Linda Falter: Au Pair of the Year 2008
On July 14, 2006, German au pair Linda Falter, arrived to Hayward, CA to join the Sato family. Host parents Grace and Genro, and children Milagro (then 4 years) and Kotomi (then 2 years) were excited and nervous to welcome their new au pair. Those initial feelings, however, quickly turned to appreciation for all that Linda does for her host family. Aside from being a wonderful, patient caregiver, Linda has helped Milagro, who is blind, learn to read and write Braille (after first teaching herself) and to challenge herself physically at the local rock-climbing gym. Linda shares her native language with Kotomi through Biene Maja books, a German childrens' story series. She helped the Satos adjust to life with three children instead of two when their son was born. Linda's other contributions to the Sato family are too numerous to count.
To express her gratitude, Grace Sato was moved to act when the call for "Au Pair of the Year" award nominees was announced by The International Au Pair Association, or IAPA. IAPA is the global trade association for qualified au pair agencies and companies, and, since 2004, their "Au Pair of the Year" award is one way this organization has been able to highlight the incredibly positive impact au pairs have on their host families. Each year, IAPA receives many of nominations from host families, not only in the U.S., but the world over, who believe their au pair to be deserving of this honor. Cultural Care Au Pair-the largest U.S. agency and one with almost twenty years of experience bringing au pairs and host families together-is proud that 90 of the nominations submitted for the 2008 award were submitted by Cultural Care host parents.
Cultural Care is proud that IAPA has chosen Linda Falter as their 2008 Au Pair of the Year Award winner! Linda was honored at IAPA's Annual Conference and Work Experience Travel Market in the Hague, the Netherlands in March and at Cultural Care Au Pair's National Meeting in Santa Fe, New Mexico in April. Cultural Care Au Pair would like to thank Linda-and all of our au pairs across the country-for their commitment and dedication to their Cultural Care host families.
