The Franchetti-Gardberg's Cultural Care Au Pair



The XXX Family's

GO AU PAIR Au Pair

Household Handbook

...the key to success is in the small details.

|Your Household Handbook includes your family's chosen guidelines for your program year. Please read on to discover |

|detailed rules on what the xxx Family's position is on various household issues. |

Welcome to Our Family and to

the United States!!!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

|Welcome |3 |

|Your First Two Weeks |3 |

|General Communication |4 |

|Cultural Exchange |5 |

|Your LAR and Monthly Meetings |6 |

|Work Hours |7 |

|Stipend |7 |

|Other Jobs |7 |

|Xxx's Daily Schedule |8 |

|Xxx's Meals |9 |

|Discipline |10 |

|Xxx's Baths |11 |

|Taking Xxx's Temperature |11 |

|“DOG” |12 |

|Emergency Information |13 |

|Household Safety |14 |

|Household Responsibilities & Chores |15 |

|Other Household Items |16 |

|Private vs Shared Space |17 |

|Your Bedroom |18 |

|Appliances |19 |

|Curfews |21 |

|Smoking |22 |

|Perfumes & Hair Dyes |22 |

|Dating |22 |

|Alcohol |22 |

|Drugs |22 |

|Vacation & Holiday Schedule |23 |

|Visitors & Guests |24 |

|Telephone Usage |25 |

|Computer/Internet |26 |

|Educational Credits |27 |

|Car Policy |28 |

|Directions / Addresses |29 |

|Interesting Facts About Us |30 |

|Helpful Phone Numbers |31 |

|Your Doctor / Medical Information |32 |

|Celsius to Fahrenheit Chart |33 |

Welcome, Au Pair XXX!

Welcome to your home for the next year!

The first few weeks will be exciting for you, but we know that it can also be hard to learn so many things at once. This handbook will help you remember most of the things you need to know about our family, your responsibilities, the house, and the town.

Use this handbook all year to help you remember all the details.

We will review each page of this book with you in detail to make sure you understand everything. It is important for you to ask questions about anything you do not understand so we can explain it to you differently.

Your First Two Weeks

During the first two weeks you are with us, we will be spending extra time helping you get used to everything. We will spend some time every day teaching you how we like things done in the house and with Xxx.

It is important for you to ask questions and to ask us to explain anything you do not fully understand. We will be happy to explain something differently. If you do not ask us to explain something, we will think that you fully understand.

If we correct something you are doing, we are only trying to help you learn and feel comfortable with your responsibilities.

When you first arrive, we will help you get the following as necessary:

- Your Michigan driver’s license (if needed).

- Your checking/debit account at the bank.

- Your cell phone (if you want one, you are responsible for the cost).

- Decide how you would like to fulfill your academic credits.

- Sign up for a child CPR class (Xxx and Xxx will pay for this).

General Communication

We want you to feel comfortable in our home and with our family. We know how confusing your first few weeks can be, especially while you adjust to and learn about our family and to American culture. We want to be sure that we keep the communication frequent and open.

We believe that frequent, honest and respectful communication is very important. We can discuss any concerns or questions any of us have about the schedule, the family or your responsibilities. If there is an issue of an emergency nature (for example, you or Xxx become injured), please contact us immediately.

Weekly meeting.

We will set up a weekly meeting when we will review the schedule and discuss any issues that have come up.

Daily Communication Log.

We will use the Daily Communication Log for general issues like the weekly schedule or reminders of things to do. It is a blue book. We always keep it on the desk in the family room so all of us can easily access it.

Xxx’s daily schedule.

In addition to the log, we use a daily schedule to keep track of Xxx’s meals, naps and activities. That way you know what we did with him and we know what you did with him so we balance his activities and meals. Please fill it in every day.

Other time together.

We would like to eat dinner together at least twice per week so that we can relax together at a meal, and spend time together as a host family. Dinners are very important meals in our family. It’s a special time to talk about our days and to spend quality time together. The exact nights for these dinners will vary weekly based on our work schedules and your school schedule, but as much as possible, we will try to be consistent so you can plan your free time.

Your weekly stipend.

You will be paid on Fridays, so that you can budget your money properly.

Cultural Exchange

We are excited for you to learn about life in the United States, and we are excited to learn about your home country. We will invite you to join us for traditional American holidays like Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July (Independence Day), and we will be happy to help you learn about US politics, US holidays, and our own family traditions.

We celebrate (enter religion here, i.e. Jewish, Christian, etc.) holidays We are happy to have you share in these experiences. We belong to (enter church information here, type of church and when you attend services). If you want to attend religious services for your own religion, we will help you find a church.

We will enjoy learning about your language, music, your culture, your family and history. If there are holidays that you celebrate at home that we do not have in the US, please tell us about them so we can share your holiday or special event with you.

If there are traditional foods that you would like to eat, we encourage you tell us about them so we can try to find them in the grocery store. And, you should feel free to make them to share with us.

(If your family celebrates any specific cultural holidays or practices any specific cultural/religious things, you may want to list them here).

We are providing you with guidebooks and maps to borrow for New York City so that you can find your way around more easily and take advantage of the many, many cultural opportunities available here.

Some of the main holidays that we observe are:

New Year’s Day (January 1)

Martin Luther King Day (Third Monday of January)

President’s Day (Third Monday of February)

Valentine’s Day (February 14)

Mardi Gras (changes every year: February or March)

Good Friday and Easter (March or April)

Mother’s Day (Second Sunday in May)

Memorial Day (Last Monday in May)

Father’s Day (Third Sunday in June)

Independence Day (4th of July)

Labor Day (First Monday of September)

Halloween (October 31)

Thanksgiving (Third Thursday in November)

Christmas (December 25)

Your LAR and Monthly Meetings

Polina is our LAR (Local Area Representative). You can call Polina if you have questions about the au pair program or need to discuss anything with her.

