Tag Archives: host families

Host Families – Au Pair Experiences

“She is doing an excellent job with the boys – has really picked up on their personalities and how to deal with each of them.  She has really been a help around the house.  I like how she takes things in stride and doesn’t get easily rattled-definitely a plus in our household!”   (German au pair)

“I came home to hear of how they brought some snow inside in pans & used food coloring to play & do experiments with it, and then did a scavenger hunt!”   (German au pair)

“She really gets the boys and their creativity and embraces that, making efforts to encourage and support their play. The kids wanted to sell Christmas tress so she helped them set up a table at the end of their driveway, make a sign, etc. No customers on the dead end road, but the boys had a fabulous time!” (Brazilian au pair)

“She has logged some serious ‘family time’ with us over the holidays! She even got up at 6:30am to open presents with the boys, and went on our family road trip to visit the cousins in PA.  She skyped with her family a few times, and was happy that the packages she sent a few weeks ago finally arrived in Germany – just after New Years. ”   (German au pair)

“It’s am amazing thing to bring in a young woman and watch her become a part of our larger family. She just fits in so well. She has been a great big sister to our kids and somewhat of a little sister to us. I am confident that my kids are well cared for and loved when I am not there. She has been such a blessing. I am so sad thinking about her leaving, but so thankful for the time she was with us.” (South African au pair)

Our girls love being with her. She has become such a nice addition to the family. Her warm personality and demeanor has made it very easy for (us) to become comfortable with her and she with us. Her past experience with young children really shines through when she is spending time with the girls. We are so happy that we found each other!” (Spanish au pair)

“Things are going pretty well. She is really amazing with the boys. She wrote out a schedule for her & (the youngest), and made goals for him for the month (being able to take off his shoes by himself, walking to the playground, etc). When the big 3 were off school & she had everyone, she planned a whole day of Harry Potter-themed activities, crafts, recipes, etc. They loved it!” (Austrian au pair)

Photos by: Scrabble_retrofade_Virginia State Parks; Ilya-Haykinson

Handling Expenses

Host parents often ask for suggestions on how best to handle common expenses that occur as au pairs are caring for the children.

Miscellaneous Expenses

There are different ways to handle the little day to day expenses that come up.  Things like when an au pair takes the kids out for ice cream or picks up a gallon of milk.  Some families keep a cookie jar fund, a little cash that they set aside weekly or monthly for these types of expenses. Others give their au pair a prepaid debit card for this purpose. Below are some suggestions for avoiding problems with expenses.

Host Families

  • It’s important to be clear about how long this money should last and what types of expenses are approved.
  • Let the au pair know whether or not you expect receipts.

Au Pairs

  • Only spend the money on approved expenses.
  • If it is something you are not sure about, ask first.
  • Put your receipts in the cookie jar in place of the money to avoid any confusion.

Gas and Fare Cards 

Host families are responsible for the au pair’s transportation costs: to and from classes, cluster meetings and when driving the kids.

It is a good idea to figure out how much gas an au pair will use for these trips and either put gas in the car or give a gas allowance.   If your au pair is riding to classes or cluster meetings with another au pair, you should offer to share the cost of gas.

Au pairs are responsible for their own transportation at all other times.  You should replace the amount of gas used for personal use.

Photo: Andrea Travillian

Happy Anniversary to Au Pair in America!

On this day in 1986, Au Pair in America welcomed the first group of au pairs to the U.S. That first group of au pairs arrived from western Europe to provide child care, to study and to experience life in the United States firsthand. They participated in the pilot program for what has developed into the Au Pair program of the U.S. Department of State.

Thirty years ago a group of amazingly brave and adventurous young women embarked on a journey that would not only change their lives but the lives of those they met – each other, their host families, the staff of Au Pair in America, and the people of the communities that they would live in. Take a moment to  watch a wonderful video about this amazing opportunity and journey!

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Au Pairs gather in Washington DC

‪#‎aupairinamerica  #‎aupair30‬

 

 

 

DC Metro Area Cultural Fair 2016 at Nationals Park – HUGE success!

