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Calling all au pairs – past and present – this is your page. Do you have valuable advice to share? Experiences that would benefit others? A great au pair story you’d love to share? If so please add it in the comment section on this page.
Questions are also welcome – we will do all we can to answer them. And if you have an answer, don’t be shy!
You can also submit your info/advice/stories to info@bestaupair.com, and we will be sure to share it.
We’d love to hear from you!
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:20 am
Hi i’m Holly and i’m from england. I’m starting work as an au pair in the stuttgart area of germany in a few weeks and dont yet know anyone. Just lookin for tips an hints of what 2 expect and i came across this site! I noticed that talia is also an au pair in this area. Anything special you suggest i visit while im living there? Also wheres good to go and meet new people? xx
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:35 am
Holly – I hope you enjoy your time in Germany! Which town are you in? I worked in Kornwestheim, which is in between Stuttgart and Ludwigsburg. I was there in 2000-2001, so I am not sure how much has changed, but there was a lot to do in the Stuttgart area. It did, however, take a while to meet people. My German class was where I first started meeting people, then I made connections from there. If you aren’t taking a course, then you’ll have to work a little bit harder to make friends, but you can start with your host family. Does your host family know other families who are hosting au pairs? Do they have relatives or friends who are close in age to you? They may be able to introduce you to some other people.
As far as places to go, I personally enjoyed the festivals in Ludwigsburg. There were also good special events (film screenings, parties, etc.,) held at the universities in Stuttgart. Area events magazines, which can be found at the train station and in newspaper stands, have the local goings-on listed, and are an excellent resource. If you’re adventuresome, you can go out alone until you make friends, which might be more fun than staying at home when you’re off the clock. At the very least, this time of year you have the beautiful Christmas markets to enjoy, where there are unique holiday items and delicious food and drink for sale.
In any event, please let us know how your au pair experience is, and come back any time with questions. I will do my best to help!
December 13th, 2008 at 12:30 am
Hi Talya. I would like to swap websites with you – I would love to have your site on mine, and vice versa. I think our websites and the information they hold is very valuable for our readers.
Please check us out at http://www.aupairclearinghouse.com. Au pairs can read about the different agencies before they decide to join; read up to date articles and news links about the agencies here in the USA; send in comments (both testimonial and complaints) and more.
I hope I hear from you! I look forward to it. I am definetely going to be buying your ebook – it is just to good to pass on.
Best,
Edina Stone
CEO and President
http://www.aupairclearinghouse.com
January 13th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
hi!
I have just started as an au pair in Stuttgart.
I am really enjoying it so far and have a real nice family.
Im beginning a language class in late january, so am hoping I will meet people and make some friends through that.
do you think thats likely?
also do you have any idea if there are many au pairs in Stuttgart area, as it would be great to meet some!
thanks heaps
Grace
January 13th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Hi Grace –
I am sure there are other au pairs in the Stuttgart area. Maybe only a handful from English-speaking countries though, if it’s the same as when I was there in 2001. Most of the au pairs I met at the time were from Russia and the Ukraine (many of them were friendly, but there was a strong language barrier). If you keep your eyes open though, you will probably find other au pairs, and friends outside the au pair world.
And yes, the chances of making friends in German class are really really good. I made lasting friendships with people in my German class. Since you’re all “foreigners,” there’s an almost instant connection with many of your classmates. I wish you the best of luck!
January 22nd, 2009 at 5:07 am
Great site.
January 22nd, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Hi Talya and Happy New Year to you and all the au pairs writing on this Au Pair Forum!
I just posted a reply to one of my host moms who asked a good question about au pair screening and what kind of psychological screening au pair agencies require au pairs to take. Please check it out at my site: aupairclearinghouse.com under Edina’s blog (January 2009).
I am very interested to hear from au pairs about their experience going through the interviewing process when they sign up at an au pair agency. Are they told they are taking a psychological exam or test? Do they understand what this test is and what it is for? I also wanted to know if au pairs found the test difficult or easy or if they failed the test. Did the agency explain why, if they did fail?
I wonder also if the test results are shared with au pairs either way -if they pass or fail. My experience as a psychologist tells me that not all tests used for screening prospective au pairs may be valid.
For example, are the tests “culturally reliable”? In other words, do tests take into account that due to cultural differences, au pairs may be at a disadvantage taking the tests because the test is not appropriate for groups outside of USA norms. Many of the psychological tests used for au pairs have only been tested with college students or Americans here in the USA. Au pairs from other countries, due to cultural differences, could be answering questions differently (not wrong, but differently) and therefore could have lower scores.
Any feedback or information regarding the topic of psychological screening au pairs take would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Edina Stone
January 27th, 2009 at 12:27 am
Nice site you have!