LARs are there to help with your adjustment to the USA, to your family, and to serve as a resource for the au pair and the host parents.

Polina is required to host bi-monthly au pair meetings. Here is a link to the blog where you can check the activity schedule

You are required to attend 4 meetings in order to get your deposit back at the end of the year. Keep track of the dates you attend all meetings. You will need this information at the end of the year.

Polina’s meetings are held in different locations each month. You are responsible for the cost of anything you do at the meetings. She tries to do things that are inexpensive. Most meetings are held in the evening on a day over a weekend. She tries to coordinate her meetings with the other Au Pair cluster in the area so that there are many au pairs for you to meet and become acquainted with. Polina will notify you of the meetings in advance, via facebook,email or telephone.

If Polina is unable to assist you with your question, you can call Go Au Pair headquarters in Utah. To reach their office, call 1-877-287-2471.

Work Hours

As an au pair, the US Government says that you may work for a maximum of 45 hours per week, and up to 10 hours per day. You are entitled to have one and one-half days off each week. You are also given one full weekend off per month. You receive two weeks (14 days) of paid vacation during your year.

Every week we will create your schedule and will write it in the Communication Log. You will almost always work the 45 hours each week. Most of your hours will be Monday – Friday. Our own work schedules do not change much, so your work schedule will be pretty consistent each week. On occasion, you will work on a Saturday or Sunday.

If you are sick and cannot work on a given day, we need as much notice as possible so that we can make other arrangements for childcare. For example, we need to know the night before instead of that morning.

If you become sick during the day and are unable to continue your duties, please call one of us at work. While it will probably not be possible for one of us to come home, unless it is a real emergency, we will call and try to arrange for (enter a name of a neighbor or relative who could possibly help out).

Xxx works from home about 2 days per week. She/He will often be working on the computer, on conference calls on the phone, etc. When she/he is at home and working she/he needs you to be fully responsible for Xxx.

Stipend

The US Government sets the stipend amount for au pairs. Currently the stipend is $195.75 per week. We will pay you every Friday. You will be paid by cash/check. Your Bank can cash the check once you have an account there.

We DO NOT recommend that you send money home. You should save a portion of your stipend every week to help pay for any vacations / travel you wish to take while visiting the USA.

You should also keep extra money in case of emergencies, like medicine if you are sick, or to pay any health expenses not covered by your health insurance. You might also need the money to pay for your classes if they cost more than $500, or to reimburse us in case you should have an accident with our automobile.

Other Jobs

The au pair program strictly prohibits you from working any other jobs while you are with a host family. This includes babysitting for other families.

Xxx’s Daily Schedule

Our (child’s/children’s) full name is/are Xxx. We call him/her Xxx.

Here are some activities that we expect you to do with Xxx:

Your day with Xxx will consist mainly of feeding him, changing his diapers and clothing, doing activities with him, and putting him down for naps.

Xxx usually wakes up around 7:00 am each day. We usually play with him while we are getting dressed and give him breakfast. Some days you might give him breakfast. Xxx usually goes to sleep between 7:30 and 8:00 each night.

Here is an example of how your day with Xxx will be scheduled.

|Time |Activity |

|9:00-9:30 |Play with educational toys or take a walk (especially in the summer). |

|9:30-11:00 |Xxx naps. Good time for you to do his laundry, cook lunch or other chores. |

|11:00-12:00 |Change Xxx’s diaper; give him water or milk, play. |

|12:00-12:30 |Lunch |

|12:30-3:00 |Play or take a walk (when not too hot or too cold) with Xxx & “DOG”. |

|3:00-4:30 |Xxx naps. Good time to finish chores or prepare dinner. |

|4:30-6:00 |Give Xxx a snack upon waking and play until dinner. |

|6:00-6:30 |Dinner |

|6:30 |Bath and get ready for bed |

|7:30-8:00 |Bedtime |

Activities include reading him books, going for a walk in the neighborhood, helping him learn to play with his toys, and talking to him or singing to him. We want him to have a lot of interaction with you so he will learn to talk and walk.

We do not want Xxx to watch TV. The TV must be off when he is awake. He can watch 1 educational video like Baby Einstein once a day.

It is important to go for walks and to the playground unless the weather is extremely hot or cold or it is raining.

In the summer

When the weather is very hot (85°F / 29.4°C) Xxx and “DOG” should go for a walk either early in the day or late in the day to avoid the sun and heat.

In the winter

When the weather is very cold (32°F / 0°C) you can still go for a short walk (around the block). We will let you know in the morning if the weather will be too cold to go outside on a certain day.

Xxx’s Classes

Xxx usually takes 2 classes each term at the (enter name of school) on (enter school location). One is a music class; the other is a fun class with other children in his age group. You will be responsible for taking him to one, maybe both of the classes each week.

Learning New Things

Whenever he does something new, like say a new word, please write about it in the Daily Communication Log.

Xxx's Meals

Meals with Xxx are a bit messy, so be prepared. Each meal will take about 30 minutes. He should always eat in his high chair.

Here are examples of what you can feed Xxx at different meals:

Breakfast:

Scrambled egg (cook thoroughly) or baby yogurt. Also, he should have ½ cup of fruit (bananas, berries, kiwi, etc.). He drinks about 7 ounces of whole milk in the morning.

