After Mother's Day, a common question would be to find out how one spent their day. In anticipation of hearing something positive, instead I heard a mother speak honestly as she lamented, "Mother's Day was just another day in my house." With compassion and curiosity, I asked her to explain. "Well, when you have 4 children and work 6 days a week, there is little time to celebrate. I come home everyday and help the children with homework, clean the house and do laundry in between and make dinner for everyone. On Mother's Day, it was all about my mother-in-law who is living with us. My children (17, 11, 8 and 5), nor my husband of 20 years did anything special for me. So that was that!" Not a flower, a card or something hand-made? I thought how unusual, yet maybe there are many mothers out there who are not appreciated.
This sad commentary made me realize just how blessed I was on Mother's Day to have my four children send me cards, call and take the time to buy such thoughtful gifts along with my husband, and even my ex-husband who sent me flowers thanking me for the wonderful children we share. My mother of 84 years of age was with us as well. She has been a tremendous mother and grandmother to the family. It was a beautiful day that I will always remember.
http://www.MartaPerrone.com
 Interviewing mistakes happen in every industry and can instantaneously ruin an opportunity to be hired in just a matter of minutes. I tell my students that it takes merely 30 seconds for the average person to look at you and develop an impression. Everything you do and say thereafter matters.
Here is a quick review of interviewing techniques to follow:
1) Dress Code - Have a preset outfit in your closet ready to wear. It doesn't matter whether you are interviewing for an office or nanny position, dressing conservatively is the way to go. Black/Blue pants with a white blouse, closed-toe shoes, hair back (away from your face), not too much jewelry, light make-up and no perfume is best. Make sure your nails are short and polish is clear or light colored. No loud colors or prints to distract the interviewer from focusing on you. Your appearance should be immaculate.
2) What to Bring - Bring your portfolio that contains your resume, letters of reference, immunization records, CPR certification, certificates of training, diplomas, Trustline Registry letter, copy of identification, driving record and anything else that supports your qualifications for the job.
3) How to Get To the Interview - Use Google maps - the most reliable source to find the location, print out directions and know exactly where you are going. Get the traffic report in the area so you know if there is anything that might delay you. There is no excuse for getting lost. When you make the interview, ask if there are any special instructions.
4) When to Arrive - ON TIME - not early, not late, but exactly at the minute you are supposed to be there. If you arrive early, then wait outside in the car until it is your exact time for the interview.
5) How to Greet - Introduce yourself by saying, "Hello, my name is Marta Perrone, and I am here (from the Domestic Connections Agency) to interview for the nanny position." If you come on your own, without agency representation, then of course simply indicate the manner in which you both connected. If the prospective employer puts out a hand to shake yours, then extend your hand and give a firm grip. If not, then just wait to be asked inside the home. If you meet at a restaurant, wait for the employer to sit down and then sit where indicated. Put your portfolio on your lap or on a table, set your purse aside and sit up tall, shoulders down and relaxed, facing the employer directly.
6) How to Start - Usually the employer will begin. If the question comes up, "did you have any trouble finding it...?" or "is this far from your house?", be sure to always answer in a positive manner, never giving the impression that the distance, traffic or ability to get there was a problem. You may be asked if you want anything to drink. Unless you are dying of thirst, I would suggest not having a prospective employer be bothered with serving you. (Take water in the car and drink some before entering the house/location).
7) Be a good Listener - The employer will most likely begin talking about the job and telling you many details. Listen carefully, and do not interrupt. There is not need to make lots of remarks unless they are relevant. It is best to wait until the employer either asks you a question directly or finishes talking.
8) What to Ask - Ask questions about the family, what the children like to do, where they go to school, preferences for food, activities, etc. If there is a baby, then the questions should all be directed on the mother's philosophies on how she wants her child handled from every perspective.
9) What NOT to Ask - Never ask about money or benefits until a job offer is made. If coming from an agency, you should have a general idea of what the salary and benefits will be for this position if hired. There is no need to discuss this until the employer has made a decision. You have more negotiating power once they are settled on hiring you. Also, the focus of the interview should be whether you and the employer are a good match first.
10) Attitude - Be friendly and energetic during an interview, and remain calm. Nervous energy is not comforting to any mother or father. The best way to exude confidence is to be relaxed as you discuss your qualifications, past jobs, references and constructively interact with the family members.