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:55 am
Hey Everybody,
I am looking into the Au Pair job and I have had over 20 offers from families in the past week because I am a certified assistant child care teacher however I do not know what to expect from Au Pairing. Are the host families sopossed to go through background checks? Are they sopossed to refund you for the flights, visa, and work permit? And what should I do since they are all asking for me to contact their agencies? Should I mass e-mail them and tell them that many families have contacted me and say “please tell me why I should Au Pair for your family” and see if any of them list more information that would help my choice or raise the wage? Because they are offering me $190-2000 dollars a week…is this normal with my credential? Please help me out there seems to be no site that has this information,
Maggie
February 4th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Hi Maggie,
The International Au Pair Association might be a good place for you to start gathering more info about being an au pair. You can request information from them about au pair agencies in other countries. Great Au Pair is another good resource; it is not an agency, but does have a lot of information, and you can even find host families to work for (although it does not seem that this is a problem for you!).
Host families are not responsible for your transportation, but many of them will offer to cover your flight or share the expense. They are required to cover any costs associated with your visa and work permits. Regarding pay (or ‘pocket money’), it depends on which country the host family is in, as laws vary. Au pairs are not technically considered ‘employees,’ but receive room and board, a monthly allowance, money to take a language course, and at least some of the transportation costs in country. Some families go above and beyond the usual pay, and this would be something to consider when looking at potential host families.
As far as finding the right family to work for, I’d be curious to know how they have found you. If it is through an agency or a host family database, there should be at least basic information about the individual families, which will help you narrow down the search. Obvious things to consider are where the family lives, how many children they have, and what your duties will be. I suggest narrowing down your search to a few that you might want to work for, then begin talking with them. There is nothing wrong with getting to know a family a bit before making a commitment to them.
One more thing to consider is that the au pair position is typically geared towards young people who are not child care professionals. Since you are a teacher, you might want to consider looking into nanny positions as well. Nanny jobs typically pay more (and often require more) than au pair positions.
I hope this helps you…
February 24th, 2009 at 1:36 am
Dear Holly
We are here to help you and all aupairs with usefull information, we have created a unique online aupair course with all information you need to be a superb au pair and know what to do in different situations, Information about how to settle down easier and adapt to a different culture and a new family with tips to develop a good relationship with the hosting family. Activities they enjoy at different ages and lots of information you will need,
you can take this course for FREE when you take one of our programs in Australia, but if you wish to be an au pair in a different country, you cna still take the course.
have a look of the content here:
http://www.aupair-australia.ne.....ourse.html
Hope you find it usefull !
February 24th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Hello!
I am working as an au pair in a little town outside Stuttgart.
I’m from Sweden and 20 years old in a few weeks.
Are there any other au pairs in the Stuttgart area right now?
Would love to meet some new people!!
Johanna
March 4th, 2009 at 10:36 am
Gute Arbeit hier! Gute Inhalte.
March 23rd, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Hey everyone,
I’m an Australian girl currently living in Germany, working as an Au-Pair. I’m here without a Visa as there is a rule that travellers from Australia (as well as other countries) can be in Germany for up to 90 days without a Visa and then apply to stay longer. I do not have much knowledge of the German language but I have spent the last 2 months learning. I can understand and say the basics – where I come from, my name, age, nationality etc and also some basic conversation. I know that I have to take a ‘test’ of sorts (I’ve been told it’s just an interview that the person at the council makes up on the spot) on the German language to be granted a Visa but NOWHERE does it say what is in this ‘test’ or how difficult it is. So I’m wondering if anyone here has take the test and if they could tell me what kind of things were asked? Please help!!
Alexandra
May 14th, 2009 at 1:23 am
Heyy guys
So im going to be an au pair in Amsterdam in a few weeks! It’s pretty crazy and I’m starting to feel a weird aha. Long way from home! I would love some advice from people especially those who have worked as an au pair in Amsterdam before! I am very excited!
May 17th, 2009 at 11:46 pm
hey hey katie
My name is nikita and im from South Africa. staying in the netherlands for nearley 6months now. Im sure you wil love it here..due to the people is very friendley and open minded here. Amsterdam is the place to be! many of my friends live there as aupaires aswell. and im 20 minutes from there to.You will fine your way here very easyley and people guid you if you are lost or need direction in anyway.but it also depends how quik you adept to things and new surondings.
My time here is sooo nice, im just loving it everymoment. this is my first year being overseas but its a great and inriching experience so fare. i Learn new things everyday..and love my kids to bits.
Being a aupair can be cool but its very hard work at times to..so come with the right mindset and attitude to learn somthing diffrent to what you use to..then im sure you will love it here. regards nikita
May 17th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Nikita
MY time in the netherlands will be over in december this year. im keen to work as aupair agian. but i have a problem..due to i come to holland with and agency, but now i have to great familys in london that want me to be the future aupair. Im realy scared n sceptical to do this without and agency..due to im fare from home and anything can happen to me. and there is so many strang things happenng now days..with go via websites n stuff.
