Nicoline tells us about what she gained from being an au pair!

When I was 18 and had just finished high school, I decided to take a gap year and work as an au pair in the USA. It was a very sudden decision – but a decision that changed my life.

Not only did I have the time of my life, this year taught me so many things and helped me develop as a person. First of all, my year as an au pair helped me to improve my English! Today I study international business at Copenhagen Business School where the level of English is very advanced. Second, my time in the USA gave me so many memories and a great network! I have kept in contact with most of the people I’ve met during my year and we still have reunions. Thanks to my year abroad, I now know a lot of people around the world and every time I travel to a new city I stay at my friends’ places.

Third, My year as an au pair has taught me that you need to grab every opportunity you have in life and then new doors will open. After having travelled to the USA all by myself for such a long time, without knowing anyone, I now feel like there is nothing I can’t do. After I got back from the USa, I moved to a new city where I did not know anyone to begin with. But from my experience in America I knew that it is only a matter of time before a new place feels like home – and I was right. I am very grateful for this amazing opportunity the au pair program has given me, and I am so happy that I grabbed the chance to move to the US as an au pair, because it definitely changed by life!

- Nicoline

Take the next step in your career, just like Mimmi!

 

In August 2009 I packed my bags and moved to Scarsdale, NY to work as an au pair. I knew I had a big adventure ahead of me, but I never knew how big it would actually turn out to be. And I never knew how much this year would affect my future career, but that I know today.

I have always loved traveling, so working in the Tourism industry has always been the perfect choice for me. I’ve had jobs like ski instructor, tour guiding in the Italian alps, working in different receptions and my last job was as a flight attendant for TUI fly Nordic and now I work for Cultural Care Au Pair! I’m very proud of all of my previous jobs and they have all given me great experiences.

All my employers have told me that the main reason that I actually got the job was because of my traveling experience and my year abroad after finishing high school, and of course my improved English. It tells a lot about a person if they take a year abroad after school. You will learn and experience so much more than someone who would take a job back home.

I would recommend everyone to work as an au pair in America, and not just to have a great time while you’re there, but also to have a great time working for the rest of your life. Go out and get that experience!

-Mimmi

Top 8 reasons on why to become an au pair!

I decided to list out few reasons why I think becoming an au pair is basically the most awesome thing ever! Do you feel there is anything else that should be added to the list?

1. Become fluent in English
While being an au pair in the USA you will be using English in your every-day communication - with your host family, with your host children, with your new friends and even when visiting the local grocery story! Before you notice, you will be dreaming in English. Being fluent in English will definitely help you in your future in your studies or with your future profession!

2. International experience
Being an au pair in the USA is the best kind of international experience that you can have! Many employers appericiate when an applicant has experience from abroad, and it will definitely make you stand out! Being an au pair means also that you are fluent in English, you are organized and work hard! Many of our au pairs want to work with children in the future, as teachers for example, and while being an au pair you receive a lot of experience from being full-time with children, and you will be able to see from their side how they grow and learn new things!

3. New friends - from all over the world
Cultural Care Au Pair has offices in over 20 countries all over the world and we have au pairs travel to USA weekly who are about to start the same adventure as you! Meeting new people starts already at our au pair training school!

4. New family
While being an au pair in the USA you will become an irreplacable part of your host family. You will be living under the same roof and live the everyday life together. You will spend many great moments with your host family - including for example many American holidays such as Thanksgiving! You will also be there for many moments with the children - maybe their first steps or their first day of school! After your time as an au pair in the USA you will have two families - one back at home and one in the USA.

5. Travel in the USA
Every au pair has two weeks of paid vacation as well as also an additional month to be spent traveling in the USA after you have finished your time as an au pair. These times are great to spend exploring other parts in the USA as well! Maybe you will be taking roadtrips to the neighbouring states with your new au pair friends during weekends? Maybe you will take a long weekend and visit some friends in another state who you met during your first week at the training school? Make sure to explore what Manhattan looks from the top of the Empire State Building, if Chicago is as windy as they say, what it feels to drive through the Golden Gate or to swim with dolphins in Florida?

6. Cultural exchange
One of the main points of our au pair program is cultural exchange - you will become part of the American everyday life and through that learn about the local culture. You will maybe experience your first Halloween or your first Thanksgiving, you will get to experience if Americans are as social as they are rumoured to be and if everything really is bigger in USA as they say? Since this is about cultural EXCHANGE you get to also bring in your culture - what are you going to be telling about your home country and your culture? Maybe during Christmas your family will not be only eating American Christmas foods?

7. Study in the USA
One of the requirements of your J1 au pair visa is that you have to take minimum of six credits (72 hours) at a local university. Have you always wanted to study photography? Maybe you want to learn the basics of Spanish? Maybe you want to really see if marketing is something you might be studying after your time as an au pair? Remember, that your host family will pay up to $500 towards your studies. Studying at a local university is a great way to meet local people as well as experience the American university life!

8. Learn more about yourself and become more independent!
Going as an au pair for many of our au pairs is the first time that they move away from home - and for even more it is the first time they will be living abroad! While being an au pair you will become more independent and often grow up to become more social. After your time as an au pair you will absolutely have easier time to make decisions, take risks and I can guarantee - you have learned so much more about yourself!

Do not forget to share your own thoughts as well! Make this adventure to happen NOW!