Lunch:

At lunch he needs to have a protein (which includes turkey or roast beef deli meat, leftover chicken or fish from the night before, or beans). He also needs a vegetable. He can have cooked peas, carrots, asparagus, green beans, or sweet potato. If he did not eat yogurt for breakfast, he can have some yogurt for lunch. If he is still hungry you can give him some fruit. He can have a sippy cup with about 6 ounces of whole milk.

Dinner:

Just like at lunch, he needs to have a protein and vegetables. He might also have some pasta with a little tomato sauce, rice or couscous. He can have some fruit for dessert. He can drink water with dinner.

Snacks:

He will need one or two snacks each day, usually between lunch and dinner. For a snack, you can give him a sippy cup with water, some Cheerios, some fruit, or some cheese.

Before Bed:

He drinks one last bottle of milk before going to sleep. He drinks about 6 ounces.

Foods you should never give Xxx include peanut butter, nuts, honey, and shellfish (shrimp, crab, lobster). These foods can cause serious allergies in young children. He drinks only water and whole milk.

Foods that he should not eat much of include regular bread and citrus (oranges) because they are too acidic.

Discipline

Xxx is too little to understand right from wrong, so we will not punish him. As he gets older and starts to understand things, we want to role model the proper way to do things so he can learn from imitation. We also want to praise him when he does something well (this is known as positive reinforcement).

There is never any spanking or hitting. There should not be any yelling. Any hitting/spanking will result in your immediate removal from our house.

Please let us know if you see him doing something where he could get hurt so we can work together to protect him.

Xxx's Baths

Use the same bathroom that you use. Fill the bathtub with about 5 inches of water. There is a purple temperature guide that you can put in the water so you know that the water is not too hot or cold for his skin. The temperature should be between 97 and 100 degrees F.

Use only Johnson & Johnson's baby wash on his skin. Use either the same baby wash or the Medela baby shampoo on his hair.

Never leave Xxx alone in the tub for even a moment. A young child can easily drown even in just one or two inches of water.

Xxx will usually give Xxx his baths. She will let you know if you need to bathe him instead. Also, there are times when he gets extra messy during the day and might need a quick bath. Use your judgment and bathe him as needed.

How to Take Xxx’s Temperature

The best way to take a baby’s temperature is by using an anal thermometer.

• Put a special plastic cover on the thermometer to keep it clean.

• Turn on the thermometer.

• Place the thermometer into his tushy about one inch.

• Wait for it to “beep.” Read the number.

Normal temperature = 98.6°F

Low fever = 99° - 101°

Fever = 101° - 103°

High fever (call us immediately) = over 103°

Never give Xxx medicine unless we tell you to do so.

“DOG”

“DOG” is a member of our family. He loves to be with people and wants to play all the time. Xxx and “DOG” have become good friends.

We treat “DOG” with respect. We never hit him, but he does need to obey our commands. We need to be careful that “DOG” does not hurt Xxx by accident.

Xxx and Xxx’s Responsibility: We will take care of feeding the dog in the mornings and evenings. We give him 1.5 scoops of dry dog food in the morning, and 1.5 scoops at night.

You are not responsible for giving him a bath, taking him to the dog doctor, or giving him medicine.

Food: We never give “DOG” “people food” – he only eats dog food. When he is good, we will sometimes give him a dog treat, a little carrot, or a piece of ice. Xxx will often try to feed “DOG”. Some food from Xxx is OK, as long as “DOG” does not get too much.

Your Responsibility: During the day, unless the weather is very bad, you will be responsible for taking “DOG” on one walk. Around 12:30 PM is a perfect time to go on this walk. Put Xxx in his stroller and go around the block. If the weather is very nice, everyone will enjoy a longer walk into town or through the neighborhood.

His leash is kept in the drawer next to the kitchen door.

At other times of the day, if “DOG” needs to go to the bathroom, he will let you know by going to one of the doors and barking. You can let him in the backyard by himself -- he likes playing outside when the weather is nice. In the winter, put a dog coat on him. If it is wet outside, we always dry his feet with a towel so he will not ruin the furniture.

If he drinks all his water, please fill his bowl with fresh water.

Xxx is very curious about “DOG”'s food. If Xxx is in the kitchen you will need to move “DOG”'s water and food so Xxx does not eat it.

Cleaning Up After “DOG”: We keep plastic bags in special holders in the stairwell to the basement. These bags are used to pick up his poop. It is the law in New York to pick up and throw away any mess made by the dog. The police can give you a ticket for not cleaning up.

Sleeping: “DOG” sleeps in his crate at night. Sometimes he sleeps with Xxx and Xxx. Only if you would like, he may sleep in your bedroom. Whenever you leave the house, tell “DOG” to “go to bed” and lock his crate. Be sure to put one or two toys in there for him to play with.

Emergency Information

To call for help in an emergency, call 911. Give the address (enter your address here) and describe the emergency.

The police, ambulance or fire department will come.

Fire extinguishers: A large fire extinguisher is located on the first step going to the basement. There is one in the cabinet to the left of the dishwasher in the kitchen. There is another fire extinguisher in the basement on the tool shelf.

Carbon monoxide (CO) detectors: CO is an invisible and odor free gas that can kill quickly. We have 2 CO alarms in the house. One is in Xxx & Xxx’s bedroom and one is in the basement. If one rings, get Xxx and “DOG” quickly, get away from the house and go (enter where she should go, i.e. a neighbor and which neighbor). Please have them call the fire department (911).

Fire evacuation plan: Again, enter where she should go, such as a neighbor’s house, etc. who can assist in contacting the fire dept. etc.

Portable fire ladders: There is an emergency fire escape ladder under Xxx and Xxx’s bed. Open the bedroom window, hang the ladder from the windowsill and climb down to escape.

