving us all some great pool safety tips.

Take a look at some pictures from this meeting.

Activity Tip of The Week

Posted by: mchazen on July 15, 2007

Sand Sculpture 

Every beachside sculptor knows the frustration of seeing a masterpiece swept away by the waves. Now kids can craft a permanent sand sculpture just by using sand, water and cornstarch.

Click on more for directions 

What you’ll need: 

• 3 cups of sand (”play sand” from the hardware store works if you don’t have “beach sand”) 

• 1 1/2 cups of cornstarch 

• 1 1/2 cups of water 

• Newspaper 

• Old cooking pot 

• Large spoon 

How to make it: 

1. Mix the ingredients together in the pot. 

2. With the help of a grownup, cook the mixture over low heat, stirring constantly. 

3. When it gets thick, take it off of the stove and let cool. 

4. Once it is cool, use the spoon to turn it out on the newspaper. 

5. Now you can make it into any shape you like, let it dry, and keep your creation forever! 

Tips: 

A quick spray of Pam or other lubricating spray helps the sand pop right out of the sandcastle molds. A hole poked into the top of the sandcastle mold also seemed to help. 

To make the sandcastles pop out perfectly, the trick seemed to be packing the sand mixture into the molds tightly and leaving an air space at the open end of the mold and slamming the mold down hard onto the plate….the extra air helps pop the sand right out

July Meeting Reminder

Posted by: mchazen on July 11, 2007

July: Sunday, July 15, 3:00 PM. We will be joining another group at LCC Martha’s home for water safety and a barbeque. You will be asked to bring a side dish from your country. Salads, desserts or other side dishes are welcome. Bring enough to share with the other au pairs. Please bring the recipe as well written out neatly.

Bring a towel and wear a bathing suit. If you want to bring a beach chair that would be good too.

The address is as follows:

21 Village Lane , Colts Neck 07722

You can use these directions below or go to

www.mapquest.com

Take 537 to New Street

First left onto Village Lane

6th house on the right.

Activity Tip of The Week

Posted by: mchazen on July 9, 2007

Paper Plate Fish Aquarium
Supplies Needed
2 paper plates
Tempura Paint
1clear storage bag
Blue, green, colored construction paper
Sand
Shells
Scissor
Glue

Click more for directions

What you do: