A recent au pair for a family with five children, Tammie from South Africa shares about her experience living with an American host family.
Read on to learn about her typical daily schedule, her favorite aspects of American culture, and what she’ll miss most about her time in the U.S.
Why did you choose to become an Au Pair in America?
I chose Au Pair in America because apart from it being something I’ve always wanted to do since I was in high school, I also wanted to gain independence and my own identity. I am an identical twin who was inseparable from my sister since birth, so the best way we thought to gain independence was to go ahead and fulfill our dream and au pair. She completed the program last year, and now it’s my turn!
Describe a typical day with your host family.
A typical day with my family would be to wake up and be ready for work at 7am. I help the 4-year-old twin girls get ready for school as well as care for the youngest daughter, who is 16 months. The youngest daughter stays home with me until 12pm, which is when the twins get home from school. During my time caring for the children, I do fun activities such as art, playing dress up (role plays), dance, prepare lunch and see to snacks when the children are hungry. My host boy gets home at 3pm, and I help him with homework if he needs help, and prepare his snack. When my host parents get home, we would talk about how our day went, joke around, have dinner and just relax together.
What do you enjoy the most about being an au pair?
I get to be part of an amazing family that has been loving and supportive throughout my journey.
What is the best part of life in the US?
The food! I love the food… But I also like the places I’ve been to so far and the people I’ve met.
What do you do during your free time?
I go the gym, Skype with my family and friends, go to the mall, take random short trips around the town with other au pairs, go to church and go for coffee at Starbucks!
What advice would you give future au pairs who are considering applying to be an au pair?
- Be mentally prepared for the small challenges that you could and most likely will face, such as homesickness, culture shock, etc. The positive side of it all is that you can do it!
- Be motivated in what you do each day.
- Love and care for the children you will be caring for.
- Finally, be prepared to have tons of fun not only while caring for the children, but also traveling to your dream destinations. Nothing is impossible!
Is your family in search of dependable, intercultural child care? Learn more about Au Pair in America and start viewing au pair profiles today!