Medical insurance details: Xxx’s doctor is Dr. Xxx. Phone: 248-xxx-xxxx. Xxx’s medical insurance is Enter name of Insurance here. It is under Xxx’s medical plan. His doctor already has a copy of his insurance card. An extra copy is at the end of this book in case you ever need to take Xxx to the hospital.

 

Household Safety

Xxx likes to explore and learn. He can easily do something dangerous. We have tried to make the house as safe as possible for a young child. We need your help to keep the house safe. We all need to check for safety every day.

House Alarm. The alarm is put on every night when the last person goes to sleep. It also goes on when everyone goes out during the day. If “DOG” is in the house and you put the alarm on, you need to lock him in his crate or he will set off the alarm.

Kitchen door (to driveway). This door must be locked with a key from the inside. Xxx can easily open the door and escape otherwise. The key must always be kept on the special hook next to the door in case someone needs to get out quickly in an emergency.

Safety gates. Gates are located at the top and bottom of the main staircase. Gates are also located at the entrance to the basement stairs and to the living room. They must be kept locked whenever Xxx is out of his crib.

Cabinet locks. Xxx loves to open drawers and doors, so we installed special locks on cabinets and drawers in the kitchen and bathrooms. There is also a lock on one cabinet in Xxx’s room. All medicine should be locked in there. Keep the locks on at all times.

Toilet locks. Many babies die each year by drowning in toilet bowls. We installed special locks on the toilets to prevent Xxx from opening the lid by himself. All toilet lids must be kept down and locked.

Window locks. All of the windows on the second floor have special locks on them to prevent Xxx from opening a window and falling out. It is important to keep all windows closed so he does not fall out.

Door knob covers. Xxx is getting taller every day and he likes to imitate us by trying to open doors. To prevent him from opening doors we placed special covers on doorknobs. It is easy for an adult to use the door but difficult for a young child.

Electric outlet covers. Electric outlets throughout the house have special plastic covers in the plugs. These prevent Xxx from sticking his fingers or other objects in the outlets and getting a dangerous shock. If you use an outlet, be sure to replace the cover when you are finished.

Wires. Be careful about leaving any wires on or near the ground. Xxx could easily choke if they are not tied up safely. He could also use a wire to pull a heavy object on top of him.

Your room and bathroom. Be sure never to leave small items where Xxx can reach them. He can easily choke on something that is left out like hair barrettes or make up. Keep things like nail polish, polish remover, razors and all medicines on a high shelf or locked away where Xxx cannot get to them.

Household Responsibilities & Chores

As an au pair, your household chores are limited to your own spaces (like your bedroom, bath, and basement lounge) and to Xxx. The following chores are directly related to Xxx and you.

As a member of the household, we expect you to pitch in and assist as needed with thing such as meal preparation, and setting and clearing the table, just as Xxx and Xxx will do.

|Responsibility |Frequency |

|Make Xxx’s meals |As needed |

|Make your own bed |Daily |

|Make Xxx’s bed |Daily |

|Cleaning up after Xxx |Daily |

|Refill diapers and wipes |Daily |

|Clean high chair |Daily |

|Change Xxx’s sheets and changing table cover |Before laundry on Monday and Thursday |

|Xxx's laundry |Monday, Thursday |

|Add water to wipes holder |Monday, Thursday |

|Vacuum playroom |Monday, Wednesday, Friday |

|Clean your bathroom |Every other week |

|Empty diaper pail |Tuesday, Thursday |

|Clean stroller |Friday |

|Food shopping for kid’s meals |Not Required |

|Wash your bed sheets and towels |Once a week |

Other Household Items to Know About

Housekeeper: Xxx is our housekeeper. She comes to our house every Wednesday afternoon for 3-4 hours. One week she cleans the first floor. The next week she cleans the second floor. She does not do laundry or change the beds. She does not clean the basement lounge. Xxx will clean your bathroom and will dust and vacuum your bedroom every two weeks. In between cleanings, you are responsible for keeping those rooms tidy.  You are also responsible for your bed and your own laundry.

You need to be home on Wednesdays at 12:45 to let Xxx in the house.

Lawn and Yard: We have a lawn mowing company come every Friday in the warm weather. The company name is Xxx Mowing Company.

Make sure the dog gates are closed after they leave.

Another company, Save-A-Lawn, comes every few weeks to fertilize the lawn and trees. There is nothing you need to do when the yard companies are here except to bring “DOG” inside. They never need to come inside the house.

Snow: In the winter, if it snows more than about 2 inches, Xxx will come to clear the driveway and the front walkway. You do not need to shovel any snow except to clear the doorway until they arrive.

Private Space vs. Shared Space

You are welcome to use the majority of the house. Some spaces are private spaces for Xxx and Xxx and you should not go in those rooms unless you are given permission to enter. This includes their bedroom and bathroom, and the office (when Xxx and Xxx are working).

We will always knock on your bedroom door and wait for you to answer before we enter. We expect you to do the same if you need us when the bedroom door is closed.

In the basement and attic we have stored many boxes of items for special occasions or holidays. Please do not disturb these items.

Your Bedroom

We have special items in your bedroom to make it a nice and comfortable space. The bed in your room was Xxx's bed as a child and it is very special. We hope for one of our children to use it one day. The chair belonged to Xxx's Grandparents and has special meaning to her. Please treat the items in the room with respect. If there is something that you would like to add to your room to make it feel more like home, please let us know and we will see if we can accommodate your request. If something in your room does not work properly, please let us know so we can repair it.

Your room also has a carpet, a dresser, a table, a bookcase, a nightstand, a lamp, a closet, a bulletin board for pictures and a telephone. Please never put holes in the walls to hang anything – we have special hooks for hanging things so the walls will not get damaged.

