What's your best advice to au pairs?

[Anonymous]

'Then treat it as a serious commitment. '

What do you mean?

[Anonymous]

Watch out on families that had a lot of Au pairs an none of them extended.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Watch out on families that had a lot of Au pairs an none of them extended.

Umm,no.

Signed,
Host family on year 11 with no extensions, because we don't extend even though we have loved and been loved by nearly all our APs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Watch out on families that had a lot of Au pairs an none of them extended.

Umm,no.

Signed,
Host family on year 11 with no extensions, because we don't extend even though we have loved and been loved by nearly all our APs

LOL. +1
We have had 5 APs and we do not extend. That being said, one moved back to US and lives 4 miles from us and is as if she were our daughter and all have been back to stay several times. Our 4th AP is also coming back to US on student visa and selected her school to be within 20 miles of us. Extending is not our thing, we advocate they see another way of American life in another part of the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Watch out on families that had a lot of Au pairs an none of them extended.

Umm,no.

Signed,
Host family on year 11 with no extensions, because we don't extend even though we have loved and been loved by nearly all our APs

This falls in to the category of things APs think they want before they get here but realize they don't. Also on the list are weekends and vacations with families (they quickly realize they just want time off) and 1 school-age child (it takes a lot of energy to entertain one child, you have no one to talk to all day, and have to work weekend nights to finish off you hours)

[Anonymous]

Nailed it!

[Anonymous]

Maintain a blog about your year abroad, in your native language
Tell juicy details about the father trying to flirt with you, and how you found out he is having an affair, be mean about the host mothers weight and criticize everything about their diet, how they do not discipline the kids, how uncivilized and uneducated/dumb they seem

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maintain a blog about your year abroad, in your native language
Tell juicy details about the father trying to flirt with you, and how you found out he is having an affair, be mean about the host mothers weight and criticize everything about their diet, how they do not discipline the kids, how uncivilized and uneducated/dumb they seem

HM here -- be careful how you pick your friends. Yes -- go make friends, but just like back home, find positive, peaceful people to have in your life. Some people are mean spirited and love to complain. Don't spend a year complaining about the little things. Do your best to make this a lovely experience. If your family isn't great, make good friends, travel, dive into culture, enjoy local foods and festivals. If you're host family is great, even better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good suggestion above. Really focus on the family and if you feel comfortable/have a connection with them.

Then treat it as a serious commitment.

Ask a lot of questions. If there's anything you don't understand or need repeated, please ask.
Half of the problems between APs and families are just communication problems and bad assumptions being made.

Stay off your cell phone while working.

Ask for, and read thoroughly, the AP manual before you commit to match, and then again when you arrive.
Most HPs spend a lot of time on these manuals and they really contain all their rules and expectations

Great advice and give the HP some time to download and prep/plan for the next day st night. Give them a little space.

+1 our rock star au pair came to us with a printed, laminated copy of the manual. Our below stellar au pair revealed to us that she had her parents review it and they told her what questions to ask....