If like many American families you are not quite familiar with the concept of “exchange students” or “hosting an au pair”, you may be reluctant to the idea of housing your childcare provider.
With childcare, there is not a ”one-size-fits-all”, however, with thousands of au pairs placed each year encompassing many cultural and childcare experience backgrounds, we most likely have an au pair that truly “fits” with your family!

So let’s discuss a few points regarding the “live-in” aspect of the au pair program, to help you figure out if you are “host family material”!

From reluctant to passionate…

In my personal experience helping to place au pairs with families, I have observed that parents that expressed the most reluctance to the live-in aspect of the program became the most passionate about their au pair! There are many advantages with hosting an au pair that may not come to mind when first considering the program:

1. They are always available and dedicated to your family >> no competition with other family or job and continuity of childcare for 1 - 2 years
2. They are already in the home, so there are no traffic delays or snow days with no childcare
3. They live, eat and sleep in your home >> participate in ”roommate”/ family chores
4. They can work split shifts, working hours can be changed week to week >> provide flexible schedule
5. They come to know your children very well and become more than a childcare worker >> “big sister or brother” figure

Setting Boundaries

A big part of the success of the program for our families is communication. Setting the right expectation from the beginning about the level of involvement in your family life you expect from your au pair will be most beneficial for everyone involved, starting at the initial phone interview. These boundaries can be defined in time, opportunity and location.

“Homebody” vs. “Explorer” Au Pair

If you prefer an au pair that is mainly there just during her working hours, you can opt for an au pair older than our average of 20 years old, and/or that has already lived on her own, studying or abroad.
Important Note:Age doesn’t always determine maturity level (I was 18 but had already been an au pair for 3 months in London, and live in Belgium, Texas, Germany, Spain for 2 - 4 weeks at a time; so more independent).

Either way and regardless of personality, your au pair will quickly get “plugged in” to our au pair network, managed by your local childcare coordinator, and make friends quickly. You do not need to feel responsible for your au pair’s entertainment; friends, classes and local festivals/ activities will keep them busy.

Some families prefer an au pair that will get involved in families activities and stay around for dinner and games, because they truly enjoy the cultural exchange aspect in their daily, busy lives.
You may find that you really value the relationship you build with your new family member, beyond work and the benefit of childcare. Most of our families keep in touch with their au pairs many years after they have departed, and end up visiting them in their home countries once their children are older.

Contact me to discuss the live-in aspect of the au pair program and other questions you may have!

Living far away from family you are close to can be a challenge, especially when an important family event takes place, like a wedding or… the birth of a nephew!! I am excited to announce I am a new “auntie”, “tata Nadia” in French…

Aymeric, my new nephew, born March 5, 2010... far away in France!

After living the latter for the first time with my parents’ first “grandchild” born last Friday, it made me think of what our au pairs may feel when they miss out such events during their au pair year, and how to help them through it…

Using Technology To Overcome Distance

I got a phone call at 6:30am that my nephew had just been born an hour ago, then I got an e-mail with the first digital photos 4 hours later, and I will be able to use my webcam/ headphones via Skype to see the baby live! I must say technology is quite amazing (my grandma says she can’t understand how her daughter and I got to see the baby before she did, when she is only 10 miles away…). Seeing the picture of my nephew and talking to my sister made me almost feel like being there… and I had no idea it would be such an emotional moment.

Your au pair can use so many tools to keep in touch with family, from e-mail, phone to Skype, facebook and twitter… It is not quite like being together, but it helps an au pair to have the support from family & friends back home to go through her year and preventing homesickness.

Feeling Home Away From Home

As a host family, your role in helping your au pair through tougher times (just as your au pair will help you when your family is in a bind…) is essential. Feeling supported, cared for and embraced as a family member will help your au pair to know she has a “home away from home” with you…
In addition, feeling like her work with your children is validated and appreciated will help him/her to know they are “needed here” and that they can not give into emotions of melancholy, sadness or regret.

Local Support

Such situations also warrant for your local childcare coordinator’s experience and the support of your au pair’s new friends. They can share with your au pair similar situations they have been through and what helped them to overcome them.

Visiting Home

Another idea is to set a goal for your au pair. If after a few months into her first year, you want her to stay longer and she agrees to extend the program with your family for a whole year, why not offer to help her with a vacation home before the end of her first year? This would be quite motivating and encourage her to work hard to earn that trip… that is a great way to make the most of your cumulated miles while ensuring continuous childcare, with a nanny you really like and appreciate, for up to two years.