So i need adive on how to go about this without and agency..and the nessary things i need to make sure that i will be save n surcure with either familys i choose.
thanks nikita
May 26th, 2009 at 10:20 am
Hi, Im an Australian girl,starting as an au pair in july in a area of Bonn called Wachbach Pech. Just wondering if there is anyone around these areas? I would love too get to know some other au pairs when I get over there
Larissa
June 11th, 2009 at 2:20 am
Hi Talya,
I would like to invite you to check out a new website http://www.aupairselectionadvice.net
Host families can get advice and prepare themselves for the au pair experience. In the forum there is a section where au pairs can post an introduction for potential host families. Au pairs can give their opinion or experiences to the various topics in the forum.
And there is a Host Family / Au Pair Chat section, were both sides can see the other sides’ point of view.
All are invited.
MV
Lead Counselor
mv@aupairselectionadvice.net
July 22nd, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Hi again Talya,
I would like to update everybody on our website http://www.aupairselectionadvice.net. A website for host parents that are interested in getting advice for matching and hosting an au pair. AU PAIRS are welcome to contribute to the website in the Forum section “Family / Au pair Chat”, and all other topics as well.
We have a new starte page: “Feature Au pair”. Here we introduce a new au pair every few days. We provide lots of childcare/babysitting experience, hobbies, interestes, a brief description of the au pair. Email address to contact the au pair candidate.
We welcome new au pairs to send their info.
The only thing we require is that the au pair signs up with one of the 12 legal Au pair agencies in the USA that have US Department of State designation.
Best regards,
MV
Lead Community Counselor
http://www.aupairselectionadvice.net
mv@aupairselectionadvice.net
July 30th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Hi MV and au pairs!
I was scanning the internet this morning and I found a lovely little piece written by a 20 year old au pair working in Iceland!
I think you will enjoy reading about her experiences: http://www.icelandreview.com/i....._id=336794. I had no idea that au pairs went to Iceland!
The au pair talks about learning French, eating well (yes, in Iceland) and gives advice to new au pairs about what au pairing is and what to expect.
Enjoy!
Best,
Edina Stone
Founder & CEO
http://www.aupairclearinghouse.com
August 11th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
dear nikita!
im going to amsterdam 26 december. i’m from south africa. i’m really excited and so scared… can you email me please and give so tips???
August 11th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
sorry i forgot:
dorindacc@gmail.com
anyone have tips???? i’m scared to death
August 11th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Hi Dorinda –
There is no reason to be scared of being an au pair – as long as you do a little bit of work to get prepared, you will have a wonderful time – I promise!
There are tips and ideas scattered throughout this blog, and my eBook (just click on the “eBook” tab at the very top of this page to find out more) is also very helpful. It give more detail than here on the blog about navigating the whole au pair experience.
Best of luck to you –
Talya
August 21st, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Hi Talya,
Firstly I would like to congratulate you on this web.
I’m a spanish guy and I’m thinking about going abroad as an aupair. What I’m looking for is to improve my English, but to live a new experience and meet people and other culures of course. But I’m studying my degree nowadys, and I would be able to go only on summer holydays.
So, I wonder if it’s better to look for my family through an agency, or may I should find it throuhg one of the sites on the net where you can contact with them free.
Thank you!
September 13th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
I just moved to a town called Althengstett. I am Czech looking for enyone who speak my native language or English. I can’t speak German well so I’m dying here of boredom. I got my car with me so I can travel as I like. And also to the others looking for other au pairs near Stuttgart: Leave email!
sir-sandro@seznam.cz.
Ivan
February 12th, 2010 at 11:33 am
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February 12th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
We are a young American family we live in Bronx NY, we travel a lot and have a lot of fun.
Am on the road a lot, he has a web design business as well as being a part time actor, he has had parts in Law and Order SVU, Soprano’s, 24, NCIS, Men In Black and a bunch of other movies. and my wife ( Angela ) is a new physician at a very busy hospital
We have one adorable girl who is 3yrs old her name is Meya. and another one on the way.
We are looking for a loving, responsible, energetic person to take care of our daughter starting as soon as you can. This position requires a non-smoking.
We do not require much babysitting in the evenings or on weekends which means that you are free to enjoy these exploring nightlife in the busy city, touring,shopping, go to the library which is right across the street from us, taking classes at the local colleges which is a 5 minute walk from us and there are more than 20 colleges all within 10 minutes by bus from our hours.
On your days off you can enjoy travelling to the city, their is a bus which will take you there right from outside our home for only $1.
We will provide you with comfortable accommodations, including your own private floor, kitchen and bathroom, TV, wireless internet, laptop and car usage if you like, we want you to feel like a part of the family and not like a helper or worker.
We both work,. We are looking for someone who will enjoy creating fun, imaginative games with our children, taking walks, and running around the zoo and the playground.
Hours will be Monday through Friday 8am – 4:30pm .
We are offering $300 per week.
There will be opportunities to make additional money with evening and weekend babysitting, since we have many friends who are in need of babysitting here and there, we live in a very friendly young community and you will have a nice bunch of peers to meet and become friends with. Email me direct to my box and i will send you more of my Family pics (gary.gordon1011@gmail.com)
Hope yo here from you soon..
Gary Gordon