Stay in touch with your Community Counselor

• Reply to your counselor’s monthly email update requests.

• Call if you cannot come to a monthly meeting.

• Let your counselor know if you will be out of town.

• Call when you need help or advice.

Be a good buddy

• Remember what it is like to be a new au pair. Welcome new arrivals.

• Arrange to meet a new au pair.

• Take her out.

• Accompany her to the next cluster meeting.

Take responsibility for your actions

• No one is perfect. If you make a mistake, take responsibility and try to correct the situation.

Respect the privacy of others

• Gossiping about other au pairs and host families can be very harmful.

• If your friends confide in you, honor the confidence.

• Do not tell others about what goes on in other host families.

Communicate

• Share your ideas, discuss cultural differences, ask questions when you don’t understand.

• If you have a problem, present it to your host parents clearly and calmly. Suggest a solution to the situation. Listen to what they say and try to reach a compromise.

• Let your host family know if language is a problem. Admit if you do not understand a word or instructions. Ask questions.

Follow house rules

• The only way you will establish trust is by following rules – even those with which you may not agree. If you are not sure of the house rule, ask.

Be considerate of your host parents

• Keep them informed of where you are going.

• Let them know if you are staying out overnight.

• If you plan on traveling, discuss the details with them and do not interfere with their schedules. Remember that your host parents are tired when they get home from work.

• Show appreciation – return the favors your family does for you with kindness and generosity.

• Take initiative – don’t wait to be asked, anticipate children’s needs, offer to help when you are sharing “family time.”

Set a good example

• The children you care for look up to you. Don’t do things in front of the children that their parents would not want them doing.

Shower or bathe regularly

• Most Americans value cleanliness as a virtue. Families expect that their au pairs will bathe or shower regularly, wash hair frequently and change into clean clothes daily. Use deodorant.

Take care of yourself

• Have reasonable expectations of yourself – be patient as you learn to adjust to life in America.

• Try to understand and accept cultural differences – that is part of why you came here. Learn from the experience.

• If you are feeling homesick or house-bound, call someone and give yourself something to look forward to.

• Keep reasonable evening hours if you are expected to get up early to work the next day.

Safety