So many au pairs took the time to share their New Year’s resolutions with us. Common themes included plans to travel, treasure every moment with their host families, make memories to share when they return home and making new friends. Volunteer work and self-improvement was also common, with resolutions to help others, learn a new language, improve English, learn an instrument, lose weight and more.
The following are a sampling of resolutions shared by current au pairs looking forward to the coming year:
I live in Miami, Florida, with a lovely American family. I take care of a little girl named Penny. She’s almost three years old, and she’s growing up so fast! I can’t believe I’ve been here for almost nine months now, and it breaks my heart to know that I have to go home to Sweden soon and leave my sweet Penny here. But I’m also so happy that I’ve been able to experience all of this. It has been amazing. I feel so blessed that I ended up in this family with these wonderful people, and I couldn’t be happier!
When I first came here I wanted to experience America and the American culture. I wanted to improve my English, and I wanted to grow. I wanted to learn to take more responsibility. Now, nine months later, I must say that I’m so proud of myself. I’ve got to do a lot of the stuff that I wanted to do. I’ve been to a couple of states, and I’ve got to know so many new people from all over the world. I’ve grown. I feel stronger today. It hasn’t always been easy, but it definitely made me stronger.
My resolution is to keep growing as a person. I want to be the best version of myself. And of course, that includes to be the best au pair for Penny. I hope that I can give her a lot of good memories and happiness! I still have three more months here; let’s do the best of it! Thank you Au Pair in America for helping me making this year so wonderful.
— Karin, au pair from Sweden
My resolution is to learn at least one new word per day, explore more of the city I’m living in, meet at least four more states, make more friends, hang out with my great host family and buy a good camera to record all these moments.
— Luise, au pair from Brazil
Five months ago my journey as an au pair was beginning. I had many fears, insecurities, and a mix of feelings. Now I can say, every experience here makes us stronger. New challenges are coming for the next year, I’m super excited for that. More goals to reach, my dream to visit the Disney World will come true, a new language to learn, a volunteer job to help who more need. Here everything is harder, but I’ll be strong enough to be a better person, a better au pair. I’ll keep my faith and give my best to reach my dreams.
—Nathalia, au pair from Brazil
At the moment I am living in a suburb of Chicago since August. Next year in March my friend Elin, who is also an au pair by Au Pair in America and lives near New York, and I will meet in Washington D.C. We went together to school, flew over together and had our au pair orientation together. About this reunion I am most excited at the moment!
—Anneke, au pair from Germany
My resolution is to challenge myself and run for those who can’t at Wings for Life.
—Ana, au pair from Croatia
I am currently living in Lattingtown, New York. My Au Pair in America resolution is to learn about the American culture by running some of the races and running in town to meet as many people as possible. Yes, even in winter. Running takes you places and allows you to see them from a different angle.
—Quingelique, au pair from South Africa
I am living in Bedford, Massachusetts. I am really looking forward to the year 2017, because I’ll extend in my host family for another year. I am so excited for the next 1.5 years. We’ve planned a few (international) trips. I am a family member, and I really appreciate it! Couldn’t be any better.
—Leonie, au pair from Germany
I live as au pair in Auburn, Washington. I’m kind of sad, because I’m going to Mexico in May. I can’t believe my year is almost over, but anyway I’m so excited to spend the next few months with my incredible host family and my crazy kids. I’m so excited to learn what are their traditions for the next few months, and also we’ll go to Canada! I have learned so much with them. I’m so happy!!
—Gabriela, au pair from Mexico
My resolution is to find out what I have been looking for all these past years. It’s about to learn something about me that I even don’t know what it is. It’s to begin again; it’s about to give worth to my hometown, my family and my old life and to be happy with my new one. My new year’s resolution is about to be a new person while I’m still the old one.
—Kyani, au pair from Brazil
I am excited to see the snow in January and to see Brayden (my kid) talking firsts phrases. I am excited to learn better the English, the culture and to look back with my host family and laugh in remember how was my bad English in the beginning and the absurdity things that I said wrong. I am excited to hear from my family in Brazil how much did I grow up in this time living far away from home. I am excited to hear “I love you” from my kids, to make a lot of new friends and feel more and more like a part of this amazing family.
