"Dear host family,
My name is Laura and I’m 19 years old. I live in South of Brazil. I was born in a big city called Porto Alegre, but since I was a kid I live in a small town called Garopaba. I like this place because it has a lot of beaches and it is surrounded by nature, waterfalls, hills, and we have a great beach to practice surf, that’s Silveira’s beach. On the other hand, I feel lack of many cultural and artistic things that are only available in big cities, such as theaters, museums, movies, concerts, etc. In addition, I think that the people who live in big cities, turns around in a world much more dynamic and varied. But an advantage from here is the tranquility, since we don’t have violence and everyone knows each other.
I live with my parents and my older brother. My mother is Psychologist but now she runs one of our bookstores in Garopaba and my father runs the other one in Florianopolis, which is a city 1-2 hours distant from here. So my dad comes only on the weekends, and also my brother, because he studies at the University of Florianopolis as well. We are the part of the family that lives in the beach, so every year, regularly, many of our relatives come join the summer with us, at least a little because it is the time of the year that we have more work to do.
Before I start my course at Florianopolis University, my schedule was helping my parents in our bookstore, and helping them at home keeping it clean and organized. Now every day I have to wake up at 4:30am and take a bus of 2 hours to my University and I arrive at home sometimes at 2pm sometimes at 8pm. It is very hard but when we enjoy a course, its worth. However it will be just for half of a year, because when I return of USA I intend to live nearly to the University.
I was planning to go to the U.S. at March, but fortunately I was accepted for university entrance! So, for not lose my place there, I decided to travel from middle December.
My presentation video is now a little bit old, has been almost one year ago that I made it. But I left in the web site because it shows many of my experiences with children. Maybe I can make a new one, to show something more recently for your family, if you like.
I’m non-religious but I came from a Jewish family, and I respect and also I admire my Jewish folk. Last year (2009) I joined a program called Taglit, which takes Jews to know Israel for ten days. It was amazing. To know and to be in places those are so important in the history of the humanity. I enjoyed very much.
Before, I used to be with children at least on the weekends, but in the last years, since I want to be an Au Pair, it is happening almost every day, as a baby sitter or by working voluntarily teaching English to kids in a small community. I will continuous to make more hours until my departure to USA, that’s because I’m very into the children I take care: João, Scheila, Maria Luiza, Kira… You can see them in my photos. I’m used to care them on my own, doing all they need, from waking up until going to bed, like dressing up, changing diapers and helping in the bathroom (poty training), giving the meal, giving a shower, etc. When we have good weather, I like to take them to do outdoor activities, like go to the beach or playgrounds, we use to make beautiful castles in the sand and play in the water, ball games, kite and much more… Inside house we use to make draws, paint, colour, read books, invent costumes and toys, play games, etc. I’m always trying to make new games, jokes and activities that will stimulate their capacities and make them have a lot of fun.
I think the first thing the children need is to be loved and raised with affection. If the children feel loved, its feel’s trust and all other teaching can be done. I think also that we have to encourage the reading and all activities that stimulate the capacity of the kids, like sports and games as well, also to be with friends among other things.
Soon the children like and attach to me. I think it’s because I give much of attention to them, I’m interested in what they say and I used to talk very much with them. I’m also used to be as playful as I can and I feel great with myself doing it, I have great times with them.
I think kids like me because of the way I deal with them, as a friend and not only as an adult responsible. (I don’t deal with them just like a cute person, but like a young person that should and like to be listened and taken seriously, not like I little one that is not considered.)
I think I can have a great relationship with the whole family, because I’m flexible and organized in all that I do. I’m concerned about watching around and seeing what I can do to help everyone in any kind of possibility. I can say that I’m very responsible and reliable; I’m usually to be more concerned about anyone around me than myself, and of course, even more with young kids. I guess it’s like an instinct.
I got my drives licenses one year ago, but I can say I am already a good driver, I am very careful and I've practiced a lot before I took my licenses. I think I won’t have any problem to drive with children in the car, because I used to do this with children I take care in Brazil.
In free times I love to read books, when I start it is difficult to stop, when I like a book I can keep all night long reading. I also love to make special and delicious recipes, “I’m the cooker her in my house”, I use to make the lunch for my family and I use to cook in special dates. I love express myself in art, making a draw or writing. In good weather I like to ride in a bike, also go to the beach and walk, play tennis, swim, as well saunter with friends. I like to go to the movie and occasionally to the mall. Some months ago I was part in the official dance company of my city, I really love to dance, ballet, jazz and free style. We used to travel a lot to other states because of that, and I miss it. I stopped because I needed to study for the test to join the university and I can’t travel any more.
I study Psychologist at University. I love to observe the human behavior, especially children behavior, and I think I have a good capacity to interpret and analyze their behavior. That’s another thing I think that helps me when I relate with children, because I think that always can have a better way to take, care and teach.
I ‘m very happy to get the opportunity to participate this program, It will be very great to have a fluent English (here in Brazil is much valuable have a optimum English), and just to be in other culture, learning a lot and having to adapted myself, knowing many places and people, exchanging experiences, studying in a College or University and learn much in all aspects, working with American children, that I am sure will teach me so much, to have this experience certainly will change my life and the way I see the world around me. I hope it will be one of the best years of my life!
I hope that this year, being an Au Pair with your family, will be a great year for all of us, so before the match, I’d like to write and speak quite a lot with you, for us to get to know each other, and get certain of our possible decision, I think in this way, we won’t be any surprise after. Don’t you agree?
I hope you enjoy my letter,
I’m anxious to get news and learn more about your whole family.
I will wait for your contact,
Sincerely,
Laura R."
