Au Pair Application

Hello!
I thought I might as well post some of my answers to the most common question during the application and matching process:

Why I want to be an au pair:

It has always been my dream to become an au pair. Children are so exciting and I really love and enjoy working with them! I have so many ideas which activities I could do with them. My goal is to enrich their lives. As an au pair I have the opportunity to gather international work and study experiences and moreover further practice in dealing with children. I believe that children are the best teacher you can have in your life, because they are fully innocent and society hasn't touched them yet, therefore I am excited to see what your children can teach me about life. Furthermore; I feel like I am not fully done with my "American Dream", so I want to take the opportunity to get to know more of the USA and improving my english.

Please describe your experience with any household duties (cooking, cleaning..):

In our family everyone has to do specific daily chores like vacuuming, sweeping, dusting, cooking, walking the dog and so on. I also often cook for me and my younger "stepbrother" (my mother's boyfriend's son), when he is hungry. Obviously, if someone doesn't feel good or had a very exhausting day, I help them out with their tasks. Setting the table and putting up the dishes always does somebody who didn't cook that day. Additionally, I wash my own clothes and iron them. In Conclusion, i have experience with any kind of household duties.

Do you have a boyfriend or girlfriend?

Yes. My boyfriend is not going to be in Germany while I am gone, because he is doing an Au Pair or Work and Travel as well. When we were just dating for a few weeks, I visited my host family in Louisiana for a month and that was not an issue for us. Of course a month isn't a whole year, but by the time I leave we will be together for almost 2 years, therefore we do know each other like ourselves. We will stay in contact through texting, Skype and letters. Obviously this will not take place during my work time. As both of us trust each other fully, we do not see any issues regarding trust. Even if we realize we are not happy with being apart, I believe that is just how it is suppossed to be, therefore I will accept it. Overall, I don't worry about our relationship, because we know about the separation since we met.

Your views on raising children:

I feel confident and secure on working with children and I want to provide them individual attention. Children's safety and their well-being comes first! I believe raising children is about teaching them early on how to take responsibility e.g. by making them put their dishes in the dishwasher. Also, being strict when it comes to serious matters e.g. homework, cleaning their room, but at the same time being like a best friend or big sister for them. Children should be taught, respect, love, gratitude and patience to help them become a well adjusted, independant adult.

 I Hope I was able to inspire you to answer the questions as well!
Anne

Hostfamily letter

Hey Guys!
It took me so long to write my hostfamily letter, therefore I thought showing you mine could help you alot.

Dear hostfamily!

My name is Anne. I am from Frankfurt which is a busy city in western Germany. It is also called "Mainhatten", because it looks like a small version of New York and it is by the river Main. I am part of a huge patchwork family. Together with my mother (x), her boyfriend (x), two of his three sons (x 10, x 17, x 19) and our dog (Max), I live in a house with a garden in a more rural area. There is always something going on around our house (ex. people are over or game nights). Although, my parents are separated, I also have a great relationship with my father (x) who lives in downtown Frankfurt. I also have an older brother. His name is x (26) and he studies at a university near the French border. I have a very good relationship with my whole family. They always support me whenever I have a problem. Also, I am always helping out with the household chores. Therefore, it is not a problem for me to clean, cook, hover, iron and go shopping

Right now I am completing my senior year and am looking forward to graduate in July. 

I have my driving license since December 2015, but I have also driven a few times during my year abroad in Louisiana (2013/14). I have not had any accident, because I am a very careful driver.
The reasons why I want to go to America as an au pair are because I want to collect valuable memories with a new family and their great children and have the experience of an eventful year abroad with you and your children. I couldn’t imagine a life without children. I love to see them smiling, their shinning eyes on birthdays and Christmas and for example if they say “I love you”. Also it`s great to see how fast they grow up, how fast they can learn new things and it is gorgeous to reply to their thousands of question.
Secondly, I would like to further improve my english skills, because I am thinking of studying at a english University.

One of the attributes that qualifies me for taking care of children is my sense of responsibility. My friends know me as a nice, helpful, reliable, responsible and open-minded person. Also, I respect other cultures, religions and traditions.

I have several childcare experiences. For example: I gave riding lessons for 6 to 8 year olds; tutored in Math; completed an internship at a kindergarten (2 to 7 year olds) and babysat various different children. 
The one childcare that is probably most interesting for you is that I babysat a 10 and 5 year old during my time in Louisiana. Therefore, I already have some hands on experience with the american culture and the whole system. Also, I am aware of the “Do’s and Don’ts” in the USA. Obviously, I will adapt to your own style of life, traditions and views on raising children. 

I know that working with children comes with great responsibilities, but I am prepared to face every challenge that comes my way. However, in my opinion, children are a quite big luck. They enrich our everyday life and enchant us with her irresistible charm.

