Anixi Au Pair

MEET A HOST FAMILY IN DENVER

Πιθανόν να αναρωτιέσαι πως είναι να συμμετέχεις στο πρόγραμμα au pair και να μένεις με μια οικογένεια υποδοχής; Να ζεις με ξένους… Δεν είσαι ο μόνος :). Κάθε χρόνο διεξάγεται ο διαγωνισμός “Au Pair of the Year”, όπου οι οικογένειες υποδοχής βραβεύουν τους συμμετέχοντες Παρακάτω μπορείς να διαβάσεις τα γράμματα που στέλνουν για τον διαγωνισμό οι οικογένειες αλλά και οι συμμετέχοντες για την συνεργασία τους. Ελπίζουμε ότι θα σε βοηθήσει να καταλάβεις καλύτερα πως είναι να συμμετέχεις στο πρόγραμμα και να ζεις με μια οικογένεια υποδοχής.

Το γράμμα της οικογένειας για την Μαρινέλα

To Whom it May Concern: I would like to nominate Marinela as the au pair of the year. With three kids under the age of ten, two dogs and a dual working household, our home is a busy place to live and work! Our family has had the pleasure of hosting seven au pairs, almost all of whom are lifelong friends. Our au pairs are family forever and they visit us often. While each au pair has her own special and unique qualities, Marinela stands out in every way possible. She is smart, considerate, caring and an outstanding nanny. She is always respectful of our home and family structure and she brings great energy and love into our busy household. She fits into our family perfectly and my children respect and love her as if she were a member of our immediate family.

She is so appreciative of every opportunity afforded to her and I am always trying to find new ways to express my gratefulness. Marinela is a self-less person who makes deep connections with everyone she meets. She has taken it upon herself to befriend and help new au pairs get comfortable in their new community. Even on her off hours, Marinela finds ways to help around the house without being asked and is constantly going above and beyond her responsibilities as an au pair to express her gratitude and love for my family.

I constantly tell people how lucky I am to have such a heart in my home. I hope through this nomination that Marinela receives recognition and is given the opportunity to act as a resource and support system for other au pairs across America.

Host Mother, Denver, Colorado

Το γράμμα της Μαρινέλας

” Writing about my au pair journey is a bit difficult. So many experiences and feelings in less than a year.. Missing Greece? Not really. Let’s start from the moment I got the email that the family wants to interview me. I remember I wasn’t home so I was desperately trying to find internet at my phone to read their letter. It’s like I felt something. I did it, I read the letter, I saw their pictures and I immediately knew that this is going to be my family. I keep saying to the girls who want to be part of the au pair program that they will know the best family for them the moment they will see their faces. My instinct didn’t prove me wrong. We set a date so I can meet the kids through Skype. I just couldn’t wait. I talked to them and my curiosity of how is to live with them was growing every day more and more. When I finally matched I was so relieved and I was already dreaming of my new life.

The only people who were not that excited, were my parents. At first they liked the idea of the au pair program because they simply thought I wouldn’t do it. When everything was ready they were so scared of what can happen to me. Nobody knew about the au pair program in Greece. It was something totally new for my country. The two months that I had to wait till I moved in with my new family went by so fast and one day, I was suddenly in a new situation. I remember when I got off the plane and I started looking for my host family at the airport. I saw them, they didn’t. What am I doing? Should I go and introduce myself? Should I shake their hands? I had no clue. My host mom made it so easy for me, she welcomed and hugged me the moment she saw me. I got to meet my two older host kids because the baby was sleeping. They were so exited and didn’t stop talking on the way back from the airport. I finally started breathing. Arrived home, the former au pair was there and I was checking how she was talking to the kids, saying “no” to them, “don’t do that, it’s dangerous”. Am I going to be able to talk to them like that? I was so afraid. I thought I would fail. But no, I felt like home the very first week. That is not a common thing for an extremely shy girl like me. They helped me feel good, they wanted my life to be perfect and they achieved it. My life is more that perfect. It’s better than my dreams. Almost a year and I never felt homesick. My home is here! I have 3 adorable host kids. Kids with respect, well mannered, who listen to me and make my life easy. Kids full of energy that never stop doing things.

Let’s talk about my “boyfriend”. It was love at first sight. He was 5 months, not able to do anything. Holding him in my arms I thought was the best thing that could happen to me. I was wrong, seeing his first tooth coming out, watching him taking his first steps, letting him grab my neck, hair and face and trying to kiss me and give me love, these everyday moments are true happiness. He taught me how is to give unconditional love. Having a 6 year old saying to me “I love you” and giving me kisses and hugs every time before he goes somewhere makes me realize that this is the best choice I’ve ever made. Best day? I can’t think of one. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas.. All these family holidays makes me feel so blessed to have a real family by my side. Maybe I can choose my birthday as the best among the best. Seeing the kids trying to surprise me, “locking” me in my room so they can decorate the house, having my 10 year old checking up on me so I won’t cheat and having a great family dinner was by far the best birthday I’ve ever had in years. Having Andrea’s parents welcoming me at their home in Texas for Christmas vacation and treating me like their own daughter is another great thing that happened to me. It means that I must have done something right. And THE best thing I’ve been told since I came here is the words ” You’re my sister, not my nanny ” from my 10 year old. Extending for a second year was the only option. How can you leave the people you love and move? You just can’t. If I could extend for 10 more years I would do it without second thoughts.

It’s crazy how strong your love for a family can grow in one year. I can’t think of myself in a better family.. Not host family, just family! I want to close my letter with a big Thank you to my host family.. Thank you for accepting me from day one, Thank you for being supportive and Thank you for giving me a year filled with wonderful memories I will never forget! “