Now I just need to figure out when I can visit my family next… before Christmas!
Je t’aime Aymeric et bienvenue au monde!!

The spring season represents new beginnings - which makes now a great time to secure your childcare by hosting a Cultural Care au pair. You are entitled to a $350 program fee discount when you apply by March 31, 2010. Your weekly cost is just $330-or $7.30/hr (per family, not per child).*

Cultural Care Au Pair, America’s leading au pair agency, has hundreds of qualified candidates ready for immediate placement, so you can start matching today!

In addition to the largest pool of qualified au pairs, we offer:
- Three ways to match with potential candidates
- A “Peace of Mind Guarantee” - your family’s financial safeguard
- A Placement Manager to help you find just the right au pair for your family
- A Local Childcare Coordinator in your area to provide year-long support

 In order to qualify for the discount, contact me at 864-373-3302 or via e-mail (nadia.price@lcc.culturalcare.com) to discuss your specific needs and obtain your promotion code.

I look forward to answering your questions!

Nadia Price
Au Pair Program Consultant
Georgia, Florida, North & South Carolina

*To qualify for Spring Savings, you must be new to Cultural Care Au Pair, apply between March 1 and March 31, 2010 and welcome an au pair into your home by October 22, 2010. Average weekly/hourly cost is calculated including the Spring Savings discount. Total savings cannot exceed $650.

As part of Cultural Care Au Pair’s mission to break down barriers of culture and language through educational exchange, a group of local childcare coordinators and staff recently visited South Africa to see firsthand the difference the donations from the Cultural Care community have made through our charitable organization Kids First.

Cultural Care Au Pair staff with the children of Ubuhle Babantwana Care Center

Since it’s inception in 2004, Kids First has supported many worldwide organizations that work with at-risk youth. From the daycare center in Brazil to the school library in New Orleans to an orphanage in Russia, Kids First has supported a wide range of global organizations. Our most recent work at an orphanage and daycare center in a poverty-stricken township outside Capetown, South Africa is another great example of the work we are doing worldwide.

Cultural Care staff and LCCs had an opportunity to visit several projects funded through CHOSA, an organization that Kids First supports. CHOSA provides support to programs that work with at-risk children and their families to provide nutrition, medication, clothing, food, shelter and an education.

During the service visit, those who participated had a chance to visit the Ubuhle Babantwana Care Center, which helps 150 children, some of whom are HIV positive. Donations received from au pairs, host families and Cultural Care LCCs and staff have provided funds for the building of a new structure for the infants and toddlers in the center. The group from Cultural Care Au Pair had an opportunity to see the new structure, meet the inspirational director and dedicated teachers and had some time to play with the children.

In addition, the group visited the Ilitha-Labantwana Place of Safety, the Philani Child Health and Nutrition Project, the Emasithandane Children’s Project and the Baphumulele Children’s Home. The Cultural Care team is now bringing their experience back to the U.S. to raise awareness, and additional funds for even more projects that Kids First supports.

“Our Kids First trip to Cape Town was truly amazing and inspiring,” says Local Childcare Coordinator Trudy Mar. “The work, effort, love and sacrifice the women heading up these projects give to all of the kids goes well beyond what most of us could imagine. If one little body sleeps better, eats better and smiles more, we’ve helped to change their future and make the world a better place. Every dollar we raise for Kids First definitely does make a difference.”

For information about how you can make a contribution to Kids First, or raise awareness for the programs it supports, visit http://www.culturalcare.com/aboutus/kidsfirst/ or contact me directly.

Each year, the International Au Pair Association (IAPA) selects one au pair as the winner of their “Au Pair of the Year” Award. In 2008 and 2009, Cultural Care au pairs have won this prestigious honor (see VIDEOS on our website). Au pairs must be nominated for this award. I had the honor to meet 2008 winner Linda Falter from Germany: her work with two special needs children was absolutely amazing and her host family testimonial made me cry!

Here are the three nominations that Cultural Care Au Pair has submitted for consideration for Au Pair of the Year 2010: 

More than a trend or personal preference, eating healthy is a very important undertaking for most families. Ensuring your children receive all the nutrition they need while limiting the amount of sugar (good and bad) they eat between school, friends and home can be a challenge. Why not have your au pair get involved?

