How to prepare for your au pair year?
You have made the decision to apply for the Au Pair program. You completed your application. You have had interviews with host families. And then it happened- YOU FOUND YOUR MATCH! You are applying for your visa! You were approved! Soon your will start your trip to the US!
But wait, I am soon traveling to the US- all by myself!!! All the excitement about the program, the interviews, the match might suddenly be gone and you may feel overwhelmed, anxious, nervous and sad. Everything suddenly happens so quickly and soon you have to leave your ‘old life’, your family, your friends, your routines and culture. This can be scary and you might start to second guess yourself- if this really what I want? Did I make the right decision? Also: What do I still have to do? What do I need to pack?
First of all- don’t worry and don’t panic! Take a deep breath and be assured that every au pair goes through some or all of those feelings the closer the departure date comes. It is a big step that you are taking and it is not an easy one- but it will be a rewarding experience and will broaden your horizon and give you new perspectives, opportunities and skills that you likely would have not gathered if you didn’t make the courageous decision to travel to another country!
When you signed up for the program you had your reasons for doing so– you had goals, plans, hopes and dreams- now is the time to remember those and use them as motivator to not let your fears and doubts take over. So lets go over a few things that you can do to help make the time you have left before you depart a bit easier.
What do I have to do before I leave?
Once you matched and you know when you are planned to start your au pair journey (it might be ‘as soon as possible’ or not for a few months), start a list in your notebook or you phone that you can add to whenever you think of things you:
- still have to do…
- still have to buy…
- have to pack…
- want to do before you leave.
This will help you to feel less overwhelmed. Staying organized and checking things off of your list can help you to feel less stressed and to be more in control. Once your cross things off of your list, you will also get a sense of accomplishment and like you are moving forward in the right direction.
Things to do can include:
Things to do can include: giving notice at your job, clearing your apartment, setting dates when to meet and say goodbye to family and friends (or plan a party to invite everyone, so you can say goodbye to everyone at once), picking up your passport with your visa, making sure your documents are in order, planning your transport to the airport and so on.
Things to still buy can include:
Things to still buy can include: a new suitcase or backpack to take for your travel, gifts for the host family (most host families do not expect gifts and know your space in the suitcase is limited so don’t go crazy- something small, like typical candy or a soccer jersey from a famous sports team or similar, will be sufficient and shows them that you thought of, them without you having to spend a lot of money or setting a lot of space aside in your suitcase), adapter for your electronic devices etc.
Things you have to pack:
Things you have to pack: clothes (remember you will be spending a lot of time with the kids so focus on comfortable and practical clothes; check online or ask your host family about the local weather so you pack clothes which are appropriate for the season), important documets, electronics and chargers, medicine (if prescription medication pack the prescription from your doctor along with the medication; leave medication in original packaging), small amounts of toiletries (to get you over the first few days until you buy things in the US) and so on.
TIP: consider packing some clothes and important items into your carry on bag (in case your checked bag gets lost or is delayed)
General advice: don’t overpack as you will likely buy a lot of new things in the US. You can also find more information on what to pack here.
Things to still do:
Things to still do: this can be to meet and celebrate with all of your friends and family or just casually spend as much time as you can with them, to eat some traditional food that you may not have access to for some time, to set some time aside to relax and breath (remind yourself of your goals to joining this program and be proud of yourself for embarking on this adventure) etc.
Timeline Leading Up to your Travel
Make sure to already get things done ahead of time and don’t push everything off to the last minute
The last week or last few days before you travel will be busy and will feel overwhelming so you want to get as much out of the way early already, so you don’t have to worry and stress about them the last minute. Make sure to check within your online reservation or with the airline directly how many bags are included in your reservation (add extra ones if needed), how heavy they can be and what the dimensions for the bags can be (if they are too big or too heavy you will have to pay extra at the airport or will have to re-pack your bags which takes time and is stressful).
The day before traveling
The day before you travel, make sure to check your flight to make sure there are no delays or cancellations. Make sure you have planned your trip to the airport properly and take delays into consideration (traffic, bus/train delays or cancellations, weather related delays, car not starting etc). Make sure you get to the airport early– at least 3 hours before the departure time is recommended for an international flight. Already pack your bags the day before you leave (or even sooner) to make sure it all fits and that the bags are not too heavy. Set aside items you might still need or make a list of the items you will still have to pack last minute (e.g. medication, toiletries, cosmetics, phone charger etc) so you wont forget them (make sure though you include them when you weigh your bags to make sure they will still fit and will not end up making your bags overweight).
On the Day of your Travel
On the day of your travel, be prepared to feel a lot of emotions– anxiety, sadness, stress, nervousness but almost excitement, anticipation, happiness, sense of accomplishment, self confidence, independence and likely many more! Saying goodbye will be hard and sad. But once you board the plane and start your journey, you will likely start to focus on all the new experiences and be excited about your journey to finally start- so the sadness might become a little less and other emotions and excitement will eventually take over. Once you land it may become a bit strssful again as you will have to go through immigrations, get your bags, need to find your way out of the airport and so on. But then you will attend your training school, will meet your host family, will get to know other au pairs and make new friends. You will experience the US- holidays, foods, famous sights-, will start to improve your English and so much more! A lot of new and exciting (but also challenging) experiences will be waiting for you, so embrace this opportunity and make the best out of your program!
If things are difficult or when you are sad or feel homesick, remember how far you have come, how brave you were to start this journey and travel to a foreign country all by yourself and why you signed up in the first place! You can be proud of yourself and should always look back on what you have already accomplished and use this as motivation to overcome any obstacales or challenges that might come your way. If you cannot overcome them by yourself, know that your host family, local representative, the Agent Au Pair team, your new au pair friends and of course your family and friends back home are always there to help and support you!