Thursday, September 26, 2013

Cars, Gas and Carpooling......


Host Families:
  • Provide transportation for au pairs to school (up to completing 60 class hours or 6 credit hours).  This can be either gas money or driving au pair; cannot expect au pairs to get free rides from other au pairs or friends
  • Provide transportation for au pairs to one cluster event each month (Should be the bigger event of the month vs. the coffee night whenever possible).  This can be either gas money or driving au pair
  • Please do not rely on other au pairs in the cluster to always drive your au pair; this is not fair to other host families.  If another au pair is driving your au pair, please offer gas money
  • Pay for gas whenever the au pair is driving the children or driving for the family (to the grocery store, to get pizza, etc.)
  • May limit mileage for the car, driving distance, place curfews when the car should be home, and restrict car due to weather (snow, ice, etc.)
  • Host families pay for car insurance, car repairs, and maintenance (including oil changes)
  • Help your au pair get a State driver'sLicense or at minimum a State  Identification card
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Au Pairs:
  • Respect all the car rules from your host family:  Mileage, driving distance, car curfew, filling out driving log, etc.
  • Understand that there are times you do not have a car to drive:  Host parents using it, poor weather, car in need of repair, etc.
  • Appreciate having access to a car to drive (this is an added expense for all host families)
  • Always ask to use the car, even if you are going to school.  Host families should ALWAYS know where their car is going and when it will be back (even if they are not sharing the car with you)
  • Keep the car clean and let your host family know right away if something is wrong with the car, not working, or anything lighting up on the dashboard
  • Bring the car home with a full tank of gas after driving it over the weekend or at least fill up what you used.  Never return it empty
  • Carpool, Carpool, and Carpool whenever possible (share gas, mileage, and have companionship)
  • Pay for all personal gas and car washes (once per month at the most)
  • Pay $250 for damage to the car if you have an accident and pay for any driving tickets
  • Never allow another au pair or friend to drive your host parent's car for any reason
  • Pay any and all fees to get a State Driver's License
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Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Great questions to ask during an interview


What values did you parents teach you as being most important in life?
What three adjectives would your friends use to describe you?
Do you have a boyfriend? How does he feel about your decision to become an AP? How do you think you’ll handle being away from him for a year?
Are you close with your siblings?
How did you hear about the program and who suggested that you become an aupair ?”
Do you have relatives in the US?
Is religion important to you?
Are you a morning person? Are you able to start your day early?
Do you have a housekeeper? Do you have duties at home? Please explain what your duties are
Have you had a job before? Tell us about your job & what you did. What where the challenges? What did you like? How long did you work there? Why did you quit?
How do you handle conflict with your parents?
How do you like to keep your room at home?
If the baby is crying & hurt, the 3 & 4 year old are fighting & the doorbell rings – how would you handle that situation?
What would you do if you were driving & the boys are fighting or takes off a seat belt?
What is your biggest strength/weakness?
What is your biggest concern or fear about becoming an au pair?
Why do you want to come to the USA and what are your plans when you go back to your home country?
Do you have a maid at home?
The child you are looking after is just learning to walk. She is walking on a concrete sidewalk and falls forward and hits her head. Her head is cut and bleeding heavily. She is crying hysterically and is very upset because she is in pain and is scared. How do you handle this?
Have you ever clipped a baby’s fingernails or toenails?
What are your expectations for the home that you will live in as an au pair? Will you be uncomfortable if the home is not perfectly clean at all times?
Have you had any prior lengthy illnesses?
What age children do you prefer to take care of?
How much sleep do you need to feel rested?
How do you plan to spend your time when you’re not working?
Do you know anyone in the US?
What is your best and worst memory of your family life?
What kind of role do you want to have with the children? A playmate? A teacher? A parent? How would you go about these roles?
Do you want to be like a roommate or do you want to be like a member of the host family? A roommate socializes outside of the home most nights and weekend with friends. A member of the family eats dinner at home each night and spends time at home on the weekends and watches movies with the host family in the evening.
How do you make friends?
Do you enjoy playing with dogs and are you comfortable with them?
How do you envision your day taking care of our daughter?
What do you think is most exciting thing about coming to the US as an au pair?

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Looking for a good dentist

The aupair insurance does not cover dental problems unfortunately! But here is a link to UMKC school of dentistry that does a good job for a good price if you live in the Kansas City area.


Happy Teeth!!