-EurAupair Au Pair
from Sweden

"During my free
time my new
found American
friends and I had great fun
exploring my
new city."

- EurAupair
Au pair
from France

Provide Child Care While Living in America

Welcome to America!

o you love children? Have you dreamed of spending a year in America? Now, while you are young and free? As part of your education or while deciding what to do with your life?

You can make it happen, by living as part of an American host family for a whole year through EurAupair International Child Care Programs. You'll help care for your host family's children in exchange for the rich experience of living as a treasured "big sister" or "big brother" in an American family.

As you join in your family's life - and chores - you'll soon realize that even the simplest of family activities - a trip to the market or walk through the neighborhood - helps you learn more about America.

Just think of the rewards of a year abroad! You'll delight in the experience of forming a deep relationship with the children of your host family. You'll practice English in the most natural way - by using it every day with your American family. By the time you leave, it will seem like you've been speaking English all your life.

You'll learn to love the warm, outgoing nature of the American people as you participate in the daily life of your family and community. You'll attend classes at a college or other educational institution, and make friends with American students.

As you experience how other people live, think, and raise their children, you'll discover new things about your own life and culture. And, since your legal J-1 visa allows you to stay for a "13th month," you'll have a chance to see more of America, before returning home to school or work.

What is a EurAupair Au Pair in the USA?

In exchange for up to 45 hours of child care assistance that you will provide for your host family's children each week, you'll have your own furnished private bedroom and receive weekly pocket money. You'll have two weeks of vacation during the year, one entire weekend off per month, and at least one and a half continuous days free each week. You'll have time to spend as you choose, and the opportunity to learn about new subjects in American classes.

Part of being a EurAupair au pair is studying at a local educational institution for 3 hours per week. Your family will help you get enrolled, they will pay up to 500 U.S. dollars for your school fees, and make sure you have transportation to your classes. And of course, you'll meet new American friends as you share their classes and way of life.

Besides your American friends, you'll meet other au pair exchange participants like yourself - young women and men from many countries who've come to your homestay community as EurAupair au pairs. And you'll meet your EurAupair Community Counselor - a special support person and friend - who'll be there for you throughout your year in America.

Live in America Safely and Legally with EurAupair

EurAupair is a U.S. Government (United States Department of State) designated au pair cultural exchange program and since its founding in 1988 has provided thousands of au pairs with the opportunity to spend a year as an au pair in the USA.

With EurAupair you have the security of being a legal au pair participant with a proper J-1 exchange visitor program visa. Au pairs who are in the USA illegally can be arrested and expelled from America, without the opportunity to return for many years. They often receive little money, may be abused but have no legal rights, no medical or other insurance and no one to turn to for help. EurAupair offers a safe and legal approach to becoming an au pair in America.

EurAupair au pairs are also happy to learn that their airfare is provided all the way from their home country to their American homestay community, and all the way back home again at the end of the program year. And EurAupair offers comprehensive medical, travel, accidental death, and personal liability coverage (and this insurance is fully included as a part of the EurAupair program).

EurAupair au pairs soon recognize that EurAupair is dedicated to providing the best exchange experience for all program participants.

You and Your Host Parents

The best way to truly become involved with the culture of a foreign country is to live among its people as a member of a family. Every EurAupair au pair exchange participant does just that. Host families are carefully screened by EurAupair and consider it a privilege to welcome EurAupair au pairs into their home.

Your host family will expect you to provide safe, loving, reliable child care assistance for their children for up to 45 hours each week. You may be responsible for bathing and feeding the children, playing games, making up the beds and straightening the children's rooms. Your day may include being available to a sleeping child, helping with schoolwork, or driving the children to football or ballet practice. You won't be responsible for heavy housework, but you may prepare an occasional family meal, help clean up the dishes, or help with the family grocery shopping.

You and the Children

To live with a child for a year is to become permanently attached. It is a deeply rewarding feeling when you become someone of trust and comfort to a child. They will come to you with all their joys and worries.

The EurAupair Handbook

Having enough information and preparation will help make your EurAupair year more rewarding and successful. Before you leave for America, you will receive a EurAupair Handbook full of useful information on adjusting to a new culture, getting to know your host family, recognizing and appreciating cultural differences, and getting the most from your program year.

This page, all design & contents, are Copyright © 2008 by EurAupair.