Au Pairs have been visiting American classrooms for
two years now as part of the Global Awareness, Meet Your Global Neighbor program. They
take this time to share their countries and cultures with young children and expose them to worlds that though different are
also so alike. Following are some quotes from au pairs which summarize their experiences.
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“It was a great experience….The kids from both 3rd Grade classes were very interested in all things….They
were very good informed for example that Germany now has old and new states. It surprised me. Sometimes it was also kind of
difficult for me to think for an answer. But in the end it was only awesome!”
Pauline from Germany
“Our morning at the Academy school went well.
The kids were very prepared with their questions, and I was able to answer most easily (some I stumbled on... oops!!).
The teachers were very nice and helpful, everyone was very friendly to us and that was nice. It was even neat to hear
about what the other APs said about their countries, the kids asked them some questions that I had never thought to ask- I
actually learned lots
I would definitely recommend this
to future au pairs and your future clusters; I think it was a neat experience, especially to go into an American school.”
Kelsey from Canada
"For me going to an American school and presenting my home
country, South Africa, was a privilege and an honor. I represented South Africa. I think that the children found
it very interesting to hear about another country. It was great to see them come inside the room, presenting their 'passports',
getting it stamped with a sticker of South Africa, receiving a brochure of South Africa, seeing a video about South Africa
and receiving some insight information about South Africa; the people, the culture and the land itself. I know that
there was a lot of information to be taken in by the children. "Visiting" four or five countries at the "Around the
World Day" was a lot, but somewhere one thing of every country got into their brains. Hopefully that fact or story will
be with them all their lives and maybe make a difference in their outlook in life.
Thank you for inviting me and having me share my country, life, memories and again
my love for my country with you. I'm far away from home in a different country, but that day I felt a little bit
closer to my own home country. Thank you again for that privilige.
Helena Koegelenberg, from South Africa.