Au pair baking with the kids... organic low-fat cookies?

• Food Allergies- use your communication log to carefully list all foods your children are allergic to and go over that list together, showing your au pair the ingredients or types of food in question.
• Vegetarian or Vegan- it is a good idea to discuss any special diet (whether for health or religious reasons) your family follows before your au pair’s arrival. Explain what you cook and what the restrictions are, and ensure she understands and agrees to follow the diet for foods prepared for your children.
• New Year Resolutions and Diets- as a host parent, why not set weight-loss and exercise goals with your au pair and keep each other accountable? Having a common goal is a great way to become closer and build a strong relationship with common interests.
• Low-Sugar/ Low-Carb/ High-Fiber - let your au pair know in detail what foods you expect her to prepare for your children and which foods they are only allowed in small quantity or occasionally. Let her know also your expectations for her own consumption of candy (if these should be kept in her room to avoid tempting you or the kids for example).
• Sharing Dinner Preparation - if your au pair is a good cook, why not discuss what meals you would like to cook together or have her prepare during her working hours for the whole family to enjoy? Surely they are some healthy recipes and tasting foods she can share that will add to the cultural exchange aspect of the program.
• Grocery Shopping- if you are asking your au pair to help with grocery shopping as part of her duties, make sure you let her know what brands/ types of each item you need her to buy. Share with her how to read American food labels and ingredients, and what you look for when choosing which foods are appropriate for your family.

Enjoy the journey of sharing healthy eating habits with your family and your au pair… Don’t forget to enjoy the fresh foods and delicious dishes prepared. After all, for us French, eating is about sharing pleasurable cuisine in a joyful and sociable atmosphere: bon appetit!

Watch Jennifer Ward, Director at Cultural Care Au Pair (and also a host mom) explain the options families have to find the right au pair candidate for their family: personalized exclusive matching, consultative matching and our ”Search and Select” option. 

Also read my previous posting ”Finding your au pair: 3 ways to match” or contact me at 864-373-3302 to get your questions answered.

When discussing the au pair program, the first questions I usually answer are about the au pairs (background, qualifications, screening) and the arrival process (time frame, matching, program fees and payment options). However, there is often an expectation that a host family is required to provide all sorts of “amenities” to their au pair. Therefore I thought I would clarify what the actual requirements are versus added benefitsthat some families choose to provide to their au pair because their situation enables them to do so.

All participating host families must be:

• Committed to cultural exchange and willing to welcome a young person from abroad into their home as a family member
• Both parents must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents
• The parent(s) or guardian(s) of children requiring up to 45 hours per week of childcare
• Able to provide a private bedroom
• Available to attend at least one orientation meeting and family conference per year 
• Willing to abide by the guidelines set forth by Cultural Care Au Pair and the U.S. Department of State.

The reason behind the host parent residency status…

Just as much as American host families expect cultural exchange and exposure to a second language for their children, au pairs expect to have the opportunity to experience the American way of life and improve their English. While multicultural and bilingual families are a great fit for the program (with an au pair reinforcing the language of origin of one parent), there is an expectation for the parents to ensure they communicate in English to their au pair. They will also have the ability to expose the au pair to their home culture as well as the way of life in their corner of the USA.

Should the bedroom have a private bathroom?

While a private bathroom is a nice additional feature for an au pair, it is not a requirement. Your au pair can share the children’s bathroom, however, you can help to welcome your au pair by creating a locked or separate shelf space for her to use. Also her own area to hang towels or keep styling tools will help to keep the kids away from her stuff.

Do au pairs have their own car?

Au pairs are 18- to 26-year-old students from abroad and will not have their own transportation. If your au pair is required to drive the children, a family car should be available for her to perform her duties. You will have matched with an au pair with a driver’s license, however, it will be important to give time to your au pair to familiarize herself with driving your size car in your area.
You should also let her know what your expectations are for personal care use (gas usage, distance, curfew) if available. Not all au pairs have access to a car for their off-time, especially in large metropolitan area with public transportation. Maybe there is an au pair in your neighborhood she can “buddy up” with that can take her places with her. You will be required to drive her or provide car access to one au pair meeting per month.

Do au pairs have a driver’s license? 

