For more information on each
state, click below:
Regional Presence:
Au Pair in America has 18 clusters in the New England states of
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. The majority
of the almost 400 families live in Eastern Massachusetts but population
centers across the area served.
Quarterly Message:
July 2008
Summer is one of the favorite seasons for au pairs in New England. We have gorgeous beaches, beautiful mountains, and clear lakes. There is so much to do both in and outside the city, and there are many free cultural events all over New England. This is great for au pairs on a budget.
Au pairs will spend much more time outdoors with their host children, and our counselors often use these months for important safety reminders. It is important that au pairs are aware of local laws and regulations for children, such as wearing a helmet while riding a bike or scooter. It is also important for them to know how to recognize the signs of heat stroke, and to stress the importance of applying ample sunscreen. In New England, equally important is how to recognize poison ivy (and the rash) and dealing with critters such as ticks and mosquitoes.
Other cluster meetings range from a backyard barbeques to pool parties, from hikes to kayaking, from a scavenger hunt in the city to enjoying a movie in a drive-in movie theatre.
These summer months are also the months when most of the clusters “turn over.” Many girls who are leaving have tears in their eyes and find it difficult to say good-bye. And it is hard to say good-bye for the ones who are extending for some more months or another year. But this is also the time to welcome the new au pairs joining our clusters, while feeling confident that they have a great year ahead of them!
Regional Representative:
Heidi Schnabel has been a community counselor for Au Pair in America since September 2000 in Newton, MA. After having moved to the western suburbs, she is now a counselor for several towns in the Metro west area. In November 2007 she became the regional representative for the New England Region.
Her main responsibilities as a regional representative are offering field support in the region, interviewing and training new counselors, planning meetings and sharing information with the counselors in the New England region, and supporting marketing efforts in the area.
Heidi was born in Germany and is now married to an American. She and her husband met traveling in South America. Heidi "won" her Green Card in the lottery, so she says, “Everything is possible!” She has an MA in Social Education from Germany and trained at Woodbury College, VT, in Conflict Resolution.
Heidi has two school-aged children who are growing up bilingual. |
