Need Advice Please
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Anonymous
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Au Pair Needs Advice:
I am an au pair for a family with three kids. Today my host parents told me that I'm not making an effort to learn the American way of speaking. I am from Ireland so English isn't a problem for me. They told me I have a month to start learning the American way of speaking and to start to engage the kids doing art work, which I have tired to do but the kids don't want to do it. I have no idea what to do and feel like just packing my stuff and going home and forget I ever made any effort to come to America. What should I do? |
Anonymous
| Isn't there a person from the agency who can mediate with your host family for you? |
Anonymous
+1 Your LLC or someone? You're not obligated to learn "the American way of speaking" and while it's understandable that they want you to do art projects, they don't sound like the type of parents you could ask for guidance on that. You must have an agency contact who can help out? Otherwise yeah, I think try to talk to them one more time and ask them how they'd like you to do XYZ, remind them that you're an AP not a nanny and will need instruction on some things, and if it doesn't improve...either find a new family or go home. I left an AP position after 4 months one time, it was just THAT bad. No sense in being tormented for the length of your employment if they aren't treating you kindly. |
Anonymous
| Wtf do they mean American way of speaking, if you speak English?? If you have attempted to do crafts with the kids and they aren't interested, keep a record of what you've tried to show your host family, and ask them what they have done in the past that has worked. Also look up some other activities more in tune with the interests of the children; baking, science, outdoor games, etc. |
Anonymous
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When "today" did they have that conversation with you?
Over breakfast or email? |
Anonymous
| OP here: Over breakfast. They said it in a matter of fact way. I will contact my agency during the kids nap. Thank you. |
Anonymous
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I would sit down and talk with them. Ask them specifically what they would like you to do differently...ask for specific examples.
If the kids don't like doing the crafts that you propose tell them...ask them for suggestions that they think the kids will like. try those suggestions...if it doesn't work tell them. |
Anonymous
| Please tell us what the agency had to say, op. Will they handle this for you, or leave it up to you to handle on your own? |
Anonymous
| They're assholes! Find a better family! |
Anonymous
OP_ They told me to work it out myself and do what the parents wish. They just don't want to get involved. They want to speak the way they do (they are from Georgia and have a strong Southern accent. They want me to act, speak and become just like an American because as they said "America is the best country and if you want to continue working here, you need to adjust and act like an American." They told me last night that they didn't want their children acting like me or acting Irish because apparently we are all drunken, uneducated "hicks." I am ready to pack up and go home. |
Anonymous
| I am so sorry. |
Anonymous
| The American slave trade at its finest. |
Anonymous
| I have a hard time believing this, but if its for real, you should be able to request a rematch right? Most families would not treat you this way, and would be plenty interested in you teaching the children about your country. |
Anonymous
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I have never written this before, but this really sounds like a troll posting to me. There is NO WAY an LCC from an actual AP agency would tell an AP to figure something like this out for herself.
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Anonymous
| Horror stories out of the mouths of babes. |