Appliances

|Appliance |Special instructions |

|Stove top |Press down on knob and turn to left. Keep pressing down until clicking stops and |

| |flame turns on. The center burner works the best. |

|Oven |Press Bake. Then set the temperature you need by using the up and down buttons. |

| |Once the proper temperature is listed, press Bake again to start the oven. The |

| |oven will beep when it is warmed up and ready to use. To turn off, press End. |

|Toaster-oven |You can use the toaster oven instead of the big oven to cook a small meal. Just |

| |turn the knob on the left to the needed temperature. Press down the right hand |

| |lever to make toast. |

|Coffee maker |We drink decaffeinated coffee. We have an extra coffee pot if you would like to |

| |make coffee with caffeine. Fill the glass carafe with cold water, pour into the |

| |top, put coffee grinds in a filter, and turn on. We keep the coffee in the |

| |refrigerator. |

|Microwave |Press amount of time to cook food, then press Start. To defrost something, press |

| |the amount of time to defrost, press “power level," press “5” then “start”. |

| |Always cover food with wax paper or a paper towel. |

|Dishwasher |Fill dish in door with soap (Cascade), close door, and press On/Off. We always |

| |use the “Normal” setting. Please do not put knives with black handles or wine |

| |glasses in the dishwasher – wash by hand instead. The soap is under the kitchen |

| |sink. Plastic spoons, bowls and bottles need to go in the top. Only use the |

| |special soap for the dishwasher or the kitchen will flood with bubbles! |

|Garbage disposal |The garbage disposal allows us to throw some foods down the drain rather than have|

| |to put the food in the garbage pail. There are two kitchen sinks. The disposal |

| |is located in the right sink - turn water on, press down on metal drain cap, then |

| |turn drain handle to the right for 5-10 seconds. Turn the handle back and turn off|

| |water. |

|Vacuum cleaner |The orange vacuum: Press the on (circle) button to turn on/off. A switch on the |

| |top of the long handle should be on for rugs and off for wood floors. |

|Baby monitor |Press the button on top of the monitor to turn main unit on/off in Xxx's room. |

| |The remote unit is rechargeable – put in cradle to recharge batteries as needed. |

| |Always turn monitor off when not needed. You can use the monitor in the yard. |

|Clothing Washer |Instructions are written inside the lid. Baby clothes should be washed separately |

| |from adult clothes. Use “All” detergent and the delicate cycle. Use the 2nd rinse|

| |for baby clothes. |

|Clothing Dryer |Regular temperature for most clothes; Low temperature for delicate clothes and for|

| |baby clothes. Turn right knob to Time Dry 30 minutes for most loads of laundry. |

| |Before using the dryer check the lint screen and be sure it is clean. |

|Shower |Top two knobs are for the shower. Bottom two knobs are for the tub. Please use the|

| |drain cover to catch hair so the drain does not get clogged. |

|Iron |Located in basement. Always unplug when finished. |

|Computer/printer |Press button on front center of Dell unit (on floor) to turn on computer. To use |

| |the internet, plug in the cable modem box next to the computer screen. Always |

| |unplug the cable modem unit when not online to prevent computer viruses. |

|Telephone |All (516) numbers: just dial the 7 digits for the number. All other area codes: |

| |dial 1, then area code (3 numbers), and then phone number (7 numbers). For |

| |example: 1-631-271-0379. All long distance and international calls should be |

| |made with your own phone card. |

|Answering machine |There is a new message if the light is blinking. Press the blinking button to |

| |listen. The answering machine is always on and will pick up after the phone rings|

| |4 times. |

|Security system |Alarm should always be put on if there will be no one at home. Close all doors and|

| |windows. On alarm panel in the kitchen press the following: xxxxx On/Off. |

| |The green light will become a red light. Then you have 60 seconds to leave. When |

| |you come home: if you hear a ringing noise when you open the door, the alarm is |

| |on. Go to the kitchen alarm panel, press: xxxxxx On/Off to turn off. We also turn |

| |the alarm on while we are sleeping. To turn on or off at night, go to the top of |

| |the stairs, and turn on/off like normal. If you set off the alarm by mistake, the |

| |alarm company will call the house. They will ask for your name and the secret |

| |password: xxxxxxxx. If you do not give the password, the police will come to the |

| |house. |

|Air Conditioning (Summer) |Use the control unit in the family room or upstairs by your bathroom to adjust the|

| |temperature up or down. Press the arrows to change the temperature. We have the |

| |temperature automatically set, so you should rarely need to adjust it. Do not |

| |open windows when the air conditioner is on. |

|Heat (Winter) |Use the thermostat in the living room to turn the heat up or down. We have the |

| |temperature automatically set, so you should rarely need to adjust it. Do not |

| |open windows when the heat is on. |

|Lights |Please try to turn off any lights that you do not need to help us save money on |

| |the electric costs. |

Curfews

While we wish to respect your privacy, we also feel responsible for you, and to your parents, for your safety at all times. We need to know where you are going and when you will be home whenever you are out for the evening. We understand that you may not be able to give us specifics on every occasion, but should an emergency occur, either with our family or with your family, we would like to be able to contact you.

On evenings when you are required to work the next morning, you will need to be in the house by 11:00 PM.

On evenings when you are NOT required to work the next morning, you will not have a specific curfew. Since you are an adult, we expect that you can make your own decisions about how late to stay out. We go to sleep around 11:00 PM. Please come in quietly so as not to disturb Xxx or us when it is late.

You are allowed to spend the night at your friends' homes, provided we know where you will be, have their phone number and that you have permission from their family to stay over.

