Professional Au Pairs Experience the California Dream during APEX 8th Annual Surf Outing
Posted on Tuesday, January 17th, 2017 at 11:08 pm.
By Heidi Mispagel, Executive Vice President, APEX PROaupair
A version of this story was originally published on PROaupair.
Four professional au pairs with surfboards (left to right): Marina Da, Julia Hinderhofer, Saskia Derkow (all from Germany), and Eva Spielbichler (from Austria), professional au pairs with APEX PROaupair
For many exchange visitors in the au pair program, California beach culture epitomizes the American dream – warm sunshine, sandy beaches, tall palm trees and talented surfers.
In December, APEX PROaupair held its 8th annual Surf Outing. Eighty-three professional au pairs living with host families all across the U.S. joined 14 staff members from the U.S. and Germany for a weekend of sunshine, surfing and “California dreaming” in San Clemente, California.
The goal of the weekend was twofold – first, to gather our professional au pairs, both newly arrived and program veterans, to provide them an opportunity to connect and share their program experiences with each other and our team. Second, it’s a chance for them to experience California beach culture first hand.
APEX PROaupair professional au pairs gather in San Clemente, California for the 8th annual Surf Outing weekend.
“I carpooled with 6 other girls to the Surf Outing and we had an awesome road trip down there,” said Nina, an au pair from Germany. “I met great new friends! It was exciting to connect with so many other professional au pairs while getting to know their host family’s ‘stories.’ My favorite day was arrival day, because we went for a swim, met so many others, and lit a bonfire in the evening!”
On our first night together, we met at the San Clemente Pier fire pits to have dinner on the beach and watch the sunset. The highlight of the evening was making a bonfire and showing the au pairs how to make S’mores – a first for almost everyone there.
Rocky McKinnon, professional surfer, with a child with special needs.
On Saturday we gathered at the beach and the San Clemente Surf School provided us with an introduction to surfing. Everyone had a chance to don a wetsuit, grab a surfboard, and get into the water. The instructors helped everyone to ride (or attempting to ride) the waves. Later that evening, we enjoyed a sunset dinner and group conversation about the program and au pair experiences.
Early Sunday morning, some of the au pairs returned to the beach for another surf lesson – surfing for special needs. Since 70% of our professional au pairs work with children with special needs, we arranged for Rocky McKinnon, a professional surfer who has spent the past 10 years taking kids in the special needs community out surfing, to give the au pairs instruction on adaptive surfing, which includes either tandem surfing or surfing in a specially-designed “chair board.”
“The most memorable ‘American’ part of the weekend was surfing in the sun – 70 degrees in November!” said Julia, another au pair from Germany. “As a German, it is completely unimaginable to lie on the beach at that time of the year and yet that is what California stands for. I cannot think of something more American!”
Two professional au pairs with Michael Jackson’s Hollywood star: Annika Gabbert and Michaela Hernández, professional au pairs from Germany.
As the grand finale of the weekend, we boarded a bus for a daylong Los Angeles and Hollywood tour on Sunday after breakfast. Highlights included a visit to the Disney Concert hall, Rodeo Drive and the LA Farmer’s Market, where the au pairs stopped for lunch and a little shopping. One of the most photographed stops was the Walk of Fame, where our au pairs (and some staff!) ran around looking for, and posing with, the stars of their favorite Hollywood actors.
By the time the sun set on the last day of the long weekend, most of the au pairs were on their way back to their host families. The Surf Outing weekend provided our professional au pairs the chance to experience a unique aspect of American culture, while it also re-energized and inspired our staff, reminding us all of why we are a part of the J-1 au pair program.
“Before I came to the US, I was aware of the beach culture and Christmas on the beach, but I couldn’t fathom how that must feel,” said Julia. “After having spent a year in California, I still think Christmas and winter without snow is strange, but I understand a lot better how life is when it’s never cold, and that it is indeed possible to go to the beach the entire year.”
Categories: Program Spotlight
| About Rebecca Pasini Deputy Assistant Secretary for Private Sector Exchange | |
|
Rebecca A. Pasini joined the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Private Sector Exchanges in July 2023. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister - Counselor, Ms. Pasini has been an American diplomat since 1997.
Ms. Pasini previously served as the Director of Public and Congressional Affairs in the Bureau of Consular Affairs from 2021-2023. Other Washington assignments have included positions in the Bureau of Consular Affairs, the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, the Office of Foreign Missions, and as a liaison to the Department of Homeland Security. She has also completed multiple overseas tours, including as Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs in Islamabad, Pakistan, and as the Consular Chief in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Belfast, Northern Ireland. Other tours included Mexico City and Kuwait.
A Maryland native, Ms. Pasini has a Ph.D. in Political Science from Indiana University, a master’s degree in National Security and Resource Strategy from the Eisenhower School, National Defense University, and an undergraduate degree from Mary Washington College.
Categories
Flickr
 View more photos |