One of the pros of being an au pair - world-wide network!

I absolutely love working for Cultural Care Au Pair. I love that I have the opportunity to help other people to experience the same as I did. Even though it has already been 8 years (gosh I AM OLD!) since I applied to become an au pair in the USA, every time I speak about my experience to a current or a future au pairs I get so excited and happy!

I am originally from Finland, and as most of you know - Finland as a country is not that big. Other Finnish au pairs - they were quite non-existent when I was an au pair myself.. or that is at least how it felt! I was the only Finnish au pair in the entire state of Utah at the time, which of course enabled me really to establish a world-wide network from my other au pair friends! My neighbor was German, my best friend Swedish, my classmate Peruvian, my travel-buddies Brazilian and Colombian, my new friends American... the best part about my au pair experience was definitely widening my network and having connections all over the world!

I am still in touch with some of my connections, and this is one tip I want to give to all of you current au pairs: do not let go of these connections! Embrace the international network you have and take full use of it! There is always someone who knows one... and at least you have a place to stay wherever you go in the world! Luckily in today's day and age it is so easy to stay in touch!

Best,
Mari

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

To feel at home, even when far away

We go abroad as au pairs because we want to spend time with children, we want to see new things, see new places and get to know new people. We want to leave our “safety box” and leave the daily life we know way to well. At the same time though, when we finally has a place at the other side of the globe, we will at some points miss home.
Different people in my group of au pair friends dealt with homesickness differently of course. Some made a call home, some e-mailed friends and some “liked” pictures and happenings that friends at home posted. This was not my of dealing with the lovely home sickness-visitor. I did not to want to be at home, I just missed it a little bit.
So what I did, was to bring a little of home to me. I took both my au pair friends but also my American friends and with proud I showed them Ikea. Except from eating the classic meatballs I bought, caviar, chocolate and of course salt licorice. Basically everyone loved the chocolate but I, luckily for me, got to keep the salt licorice for myself. 
So, instead of thinking of my friends back home I spend time with my new friends and got the opportunity to show them a little bit of Sweden, and I got to feel a little bit at home, at the same time.

Making friends as an au pair

One of the things I was most worried about before going as an au pair was that I would be without friends. I was heading for my big adventure leaving all my friends behind.  How should I make new friends? Where should I find new friends? What if I was the only au pair in my area? What if nobody liked me? Should I be all alone? Would this make me go back home?

What a waste of time worrying! I realized already at the airport that I that I was not the only one having these concerns. Being in the same situation made it possible for everyone to share a special bound with each other. I met people during had not thought that I would be close to. One of my friends in the US was my host child best friend's grandmother and she was around 65 years old. I looked forward to every Thursday when her grandchild and my host child had their weekly play date. It was a wise lady who taught me lot about life and I could talk with her about my difficulties regarding homesickness and “living at you work”. Even if she was not in my age and not in the same situation in life I really appreciated her for who she was and her qualities.  I made friends for life and I still miss her and our meaningful discussion.

 

Greetings from Adelina!

Adelina currently works as a recruitment leader in Sweden - she is the one who meets and interviews our au pairs, holds information meetings and supports you during the application process along with our office - she has also been an au pair in the USA, and agreed to answer to few of our questions about being an au pair! Thank you so much Adelina!

What about the au pair program interested you?
I have always loved playing and working with kids. America has also been a country that I was interested of. Being able to work with kids and at the same time explore the country and experience the American culture was what made me apply and fulfill the program.

How did you choose your host family or how did you know they were the right match for you?
I talked to my host family over Skype many times just to be sure I got all my questions answered. And also so that my host family could be sure they wanted me to work for them. When I felt that I was confident talking to them and also that I could talk to them if I would have any kind of problem, that was when I was sure I wanted to choose them as my host family. The relationship I had with my host family was really good. They were like my second family. I was always included for the family activities, celebration of any holiday and vacations. I felt like home.

Who would you recommend the au pair program to and why?
I would recommend the au pair program to anyone who absolutely loves kids and likes to explore a new country and at the same time experience a different culture.

Who will you stay in touch with now that you have returned to your home county?
I still keep touch with my host family. I get pictures of the kids, we Skype/send videos to each other. I am invited to go and visit anytime I like.

I still keep touch with my American friends. I also keep touch with my au pair friends. My best friend from there is from Germany, I plan to visit her in her home country as soon as possible!

Friends for a lifetime!

Going as an au pair will give you the chance to meet new friends from all over the world.
I was an au pair from June 2012 to June 2013 and during my time as an au pair I got the chance to meet new friends and experience their culture as well.

I just went down to Austria to meet up with few of my au pair friends. It's so nice to know that even if the time keeps passing by, or if you haven’t seen them for one year, everything is still the same. You still feel like they are really close, and that you still have that strong connection with them.  The friends you get during your au pair year will always be there for you.
During my visit to Austria we were laughing about old memories, looking at pictures and had a great time. It’s great to have friends from all over the world: you have your own tour guide who can show you everything about their country! We went to museum, to a wedding where we needed to wear their national dress, castles, did some shopping and just sat at Starbucks and enjoyed a white chocolate mocca frappe in the sun. I can’t wait for them to come and visit Sweden so I can show them my country!