Catherine Kossler

What Can I Do in my Free Time?

Posted by: ckossler on January 22, 2009

Activities for You!

What can you do when you finish working?  Have daytime hours free?  Night time hours?  Other than constantly getting coffee, shopping, or going to class, check out some of these sites and consider working out, trying a new class, or just hanging out with new people!  Let me know what your favorite things to do are too!

Gahanna Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of classes.  They sponsor weekly open gym time to play volleyball (just show up and play!) for $4 a visit if you live in Gahanna or $5 if you don’t.   Check out their guide at http://www.gahanna.org/pdf/Parks/Parks%20Program%20Guide.pdf.  Pages 15 and 16 describe the open gym, walking groups, yoga classes, etc. 

Westerville Community Center on Cleveland Avenue offers open gym for basketball on Monday evenings from 6-9 pm and for Volleyball on Friday evenings from 6-9.  Participants need to get a Westerville Rec Center card and pay a small fee to participate in open gym.  Additionally, the rec center offers many types of exercise - aerobics, yoga, pilates, water workouts, etc.  They have dance classes, photography, clay, and many more fun classes!  Check out their program brochure at http://www.westerville.org/Portals/0/Winter%200809%20Brochure.pdf.  Their spring class brochure will be posted soon - (end of February) and they have some great classes.  Look at the winter brochure to see.   

Check out the numerous offerings that Upper Arlington provides by checking their brochure at http://www.ua-ohio.net/parksrec/lifelong/classes.pdf.  Open gym times and dates are listed at http://www.ua-ohio.net/parksrec/recreation/sports.asp

If you enjoy singing, you might check out your local church for choirs, or visit http://www.columbusart.com/artscene/singalong.html for information about local choral groups. 

If you enjoy any type of dance, go to http://www.ohiodance.org/workshops2.html and scroll down to the Central Ohio section for descriptions, dates, locations, and more information of places you can go to dance!  Be sure to look at the locations as cities all over Ohio list opportunities. 

Many au pairs in the past have joined the group, International Friendships, through Ohio State University.  Visit http://www.internationalfriendships.org/ for more information. 

If you are looking for any other ideas, let me know!  Please remember that any classes that you take through these centers do not count towards your education requirement — they are just for fun!!

Driving!

Posted by: ckossler on January 21, 2009

Driver’s Testing and Schools

Au Pairs arrive with an international driver’s license but should obtain an Ohio License as soon as possible.  Au Pairs can obtain their license without a social security card–simply tell the office that a card is not needed and that the au pair does not plan to get one.  If an au pair applies for one before going to the BMV, it will have to be presented to get the license.  Local locations can be found by clicking on this link,  http://bmv.ohio.gov/county/dx_locs.htm, and checking your county of residence. 

Before taking the written test at a local BMV, a sample test can be taken at http://bmv.ohio.gov/driver_license/samp_dl_test.htm. 

By visiting http://www.bmv.ohio.gov/driver_license/dl_info.htm, information can be gathered about getting one’s license including scheduling the driving portion of the test. 

Driving schools can be found in the yellow pages or by checking this site:  http://www.thecityofcolumbus.com/drivingschool/index.html. 

Remember, before an au pair drives alone for the first time, it is important that she/he understands what a family would have her/him do in case of an emergency or an accident –possibly carrying a written checklist in the car of what to do as well as carrying a disposable camera in addition to any insurance papers.

Education Options

Posted by: ckossler on January 20, 2009

Education Options in Columbus

Columbus State      Main Campus - 287-2400 (other campuses are acceptable), moderate expense.  www.cscc.edu 

Columbus State offers English classes through the Columbus Literacy Council.  Call 614-287-6669 or 614-287-5374 (these classes vary in level, days, and times – cost of $71). Also through their Language Institute, classes are offered more frequently — call 287-5448, cost $95 plus books.   Or you can check online at http://www.cscc.edu/LangInst/index.html

Otterbein College - Westerville Ohio  614-823-2956     (Quarter system)   www.otterbein.edu  Allows students to audit courses for approximately $50/credit hour

Capital University - Bexley   614-236-6101     (Semester system)  www.capital.edu  Allows students to audit courses for approximately $50/credit hour

Columbus College of Art and Design  614-224-9101   (Quarter system)  www.ccad.edu  Noncredit courses typically run $315-460 and a student would receive approximately 1.5 credits toward the six credits required

Ohio State University – 614-292-8860    (Quarter System)  More expensive than Columbus State although they do offer similar type classes through the continuing education department.  Visit their website at www.continuinged.ohio-state.edu/CED_noncreditpro.html for a listing of classes.  They offer non-credit courses in language, business and communication (including English grammar).  Most of these classes give approx. 16 actual classroom hours for approx. $198. 