What a fantastic event!! Over 200 au pairs, representing 36 countries, proudly created amazing displays about their homelands! Many sang or danced or shared other skills. Samples of foods were very popular too with the guests! Over 1000 guests and visitors also attended! There were smiles and laughter, great conversations, sharing of time and talents! Our au pairs worked very hard to convey what is interesting, magical and special to them from their home country. Many of their own family members supported them by sending traditional clothing, personal items and even foods!

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Allison, from the Netherlands, did a fantastic job representing her country! Allison resides with a host family in Northern Calvert County.

Over 30 Au Pair in America Community Counselors panned and executed this year’s Cultural Fair. Our Community Counselors hailed from all regions of the greater Washington DC area from as far south as Richmond, north to Baltimore, east to Bowie and Annapolis,  south east to Southern Maryland, over to Cabin John, throughout Northern Virginia and even from Virginia Beach! They worked from March to May to organize all the pieces that went into the Cultural Fair.

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Enjoy the following photos from our amazing event!

DC Regional Cultural Fair – Sunday, May 1st 1-4p.m Rain or Shine!

Sunday might be a rainy day… so head out to Nationals Park to spend the afternoon warm and dry indoors at the DC Metro Area Cultural Fair.

Each child will receive a passport and can travel from country to country (35 in all!) as Au Pairs from our area present what is wonderful about their countries.  There will be performances all afternoon, plus face painting and coloring of international place mats to take home!

RSVP here.   Don’t have time to RSVP or want to decide last minute?  No problem!

Just show up and you will be more than welcome!

Invitation photo

Thanksgiving

Loren Kerns

At Thanksgiving, we pause and express gratitude to others.  This year I want to thank all my au pairs and host families for the love and support they give each other every day.  I also thank each au pair for sharing with me and my family about their culture, for demonstrating their bravery for coming from far away places and giving so much to their host families and their friends in America.  I appreciate the uniqueness of each of you. Your spirits, sense of humor, enthusiasm. It is an honor to be a part of your lives for this time and beyond. I love the relationships that have developed that last after an au pair returns home. I am thankful for the warm, caring host families in Southern Maryland who welcome some of the most wonderful young women into their homes and entrust the care of their children to them.  Host families who inspire, encourage, celebrate, cultivate and share their culture and customs. Host families that embrace each new au pair as a unique and special person. Host families that encourage an au pair to share her culture and customs and incorporate it to their family life. It is a beautiful thing to witness.

“The people-to-people ties and transfer of knowledge achieved through international education builds and sustains a more democratic, secure, and prosperous world that benefits the entire global community. International education and exchange is vital to our diplomacy efforts and establishes lasting ties between individuals today that translate into stronger relations between nations tomorrow.” -Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Evan Ryan

Some thoughts from au pairs current and departed about Thanksgiving:

“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 forty people and it was so nice to hear about everybody.”

‘I was super curious on Thanksgiving and what it was like. It felt like something truly American and I had never tasted turkey or pumpkin pie before (which I had learnt you ate a lot of during Thanksgiving) since we went to Chicago and I got to meet a huge part of my hm’s family that was also something I really looked forward to! So the whole holiday was all food, food and some more food! And ALL kinds of pies! I believe there might have been around 7-8 different pies. I had a great 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!!”

“I really enjoyed Thanksgiving with my host family. It was as I imagined! So much food to try. Everyone got dressed up and shared what they were thankful for. It was so warm and special. The next day we began to prepare for Christmas. It was magical.”

“I am really excited to be with the whole family. To see everyone gathered around the table. I am so happy thinking about the foods, some I have never tried. I am curious about pumpkin pie. I want to cheer football too and maybe shop on Black Friday!”

“I am looking forward to experiencing the traditions. All the family coming, sharing good things and food….my host mom says there will be so much food!”

I wish each and every one of you a Happy Thanksgiving!

-Photo by Loren Kerns