Comments on: How to find a great host family: Part 1 http://AuPairMom.com/how-to-find-a-great-host-family-part-1/2009/04/16/celiaharquail/ Helping Host Parents and Au Pairs build great relationships. Tue, 22 May 2012 09:09:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jillian http://AuPairMom.com/how-to-find-a-great-host-family-part-1/2009/04/16/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-1703 Jillian Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:44:04 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/how-to-find-a-great-host-family-part-1/2009/04/24/celiaharquail/#comment-1703 Being a native English speaker is definitely a big plus. I would also be upfront about religion; some families may have dietary restrictions or regular service attendance that you’ll benefit from knowing about. Lead with your strengths, if you’re a great driver let families know you’ve never been in an accident. Did you excel in any subjects in school? If you’re great with math offer your ability to help with homework. Anything extra that you can bring to a family will really help you to stand out. This may sound silly but our first au pair was from a coastal area where she went to the beach a lot, during our interview she said, “I’m very responsible, I’ll always remember to put sunscreen on the kids!” My husband and I laughed but that little remark really made her stand out in our minds. Being a native English speaker is definitely a big plus. I would also be upfront about religion; some families may have dietary restrictions or regular service attendance that you’ll benefit from knowing about. Lead with your strengths, if you’re a great driver let families know you’ve never been in an accident. Did you excel in any subjects in school? If you’re great with math offer your ability to help with homework. Anything extra that you can bring to a family will really help you to stand out. This may sound silly but our first au pair was from a coastal area where she went to the beach a lot, during our interview she said, “I’m very responsible, I’ll always remember to put sunscreen on the kids!” My husband and I laughed but that little remark really made her stand out in our minds.

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]]> By: Darthastewart http://AuPairMom.com/how-to-find-a-great-host-family-part-1/2009/04/16/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-1672 Darthastewart Mon, 27 Apr 2009 03:00:03 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/how-to-find-a-great-host-family-part-1/2009/04/24/celiaharquail/#comment-1672 I would be very upfront with the family about what you are looking for. I'd also ask hard questions about how they handle discipline, mealtimes, what the kids eat, and get a very good understanding of their expectations. (i.e. do you do kids' laundry? Clean their rooms? Do you eat meals with the family? when will you be able to take classes? What kinds of food does the family eat? Are you invited to go with the family when they go out? ) I would be very upfront with the family about what you are looking for. I’d also ask hard questions about how they handle discipline, mealtimes, what the kids eat, and get a very good understanding of their expectations. (i.e. do you do kids’ laundry? Clean their rooms? Do you eat meals with the family? when will you be able to take classes? What kinds of food does the family eat? Are you invited to go with the family when they go out? )

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]]> By: MK http://AuPairMom.com/how-to-find-a-great-host-family-part-1/2009/04/16/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-1651 MK Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:56:10 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/how-to-find-a-great-host-family-part-1/2009/04/24/celiaharquail/#comment-1651 When we were choosing our au pair, unfortunately, other families we spoke to referred to cultural stereotypes and cultural values. Friends of ours (though would never admit to anyone else) told us don't chose au pairs from the UK, Canada or Australia b/c they only come to the US to party and have a good time. If you are not a party-goer, be upfront about it. Also the fact you speak english works in your favor...a lot of issues do arise from miscommunication with non-native English speakers. Good luck! When we were choosing our au pair, unfortunately, other families we spoke to referred to cultural stereotypes and cultural values. Friends of ours (though would never admit to anyone else) told us don’t chose au pairs from the UK, Canada or Australia b/c they only come to the US to party and have a good time. If you are not a party-goer, be upfront about it. Also the fact you speak english works in your favor…a lot of issues do arise from miscommunication with non-native English speakers. Good luck!