Denison University in Granville 1-800-Denison or 740-587-6296  www.denison.edu Au Pairs can register for the Community Scholars Program for $85/course.  They allow au pairs to take one course per term.  Apply in the Registrars office.

Ohio Wesleyan in Delaware  740-368-2000 www.owu.edu  Will allow au pairs to audit a class. 

Franklin University - 614-947-6222.  Downtown, Dublin, Westerville locations.  www.franklin.educlasses/  Classes can be taken as a non-degree seeking individual and all classes are the full cost (no discount for auditing).   

Ohio Dominican University -   614 253-2741 www.ohiodominican.edu

Other Options (Weekend Courses in NY)

Silver Bay Weekend Course   The Silver Bay weekend course is a program offered in collaboration with the College of Saint Rose.  Silver Bay is a 600 acre conference center north of Albany NY on the shores of beautiful Lake George.  This venue provides housing, catering, classroom and learning facilities for all participants.  The course consists of intense weekend classes and two research papers or projects.  At a cost of $250 per weekend, au pairs can complete ½ of the educational requirement (equivalent of 3 credits).  Au pairs can opt to participate in two weekends at a cost of $500 and complete the entire educational component required for the program year.  Participation in two weekend courses allows an au pair the opportunity to choose different courses and provides them with a completely new and different experience the second time around.  The number of weekend courses being offered in the next few months has been expanded.  For further information on this program and registration details, please log on to www.culturalcare.com/silverbay

 Southwest Airlines flies directly into Albany NY from Columbus.  Flights are approximately $250. 

C.W. Post, Long Island University Programs   There are several courses being offered through out the year at the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University.  They can be completed by attending an intensive weekend seminar, which runs from Friday at 4:30 p.m. until Sunday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. at the C.W.Post campus in Brookville, NY.  Housing, meals, and course materials are included in the registration fees ($275 - $550). Each course includes lecture, discussion, and activities related to the topics. Au pairs will be asked to complete short written assignments before coming to the seminar and after completing the weekend experiences.  The Continuing Education Department of Long Island University is developing opportunities to offer courses throughout the country during various weekends this summer and fall.  Information regarding these opportunities will be available on their website in the coming days.   For further information on this program and registration details, please log on to www.liu.edu/aupair.  For any specific questions regarding this program, please contact educational program director Anne Lambiaso directly via email at aupair@cwpost.liu.edu or via phone at 516-299-2359.

Social Security Info and Links

Posted by: ckossler on January 19, 2009

Helpful Social Security Information

Whether or not your au pair gets a social security card is up to both the au pair and the host family.  Cards are easy to obtain by bringing the proper documents and visiting the social security office.  For information regarding cards for foreign immigrants, see http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10096.html.  Forms can be downloaded by visiting http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.pdf.  Letters of Good Standing can be printed from a host family’s extranet account.  In addition to the letter, au pairs should bring their passport, the I-94 form (stapled inside it usually), their DS-2019 form, a birth certificate if they brought it, and a second form of ID (other than their passport) if they have it.  By visiting this site:  https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps6z/FOLO/fo001.jsp, you can enter your zip code and the nearest office will be listed for you including a map, directions, phone numbers, etc.  While girls do not technically need one, they are usually helpful for them in obtaining bank accounts, driver’s licenses, or credit cards.

January Meeting - RESCHEDULED for January 24

Posted by: ckossler on January 14, 2009

Same time, same place, new date! January 24 - Dublin Chiller, 1:30 $7. Please let me know if you can go. See you January 24! Don’t forget your money for February’s ticket to the game ($19).