11) Meet the Children - If the children are present, you might ask if you can meet them. If there is a baby, the mother may or may not want to let you hold the baby. If she suggest that you do so, immediately wash your hands first and then proceed to hold the baby. How you do this makes a first impression of your abilities. The baby may need something while holding him/her, and your response will reinforce your abilities. The idea is give the mother confidence that you are qualified.
12) Be Positive - Never speak ill of former jobs or employers. You may have had a recent problem in a job; however, it is best not to discuss this in a negative manner. If it has to be discussed because the employer is insisting on knowing the reason why you are unemployed, then speak about the situation in the most diplomatic way possible. Try to use phrases such as: "we came to the conclusion that it would be best if we parted ways" or "our philosophies on child rearing were not a good match" or "I simply wasn't comfortable working for this family any longer".
13) Leaving the Interview - Tell the employer that you are reachable for any further information (or to please contact the agency). Suggest a second interview once she has narrowed down her choices. Make yourself available for a trial day so that you can spend more time together. Comment on your interest to work there and thank her for her time and the opportunity to interview.
14) Follow-up - If you do not work with an agency, you can certainly follow-up by email (If you don't have an email address for them, send a thank you note by mail) reiterating your interest in the job and looking forward to her response. If you are working with an agency, call them immediately to discuss the interview and your interest. Be clear on when the prospective employer will be making a decision and stay in close touch with the agency or employer. If you don't have an email address for them, send a thank you note by mail.
15) Hired or Not Hired -Everyone knows the saying "it was or wasn't meant to be" - If not hired, be confident that you will find another opportunity suitable for you. If hired, then congratulations....you have successfully passed "The Interview Test"!
Learning more than one language for migrating individuals is necessary, but even for others it has benefits worth considering. Scientists have long suspected that learning more than one language may cause structural differences in brain networks that enhance abilities. The bilingual brain processes speech sounds better because the auditory nervous system appears to enhance attention and working memory and thus able to determine what is relevant. It also protects memory. People who master more than one language are building a more resilient brain, more proficient at multitasking, setting priorities and able to withstand dementia and delay Alzheimer's disease. After studying older people who spoke multiple languages, they were three times less likely to have cognitive problems. New research suggests that babies have little trouble developing bilingual skills. Babies raised in a bilingual family show from birth a preference for each of the native languages they heard while still in the womb.
Http://www.MartaPerrone.com
The Supreme Court’s liberal and conservative sides are evenly split over the question of whether the “individual mandate” requiring every American to carry health insurance or pay a fine is constitutional.
Immediately I begin to think about those individuals who work in the private service industry as a Housekeeper, Nanny, Cook, Companion, Mother’s Helper, Butler, just to name a few. In this line of work, very few hired individuals are offered health insurance. It appears that only the higher paid professionals such as household and estate managers are most often provided this benefit. The others, who are making an income of only $20,000-$36,000 per year, need this benefit the most. There is no mandate forcing families to provide health insurance to hired private service professionals. (In most states, these same domestic workers do not receive any other benefits such as vacation, sick days or holidays, unless the family chooses to do so.) When domestic workers are represented by agencies, the likelihood is that they will receive most of these benefits because they are educating their clients and suggesting that they provide such benefits to stay in line with what is typical in the industry. However, they are hard-pressed to force clients to offer health insurance. Hence, most domestic workers do not receive this benefit.
Everyone, including myself, likes the idea that “everyone should have health insurance”, but if they cannot afford it and an employer is not offering this benefit, how do they afford it? Furthermore, the concept of charging a penalty on top is seriously like throwing salt into a wound. It may heal the problem, but it also will throw someone further into debt.
There are organizations like Domestic Worker’s Alliance who are fighting across the nation to overcome this battle through legislation so that domestic workers obtain benefits and better working conditions. Many domestic agencies do not think what they are doing is useful and worry that forcing these conditions on their clients will steer them underground. Agency owners will clearly tell you that they are there to help their applicants get a good working agreement that includes all these protections. Yet, not everyone goes to an agency for employment nor finds available working opportunities through agencies. The bottom line is that if a family doesn’t want to or can’t afford to offer health insurance, the “housekeeper” is simply not going to have it.
