2008 Award Winner: Cultural Care au pair Linda Falter

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 did for her host family. Aside from being a wonderful, patient caregiver, Linda helped Milagro, who is visually impaired, learn to read and write Braille (after first teaching herself) and to challenge herself physically at the local rock-climbing gym. Linda shared 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.