au pair host family horror stories

One horror story is when a host family made the au pair work excessive hours. They constantly added more tasks like cleaning the whole house daily, taking care of multiple kids alone for long hours, and also doing all the grocery shopping. It was way more than what was agreed in the contract, leaving the au pair exhausted and stressed.

One horror story could be a host family overworking the au pair. They made her work from dawn till late at night, taking care of the kids, cleaning the whole house, and cooking all the meals without proper breaks. Another is a host family being extremely rude and disrespectful, constantly criticizing the au pair's appearance and accent.

One way is to have an open and honest conversation with the host family during the interview process. Au pairs can ask about the family's expectations and also share their own. And during the stay, if something is wrong, don't be afraid to speak up or seek help from the au pair agency. Au pairs should also trust their instincts. If something seems off during the initial contact with the family, it might be a sign to look for another opportunity.

One host family had an au pair from France. The au pair was really into cooking. She would often make delicious French pastries for the family. The kids in the family loved her for it and they all learned a bit of French while she was there. It was a great cultural exchange experience for both the au pair and the family.

Sure. There was an au pair who was promised a certain amount of free time each week. But the host family kept canceling it without any valid reason. They would suddenly ask her to babysit when she had planned to go out. It was so unfair as she had no time for herself and couldn't pursue her own interests or meet new people.

I heard of a host family where the au pair was from Japan. She introduced the family to the art of origami. The kids were fascinated and they would spend hours making different origami figures with her. It was really interesting to see how a simple cultural activity could bring so much joy to the family.

One horror story could be a host family that was extremely strict about food. They made the AFS student follow a very restricted diet without considering the student's own preferences or cultural food habits. For example, not allowing the student to eat any snacks from their home country, which made the student feel isolated and deprived.

One common element is lack of privacy. Host families might go through your stuff or not respect your personal space.

One common element is a lack of respect for the guest's privacy. For example, the host family might enter the guest's room without permission.

Sure. One horror story is about a host family that was extremely controlling. They dictated every minute of the guest's day, from when they could eat to what they could wear. It was like living in a prison.