Most au pairs have a driver’s license and their application will describe whether they are comfortable driving your children and driving in the USA. Although her international driver’s license will be valid for up to 90 days in South or North Carolina for example, you will want to encourage her to take the driving test at your local DMV as soon as possible. An American driver’s license will be best for use as I.D., to open a bank account and for adding your au pair to your car insurance.

As always, contact me for any questions or comment here so your question can be shared with our readers.

Although an international holiday, Valentine’s Day is celebrated quite differently in the USA than in other parts of the world. In France for example (my home country), that day is dedicated to love & romance, couples exchange gifts or go out to a romantic dinner… and if you are single, you feel quite left out.

A great oppotunity to make your au pair feel loved and part of your family!

In America, it is so nice that women exchange cards with their friends, family members may exchange small gifts or treat someone special in their life. What a great opportunity to make your au pair feel special and appreciated, by offering her a nice box of chocolate or candy from her home country or your favorite kind you want to share with her!
And if the date is a landmark for the time you and your au pair have spent together so far, or she has worked really hard and you want to encourage her, an inexpensive fashion jewelry piece (heart-shaped or with the symbol of your State - Palmettos are pretty!) or Starrbucks/ B&N/ Blockbuster gift card might be nice too.

… especially when you involve the kids or extended family!

With Cultural Care Au Pair’s logo being a ♥ heart,representing cultural exchange and sharing friendship, our local childcare coordinators definitely encourage our au pairs to come up with a craft to do with the kids as a gift for their parents… But wouldn’t it be nice for your au pair to also receive a hand-written card from your family?

Date night, really?

A special gift from you would indeed mean a lot to your au pair, especially if you are asking her to baby-sit on Valentine’s night. Well yes! The nice thing about hosting an au pair, is the flexibility of schedule. If you have a few hours left over from your week, why not arrange a night when your au pair goes out with friends, and one night when you go out with your spouse/ significant other? Now all you need is a reservation… HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!

With our largest pool of au pairs from Brazil arriving between January and March, I thought I would cover a few highlights about our largest recruitment country in Latin America. Brazilian au pairs are very family-oriented, flexible and caring. For them, being an au pair in the USA is really making a dream come true.

Fast Facts

• Capital: Brasilia
• Population: 188,078,227
• Currency: Real (BRL)
• Government: Federative Republic
• Religion: Roman Catholic (nominal) 73.6%, Protestant 15.4%, Spiritualist 1.3%, Bantu/voodoo 0.3%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.2%, none 7.4% (2000 census)
• Climate: mostly tropical, but temperate in south

The Language

Portuguese is the official language of Brazil.  Some people also speak Italian and Spanish, among other languages. 

Useful phrases

Olá!                          Hello!
Bom dia                    Good morning
Como está?               How are you?
Muito obrigado        Thank you very much
Sim                          Yes
Não                          No

The People

The population of Brazil is approximately 188 million people living in five states: the North, Northeast, West-Central, Southeast and the South. People in the Northern states are spread out and very technologically advanced. The Amazon River is located here and some tribes live off the river. The Northeastern states are characterized by countryside and a small art sub-culture that attracts artists and musicians.  There is a very rich culture in the southeastern state of Brazil, where Rio de Janeiro is located.  This is the part of the country that most foreigners have in mind when they think of typical Brazilian culture.

Brazil has a very diverse population with different ethnic groups:  those of European descent (which includes Portuguese, German, Italian and Spanish) represents 55% of the population. Approximately 38% are of European and African descent; those of African descent make up 6%, while others (including Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) make up 1% of the total population.

Cultural Tips for a Brazilian Au Pair

Without stereotyping, these are some cultural traits common to au pairs from Brazil:

• Affectionate and family-oriented: Brazilian families are close-knit and therefore our au pairs look forward to becoming part of your family for 1or 2 years and being included in some family activities
• Passionate and joyful nature, enjoy laughing and singing together
• Enjoy sharing their culture from music and songs to Brazilian foods and traditions
• Non-confrontational and respectful: it is important for the host family to watch the au pair’s body language and address any potential issues or concerns the au pair may have
• Brazilians must have 105 hours of driving practice to get their license.  In addition, there is virtually no public transportation in Brazil so they are quite used to driving.  Having said this, like all of our nationalities, Brazilians will need time to adjust to the larger size of American cars and American highways at the beginning.  Giving them time to practice at the beginning is very helpful.

View the “available au pairs” section of my blog and contact me for more information on hosting an au pair from Brazil!