When you’re an au pair, the holidays can be bittersweet, but hopefully more sweet than bitter. Celebrating with your new family and friends can be a blast, especially when you’re in a new place that you love. Some countries have amazingly festive celebrations this time of year. Your host family and new friends will no doubt enjoy introducing you to their holiday traditions. You can also have a lot of fun sharing your own traditions from home, particularly with the children you’re taking care of.
With Christmas and other holidays right around the corner, now is a good time to nail down holiday plans with your host family, if that hasn’t been done already. You will more than likely be given time off over the holidays, but don’t make your own plans unless you know this for sure. Some host families prefer that their au pairs spend holidays with them, whether off or on the clock. Others will let you decide if you want to join them or do your own thing. Some families out there will also pay to send their au pairs back home to visit family, which may be a welcome break.
However you decide to spend your holidays, keep in mind that you should be enjoying yourself and using this time to learn more about the culture you are in. Have fun, and don’t feel guilty if you eat one too many sweets - calories can always be burned off chasing children after Christmas! If homesickness hits and you are not able to visit home during any of the holiday season, hang in there and try to make the best of where you are, since it is only temporary.
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