New Mexico - Au Pair in America

State Information

Au Pair in America in New Mexico

Regional Update | Driving in New Mexico | Education in New Mexico

Regional Update

Regional Presence
Au Pair in America has 16 Community Counselors in an 8 state area, Arizona, Colorado, California, Oregon, Nevada, New Mexico, Washington and Hawaii. The clusters vary in size serving more than 260 families throughout the region. The Western United States provide a truly unique experience for Au Pairs. Everything from deserts to mountain ranges to South Pacific beaches make up the geography of the West! This Region is also home to the Island of Hawaii, the Rocky Mountains, the Grand Canyon, the vineyards and beaches of California, the Pacific Northwest, the natural scenic beauty of Oregon and its coastline and the desert lands of Arizona and New Mexico and the incredible sights of Las Vegas.

Quarterly Message
July 2010
In this quarter the Portland Cluster had their annual service project, serving dinner at the Ronald McDonald house. Au Pairs spent the morning at the community counselor’s home cooking enchilada casseroles and sides and putting together activity bags for the children living in the home. The cluster then served the meal to the families living in the home. Other cluster events this quarter include the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival, roller-skating, a trip to the beach, and a cluster soccer match. The Seattle, Eastside, Bainbridge Island/Kitsap Peninsula Cluster traveled to Canada for one activity this quarter. The community counselors for Seattle and Bainbridge Island, along with over 30 Au Pairs, spent the weekend exploring the beautiful city of Victoria, BC which included transportation via the Victoria Clipper Ship. It was a weekend enjoyed by all! Another cluster activity was a day trip was offered to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival sixty miles north of Seattle.

The Seattle cluster has had a series of neighborhood meetings, such as play dates and small get togethers. One German au pair reported her experience with Global Awareness. She presented to her own neighborhood in Snoqualmie. Children (ages 3-12) played "topfschlagen" (hide and seek game involving German chocolate coins) colored German flags and tweens wanted to know all about every day life in Germany.

This summer the Seattle, Eastside, Bainbridge Island/Kitsap Peninsula Cluster will go whale watching in the San Juan Islands. The Bainbridge Island au pairs will also attend the Rotary Club volunteer dinner in preparation for the annual Rotary Club Rummage sale and they will have a Friday evening picnic at the beach in Fay Bainbridge State Park.

Regional Representative
Jan Murphy has been a Community Counselor since 1995 and has managed a cluster along the Front Range in Colorado. Jan was appointed a Regional Representative in 2003 and is responsible for the 6 states in the Western United States. In this capacity Jan interviews, trains and supports the area counselors, makes recommendations for realigning cluster groups, supports marketing efforts in the region and arranges and facilitates formal and informal meetings for the region's counselors. Jan was raised and educated in Iowa, with a Master’s degree in Counseling and Human Development from The University of Iowa. She has worked in higher education in all aspects of student services. Jan has a son and a daughter, both young adults.

Driving Information for Au Pairs

Visit the New Mexico Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website for information about driving in New Mexico.

Educational Information for Au Pairs

The information listed here is your starting point to fulfilling the education requirement. Your community counselor will have the most popular and affordable choices in your area.

The schools listed here are not all reasonable options. Ask your community counselor for the schools closest to you.
Continuing Education (also Adult Education or Lifelong Learning) classes are generally the most affordable options for au pairs.

Review the cost, class schedule, and transportation needed for the classes you are interested in with your host family. You need to be responsible about selecting courses that meet at times that will not conflict with your work schedule. Take into consideration the time it will take to travel between home and the campus. Your host family must approve your plans.
Host families reimburse tuition costs and costs of related materials (books and supplies) up to $500 ($1000 for EduCare) for you to complete your six semester hours (12 for EduCare), or the equivalent. You are responsible for all payments for tuition, fees, books and materials that exceed the host family’s contribution. Education money is not paid to you in cash if you do not use the complete amount.