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Being an au pair can be a wonderful experience full of adventure and learning. Au pairs get to travel abroad to live in a new town, immerse themselves in a different cultural, have an opportunity to become fluent in another language, and they become part of their host family. For many au pairs, and really for anyone that has moved to a new country away from family and friends, the homesickness bug will eventually bite. So how can host families help their new au pair get over the hump and really start to enjoy the experience?
One of the best ways to try to fend-off homesickness right from the start is to welcome your new au pair with open arms and tour of her new home town. Take the whole family to greet her at the airport, maybe go out for a meal then drive the long way home so she can see your neighborhood and start to get a lay of the land. A welcome basket in her room is a great way to show your new au pair that you're excited she's arrived and you want her to feel at home. Some great little things to include are a map of the city, your area director's card, a public transportation pass for her first month, a list of names and numbers of other au pairs in your area, a picture that the kids drew for her. A little basket of toiletries is nice too, anything that will make her feel welcomed and special.
Another great way to help your au pair start to feel at home is to get the whole family involved in making meals together. Have your au pair get a recipe for her favorite meal or something her mom always makes and then have her teach everyone how to prepare it. Then return the favor and ask her help make your family's favorite dish. Ask your au pair to teach you about her culture and life back home. Learn about who she is and help her to learn about your family so that everyone starts to feel cohesive.
If your au pair is already homesick there are plenty of things you can encourage her to try. If there is a computer available for your au pair to use, download Skype (it's free!) and suggest she webcam with her family. If you included a calling card in her welcome basket, suggest she call friends; if you're willing to host them, suggest she invite a friend or two to visit. Keep in mind though that talking to friends and family can sometimes make homesickness even worse. If you don't think the above will help then don't suggest them. Ask your area director to connect your au pair with others in your area, invite local host moms and their au pairs out for coffee so everyone can meet and get to know each other. Add your au pair to your gym membership so she can go to group classes, encourage her to meet people whenever she's out during her off time.
Anything you can do to help your au pair feel more at home and happy to work will benefit you and your family. A happy au pair means everything runs more smoothly, so help her out where you can and just remind her that everyone feels homesick in the beginning and she can always come to you for support and advice.
For more information about hosting an au pair with AuPairCare, please visit www.aupaircare.com or call our toll free number at (800) 428-7247.
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