My name is Laura and I’m 19 years old. I live in South of Brazil. I was born in a big city called Porto Alegre, but since I was a kid I live in a small town called Garopaba. I like this place because it has a lot of beaches and it is surrounded by nature, waterfalls, hills, and we have a great beach to practice surf, that’s Silveira’s beach. On the other hand, I feel lack of many cultural and artistic things that are only available in big cities, such as theaters, museums, movies, concerts, etc. In addition, I think that the people who live in big cities, turns around in a world much more dynamic and varied. But an advantage from here is the tranquility, since we don’t have violence and everyone knows each other.
I live with my parents and my older brother. My mother is Psychologist but now she runs one of our bookstores in Garopaba and my father runs the other one in Florianopolis, which is a city 1-2 hours distant from here. So my dad comes only on the weekends, and also my brother, because he studies at the University of Florianopolis as well. We are the part of the family that lives in the beach, so every year, regularly, many of our relatives come join the summer with us, at least a little because it is the time of the year that we have more work to do.
Before I start my course at Florianopolis University, my schedule was helping my parents in our bookstore, and helping them at home keeping it clean and organized. Now every day I have to wake up at 4:30am and take a bus of 2 hours to my University and I arrive at home sometimes at 2pm sometimes at 8pm. It is very hard but when we enjoy a course, its worth. However it will be just for half of a year, because when I return of USA I intend to live nearly to the University.
I was planning to go to the U.S. at March, but fortunately I was accepted for university entrance! So, for not lose my place there, I decided to travel from middle December.
My presentation video is now a little bit old, has been almost one year ago that I made it. But I left in the web site because it shows many of my experiences with children. Maybe I can make a new one, to show something more recently for your family, if you like.
I’m non-religious but I came from a Jewish family, and I respect and also I admire my Jewish folk. Last year (2009) I joined a program called Taglit, which takes Jews to know Israel for ten days. It was amazing. To know and to be in places those are so important in the history of the humanity. I enjoyed very much.
Before, I used to be with children at least on the weekends, but in the last years, since I want to be an Au Pair, it is happening almost every day, as a baby sitter or by working voluntarily teaching English to kids in a small community. I will continuous to make more hours until my departure to USA, that’s because I’m very into the children I take care: João, Scheila, Maria Luiza, Kira… You can see them in my photos. I’m used to care them on my own, doing all they need, from waking up until going to bed, like dressing up, changing diapers and helping in the bathroom (poty training), giving the meal, giving a shower, etc. When we have good weather, I like to take them to do outdoor activities, like go to the beach or playgrounds, we use to make beautiful castles in the sand and play in the water, ball games, kite and much more… Inside house we use to make draws, paint, colour, read books, invent costumes and toys, play games, etc. I’m always trying to make new games, jokes and activities that will stimulate their capacities and make them have a lot of fun.
I think the first thing the children need is to be loved and raised with affection. If the children feel loved, its feel’s trust and all other teaching can be done. I think also that we have to encourage the reading and all activities that stimulate the capacity of the kids, like sports and games as well, also to be with friends among other things.
Soon the children like and attach to me. I think it’s because I give much of attention to them, I’m interested in what they say and I used to talk very much with them. I’m also used to be as playful as I can and I feel great with myself doing it, I have great times with them.
I think kids like me because of the way I deal with them, as a friend and not only as an adult responsible. (I don’t deal with them just like a cute person, but like a young person that should and like to be listened and taken seriously, not like I little one that is not considered.)
I think I can have a great relationship with the whole family, because I’m flexible and organized in all that I do. I’m concerned about watching around and seeing what I can do to help everyone in any kind of possibility. I can say that I’m very responsible and reliable; I’m usually to be more concerned about anyone around me than myself, and of course, even more with young kids. I guess it’s like an instinct.
I got my drives licenses one year ago, but I can say I am already a good driver, I am very careful and I've practiced a lot before I took my licenses. I think I won’t have any problem to drive with children in the car, because I used to do this with children I take care in Brazil.
In free times I love to read books, when I start it is difficult to stop, when I like a book I can keep all night long reading. I also love to make special and delicious recipes, “I’m the cooker her in my house”, I use to make the lunch for my family and I use to cook in special dates. I love express myself in art, making a draw or writing. In good weather I like to ride in a bike, also go to the beach and walk, play tennis, swim, as well saunter with friends. I like to go to the movie and occasionally to the mall. Some months ago I was part in the official dance company of my city, I really love to dance, ballet, jazz and free style. We used to travel a lot to other states because of that, and I miss it. I stopped because I needed to study for the test to join the university and I can’t travel any more.
I study Psychologist at University. I love to observe the human behavior, especially children behavior, and I think I have a good capacity to interpret and analyze their behavior. That’s another thing I think that helps me when I relate with children, because I think that always can have a better way to take, care and teach.
I ‘m very happy to get the opportunity to participate this program, It will be very great to have a fluent English (here in Brazil is much valuable have a optimum English), and just to be in other culture, learning a lot and having to adapted myself, knowing many places and people, exchanging experiences, studying in a College or University and learn much in all aspects, working with American children, that I am sure will teach me so much, to have this experience certainly will change my life and the way I see the world around me. I hope it will be one of the best years of my life!
I hope that this year, being an Au Pair with your family, will be a great year for all of us, so before the match, I’d like to write and speak quite a lot with you, for us to get to know each other, and get certain of our possible decision, I think in this way, we won’t be any surprise after. Don’t you agree?
I hope you enjoy my letter,
I’m anxious to get news and learn more about your whole family.
I will wait for your contact,
Sincerely,
Laura R."