It is not easy to come up with a solution to this health care problem. However, the health care industry as a whole must be revamped. It is ridiculously expensive to have any procedure and forget about it if you happen to need an operation. Five minutes in an emergency ward to make sure you are OK could cost you $3,500. Health insurance companies gauge people making it impossible to pay their plans and refuse you if you have a previous condition that makes you highly unaffordable from their perspective. Perhaps if it wouldn’t cost so much, everyone could find a way to afford health insurance as well as provide it to their employees.
http://www.martaperrone.com
 Jiovanna Campbell came to this country at age 3 illegally. When Jiovanna was 9, there was a death in the family. Her parents decided to take their uncle’s body back to Mexico for burial. After spending several months back in Mexico, the family once again returned to the Bay Area illegally. Jiovanna finished high school, enrolled in college and married her high school sweetheart, a U.S. Citizen. At this point, she no longer wanted to have “illegal status” and took the advice of a notary public to return to Mexico to request legal status as the “wife of a US citizen. However, soon after arriving in Ciudad Juarez, she discovered that her childhood trip to Mexico meant that she could not return to the U.S. under current immigration laws. The 1996 Immigration Law does not allow individuals to leave the country, even for short visits due to death in the family. Immigration advocates say this is unfair that people are punished for their parents’ poor choices. It is one thing to get tough on immigrants crossing the border, it another to do so with a 24 year old woman who was brought to this country by her parents at age 3, studied her whole life here and is now married to a U.S. citizen and pregnant. Marta Perrone is now offering immigration services through an affiliation with L.A. Law Center, P.A. – Lawrence S. Aarons – lawyer and consultant of law. If you want to know ways in which you can gain legal status here in the U.S., come join us on April 21st at our offices and meet Lawrence Aarons to discuss immigration issues. 16656 Ventura Blvd. #204 - Encino, CA 91436 Registration for this event is necessary. Click Here to registerhttp://www.MartaPerrone.com
 You have good manners, right? After all, you (usually) keep your elbows off the table and say "Please pass the salt," right? But when you head abroad, things get a little more complicated. Case in point: Rest your chopsticks the wrong way, and you might remind a Japanese friend of their grandmother's funeral (Rule 2). But knowing what the etiquette rules are won't just save you from some awkward situations, says Dean Allen, author of the "Global Etiquette Guide" series. It can also help you make friends. "It's really a statement of your openness and awareness of the fact that the people you're with... may in fact see the world differently," he says. "It's simply going to get you out of the tourist bubble." Sound good? Then here are 15 rules to keep in mind.
In Thailand, don't put food in your mouth with a fork.
Instead, when eating a dish with cooked rice, use your fork only to push food onto your spoon. A few exceptions: Some northern and northeastern Thai dishes are typically eaten with the hands -- you'll know you've encountered such a dish if the rice used is glutinous or "sticky". Also, stand-alone items that are not part of a rice-based meal may be eaten with a fork. But, says Leela Punyaratabandhu, a food writer who blogs at SheSimmers.com, the worst thing to do at a traditional, rice-based meal would be to use chopsticks. "That is awkward and inconvenient at best and tacky at worst," she says.
In Japan, never stick your chopsticks upright in your rice.
Between bites, your chopsticks should be placed together right in front of you, parallel to the edge of the table -- and nowhere else, says Mineko Takane Moreno, Japanese cooking instructor and co-author of "Sushi for Dummies." (If there is a chopsticks rest, you use it, putting the tips you've been eating with on the rest.) But sticking them upright in a bowl of rice is even worse: During funerals in Japan, the rice bowl of the deceased is placed before their coffin...with their chopsticks upright in the rice. So what would she rather see: Someone doing that at a meal, or asking for a fork? Mineko doesn't hesitate. "Asking for a fork," she says.
In the Middle East, India and parts of Africa, don't eat with your left hand.
In South India, you shouldn't even touch the plate with your left hand while eating. That's largely because the left hand is associated with, um, bodily functions, so it's considered to be dirty. In fact, says Allen, don't even pass important documents with your left hand. A lefty? Then it's okay to use your left hand -- as long as you take your right hand out of the game.
At a traditional feast in Georgia, it's rude to sip your wine.
At what Georgians call a supra (traditional feast), wine is drunk only at toasts. So wait for those... and then down the whole glass at once. On the upside, says Georgia-based photographer and videographer Paul Stephens, the glasses tend to be on the small side.
In Mexico, never eat tacos with a fork and knife.
Worried about spilling refried beans and salsa all over your front? Tough. Mexicans think that eating tacos with a fork and knife looks silly and, worse, snobby -- kind of like eating a burger with silverware. So be polite: Eat with your hands.
In Italy, only drink a cappuccino before noon.
