Au pair stories

Anna Påhlsson, au pair in Massachusetts
"I don't regret for a second that I went as an Au pair to the USA. My year in the States has change me for life and it gave me so many memories, experiences and new friends. To take the step and really go as an au pair can be hard and I think the preparation course was a good way to adjust to the country. My family lived outside Boston. They just had their first child and he was about ten weeks when I arrived in the family. The family did every thing they could to make me feel at home and I liked them a lot. They had a summerhouse on Cape Cod and we spend a lot of time there. To see a baby grow during a year is an amazing thing to see and experience. I loved him as if he was mine and I miss him so much now when I am back in Sweden. During my year I had the chance to travel and I took a weekend trip to Canada and the Niagara Falls. I did some studying too and first I took an English course and I also went with my friends to a college in New York for a weekend and took a course in regional identities. As an au pair you get friends for life and my friends and I did so much fun. The year went by so quickly so it was good that I had an extra month to travel. This year is something that I will always have with me, especially since I took so many pictures. To become an Au pair changed me to a better person and I will never forget my year. Why don't you take the change to go, it will be the best year in your life!"

Eva Linder, au pair in Florida
I’m really enjoying my time here in Fort Myers, Florida. Zan, the boy I’m looking after is so sweet. In April he’s going to get a brother or a sister. It has been a fun experience to be a part of my host mom’s pregnancy and I’m looking forward to the newborn child. My host mom travels a lot with her job and she often takes Zan and me along. I have already been in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Virginia, Colorado, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and of course in Florida. I spend time with au pairs from South Africa, the Czech Republic and Georgia. One weekend we went on a trip to Orlando where we visited Disney World and Sea World. We had lots of fun. There is a Swedish store in the area where I live. They sell Swedish souvenirs and some groceries such as "Kalles Kaviar", "Ekströms nyponsoppa", "Ahlgrens bilar" etc. I have been there a couple of times. One of the shop assistants is Swedish. She is from Gothenburg. She has lived in Fort Myers for twenty years. She lives close to me, so we have met a couple of times. It’s fun to speak Swedish once in a while. I’m so glad I took the step to become an au pair. It’s so much fun and the English gets better and better every day. So far this has been the best time of my life!

Cecilia Westermark, au pair in Ohio

”My year as an au-pair was a great experience. It has taught me a lot in life and has given me so many good memories. Before my trip began I was very excited, it felt like a dream although I felt insecure about being away from my family and my country for such a long time. My four first days in New York was a good time to adjust to the new culture and language. The course inspired me and I was looking forward to the life with my host family. It also gave me some good advice and ideas. I had time to do some sightseeing around New York with my new au pair friends and I really enjoyed the time. My family was very friendly and helpful and taught me how to get around in my new home. I got very close to the kids at once and I really enjoyed spending time with them. We always found something exciting to do; playing in the garden, hiking in the woods or practising some American and Swedish traditions. As it turned out, me and the family did not work so good together, so after four months I changed to another family where I stayed until I was going home. I am still in contact with both families.
I have never in my life been taking so many photographs as during my stay in the States. There are so many wonderful places to see and I did my best to travel as much as possible. I loved the culture and all the friendly people I met. I still miss the kids, my host dads food, the weather and all my friends.
I got the opportunity to take some English classes to improve my English even more, and I got my diploma. I found the au pair meetings exciting and we always did a lot of fun things together. The meetings were always a good time to meet new people and other cultures. I am glad now when I am back in Sweden that I found so many good friends all around the world and that I still have contact with some of them. I am happy that I took this opportunity to be with my host families and their kids, getting to know them.
It is good to have someone to talk to when you are back in your home country, someone who will have similar experiences as you. I will never regret my choice of becoming an au pair, although there were both great moments and some hard moments too during the year.”

Åsa, 20, au pair in Piedmont, California

I work for a family with 3 children, 4, 6 and 10 years old. Josh, who is the youngest, goes to preschool until 1pm every week day. He is a guy with a lot of energy and knows what he wants. Maria, who is 6, is a very sweet girl who dances ballet and loves to read. Christopher, who is the oldest, likes to have control and his biggest hobby is Lego's. Yvonne (Mom), is running a campaign for the school. She works a lot from home. Matt (Dad), is traveling a lot, is gone most of the week but comes home during the weekend.

I have enjoyed noticing the differences between life in Sweden and the U.S. Kids in the U.S. have more activities at an earlier age than I had as a kid in Sweden. I had a lot do after school as a kid as well, but not until I was 8-9. Maria who is 6 has ballet 2/week, takes piano lessons and has Brownies. To me that seems a lot for a 6 year old, but here it is normal! Over all I would say kids do a lot more stuff than we do at home in Sweden. They also express there feelings more and with stronger, clearer words then I am use to.

I have also liked learning about American holidays. It was almost Halloween when I came here, I knew it was bigger here than at home but I didn't think it was that big! The kids told me it is the second biggest day after Christmas. It was very fun to see...but I am glad it is not that big in Sweden, yet. We do not have Thanksgiving in Sweden, so I thought that was very interesting, and I tried a lot of different food I haven't seen before. I have also told my family about how we do things at home. On Christmas, for example, I made a dish that we eat on Christmas. Also at Easter, I told them how we celebrate. It is very different from the American way so they found that interesting. I have been teaching Maria songs in Swedish, and sometimes the kids ask how we say different things in Swedish which is fun.

There have been other things that are very different. In the beginning when I started driving here, I thought it was crazy and hard to turn right on red light, now I am afraid that I will do it when I come home! Leaving your shoes on while inside the house is another thing I was not use to. It is a lot of small things that are different from home but that I am use to now.

I have changed a lot during my time here and I am sure that I am doing a lot of things that they at home will think of as American. I will try to bring home some of the food, especially Mexican. I will also, I hope, bring home the American energy to do things. I have a very active life here and I love it. But the best thing that I will bring with me home is 'new eyes'. There are a lot of wonderful things I am going to miss when I go home, but I am also looking forward to seeing with 'new eyes' a lot of good things at home that I have taken for granted!