—Letícia, au pair from Brazil
I am an au pair in Chicago. My resolution is to fully immerse myself in the American culture and the city I live in, not to be afraid to make new friends and explore new cultures. I will make the most of my surroundings and live life to the fullest to make this au pair year a golden one!
—Natasha, au pair from South Africa
I am living in King George, Virginia. I want to see new places, meet new people and improve my English.
—Slavomira, au pair from Slovakia
I am a Canadian au pair living in New Rochelle, New York. My New Year’s resolution is to work on myself—mentally and physically. I often focus too much on trends and pleasing those around me, which usually results in me neglecting myself. This year I want to work toward being the best me that I can be and being a positive influence for the people in my life.
—Teesha, au pair from Canada
I’m living in Cos Cob, Connecticut. My resolution for this year is to be amazed at the little things and the big ones. I want to remember every day that this year is a gift that I should enjoy to the fullest. I want to be amazed at the people who cross me on the road, at the new things I learn, what I see, smell, feel and taste. I am excited to know that I have life to see new places like Hawaii, to amaze myself with the Grand Canyon, to communicate in a different language, but I am also excited because before the end of the year, when I return to my family in Colombia, I will be able to give them a hug and tell them how much I love them, and how important is their presence in my life.
—Sara, au pair from Colombia
The thing I’m most excited about in the next year is finally meeting the little human being, which is living in my host moms belly right now. To see how this little baby grew from day to day and be part of this little wonder and his adventure called Life.
—Marie, au pair from Germany
I’m from Brazil currently living in Old Westbury, New York. For 2017 #myaupairresolution is to enjoy my last days with my host kids and family, because I’m about to finish my second year as an au pair. So the next few months I just want to spend my time with the little ones and fill my heart and mind with the happiest memories and love as I can, so I will remember them all year long.
—Anna, au pair from Brazil
Currently, I’m living in Connecticut and my New Year’s resolution is definitely to eat healthier (the US has way too good candy) and to enjoy my last seven months here by traveling as much as I can! Luckily, my host family supports me like they were my “real” family and try to show me as much as they can. But the biggest New Year’s resolution I have, which counts for all the years to come, is to come back and visit them regularly!
—Tamara, au pair from Germany
My au pair resolution for 2017 is to see as much of the USA as possible! I want to travel to Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon, Yellow Stone National Park, San Fransisco and more. The great thing about the USA is that the country is so diverse, and it has so many beautiful places to visit! I love to travel and to learn about new places, so that is definitely what I am most excited about!
—Michelle, au pair from the Netherlands
I live in Portland, Oregon with my host family and my resolution as an au pair is to make at least one really unforgettable experience with my host kids which will make them happy whenever they think about it!
—Jael, au pair from Germany
I want to try to meet more different people (in college, in the neighborhood, in the country and from the Au Pair in America program) and embrace the cultural and personal diversities. I want to learn from as many people about their culture as possible and get new friends all over the world.
—Sarah, au pair from Germany
I’m a German au pair, living in Ashburn, Virginia, with my amazingly awesome host family!
Somehow it is hard to just write down my New Year’s resolution. There is so much to do and to see in this country. I’ll start with the probably most amazing part which will occur next year for sure. I plan to visit my family at home to surprise them.Then, I will EXTEND for another year in the same host family, which makes the next year just perfect. I will have more time to explore the United States of America with all my friends that I luckily found, and I’m sure there will be many more. I have the time of my life and cannot imagine this to end anytime. I’m enjoying every little thing and just the fact to spend another year with my host family is reason enough, to call it a New Year’s resolution for me!
—Annalena, au pair from Germany
Since this is going to be my second year with the same host family, my resolutions are many. First of all, I resolve to continue providing my host family an extraordinary child care service and improve those aspects that can be improved; also to learn a new language (probably one of the languages my closest au pair friends speak so I can practice with them); I’d like to cross some things off my bucket list like skydiving (that would be a double resolution as I’d be also conquering a fear of mine); and finally I’d also like to travel, especially to the nearby Hawaiian Islands. I hope 365 more days with my amazing host family allows me to do all of these!
—Miriam, au pair from Spain
