(800) 928-7247State Information
Au Pair in America in Florida
Regional Update
Regional Presence:
This region of Au Pair in America includes the states of Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Texas. Community clusters can be found in Orlando, Tampa Bay, and West Palm Beach, Florida, Metro Atlanta, Georgia, New Orleans, Louisiana, Nashville, Tennessee, as well as in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston, Texas.
Quarterly Message:
January 2009
As we reflect on the past year, the au pairs and host families of the south region feel this has been a good, if challenging, year. The economic news has been difficult for some, but many au pairs and host families are optimistically looking forward to 2009 and all the promising new beginnings the year will bring.
Many host family events were held at the end of 2008, with a strong emphasis on holiday au pair/ host mom events and on cultural fairs which provide an opportunity for au pairs and host families to learn from each other. Looking forward to 2009, many clusters will hold events which range from attending a rodeo, to listening to jazz in the French Quarter, to going to the top of Peachtree Plaza and viewing the lights of the city.
As the first few months of 2009 give us a chance to reflect and perhaps slow down, the clusters tend to focus on indoor activities that lend themselves to introspection, goal setting, and volunteer work, as well as to getting together with friends to watch the inauguration of a new president and to enjoy perennial American favorites such as Super Bowl Sunday and Groundhog day!
In Florida, of course, summer continues almost uninterrupted by a few days of cold. The Florida counselors spend the first three months of the year by continuing their focus on volunteering (working with the Susan G. Komen foundation, for example) and on having fun in the outdoors now that it is finally not 100 degrees! They are even attempting to get all clusters together for a Florida beach get-together.
The first few months of the new year also ring in the new semester. Au pairs will be signing up for new classes and seeking out new volunteer opportunities. Global Awareness, a packaged program for au pairs who wish to share their culture with school-aged children, is available for anyone wishing to participate.
Winter is a beautiful time in the South. It is often cold for a few days, but the weather quickly turns warm after a few days of chilly weather.
Happy 2009!
Regional Representative:
Barbara Brun-Ozuna, mother of two and an AP world history teacher joined Au Pair in America in 1994 as the counselor for the Fort Worth region. She became the Regional Representative for the Southwest region on September 1, 2002. Offering field support in the region, interviewing and training new counselors, planning meetings, sharing information with the counselors in the southwest region, and supporting marketing efforts in the area are the main responsibilities of a regional representative. Barbara will attend meetings with the six other regional representatives several times a year in Stamford, CT to give feedback from the field, to learn future plans of the company, and to share ideas.
Driving Information for Au Pairs
Visit the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website for information about driving in Florida.
Educational Information for Au Pairs
The information listed here is your starting point to fulfilling the education requirement. Your community counselor will have the most popular and affordable choices in your area.
- The schools listed here are not all reasonable options. Ask your community counselor for the schools closest to you.
- Continuing Education (also Adult Education or Lifelong Learning) classes are generally the most affordable options for au pairs.
- Review the cost, class schedule, and transportation needed for the classes you are interested in with your host family. You need to be responsible about selecting courses that meet at times that will not conflict with your work schedule. Take into consideration the time it will take to travel between home and the campus. Your host family must approve your plans.
- Host families reimburse tuition costs and costs of related materials (books and supplies) up to $500 ($1000 for EduCare) for you to complete your six semester hours (12 for EduCare), or the equivalent. You are responsible for all payments for tuition, fees, books and materials that exceed the host family’s contribution. Education money is not paid to you in cash if you do not use the complete amount.
- For more detailed information about the education requirement and education in the US, click here to see the ABCs of Education.
Broward Community College Florida Atlantic University Hillsborough Community College Indian River Community College Manatee County Junior College Mid Florida Tech Palm Beach Atlantic University Palm Beach Community College |
Pasco-Hernando Community College Ridge Career Center Seminole Community College St. Petersburg College University of South Florida University of Tampa Valencia Community College http://www.valencia.cc.fl.us/Winter Park Tech |
Tourist and Other Information
Palm Beach: www.palmbeachfl.com/
Orlando: www.orlandoinfo.com/cvb/
Tampa: www.tampavisitorinformation.com/
Florida in general: www.florida.worldweb.com/
For events around the South Florida area and activities to do with children: miami.babyzone.com/
For events around the Orlando area and activities to do with children: orlando.babyzone.com
For events around the Tampa area and activities to do with children: tampa.babyzone.com
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