Becoming an au pair can be an amazing experience, but there are a few things I wish someone had told me beforehand.
1. Bring a small gift for your host family.
It doesn’t have to be expensive. A local craft, snacks, or a souvenir from your home country can go a long way. It’s a thoughtful way to introduce a part of your culture and helps break the ice when you first meet.
2. Your first host family might not be your forever host family.
Sometimes you and your host family just aren’t a good fit, and that’s okay. If things aren’t working out, you can look for a rematch through Facebook groups, AuPairWorld, or AuPair.com. Knowing you have options can be reassuring.
3. Don’t change families unless you really have to.
A rematch isn’t as simple as packing your bags. It usually involves paperwork, interviews, and a lot of back and forth. If the issues can be resolved through communication, it’s often worth trying first.
4. There is no such thing as a perfect host family.
Just like you’re adjusting to a new country, language, and culture, your host family is also adjusting to having a new person in their home. Give yourselves time to understand each other before jumping to conclusions.
Looking back, I expected everything to fall into place immediately. In reality, becoming an au pair is a learning experience for everyone involved.
If you’re already an au pair or you’ve been one before, what’s something you wish you knew before you started?