Namn: Frida
Plats i USA: Pennsylvania
Antal barn: 2
Åldrar: 6 and 7 years old
Har varit i USA i (månader): 2½ months
What were your reasons for applying as an au pair? It was to learn about the country, a different culture, language and meet new friends and people.
Tell us about your host family: My host family is good in all ways! There’s no problem, if I want to ask them about something I can just ask them. My family is busy, as all-american =), they are funny and very nice to be with. I really feel that I am a part in the family. They let me live my life. They treat me as a grown up and they accept what I am doing or if I eat some different food. I have nothing to complain over actually. Not for the moment, but for sure, some day I will.
Describe the area you live in: I live in a terrace house in a small town. The house is pretty big for being a terrace house. The house, I think, is quite new build and the area is nice and calm. It’s a lot of families in these houses around me too and it’s a lot of trees and deer. The ”centrum” is 10 min from my house and there is a lot of restaurants, grocery stores, some small shops and of course a Starbucks! It’s actually a very small area, but I have Philadelphia just 30 min away so that’s good!
What does a typical day look like? Both my host parents are working during the day. So I take up the girls in the morning and making breakfast for them, giving them a bath, helping them to get dressed and packing their snack bags. I start working at 7 am and the girls are leaving at 8.30 am with bus to school. So during the day I’m off. 3.45 PM the girls is coming home again and they got a snack and after that we doing the homework. My youngest girl has Down syndrome so it takes a little bit longer for her to do the homework. After the homework we play if there’s time for that, otherwise it’s dinner. And after dinner it’s bedtime and then I help them to brush their teeth and put the Pajamas on. So I’m off around 8Pm.
What do/did you study and why did you choose the course? I haven’t start study yet. I’m going to read ”wedding planner”. It’s just once a week for a month, but I think it will be fun and I will learn about something special.
Tell us about any traveling you have done or are planning to do: I have just ´been here for 2½ month now so I have just been in NY with some friends and Atlantic City with my host family. But I like it so far! I am planning to go to Florida this May with some friends from my home country. But more planes about that trip are coming up later. And then I have the last month here, I know already that I want to go to California and travel there for a month, but we’ll see. Everything can change!
What have you gained during the year? I have learned a lot how to live in another family, how they work and how to take care of their kids! I have learned to not judge people from other countries, learn to live the life and that having plans is good for you =) Have something to looking forward too!
What has been the best experience so far? To leave Sweden and come to USA. It’s a big step and I don’t think I realized what I was doing when I was applying for being an Au Pair. But for sure, to leave my life at home and live in a family that I didn’t know!
How have you been spending you pocket money? The money is always gone =) I have been shopping, travelling and drinking coffee. But I also had my money for a membership on the gym. Otherwise I will try to save a little bit now for travelling! But I have no problem to spend the money at all!
What do/did you find most challenging about being an au pair? To taking care of the kids, to do the right thing so the parents don’t have to complain of what I’m doing. To get along with the kids all the time. Patient!
Write a short message to girls thinking about joining Skandinaviska Institutet / Au Pair in America: Go! Go and experience about yourself and America. You will have an amazing year and you will have so much fun and meet so many different people. And the life you will leave for America, it will still be there when you’re coming back home again =)