Tips To Build A Great Relationship With Your Host Family:

 

We know, we know!

 

Building a great relationship with your host family is not going to happen overnight.

 

 

It’s going to take love, patience, and dedication to work through difficult times, because as we all know – it’s not always fun and games!

 

It is important to talk about the children with your host parents and how they want you to take care of them.

 

It’s best if you cooperate and respect their ideas about their children. You will be treated as a member of the host family.

 

Everyone will be happier if you respect each other.

 

 

Here are a few (tried and tested) tips from our Sisterhood to bond with your host family.

 

Talk to them (especially when you’re still new to all of this):

 

 

We have discussed this many times in our blog, but communication is KEY.

During the first few days, you will probably have a lot of questions.

 

Do not be afraid to ask them. This will ensure that you are on the same page and will probably set the tone for the first few weeks of your Au Pair journey.

 

We know that certain topics are hard to discuss, but c’mon; you’re an adult now.

 

You got this.

 

Your host family will appreciate your efforts to communicate with them since they would also like to get to know you better.

 

Make an effort to get to know them better, after all. You will be spending ONE WHOLE year with them!

 

Remember birthdays & other special days:

 

 

 

Thoughtful gestures go a very long way!

 

Put your creative hat on and hit the arts and crafts section at Walmart.

You and your host kiddies can make a special birthday card for your host dad, or buy your host mom her favourite flowers for mother’s day.

 

You can even do something that is not expected of you – like packing away the dishes if it was your host mom’s turn to do it.

 

All these little things will prove to the host family that you are invested in them – and you want to be the best Au Pair they’ve ever had.

 

It’s the joy of giving!

 

Make food from your home country:

 

We mean, WHY NOT!

 

Did you know that your host family can get a local babysitter to look after the kids?

 

Instead, they chose to participate in the Au Pair program because they also love cultural exchange and diversity.

 

They also chose YOU, because they saw a quality in you that they liked – show them what you got to offer.

 

Now is the time to show your host family what South Africa and Namibia is all about, and how we do things around here.

 

Cook them your favourite cuisine and teach them a few Afrikaans / Xhosa or Setswana words or two.

 

This is what the Au Pair program is all about – Cultural Exchange!

 

 

 

Your host family wants to have you as a part of their life.

 

They are invested in YOU, so you can invest in THEM.

 

Make their lives easier by helping them out – and they will do that in return for you.

 

This could possibly be the best year in your life – so have an open mind and make the best out of every situation!