You should always call us in case you are going to be late. We are concerned for your safety at all times. If you are in trouble or do not feel safe driving with the people you are with you can ALWAYS call us.

Smoking

We have a strict no smoking policy. No one, including guests, is permitted to smoke anywhere in the house or on our property. We do not want Xxx exposed to any smoke or ashes. If you have been to a party or nightclub where other people were smoking and your clothes smell like smoke, we request that you change clothes upon returning home.

Perfumes and Hair Dyes

We are very sensitive to perfumes and are allergic to many of them. Please do not wear perfume when you are watching Xxx. If you want to use perfume before you go out, please put it on outdoors. You will find that Americans tend to use fewer perfumes than Europeans. Even the soaps we use in our house are perfume-free.

If you color your hair, be aware that we do not allow hair dye that you do yourself in the house because it can easily damage something. Lemon Tree Salon on Main Street does hair color for a very good price, and we usually receive discount coupons in the mail from them every month.

Dating

We hope you will meet other people and make friends while you are in the US. Please be careful about meeting people for the first time, and be careful about taking rides in their cars until you know them well. Most people are trustworthy, but we want you to be careful.

You may have someone you are dating to the house when you are not working – once we have had a chance to meet that person. We cannot allow you to have that person stay overnight (see guest policy). We have set up a sitting room for you to comfortably visit and socialize with friends in the basement. There is to be no sexual activity in the house.

Alcohol

In the USA, you must be 21 to legally drink alcohol. Since you are 21, you may drink, as long as you do so responsibly. You may not consume any alcohol during working hours.

Xxx and Xxx have a wine collection. We will often offer you wine with dinner if we are having wine. Please do not open any of their wine bottles without permission. Many are expensive or are being saved for a special occasion.

Drugs

We have a strict no drugs policy. Any use or possession of drugs will be reason for your immediate removal from our home.

Vacation and Holiday Schedule

You are entitled to two weeks of paid vacation during your program year. Once you are settled in, we will discuss your vacation plans. Due to our work schedules, we need you to schedule your vacation time at a time that is mutually agreeable with us, as we will have to arrange other child care.

You should plan to take one week in the winter and one week in the summer.

There are some trips when we would like for you to join us. There will be other trips when we will not be able to invite you to join us because of the expense or lack of space.

Trips when you will have an option to join us: (list any trips that you may know of in advance here and detail what, if any, expenses she is responsible for, if the time will be considered work time/vacation time for her, etc.)

Visitors and Guests

Your family.

We will welcome your parents in our home if they decide to visit. If their plans include a longer vacation and you wish to join them, you should schedule their visit to coincide with the end of your year so that you can travel with them during your 13th month. They may stay in our home for up to one week. They may stay in the guest room. If their visit will be longer than one week, we will be unable to host them beyond the first week, and will assist you in finding a local hotel.

If we have a second child, we will no longer have a guest room available. In that case, we will be unable to host them in our home, but will assist you in finding a local hotel.

People you date.

We would love to meet your boy/girl friend, but we cannot offer them a place to stay in our home while they are here. Unless you plan to take vacation while they are visiting, we expect you to perform your normal duties. We will not allow your boy/girl friend to be in the home while you are on duty. Your boy/girl friend may visit with you while you are off duty, but they cannot stay overnight. Your boy/girl friend is not to be in your bedroom at any time; you may entertain him/her in the family room or basement lounge.

Friends – overnight.

We will allow your friends to visit and stay in our home for a period of one weekend per month when you are off. Due to visitors that we might have, and our need for relaxation and family time, we need to agree upon visitors and the dates of the visit in advance.  Once again, if we have a second child we will no longer have a guest room. Your overnight guest may stay in your room.

Friends – just visiting.

During your off time we encourage you to meet other Au Pairs and young people in the area. If you would like to have friends to the house to visit during your off-duty hours, there is no need for you to ask permission. We want you to feel comfortable having your friends come visit you. We request that you use the basement lounge in the evening, or the family room if we are not using it, so as not to disturb Xxx's sleeping. During the workweek, guests should leave by 11 PM when we go to sleep.

Telephone Usage

When you can use the phone. While on duty, we expect you to be involved with Xxx. You may use the telephone or Internet during naptime, but not while Xxx is awake and under your care. Before you make calls or use the computer, daily chores need to be complete.

While off duty, you are free to use the telephone to make your calls. We will inform you if we are expecting any telephone calls or if we need to use the telephone.

When you can receive calls. Please tell your friends and family that we would like them to call you between 8:00 AM and 10:00 PM. Calls after 10:00 PM should be limited to emergencies.

When to use your phone card. There are a number of areas near our home that you can call for free. You may make unlimited local phone calls, which includes all (248) area code numbers. In addition, you may feel free to call people living in the following area codes: (List area codes here) All of these area codes are free.

We have a map in back of the handbook with the list of local/regional area codes. These are the only ones that are “free.”

Any other phone calls, both within the US and international, should be made using your own long distance, pre-paid calling card. This way you can make any calls you wish at your expense. We found some calling card information online for very good prices and can give you that information to purchase discount calling cards.

Phone courtesy. We only have one phone line for the entire family and would ask that you keep your phone conversations to approximately 10-15 minutes while we are home and awake. We have 'call waiting' which signals that another person is trying to call. We will show you how this works.

Please do not give the house phone number out to strangers, even people that you meet for dates. Until we have had the chance to meet them, we would prefer that you take their number and call them, instead of giving our home phone number out. Always remind them not to call after 10 PM.

