Hi everybody!\r
My name is Denise, I'm from Germany and I turned 19 during my year in the US. I was an au pair in Indianapolis (IN) in 2013 and I took care of two girls, who are two and five years old. \r
My decision to be an au pair was the best decision I made in my life so far. I learned so many things about myself and about other people. I became more independent, mature and improved my English skills a lot. I recommend a year abroad to everyone! \r
I gained a new family by being an au pair. My host family is amazing and I loved them from day one. My host parents are like my aunt and uncle to me now and my girls are like my little sisters or cousins. I love them with all my heart and I know that they will be a part of my life forever. I decided to extend my year as an au pair, but with a new host family. You may wonder why I didn't stay with my current host family, when I love them so much. They really wanted me to stay with them, but I've seen everything in Indiana already and I wanted to experience something new in my second year. Me and my host family decided that looking for a new family would be the best for me. Like that I can use my time as an au pair to the fullest and live somewhere new. It was a really hard decision and for the longest time I regret, not extending with my current family but then I finally matched with a second host family and they seem just as great. I will move to Santa Barbara, CA in about a week and spend my second year on the west coast. \r
I met a lot of amazing people during my first year and something like that is priceless! I love to speak English and it is awesome to be able to say that you are fluent in English. \r
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Of course being an au pair can also be very exhausting. If you think, you'll be spending a year of vacation in America, you are wrong. You are working and kids can be a challenge. It's not like babysitting, you are basically being a mom/dad! Even though you're only working 45 hours a week and not 24/7 you are around your kids and your family all the time, since you are living with them. I didn't mind hanging out with my family even though I wasn't working, at all. I had dinner with them nearly every night and I spent a lot of time especially with my host mom. I went on vacation with them and we would go visit family all the time. But if I had planned something with friends, they always respected that. My host parents didn't treat me like an employee, but like a part of their family. \r
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Go AuPair is a great agency! I never had any trouble. My LAR was super nice and always there for me. If I had any questions or needed something I could immediately reach out to someone. It's not a giant agency which means there are not as many families and au pairs as with other agencies, but in my opinion that makes it easier to match with a family. \r
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I hope my review gives you an idea of how it is to be an au pair. My experiences influenced my life forever and I don't want to miss any of them. \r
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Good luck to every future au pair, don't be afraid, you won't regret it! \r
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xoxo Denise
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