Some Italians say that a late-day cappuccino upsets your stomach, others that it's a replacement for a meal (it's common to have just a cappuccino, or a cappuccino and a croissant, for breakfast). Either way, you won't see Italians ordering one in a café at 3pm -- and certainly not after a big dinner. Do so, and you'll be instantly branded a tourist. If you need that coffee fix, though, an espresso is fine.
In Britain, always pass the port to the left -- and remember the Bishop of Norwich.
It's unclear why passing port on the left is so important; some say it has to do with naval tradition (the port side of a boat is on your left if you're facing the helm). Regardless, passing the decanter to the right is a big gaffe. So is not passing it at all. If you're at a meal and the decanter stalls, then ask the person with it, "Do you know the Bishop of Norwich?" If they say they don't know him, reply, "He's a very good chap, but he always forgets to pass the port." It sounds weird, but it's true. This is such a nationwide tradition, the Telegraph wrote an article on it.
In France, don't eat your bread as an appetizer before the meal.
Instead, eat it as an accompaniment to your food or, especially, to the cheese course at the end of the meal. That said, one thing that would be a faux pas anywhere else -- placing bread directly on the table and not on a plate -- is perfectly acceptable in France -- in fact, it's preferred.
In China, don't flip the fish.
Although you might be used to flipping over a whole fish once you've finished one side, don't -- at least when you're in China, especially southern China and Hong Kong. That's because flipping the fish is "dao yue" in Chinese, a phrase similar to "bad luck." Plus, says Allen, "to flip the fish over is like saying that the fisherman's boat is going to capsize." The most superstitious will leave the bottom part untouched, while others will pull off the bone itself to get to the bottom.
In Italy, don't ask for parmesan for your pizza -- or any other time it's not explicitly offered.
Putting parmigiano on pizza is seen as a sin, like putting Jell-O on a fine chocolate mousse. And many pasta dishes in Italy aren't meant for parmesan: In Rome, for example, the traditional cheese is pecorino, and that's what goes on many classic pastas like bucatini all'amatriciana, not parmesan. A rule of thumb: If they don't offer it to you, don't ask for it.
Don't eat anything, even fries, with your hands at a meal in Chile.
Manners here are a little more formal than many other South American countries. So while it might be the most practical to just pick up those fries with your fingers, don't do it. "The greater need is to identify with European culture, so food is [eaten] with a knife and a fork," Allen says.
In Korea, if an older person offers you a drink, lift your glass to receive it with both hands.
Doing so is a sign of respect for elders, an important tenet of Korean culture. After receiving the pour with both hands, you should turn your head away and take a discreet sip, says Stephen Cha-Kim, a Korean-born worker's rights advocate who regularly visits family in Korea. "To this day, if anybody hands me anything, both hands shoot out instinctively," Cha-Kim says. Similarly, don't start eating until the eldest male has done so (and don't leave the table until that person is finished).
Never mix -- or turn down -- vodka in Russia.
The beverage is always drunk neat -- and no, not even with ice. Adding anything is seen as polluting the drink's purity (unless the mixer is beer, which produces a formidable beverage known as yorsh). But there's another faux pas that's even worse, says Allen: when you're offered the drink and you turn it down. Since offering someone a drink is a sign of trust and friendship, it's a good idea to take it. Even if it is 9am.
When drinking coffee with Bedouins in the Middle East, shake the cup at the end.
Typically, anyone Bedouin -- or Bedouin-related -- will continue to pour you more coffee once you've finished unless you shake the cup, meaning tilting the cup two or three times, when you hand it back. It's such an important tip, says Middle East-based freelance correspondent Haley Sweetland Edwards, that last year, Bedouins she was eating with in Qatar made her practice it until she got it right.
In Brazil, play your tokens wisely.
At a churrascaria, or a Brazilian steakhouse, servers circle with cuts of meat and diners use tokens to place an order. If a server comes out with something you want, make sure your token, which you'll have at your table, has the green side up. If you don't want any more, flip it with the red side up. Since the meat can be never-ending, it's important to strategize -- if you leave that token green side up you could end up ordering a lot more than you intended.
