Karen S. Relstab

“A friend of a friend” always considered the au pair program a luxury and mentioned how strange it would be to have someone living in. They had a baby last summer that they’ve had in daycare; who has been sick ever since. My friend ran into them last Monday night and as she listened to the litany of childcare woes, she felt obligated to bring up the au pair program!

His initial response was - too expensive and, again, strange to have someone live with them. She offered to grab a Cultural Care Au Pair brochure from her car and give him the “low down.” “If you want, but we’re really not interested.” So she brought in our lovely new brochure and chatted for a few minutes and asked if he and wife still liked to get out for dinner once a week. “Not often. We’d love to, but the sitter costs about $100 for the night.” Then she asked if wife was riding much these days (they are horsey people). “She’d love too, but again we’d need a sitter because I can’t give her a lesson and watch the baby at the same time.”

Then the light bulb went on - $320/week for childcare suddenly equaled a baby at home not getting sick, date night and his wife being much happier.

They applied last Tuesday, finaled last Thursday and the au pair is moving in next Friday.

Now, her friend was not considering an au pair at all! But once they started talking about what they were really paying for childcare (daycare + date night sitter) and what they wished they could do (wife get out and ride once a week, go to the gym, go to work!) the value of the au pair program became clear and they applied.

If you’ve ever considered hosting an au pair, but THOUGHT it wasn’t for you….. maybe it is. Hosting an au pair really is quite affordable! And you’ll have a freedom and peace of mind that you don’t get with trudging off to day care- now THAT part is the luxury.

California LCC S. Burgess

 Dear Family,

 My name is Ying Zhang, but friends and family call me Cherry. I am a Cultural Care au pair from Zhaoqing, China looking for a host family in the US.

 Let me tell you a little bit about myself.

 I am 22 years old and a university student in my 4^th year studying business English.  I want to be an English teacher. There are 6 people in my family, grandparents, mother, father, and my younger brother. I speak English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and basic Japanese. I am pet friendly, a non smoker, driver, a swimmer (since I was 12 years old), and in excellent health.

 I have been extensively screened by Cultural Care Au Pair and have an extensive au pair application. I passed a background check, English evaluation, and cross cultural adaptability testing.

 My hobbies are swimming, basketball, jogging. I love all kinds of outdoor activities. I enjoy many different kinds of music and write Chinese calligraphy.

 I have numerous references and many hours of childcare experience with a qualification to care for multiple children and those under the age of two.

  I learned to be independent having lived alone for seven years. So I am very competent in cooking, cleaning, and all other types of housework. I really enjoy cooking and am very good at preparing Cantonese dishes.

 My au pair application describes me as bubbly, warm, easygoing and reliable.  It also says that I am also helpful to others in problem solving and looking forward to sharing her Chinese culture and experience with an American family.

 If you would like to learn more about me and the Cultural Care Au Pair Program, please contact Karen Relstab telephone 847-680-3794 or email karen.relstab@lcc.culturalcare.com

 Warmest Regards

 Cherry

On Friday June 25, 2009 families attended the Central Lake YMCA Birthday Bash at 700 Lakeview Parkway Vernon Hills, Illinois

Cultural Care sponsored the face painting station. Au pairs Natalia Kim from Russia  and Madeleine Gustafsson from Sweden painted children’s faces and placed Cultural Care blue heart tattoos on little hands, arms, and faces.

There was a inflatable slide and bounce house for the children to enjoy. In the backlot there were play stations for bubbles and sand.  In the petting zoo there was a wide array of animals.

In addition there were several contests; chalk drawing, water balloon toss, cake eating, guess hot many umbrellas, and Y-Spy quiz.

Pear Tree Catering had some great BBQ food in their tent.

The Rockin Fenderskirts provided the fun boogie music.

Cultural Care raffled off a Mom’s Spa Basket with some great personal care items from Avon.

It was a pleasant summer evening and a great time was had by all.

Thanks Natalia for all your hard work!!!!

Lorena is a Cultural Care Extension au pair, who will be spending another year in the US. She is available next month.

Let me tell you a little bit about Lorena.

She is from Tunja, Colombia, the capital of Boyaca and a bustling student center. Tunja has fine colonial architecture, an imposing central sqaure and elegant mansions with some of South America’s most unique artwork. Tunja is particularly noted for its colonial churches. It has a mountain climate and can be windy or wet any time of the year.

Lorena graduated from the University in 2000 majoring in foreign language (teaching children English). She lives with her mother and brother. She is a non smoker, pet friendly, and a good swimmer. She likes all sports and outdoor activities. She writes poetry and likes traveling. She will be 26 years old in September. Along with Spanish and English, she also knows some French. Lorena describes herself as patient, honest, with a good heart.

Lorena has a detailed au pair application and was extensively screened before being accepted into Cultural Care’s au pair program. She completed an English evaluation, background check, and cross cultural adaptability screening. She has spent her first year as an au pair for a family in Chicago and would like to experience a new family for her second year and stay in the area. Her au pair application describes Lorena has mature, independent, hard working, perseverent young woman.

If you are interested in learning more about Lorena and the Cultural Care Au Pair Program, I would love to hear from you.

Why are au pairs a great choice for busy families?

-Quality childcare for up to 45 hours per week.
-Au pairs handle kid’s meals, laundry, and cleanup.
-Program supervised by the U.S. State Department.
-Au pairs are extensively screened.
-Your whole family experiences a new language and culture.
-Au pairs drive, so lessons play dates are no problem.
-The schedule is flexible, you create it.
-Sick days, school holidays are no longer a problem.
-Au pairs have health insurance.
-We handle their flights, visa and support year round

Karen Relstab
Local Childcare Coordinator
Cultural Care Au Pair
Telephone 847-680-3794
Email karen.relstab@lcc.culturalcare.com
Personal website http://krelstab.aupairnews.com

Dear Au Pair,

Just some last minute details about tomorrow’s LCC Meeting.