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]]> By: Jenny http://AuPairMom.com/how-to-find-a-great-host-family-part-1/2009/04/16/celiaharquail/comment-page-1/#comment-1645 Jenny Fri, 24 Apr 2009 01:57:16 +0000 http://AuPairMom.com/how-to-find-a-great-host-family-part-1/2009/04/24/celiaharquail/#comment-1645 Hey, Well, I know I'm not a mom or anything, but having gotten the perfect family (and it wasn't by chance, I was deciding among 4 families, so...) I think I could help Casey a little. ... Being a native English speaker is definitely something you should take advantage of, from what I've seen and heard from other girls the so-so English is one of the biggest problems they have during their interviews and especially after arriving in the family. I mean, how can you keep a three, four or five (not to mention older kids) year-old under control without speaking their language? Besides that, use your language skills to ask the family (whoever you speak to) everything, really EVERYTHING, you want to know and you think that would matter for both of you during your interview. Even the slightest thing, something you think that wouldn't be that important, just ask, ask for details, about their rules, about the kids and what they expect from you. SHOW THEM THAT YOU CARE ABOUT THEIR KIDS! Make it clear that living in America will be good for your future, for your life as whole, but point out that you care and want the best for the kids (if it's true, of course). And, the most important of all, there's NO GOOD FAMILY IF YOU DON'T TRULY LIKE CHILDREN, every single kid, it doesn't matter how great they're, will give you a hard time here and there, so it's up to you to deal with them and negotiate, if you're taking care of older kids. If you think kids are all brats just stay in your country. And also make sure you talk to your host parents if something is bothering you, if you need anything, if they need anything from you, be open to talk to them whenever, that's the key of a great relationship with host families (starting from your interview). And you have all that's needed to keep up a conversation and get and give all the information you may need. Talk about your experience with kids and tell them what you can do, tell them also what you can't do, be true. And clarify that you're not only coming to have your party on. And don't try to have your party on while you here. It's all about being TRUE. Nobody wants you to have no social life, but you have to remember that you'll come to work and your parents will need to rely on you. I think that's for now... I'll be back if I remember anything else... but from what my host mom told me what she really appreciated during my interview (besides the experience with kids and the fact that I was a little older, parents do care about it too, host moms and/or dads here won't let me lie) was the whole bunch of questions I asked... regarding everything, from kids to schedule to daily life to any diets or allergies. I talk too much sometimes, my host mom would agree with me on that too if she knew I'm posting on this site. LOL Hey,

Well, I know I’m not a mom or anything, but having gotten the perfect family (and it wasn’t by chance, I was deciding among 4 families, so…) I think I could help Casey a little. …

Being a native English speaker is definitely something you should take advantage of, from what I’ve seen and heard from other girls the so-so English is one of the biggest problems they have during their interviews and especially after arriving in the family. I mean, how can you keep a three, four or five (not to mention older kids) year-old under control without speaking their language?

Besides that, use your language skills to ask the family (whoever you speak to) everything, really EVERYTHING, you want to know and you think that would matter for both of you during your interview. Even the slightest thing, something you think that wouldn’t be that important, just ask, ask for details, about their rules, about the kids and what they expect from you.

SHOW THEM THAT YOU CARE ABOUT THEIR KIDS! Make it clear that living in America will be good for your future, for your life as whole, but point out that you care and want the best for the kids (if it’s true, of course).

And, the most important of all, there’s NO GOOD FAMILY IF YOU DON’T TRULY LIKE CHILDREN, every single kid, it doesn’t matter how great they’re, will give you a hard time here and there, so it’s up to you to deal with them and negotiate, if you’re taking care of older kids. If you think kids are all brats just stay in your country.

And also make sure you talk to your host parents if something is bothering you, if you need anything, if they need anything from you, be open to talk to them whenever, that’s the key of a great relationship with host families (starting from your interview). And you have all that’s needed to keep up a conversation and get and give all the information you may need.

Talk about your experience with kids and tell them what you can do, tell them also what you can’t do, be true. And clarify that you’re not only coming to have your party on. And don’t try to have your party on while you here. It’s all about being TRUE. Nobody wants you to have no social life, but you have to remember that you’ll come to work and your parents will need to rely on you.

I think that’s for now… I’ll be back if I remember anything else… but from what my host mom told me what she really appreciated during my interview (besides the experience with kids and the fact that I was a little older, parents do care about it too, host moms and/or dads here won’t let me lie) was the whole bunch of questions I asked… regarding everything, from kids to schedule to daily life to any diets or allergies. I talk too much sometimes, my host mom would agree with me on that too if she knew I’m posting on this site. LOL

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