| 1. |
Stay in touch with your Community Counselor
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| |
- Call if you cannot come to a monthly meeting.
- Let your counselor know if you will be out of town.
- Call when you need help or advice.
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| 2. |
Be a good buddy |
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- Remember what it is like to be a new au pair. Welcome
new arrivals.
- Arrange to meet a new au pair.
- Take her out.
- Accompany her to the next cluster meeting.
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| 3. |
Take responsibility for your actions |
| |
- No one is perfect. If you make a mistake, take responsibility
and try to correct the situation.
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| 4. |
Respect the privacy of others |
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- Gossiping about other au pairs and host families can be
very harmful.
- If your friends confide in you, honor the confidence.
- Do not tell others about what goes on in other host families.
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| 5. |
Communicate |
| |
- Share your ideas, discuss cultural differences, ask questions
when you don’t understand.
- If you have a problem, present it to your host parents
clearly and calmly. Suggest a solution to the situation.
Listen to what they say and try to reach a compromise.
- Let your host family know if language is a problem. Admit
if you do not understand a word or instructions. Ask questions.
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| 6. |
Follow house rules |
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- The only way you will establish trust is by following
rules – even those with which you may not agree. If
you are not sure of the house rule, ask.
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| 7. |
Be considerate of your host parents |
| |
- Keep them informed of where you are going.
- Let them know if you are staying out overnight.
- If you plan on traveling, discuss the details with them
and do not interfere with their schedules. Remember that
your host parents are tired when they get home from work.
- Show appreciation – return the favors your family
does for you with kindness and generosity.
- Take initiative – don’t wait to be asked,
anticipate children’s needs, offer to help when you
are sharing “family time.”
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| 8. |
Set a good example |
| |
- The children you care for look up to you. Don’t
do things in front of the children that their parents would
not want them doing.
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| 9. |
Shower or bathe regularly |
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- Most Americans value cleanliness as a virtue. Families
expect that their au pairs will bathe or shower regularly,
wash hair frequently and change into clean clothes daily.
Use deodorant.
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| 10. |
Take care of yourself |
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- Have reasonable expectations of yourself – be patient
as you learn to adjust to life in America.
- Try to understand and accept cultural differences –
that is part of why you came here. Learn from the experience.
- If you are feeling homesick or house-bound, call someone
and give yourself something to look forward to.
- Keep reasonable evening hours if you are expected to
get up early to work the next day.
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