Akiko Imairi | Finding a Japanese au pair

Planning a Japan trip for summer 2017

It’s still February, but I started planning my trip to Japan for summer 2017. As a fact, sometimes, hotel rooms are already full depending on the days. I figure taking a trip to Japan has been gaining popularity.

My trip is for sure for my business, and I am planning to organize several au pair seminars in several cities such as Tokyo and Osaka every year. But this trip also serves an important role for my daughter’s education. My daughter, who is bilingual in Japanese and English, enrolls Japanese elementary school in my hometown of Japan every summer for four weeks or so. This short four-week schooling in Japan plays such an important role to keep up her Japanese speaking ability, and also for her to understand and experience the Japanese culture.

At many of Japanese elementary schools, students clean up their classrooms by themselves. They also serve the lunch food that was prepared at their school kitchen. These are all considered as part of education.

Now living in the US as a Japanese national, I am proud of the Japanese school’s cleaning and serving food education. Even my daughter who was born in the US likes the cleaning time. Of course, she loves Japanese lunch time, called KYUSHOKU, hot and balanced food.

You may impress with the following video posted by AJ+

Valentines??

Valentine’s Day is approaching. If you have school-aged children, it means you will have to prepare valentines for the number of students in your child’s class. I remember I was so panicked and didn’t know what to do when I receive an e-mail from my child’s teacher asking to prepare valentines.

Valentines are small message cards to exchange with students at Valentine’s Day party. I learned we can buy the cards at stores everywhere in the U.S. It is common in the U.S. but absolutely not common in Japan!

If you have Japanese au pairs, please tell them what the Valentines are. Even though you can easily buy the cards, it may be a good project for the au pair and your children to make some Asian or Japanese style cards by using Origami papers. In the past few years, I did make some cards with Origami, and children loved it. Have your Japanese au pair use her creativity to make something unique.

Do not forget to make the BOX to put the valentines cards decorating with Origami papers!

It will be fun!
Happy Valentine’s Day!

Valentines_Day

Busy season has began for au pair matching

I know it is just January, and normally, for au pair matching, it should be still quiet and slow. BUT this year is definitely different.
I see multiple host families seeking Japanese au pairs and started searching their au pairs.
So, if you would like to have an au pair for summer this year, it is not too early. It may be a good idea to start reviewing au pairs’ profiles.

As a fact, several of my au pairs who completed their applications are hoping to arrive in the USA in summer 2017. The earlier, the better for sure.

At the same time, I do also have au pairs who are ready to arrive to the US immediately.

I would say this year, I have more variety compare to previous years in terms of au pairs’ experiences. It is truly interesting. I have, of course, preschool or kindergarten teachers with few years of experiences. I have repeat au pairs who decided to try again. I have nurses who have been taking care of children as well. Don’t forget! I have male au pairs. Our male au pairs like cooking, friendly, and love sports. If you have boys, a male au pair may be something to think about.

We will do our best to have our au pairs complete their applications and place their profiles ready as quickly as we can. We are also planning to have an au pair seminar in March in Tokyo.

We are looking forward to sending more au pairs this year!

If you are thinking about welcoming a Japanese au pair to your family, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Happy New Year!

The new year has started. In 2017, we are hoping to send more Japanese au pairs to the United states.

I am working on new applications now. In shortly, you will see their profiles.

Au Pair Seminar in Tokyo will be scheduled in March 2017.

We are organizing a seminar for Japanese applicants to provide practical knowledge on how to become an au pair in the US, as well as conducing in-person interviews for those who would like to finish their au pair applications.

If you are looking for an au pair from Summer 2017, we will increase more applications by conducting the seminar in March, so that those applicants can match with you and come for summer 2017.

I will keep you posted!

Prospective_AuPair_USA

Happy Holidays!

This holiday season, I received several messages from Japanese au pairs who are already in the United States as an au pair. It has been few months since they arrived to the U.S., and this is their first Christmas and holiday season in the country.

Some local coordinator have her au pairs participate in a volunteer activity during this holiday season to learn the holiday spirit, giving something back. This is an excellent time for au pris to learn more about the U.S. culture.

During the holiday season, many of au pairs will take their vacation and travel other cities to explore America. It is great feeling that my au pairs who used to be bit concerned about coming to the U.S. now enjoying their time in this country.

I thank their host families providing great opportunities to au pairs.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday season.

Happy Holidays!

Learning a cultural difference from holiday gifts

Kids are going to winter break soon. Parents are busy preparing for holiday gifts to teachers. I am trying to give something Japanese to teachers so that they can remember my daughter (smile).

In Japan, giving gifts to teachers are NO. Absolutely, no. Because teachers are considered as public servants. We can write a letter, but that’s all about it.

Here, we generally give gift cards, some small items, but giving something means showing our appreciation to teachers.

Japanese au pairs currently in the U.S. must be learning a lot during this holiday season. Please share your thoughts with your au pairs.

Chiaki is looking for an excellent host family like you!

Chiaki, 26 years old Japanese au pair is hoping to have a host family who is living in the Southern areas or Eastern side of the United States, such as New York, New Jersey, Boston, North Carolina, Washington D.C. area, Maryland, Virginia, Atlanta. If you would like to have an au pair immediately, and living in the areas that I mentioned, please contact us.

Chiaki has already experienced a year abroad in Australia and did au pair there. She is seeking another au pair experience, this time, in the United States.

She is cheerful, active, and with over 5000 hours of childcare experience including infant care.

If you are interested in speaking with Chiaki, please do not hesitate to contact us.

161020_chiaki

Holiday season is the time to find your Japanese au pair!

In less than two weeks, kids are going to the exciting winter break. It may be another two weeks of LONG break for parents.
But, spending time with children is great. Hope you will enjoy this holiday season with your family.

Now, this is time for you to review a variety of excellent Japanese au pairs. We worked hard to help assist Japanese au pairs complete their applications.
Since kids are in the winter break, they could join your au pair search and have them talk with prospective au pairs via Skype. Kids know who is the best fit for them.

If you have any questions about Japanese au pairs, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Below link is our currently available Japanese au pairs.

https://usa.aupairjapanese.com/currently-available-japanese-au-pairs/

Au Pair search is slowing down?

The year 2016 is ending soon, and we are going to have several holidays. During the holidays, matching activities are slowing down. We would like to stay relaxed and may be tend to push back any decision related big issues until the new year.

BUT, it may be a good idea to start your au pair search now. Many of our Japanese au pairs who have prepared their application ready are people who planned early. By starting your matching process early, you will be able to speak with the currently available au pairs who are dedicated and well qualified.

Many of Japanese au pairs’ desired arrival time is Spring 2017 or later. So it is absolutely not too early to start looking at profiles of currently available au pairs.

Below link is for currently available Japanese au pairs and more to come.

If you have any questions about the au pairs, please feel free to contact us.

Currently Available Japanese Au Pairs for USA

Received “Dedication to Cultural Exchange Award”!!

InterExchange Au Pair USA’s annual conference finished and I am back to Texas. The conference was successful and we received many updates about next year’s au pair process.

During the conference, my company received Dedication to Cultural Exchange Award by InterExchange.

This recognition is very important for us.

We have increased the number of Japanese au pairs over the years, at the same time, we have been trying to improve the quality of our au pairs.

We believe the au pair program is great for young people in the world who are dreaming to see America. This program has been giving them an opportunities to see America and having them gain experiences for their future career in their own countries upon finishing the program.

We will continue working hard to promote the au pair program to Japanese nationals and promise to send excellent au pairs to you.

Thank you!