As previously stated, my group of au pairs is marching in the Libertyville Days Parade tomorrow Saturday June 20, 2009. This is the official June 2009 LCC meeting for my au pair group

Parade participants are to be at the Libertyville Metra train station by 9:15 am. This is where the parade will officially begin at 10 AM, proceed south on Milwaukee Ave, and end at the intersection of Rockland Road/Milwaukee Ave (approximately 11 blocks). At the parade end at Rockland you will be free to leave (sometime after 11 am). You will need to walk back to where you parked your car.

I strongly recommend that you arrive early! You will not be able to park at the Metra Station. So I suggest you plan ahead to car pool with other au pairs and know where you will park. You may have a substantial walk from your parking spot to the train station. You might consider having your host family drop you off, if it is convenient for them.

Here are some suggestions on where you can park.

-East of Milwaukee between School and Cook streets behind the stores

-Behind the Civic Center and Church on West Church St.

-West of Milwaukee between Lake and Cook Streets behind the stores

The parade route on Milwaukee Avenue (From Metra train tracks to Rockland Road) in downtown Libertyville will be closed for car traffic from approximately 9:45 am to the end of the parade sometime after 11 am.

Au pairs are required to wear the Cultural Care tee shirt. I will have extra tee shirts for our new au pairs. Our group will be carrying flags representing the countries they are from. Au pairs can bring their host children, but should keep in mind that there will be a lot of walking to/from parking space, parade route train station to Rockland and back. If you have a wagon for the child(ren) to ride in you can bring it. We will be marching in a format with our Cultural Care banner, distributing stickers, candy, and flyers.  I am providing the flags, stickers, candy, and flyers. There are two other LCC groups that will be joining us. There should be 30 + au pairs.

If you want to park at my house and ride with me to/from the Metra Station, you need to let me know ASAP and arrive to my house by 8:30 am. I will be leaving promptly from my home at that time.

You must be in the parade to get credit for attending this meeting. If you arrive late and miss joining our group because we have already left the parade starting area you will be considered absent. That’s why I am asking you to plan ahead and arrive early.

The following is the internet link to the Village of Libertyville downtown parking map.

http://www.libertyville.com/DocumentView.aspx?DID=814

Your LCC

Karen

I just called Cuneo Gardens and they are having the concert tonight.

The address is:

Cuneo Museum and Gardens

1350 N Milwaukee Ave

Vernon Hills, IL

Telephone 847-362-3042

Website for directions www.cuneomuseum.org

The weather forecast indicates showers after midnight.

Gates open at 5:30 PM.

Concert begins at 6:30 pm and ends at 8:30 PM.

The cost per car is $12 cash.

Be sure to bring a blanket or lawn chair to sit on.

WEAR YOUR CULTURAL CARE TEE SHIRT, PLEASE!!!

Look for the Cultural Care Banner when you arrive and me. I plan to get there by 6 PM.

Dress appropiately, I recommend long slacks and a jacket. Be sure to bring insect repellant.

If want to bring food and drinks it is allowed. I am bringing my dinner.

It is a lawn concert outside, ABBA Salute Band.

If you have questions after 5 pm call my home number 847-680-3794. I will have calls forwarded to my cell phone.

If by chance there is heavy rain storm around 6 PM, our back up plan will be to meet at Portillos Restaurant 221 E. Townline Road Vernon Hills, IL.  But before you head toward Portillos call me first.

Should be a fun night.

See you.

Karen

Dear Au Pair,

The weather forecast for tomorrow includes rain.

If you are planning to attend tomorrow night’s LCC meeting at Cuneo Gardens, you will need to check this website by 3 PM tomorrow. I will have the meeting details posted as to if we will still be going to Cuneo Gardens or an alternate indoor spot.

If it is raining or looks like rain we will be meeting at Portillos Restaurant 221 E. Townline Road Vernon Hills, Illinois telephone 847-367-7290.  This restaurant is by the Target store in their parking lot (northwest corner of parking lot).

Again you will need to check my website after 3 PM tomorrow to find out where the meeting will be held.

The start time for tomorrow’s meeting is 6:30 PM, either at Cuneo Gardens or Portillos.

The website for directions to Cuneo Gardens is www.cuneomuseum.org

If you have any questions email or call me.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO WEAR YOUR CULTURAL CARE TEE SHIRTS!!!!!!

Karen

Cultural Care Au Pairs in Lake County will be participating in two events in June, so please your calendars.

 Meeting #1 Optional

Wednesday June 17, 2009

Cuneo Gardens Concert on the lawn

ABBA Salute Band

Gates open at 5:30 PM

Concert starts at 6:30 PM

The cost is $12 per car, so be sure to ride with friends

Bring a blank or lawn chair and snacks

WEAR YOUR CULTURAL CARE TEE SHIRT!!!

Address is 1350 N. Milwaukee Ave Vernon Hills, Ill

Website www.cuneomuseum.org

Meeting #2 MANDATORY

Saturday June 20, 2009

We are marching in the Libertyville Days Parade

Bring your host children if you want

We will meet at the Metra Train station parking lot in downtown Libertyville at 9 AM

I strongly recommend that you ride with friends.

Parking will be limited in the downtown area so plan ahead.

Arrive early.

WEAR YOUR CULTURAL CARE TEE SHIRT!!

Or if you have a costume or sports shirt from your home country.

If you have not already told me which meetings you are attending please email me.

 karen.relstab@lcc.culturalcare.com

telephone 847-680-3794