Source: By Amanda Ruggeri, Budget Travel - CNN-Travel
http://www.Martaperrone.com
The changes announced by the home secretary, Theresa May, as part of a wider package of immigration reform will prevent foreign cooks, nannies and other staff who come to work in private households from switching employer or staying longer than six months. These changes are being made to ensure that overseas visitors and diplomats can be accompanied by their domestic staff and the route is not used to provide permanent access to Britain for unskilled workers. But campaigners believe the changes will mean any domestic workers who leave a private household to escape abuse will immediately face the prospect of being deported. Jenny Moss of Kalayaan, which supports migrant domestic workers, said: "The decision to remove the right to change employer, and therefore remove an important protection from abuse, turns the clock back 15 years to the days when domestic workers were deported for experiencing abuse." Her concern was echoed by Audrey Guichon of Anti-Slavery International, who said that tying domestic workers to one employer was in effect licensing slavery. "These proposed changes will give unscrupulous bosses the power to threaten workers with deportation if they do not comply with whatever they demand," she said. She added the situation in Britain would now mirror the "kafala" system across the Middle East where a change of employer means losing the right to residency. The home secretary said she recognized there was a danger of abusive behaviour in this situation and it was important that employers knew what was and was not acceptable. She said that written terms and conditions of employment would be required before workers came to Britain. http://www.Martaperrone.com
Predominately, there is a great need for those working in the private service industry such as nannies, housekeepers, companions, household managers and others to receive continued education in an effort to improve their skills. Agency owners know this better than anyone because they deal directly with the everyday problems associated with placement. In tough times, competition increases, weeding out those who have less to offer a prospective employer. The more skilled you are in every area that relates to your field, the more viable a candidate you become to anyone involved with the hiring process. Yet, there always is the question of time and money. The unemployed are desperately concerned and preoccupied with finding that job. Spending money on continued education is not their first priority. Once employed, they are working harder than ever and find little time to take classes let alone spend time with their loved ones. In the end, professional growth remains limited to job experience which is not always sufficient, and therein lies the problem.
Lawyers, Doctors and many other professionals are mandated by their licenses to obtain a certain amount of hours toward continued education primarily to keep up with updates concerning their fields. While there is no mandate for private service individuals, they clearly should take it upon themselves to analyze their skills and consider carefully what subjects they need to learn so that they have more to offer and are always perceived as highly qualified professionals.
http://www.MartaPerrone.com
 _Our homes are made up of many things that we utilize to function daily, but what if we looked at parts of our home and thought of ways to create romantic moments:
1) The Bedroom – traditionally the place where we intertwine with our loved ones, but what about taking this passion outside of the bedroom and finding a new place to tangle. Create a bed of rose pedals elsewhere.
2) The Bathtub – run a relaxing bath with bath oils, candles, music and a couple of glasses of champagne.
3) The Fireplace – lit as you sit by it with a cocktail in hand and music playing. Read your cards to each other and open that special gift.
4) The Dining Room – set a romantic table for 2 using black placemats, red napkins, rose-pedals, heart-shaped votive candles and wine glasses. Place your cards on the chargers and begin your meal with a toast to each other.
5) The Office – send a Valentine’s Day card through an email – design your card on paperless post. Write a special message and don’t forget the envelope.
6) The Kitchen – make something special – a meal that you both love to share – cook it together, and add in a special chocolate dessert.
7) The Patio – go outside and sit under the stars, bundled up if necessary, and dream of how you will spend the rest of your lives together in love.
And for those with small children….just put them to bed early.
Happy Valentine’s Day
p.s. It doesn't have to be Valentine's Day, to create romance.
Http://www.MartaPerrone.com
 Buying lettuce in pre-washed bags makes my life easier as I rush home from a long day at the office to prepare a home-cooked meal. However, the concern over E-coli continues with all growers and the debate about re-washing is confusing. There are safety scholars who insist that leafy greens in sealed bags with the pre-washed label from a properly inspected facility do not need to be re-washed unless the label directs it. Food testers at Consumer Reports have urged consumers to be wary, "Even if the bag says 'pre-washed' or "triple-washed', wash it yourself!" Some bags say "Triple washed. Rinse with cool water to refresh".
Leafy greens get contaminated with bacteria from the soil and irrigation water. They cannot be scrubbed like you would a piece of fruit, and you certainly can't remove the bacteria with heat like you would a piece of meat. So the "perfect wash" is high on the agenda for food companies and scientists - from using high power ultrasound to gas washes. Fresh Express developed a Fresh Rinse that is a chlorine alternative. Earthbound is testing a chlorine-free cleanser with a citrus base. There are definitely people in the industry interested and commited to food safety while others simple don't want to spend the money. If we have more incidents like the one with Jack in the Box in 1993 and the more recent spinach outbreak in 2006, where in both cases several people died and hundreds became very ill, suppliers will not have a choice.
Honestly, I think I am going to grow my own lettuce and tomatoes in the backyard.
http://www.MartaPerrone
|
RSS Feed
