Being an au pair is very rewarding, not only for the benefit of learning and sharing cultures and languages, but also for being able to become part of another family and make life-long friendships. Karla, our former au pair from Brazil, recently visited her host parents in Maryland after six years since she went back to her country. She was pleased to share her inspiring experience as an au pair with us.
“I now have a second family. I was an au pair for two years with the most amazing family. I love Au Pair in America,
and being an au pair was an unforgettable experience. I keep every day I lived in the U.S. deep within my heart. And I also had a wonderful, kind, amazing, special and incredible counselor Natasha Wrobel. She was always nearby when I needed her, always answered my questions, I will never forget her.
This year after six years since I was an au pair, I came back to visit my amazing host family and community counselor. They were and still wonderful and caring people. I have no words to describe how amazing they are. I remember when I arrived to their home I went to sleep and the next day they took me out to eat pizza,
and later that day when we went back home, I felt a little home sick and missed my family in Brazil so much that I started to cry. My host family talked to me, took me out to the supermarket, asked me what I liked to eat and were very understanding. My host mom is an Air Traffic Controller, and for my birthday she took me on an airplane ride, it was so much fun.
I wish I was able to be an au pair forever. I loved my host kids and taught them how to compose music. We recorded our singing and put our songs on CDs.
After my time as an au pair, I returned to my country and worked for three years at the Experimento Agency as an Interviewer for Au Pair in America. I was responsible for interviewing new candidates, preparing their documents and send them to the recruiting office in London. Now I teach English and piano (keyboard) for beginners, children and teenagers.
I came back to the U.S. for this holiday season to spend it with my host family and kids (they grew up too fast!) I’m so thankful with Au Pair in America, and I can’t imagine how my life would be if I didn’t choose this program.”