Thank you for reading my letter and spending time on getting to know me better. I hope you get a good impression of me and my life. If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to ask me.
I'm really looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Best wishes
Anne

I hope I could help you!
Anne

Pre Au Pair errands| Part One

Hey guys!
Today I want to show you everything I bought for my year abroad. Let's start with Toiletries.

Bobby Pins, Hair ties etc. from primark

My Carry On bag: sanitizing wipes and gel, to go tooth brush, floss sticks, deodorant,
deodorant wipes, hand lotion and mouth wash

 Training School Toiletries:

Make up remover and wipes. face cream. wash lotion, cotton pads and a face sponge.

Razors, After Sun Lotion, Sanitzer wipes, dry shampoo, Q tips.
I still need to pack sun lotion

Mouth Wash, Body Lotion and shower gel, hair mask, parfum lotion..
I still need to pack shampoo and Conditioner.

Everything to get me started in the hostfamily

cotton pads, make up remover and wipes.

Q Tips, face cream, deodorant and wipes, razors.

Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash, dry shampoo and hair lotion.

I hope I was able to help you a little bit on what to pack! (:

Anne

Pre Au Pair Tag

Hey Guys,
I decided to upload a video of the pre au pair tag, but because it is in german, I will quickly answer the questions on here in english!

Why did you decide to become an Au Pair?
> I've always loved working with children and see them grow up and I want to get to know the culture of others. A work and travel wouldn't be a good fit for me, because I rather travel and still have something to call home and come back to.

Why did you chose the USA?
>I've lived as a high school student in Louisiana for ten months and quickly learned through stays in North/South Dakota, that their culture is quiete unique. Therefore, I want to discover some more of the different cultures in this huge country.

Which agency did you choose?
>Cultural Care. I researched many agencies but it was the only one which made me feel 100% secure.

When did you apply for the Au Pair?
>  I applied in mid January.

How much experience do you have with children?
> I did: Baby sitting, riding lessons, tutoring, a internship at a daycare, working in a child drop off station of a restaurant, little siblings.

How long did it take you to find your final match?
> I started matching in February and final matched on March 11th, so around 3 months.

What was your first impression of your final?
>Before skyping with them, I thought we wouldn't fit together at all. But after we first skyped I knew they were the one.

How many kids will you take care of?
> Two girls (almost 3 & 4)

Where will you live?
> Arlington, VA. But almost in Washington DC.

What your 3 greatest fears?
>Rematch, the kids won't like me, and struggeling to find friends.

What will you miss most?
>Besides my family, boyfriend and friends, I will miss german bread and the amazing public transportation in Frankfurt.

What do you want to do when you return back home?
>I want to go to University for Media & psychology.

What does your family think?
>Obviously they will miss me a lot but they support me 100%!


Have a great day!
Anne

Questions to ask your family during matching!

Hello!
Today I'd like to share a few questions that might help you during your matching. It definetly helped me to get to know the families. Also, they were very impressed by my questions. So here you go!

• what is the favorite time of the day for the kids?
• what do you most love about the kids and what would you like to change?
• what are your favorite activities to do as a family?
• why did you decide to have an au pair instead of a nanny?
• What is a problem you had with your previous au pair? How did you solve it? How could we avoid it?
• What is the kids routine?
• What are they're favorite dishes?
• What would you do if one of them is throwing a tantrum or misbehaving in general?
• what are the 3 most important rules you have regarding the kids?
    Especially towards behavior ex. please and thank you, respect, kindness etc.
• Can I talk with your past/current Au Pair? 
  If they forbid contact until you matched, it is a huge red flag that they are hiding something! It may take some time of getting to know until they support contact to the previous au pair. 

Obviously, you need to ask them questions that you can't just ask everyone depending on their interests, Also, make sure you ask questions regarding every single family member so you can make sure they really fit!

I hope I was able to help you at least a little bit!

Anne

Final Match!

Hey guys!

I decided I will continue my blog in english, so it's more accessible for everyone. 

I know I haven't updated this blog since I started matching, but I had my written graduation exams in march (I passed them all wohooo!). The exams also hit my matching quiete hard because school was my priority and I even lost my first final match to school. I'll explain that another time because I have my real final now! 

When  I first read my families application, I thought we don't fit together one bit. But we skyped anyway and honestly I fell head over heels for them! I am so excited to live with them this coming year and take care of the most adorable two girls (3&4)! They live just outside of Washington DC (THE place I didn't want to move to, but now I am ready to explore and fall in love with the capitol!).

I will arrive in the training school July 11th and take the bus down to Virgina on July 15th!

That will be it for now, because I have to get back to studying for my oral graduation exams. I'll check back with you guys afterwards (possibly with a video!)

Have a lovely day! 

Anne