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[quote=Anonymous]I continue to appreciate your kindness rather than being inflammatory and always appreciate a respectful debate.  I would ask you to consider why, given all the information that is out there that au pairs post (have you been on the au pair forums - they are very honest about their experiences), thousands of new candidates apply every day.  I disagree with you that they are not able to find full information about the program.  And they are always more than welcome to return home at any time should they find that the program isn't what they thought they had signed up for.

Additionally, I really don't understand why you think they are "certainly" not paid enough to do any real travel.  I've had four au pairs and all of them have traveled extensively.  Most au pairs do.  You really don't think that if you had literally all of your expenses paid, you wouldn't be able to travel anywhere on $800 or $1,000 a month?

My au pair this year has taken a week-long trip to Miami, three long weekends in NYC, is planning her travel month trip to Hawaii, and has frequent weekend trips all over the DC area and to Philadelphia.  All on her stipend.

And finally, I would suggest that you not lump all host parents together.  As I mentioned, our au pairs don't work weekends, frequently have three-day weekends, have full use of a car, and don't have a curfew.  There are variations of those throughout the host family population, but in all cases, agencies tell us host parents to be clear about what we will offer and all au pairs are free to choose their host family, based on what they're offering.  If they arrive and find that they can't handle it, or that their host family changes their tune, they are more than welcome to go into rematch or go home.

Yes, the program benefits me, a relatively "rich" and yes, white American, in that I have childcare for a split schedule for my school-aged children.  It benefits my au pair because she has the opportunity to live with a US family, perfect her English, have a great year of growth and experience and travel.  Win win![/quote]

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