Answering the Phone: If you are busy with Xxx, you do not need to answer the phone. Messages will be taken by the answering machine. If you do pick up the phone, please leave any messages in a notebook next to the answering machine. If you prefer, you can ask the person to call back to leave a message on the answering machine. Many calls are from telemarketers (sales people) – do not give them any information about us or about yourself for personal security reasons.

Computer/Internet

Computer use. If you would like to use email, we can help you create your own private email address. Yahoo () and hotmail () are both free. Do not subscribe to any inappropriate websites that may be sending responses or solicitations back to our own home email addresses.

Use caution with what information you share in chat rooms. Never give out any information about our home address and phone number, or any of our names. We would like to ensure the safety of all of our family members including you. Unfortunately, there are many people online who cannot be trusted and try to steal information about other people.

While off duty you are free to use the computer for any amount of time, as long as we do not need to use it ourselves.

We cannot allow you to download any software or programs onto our computer without checking with us first. We have important work documents on our computer and need to protect it from viruses. 

The local Library has free computer access. If there is something you want to download the library is the best place to do it.

Educational Credits

Au pairs are required by the U.S. Department of State to enroll in an accredited post-secondary institution for not less than six hours of academic credit or its equivalent.

We understand that we must give you money toward fulfilling this requirement, including textbooks. The host family is required to pay up to but not more than $500.

Every Au Pair must register and attend classes offered by an accredited U.S. post secondary institution for not less than six semester hours of academic credit or it’s equivalent Preapproval for schools can be given from the corporate office.  Au Pairs must simply submit the Education Preapproval Request Form provided in the Welcome Packet. Standard Au Pairs must complete 6 credit hours and EduCare Au Pairs must complete 12 credits.  72 classroom hours equate to 6 credit hours.

An Au Pair may complete any course she or he wishes; it does not have to be an English language class.  If an Au Pair attended a class and tried to complete it but received a failing grade, Go Au Pair can still accept the credit.  If the Au Pair failed because she did not attend class, Go Au Pair will not be able to accept it.

In an effort to facilitate this part of your year here in the U.S., we have located some institutions that are nearby that meet these requirements. The following colleges offer special classes for Au Pairs in the Philadelphia and NJ area

Bucks County Community College, Newtown,  PA

Burlington County College, Pemberton, NJ

Butler County Community College, Butler

Camden County College, Different Campuses, NJ

Community College of Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Delaware County Community College, Media

Delaware Technical & Community College, Philadelphia

Harcum College, Bryn Mawr

Lehigh Carbon Community College, Schnecksville

Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell

Moore College of Art and Design, Philadelphia

Northampton Community College, Bethlehem

Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia

Raritan Valley Community College in North Branch, NJ

Rosemont College, Rosemont

Temple University, Philadelphia

Villanova University, Villanova

Wilmington University, Wilmington, DE

The Department of State no longer approves schools such as CW Post in Long Island, New York or College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY (both 3 day courses that fulfill all educational requirements) for all Au Pairs.  The school needs to be within driving distance for an Au Pair to go so it is considered a local course, otherwise it is considered a “travel” or “weekend” course, which the Department of State does not accept.

Those Au Pairs wanting to extend must complete their educational requirement by their 10th month.

Educational institutions must be accredited by approved accrediting agencies to be acceptable. The Dept. of Education has a list of approved accrediting agencies on their website.  If you are unsure or have questions, please do not hesitate to contact Go Au Pair corporate office.

Each “host family participant agrees to facilitate the enrollment and attendance of the  Au Pair and to pay the cost of such academic course work in an amount not to exceed $500.00.” Families are also responsible for providing transportation to and from the courses.

Other classes – Just for fun! The local high school and the local library offer a wide variety of classes that you can take. Some are free and some are for a small cost. These classes are open to anyone living in Port Washington, so there are many adults in the classes. Topics include English, computers, sports and exercise, cooking, and art. These classes cannot count toward your au pair requirement – they are just for fun. Many local au pairs take these classes together.

Car Policy

Below you will find the Xxx-Xxx's car policies regarding what your schedule and responsibilities will include.

Your responsibilities with Xxx do not require a car for transportation. Everything you need to do with him is within walking distance of the house.

We are uncomfortable letting other people drive our car. We will make sure that we arrange transportation to and from classes and to and from all of the au pair monthly meetings.

There are many stores, shopping centers, churches and schools in the area. Unfortunately, our public transportation system is not as good as it is in large cities. You will either need a car to drive, share a ride with a friend, or you can use the Bus System (SMART). Bus Schedules, fees, and bus stop locations are on line at

If you ever need a taxi in (city) during your free time, call (list taxi company). You can pay cash. A 15% tip is customary in the US.

Directions/Addresses

To pediatrician: Dr. Xxx. Address: (enter address) . Phone:248-xxx-xxx.

To grocery store:

To playground:

To hospital:

To home from road/highway (for emergency):

To bus/train:

To post office:

To movie theatre:

To restaurants:

To library:

To hair salon:

To bank:

Interesting Facts About Us

| |Xxx |Xxx |

|Birthday |xxxx |xxxx |

|Favorite color | | |

|Birthplace |xxxx |xxxx |

|Siblings |xxxx |xxxx |

|Favorite TV show | | |

|Favorite foods | | |

|Favorite music group(s) | | |

|Favorite city to visit | | |

|Favorite country to visit | | |

|Favorite holiday | | |

|Hobbies | | |

|Profession | | |

|University attended | | |

|College major | | |

|Favorite flower | | |

|Favorite ice cream | | |

|Favorite candy | | |

|Favorite author | | |

|Favorite movie | | |

|Favorite sport | | |

|Favorite store | | |

|Countries want to visit (never | | |

|visited) | | |

|Yucky foods | | |

|Yucky music | | |

|Pet peeves | | |

|Other things | | |

Helpful Phone Numbers

Dial the phone number exactly as you see it printed here.

