Au Pair in America: live-in child care.

Life in the United States: Hints for Success

Hints for Success

1. Stay in touch with your Community Counselor
   • Call if you cannot come to a monthly meeting.
   • Let your counselor know if you will be out of town.
   • Call when you need help or advice.
2. Be a good buddy
   • Remember what it is like to be a new au pair. Welcome new arrivals.
   • Arrange to meet a new au pair.
   • Take her out.
   • Accompany her to the next cluster meeting.
3. Take responsibility for your actions
   • No one is perfect. If you make a mistake, take responsibility and try to correct the situation.
4. Respect the privacy of others
   • Gossiping about other au pairs and host families can be very harmful.
   • If your friends confide in you, honor the confidence.
   • Do not tell others about what goes on in other host families.
5. Communicate
   • Share your ideas, discuss cultural differences, ask questions when you don't understand.
   • If you have a problem, present it to your host parents clearly and calmly. Suggest a solution to the situation. Listen to what they say and try to reach a compromise.
   • Let your host family know if language is a problem. Admit if you do not understand a word or instructions. Ask questions.
6. Follow house rules
   • The only way you will establish trust is by following rules - even those with which you may not agree. If you are not sure of the house rule, ask.
7. Be considerate of your host parents
   • Keep them informed of where you are going.
   • Let them know if you are staying out overnight.
   • If you plan on traveling, discuss the details with them and do not interfere with their schedules. Remember that your host parents are tired when they get home from work.
   • Show appreciation - return the favors your family does for you with kindness and generosity.
   • Take initiative - don't wait to be asked, anticipate children's needs, offer to help when you are sharing "family time."
8. Set a good example
   • The children you care for look up to you. Don't do things in front of the children that their parents would not want them doing.
9. Shower or bathe regularly
   • Most Americans value cleanliness as a virtue. Families expect that their au pairs will bathe or shower regularly, wash hair frequently and change into clean clothes daily. Use deodorant.
10. Take care of yourself
    • Have reasonable expectations of yourself - be patient as you learn to adjust to life in America.
    • Try to understand and accept cultural differences - that is part of why you came here. Learn from the experience.
    • If you are feeling homesick or house-bound, call someone and give yourself something to look forward to.
    • Keep reasonable evening hours if you are expected to get up early to work the next day.