Alumni Interview with Simon M

What inspired you to go abroad?

 I like traveling, I like kids, and I wanted to improve my English.

Why did you choose InterExchange?

Because they were the only provider that I could find that accept boy au pairs.

What was your favorite part about living in the United States?

It was calm, peaceful, and I felt free.

What made your experience abroad unique?

My experience was unique because I became a member of my host family, they are now like my second family. I shared a lot of time with them, filled with good times and awesome memories. The program, and my host family, made it possible for me to visit 28 states in the US, which was more than I expected to be able to see before I chose to come.

How did local staff support you throughout your program?

The local staff welcomed us for three days in NYC before the program started, which made us feel comfortable and safe in our new home. Throughout the program, we had a coordinator who was always reachable for anything we needed and we met with them every month. The coordinator also organized events for all of the au pairs. We could also contact the program headquarters easily by phone or email if needed.

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?

Honestly, I don't really know because my experience was perfect, I wouldn't change anything.

Describe a typical day in the life of your program.

A typical day was waking up, making breakfast, and helping my host’s kids to wake up and get ready for school. I then took them to school and spent time after organizing their stuff at home. After that, I had free time. It often depended on the weather, but I enjoyed playing sports and meeting friends. Then I ate lunch by myself and went to pick up the kids from school.

I would give them a snack and then drive them to their after-school activities. Afterwards, I made dinner to eat with the kids while helping them complete their homework and get ready for school for the next day. Once they were asleep, I was off for the day. Usually I would meet up with friends, go to a movie, or just rest for the evening!

What did you enjoy doing in your free time?

Meeting new people, spending time with friends, playing sports (I played on a soccer team), visiting new cities, and exploring the country.

What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?

I had a room with a bathroom. In the room was a bed, a desk, a TV, and a lot of closet space. What I liked the most was that I had my own private space.

What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?

They should know that being an au pair isn't an "easy" or lazy job. You have to wake up early every day and work up to 10 hours a day, which can be exhausting with kids. You also may work 45 hours a week. Some of the au pairs complain about it, but that's the contract you sign and just part of the job. They should read it carefully and know that it can be tough. They also should know that living with a family that they don't know requires time to adapt to them, and them to us. There is culture difference, differences in the ways o life, and different expectations.

Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?

Now, after returning, I’m much better with speaking English. They all say I’m bilingual now. I also feel more open minded than before. I learned about the culture in the United States which changed the thoughts I had about it before this experience. I feel like I have grown up, and now I have friends all over the world!

What surprised you most about working in the United States?

Well, since I was an au pair, I didn’t feel like I was part of the work world even though it's a hard job.

I was surprised with how everything is set up to protect children, for example, at school and the car pick up. We don't have that in France. The line of cars waiting to pick up their kids, and the buses, is super protective of the children. I was very surprised by it, but I think it's a smart idea.

I also was surprised by how Americans are always in a hurry, especially while working everyday. They always have something to do or are rushing to go somewhere. It seems like they can only breathe and relax in the evening!

If you could work abroad again, where would you go?

I would try to go to the US again, because as I said, being an au pair is different from the working world. I used this experience to learn about the culture, to travel, and to improve my language skills. So I would want to work for a company in the US next time in order to learn and discover how to work for an American company.

Outside of the US, I think I would try to work somewhere in Asia, because I never been and it looks super interesting.

What do you feel the biggest benefit of working abroad is?

The biggest benefit is that you understand a different way of working and how to interact with different people. It's a mix of culture and work, it's super beneficial because when you go back home, your mind is more open to different ways of working and how people view that. You will be more flexible and more able to adapt yourself quicker to new situations.

Would you recommend InterExchange to others? Why?

Yes, I would. InterExchange was super professional and they did a high quality job. They are fast to react and respond, they make you feel safe, and they are always there to help you and answer your questions. They help provide the best conditions for the program for its participants and they have the best training area!