Home: (248) xxx-xxx

Xxx’s Office: ( )

Xxx’s Cell Phone: ( )

Xxx’s Office: ( )

Xxx’s Cell Phone: ( )

Mr. & Mrs. Xxx Home: ( )

Mrs. Xxx Cell: ( )

Mr. Xxx Cell: ( )

Jacqueline Xxx Cell: ( )

Lisa Greenberg, LLC : ( )

Xxx’s Doctor, Dr. Xxx: ( )

Veterinarian (“DOG”’s doctor): ( )

Emergency (Ambulance, Police, Fire): 911

Your Doctor / Medical Information

goAUPAIR provides you with a basic health insurance plan in case you get sick or need medical attention. At the au pair training you will receive an insurance card and packet from CareMed Health Insurance.

If you need medicine from the pharmacy, you will have to pay for the medicine when you pick it up. Save the receipt, complete a claim form and mail it to CareMed following the process in the booklet.

Celsius to Fahrenheit Conversion Chart

°C °F °C °F °C °F °C °F

50 122.0 27 80.6 4 39.2 -19 -2.2

49 120.2 26 78.8 3 37.4 -20 -4.0

48 118.4 25 77.0 2 35.6 -21 -5.8

47 116.6 24 75.2 1 33.8 -22 -7.6

46 114.8 23 73.4 0 32.0 -23 -9.4

45 113.0 22 71.6 -1 30.2 -24 -11.2

44 111.2 21 69.8 -2 28.4 -25 -13.0

43 109.4 20 68.0 -3 26.6 -26 -14.8

42 107.6 19 66.2 -4 24.8 -27 -16.6

41 105.8 18 64.4 -5 23.0 -28 -18.4

40 104.0 17 62.6 -6 21.2 -29 -20.2

39 102.2 16 60.8 -7 19.4 -30 -22.0

38 100.4 15 59.0 -8 17.6 -31 -23.8

37 98.6 14 57.2 -9 15.8 -32 -25.6

36 96.8 13 55.4 -10 14.0 -33 -27.4

35 95.0 12 53.6 -11 12.2 -34 -29.2

34 93.2 11 51.8 -12 10.4 -35 -31.0

33 91.4 10 50.0 -13 8.6 -36 -32.8

32 89.6 9 48.2 -14 6.8 -37 -34.6

31 87.8 8 46.4 -15 5.0 -38 -36.4

30 86.0 7 44.6 -16 3.2 -39 -38.2

29 84.2 6 42.8 -17 1.4 -40 -40.0

28 82.4 5 41.0 -18 -0.4

Metric Conversions

Dry Volume Measurements

1/8 teaspoon = 0.5 mL

1/4 teaspoon = 1 mL

1/2 teaspoon = 2 mL

3/4 teaspoon = 4 mL

1 teaspoon = 5 mL

1 tablespoon = 15 mL

2 tablespoons = 30 mL

1/4 cup = 60 mL

1/3 cup = 75 mL

1/2 cup = 125 mL

2/3 cup = 150 mL

3/4 cup = 175 mL

1 cup = 250 mL

2 cups = 1 pint = 500 mL

3 cups = 750 mL

4 cups = 1 quart = 1 L

Fluid Volume Measurements

1 fluid ounce = 30 mL

2 tablespoons = 30 mL

4 fluid ounces = 125 mL

1/2 cup = 125 mL

8 fluid ounces = 250 mL

1 cup = 250 mL

12 fluid ounces = 375 mL

1 1/2 cups = 375 mL

16 fluid ounces = 500 mL

2 cups = 500 mL

Dimensions

1/16 inch = 2 mm

1/8 inch = 3 mm

1/4 inch = 6 mm

1/2 inch = 1.5 cm

3/4 inch = 2 cm

1 inch = 2.5 cm

Weights

1/2 ounce = 15 g

1 ounce = 30 g

3 ounces = 90 g

4 ounces = 120 g

8 ounces = 225 g

10 ounces = 285 g

12 ounces = 360 g

16 ounces=1 pound=450 g

Emergency Information

In Michigan, there are four seasons. Along with the changing seasons, it can impact our weather. You need to review this section completely and understand it, as there may be a time in which you could be home alone or home with our children when one of these situations may occur.

Emergency Kit.

Our family emergency kit is kept at the bottom of our basement stairs on the shelves, in a large green camouflage backpack. Our kit includes batteries, a radio, a hand crank lantern, flashlight, first aid kit, whistle, hand sanitizer, baby wipes, a list of medications, and a list of contact names & phone numbers.

In the case of a home fire, it is important to know that you and the kids should get out of the house immediately, and go to the house across the street to contact the fire department.

Tornadoes

During the spring and summer seasons, we occasionally have tornadoes.

It is important to listen to the news on the radio or television (channels 2, 4, 7 or the weather channel).

A tornado watch means a tornado is possible in your area.

A tornado warning is when a tornado is actually occurring, take shelter immediately. When there is a tornado warning, a siren will sound outside. Take shelter immediately in the basement.

Customize this section with the information needed for your local area. Go to and copy the information needed for those weather related emergencies that may affect your local area.

Other sections from this site that are helpful include Blackouts, Extreme Heat, Food Safety in an emergency, and Fires.

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Oven Temperatures

250º F = 120º C

275º F = 140º C

300º F = 150º C

325º F = 160º C

350º F = 180º C

375º F = 190º C

400º F = 200º C

425º F = 220º C

450º F = 230º C

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