Au Pair – Life in America

Life in America – I often ask my current and former au pairs to share their au pair experience. I am curious about their experiences, not only professionally, but personally.  They reflect the views of the individual au pairs, so please enjoy them in the spirit they are intended – interesting, often amusing cultural reflections.

HOLIDAYS:

Christmas –

“The day before Christmas morning we baked some cookies for Santa and afterwards we watched Home alone which is kind of a tradition in my family. And then an early start in the morning with the unwrapping of the gifts. Ending the day with a great dinner. Really enjoyed the holiday season.”   -German au pair

Go to Michael’s and see how much decorations stuff are there for Christmas or the ornaments store at the Annapolis souvenir street near the Naval Academy.”   -South Korean au pair

I spent my Christmas in San Francisco and it was amazing. Never before I was able to wear a short sleeve dress, but it was so warm! We opened the German presents on 24th and the other in the morning of 25th. It was really traditional and after all we went into the city to see all the Christmas decorations!

This year I secretly wish for a Bath and Body Works in Germany, because all the different flavours – I love them! I also bought a Yankee Candle, because that is what means a little American part to me in the best time of the year! ”   -German au pair

Halloween –

I remember I let my 4yo choose what I should be for Halloween so he said I have to be Minnie Mouse. Said, done! Really funny. When we were out to walk through the neighborhood it was raining but two of my boys wanted to go to every single house in our neighborhood and not stop before its done. My 4yo was tired so I had to carry him the whole time. When we finished hours later we were soaking wet – and so was all the candy. Tragic because so the kids couldn’t keep it all! The next day I celebrated Halloween with friends at Ultrabar DC, where there was a mask ball for Halloween. Really cool!!”   – German au pair

“I have already carved some pumpkins with my host mom and host kid we had a lot of fun doing that! And excited about all the kids in costumes!”   -Netherlands au pair

“Carving pumpkins,Trick n treating basically everything about Halloween we don’t have it back home so I’m very excited about it.”   -South African au pair

I just remember walking around the whole neighborhood trick or treating for hours looking at all the really creative costumes and the decorative houses and yards really was a great day.”   -German au pair

“It was really cool and funny to go to the Halloween party last year. All the games we played,  trying all the new kinds of food, and being together with your friends. To get dressed up it is like being a kid again.”   -German au pair

It was my first Trick’n Treating experience since we don’t do that in South Africa… It was sooo much fun and I felt like a little kid again. Doing it with my 2 boys was so special and seeing the joy on their faces made my heart sooo happy!!!”   -South African au pair

I remember having the Halloween I always imagined. We even had fireworks in our backyard!”   -German au pair

Thanksgiving –

“Thanksgiving was actually one of my most favorite holidays in the states. We went to Ohio to spent it with family. Watching Macy’s Parade while cooking the dinner and baking some pie. After eating the fantastic food watching some football and then of course some Black Friday shopping. It was amazing!!”   -German au pair

To be honest: I didn’t know that Thanksgiving was such a big holiday before I spent my year there. It was a really nice day. We started off with breakfast, cooking and baking in our pajamas and then we got ready and we were all dressed really chic and went off to my host mums part of the family in DC. There we had a lovely dinner with everything you can imagine! Everybody also had to say for what he or she is thankful, we were around fourth people and it was so nice to hear about everybody. ”   -German au pair

MAKING FRIENDS FROM AROUND THE WORLD:

It means everything in my eyes. The friends you make become your family! I loved how fast you became friends since neither one of you know anybody in the beginning and we’re strangers to the area and even the country! You understand each others situations. We are all far away from family, friends and everything we know. I mean, not often would I go to a strangers house, pick this someone up in my car and go to a restaurant or similar without even thinking twice about who this person could be? All I know is that we are both Au pairs and that kind of makes us good friends even before meeting up What worked the absolute best for me when I got a bit of homesickness was to spend time together and come out and do stuff with friends! The best medicine. 

I’ve also learnt a lot about other countries through the new friends I’ve made. You don’t come to America and just learn about the American culture but also about other countries’ cultures! I haven’t been home for very long but I hope to be able to travel to a lot of countries one day and visit with friends!”   -Swedish au pair

TRAVELING:

New York and Chicago definitely!! Boston is nice if it’s not raining the whole time. Florida especially Miami and Fort Lauderdale. And of course the west coast Las Vegas, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara and LA. I also did a day trip to the Bahamas from Fort Lauderdale which was pretty cool as well .”   -German au pair

Florida is great for a week of vacation. All the other big cities on the east coast are okay for weekend trips, Philly even for a day trip. And of course NYC, never gets boring!! I stayed at Chelsea Hostel a lot. Perfect location, cheap, nice staff and lots of travelers to meet there. Also, I would recommend not just to visit the very famous cities at the east coast, but also some cute ones down south like Richmond, Williamsburg, Charleston or Charlotte.”   -German au pair

I can also recommend Hawaii if you safe enough money to go there. A cheap place to stay is also to be found with airbnb. I had so much luck with the people I met who showed me the whole place. But California is definitely my favorite.”   -German au pair

In general I would say, the HI-hostels are a good place to stay, no matter where you go. The location is great, they are cheap and offer a lot of advice and Information about the different attractions – also discounts on tickets for skydecks or similar. I’ve been to the one in NY, Boston and Chicago. For Miami Beach I would recommend the International Student Hostel (I think that’s what it’s called). They offer three meals a day and it’s the perfect location, very close to the beach, clubs, shopping and so on!”   -German au pair