Au Pair USA – I like this place, and the best thing is that here are looooots of au pairs around.

Förnamn: Sara
Stat i USA: Connecticut
Antal barn: 1
Åldrar: 5år
Har varit i USA i (månader): 2,5 månader

What were your reasons for applying as an au pair?
The biggest reason was because I love taking care of children and I also wanted to explore the us. I wanted to learn about American cultural and I wanted to practise on my English skills.

Tell us about your host family:
My family have from day one always welcomed me as a member of the family. They ask how I feel and they ask If I wants to join them on the weekends, familyholidays and on vacations. They are very open minded and very easy to talk to. I never felt like a stranger in their house. I enjoy spending time with my host family!

Describe the area you live in:
The area we live in is awesome for a child. We have all the necessary stores, lots of playgrounds, pottery place to go to, we live near an aquarium.
Me and my kid have never been bored cause we always finds something to do. The weather is okay, sometimes to warm but you learn to live in it..
I like this place, and the best thing is that here are looooots of au pairs around. New york city is around the corner, outlets, malls, good restaurants, everything!
This is the perfect places for an au pair to live in! And the best thing is that it’s so easy to travel from here to the whole us!

What does a typical day look like?
I work around 30min in the morning (drive her to camp/school) and then I have a break to 1pm. I pick her up and we go to a park, go swimming, have play dates or whatever we wants to do. I usually tries to come home around 4-5pm and make dinner and then around 6pm its daddytime as my kid would say it!
When I have my break or after work I workout, meet my friends or relax in my basement. Me and my friends usually goes shopping or do something fun every Friday evening!
I have been bored maybe 1-5times since may.

What do/did or are you planning to study and why did or will you choose the course?
I’m going to take a class about Niagra Falls this fall. We have to do 3 classrooms lessons and then we get a trip up to Niagra Falls.
I’m also hoping to do some classes about travelling at Norwalk Community College. I’m probably going to do more credits than I needs to, because if I do 5 classes at Norwalk college I will get a certificate. I have so much time during my days that I don’t feel pressure about doing it!

Tell us about any traveling you have done or are planning to do:
Actually I have travel a lot, my first weekes here I went down to Washington DC and Virginia to visit a friend.
I have been to Atlantic City for a weekend with some of my friends! and my hostfamily let us take their car to drive down! That was awesome!!
I have been to New Haven and Yale university wich was kinda cool. And recently I travel to Cape Cod with my hostfamily!
Also I took the train down to Long Island one day with some friends, if you get the chance to go. DO IT!
And of course I have seen New York   City a lot! Love that city!

I have plans to go to Hawaii, Chicago, Boston, California soon. I tries to travel ”every” weekend, its not more expensive than you make it.
And traveling is my hobby!

What have you gained during the year?
The biggest lesson I have learn so far is probably that its okay to be homesick, to miss family and friends, and its okay to ask for help.
Actually I don’t know the answer in this question because there are so many things you discover about yourself every day. You deal with it and move on.
Sometimes this feels like a big freaking vacation and that home is the real world!

What has been the best experience so far?
That has to be how beautiful the country is. Some places are to die for and some don’t. But the funny thing is that america has it all. From where I come from you had to travel to another country to see something else but here you can just go to another city. I love that!

How have you been spending you pocket money?
The savings that I brought with me I haven’t touched yet. The 200dollar I earn every week is sometimes gone the next day and some weeks I have it all there.
I try to think that this is my year and if I wants to buy something silly I can do it you know. I don’t care that much about the money cause I’m not here to save the money! I’m here to spend and have a lot of fun!

What do/did you find most challenging about being an au pair?
How hard it can be to be tested by your hostkids, to make them trust you, and make them know that a no is a no. To set the rules can sometimes be difficult.
But I’m thrilled over how easy they take you on and how easy it is to speak to them.

Write a short message to girls thinking about joining Skandinaviska Institutet / Au Pair in America:
What you should know is that it is hard to be an au pair. You are not gonna come to wonderland but for the most you are.
I went with no expectations at all and I had no Idea about how to take place in the us.
This is the most funny thing I ever done. It’s like taking a break from your own life back home and just hang out for a year somewhere else.
Making new friends, exploring new cool places you didn’t even know existed is the best thing. To get a new family on the side of your own is also something you never will forget.
If you ever think about it just do it. I promises you that this will be the time of your life.
Au Pair In America is awesome! My family Is the first ”match” I got with them. I could always call them or send emails If I had to ask something. And they always replied quick. When I got my family and had to start with my visa I received a lot of paper about how to do it and everything was so simple!
The best part is that they are very cheap to go with! I would totally recommend them to you!