During the au pair experience the most important relationship that au pairs build is with their host family. These relationships will be the most fun, challenging, and impactful that many au pairs will experience in their lifetime.    We talked to au pair Tati about her experience with her host family, and what makes them a great match!

What makes your host family special?

Tati: What makes my host family special is the effort they put into giving me the best experience. They treat me as a real family member, and they make me feel valued and seen. They appreciate my help and consistently demonstrate that with words and actions. My host mum is the most considerate and thoughtful person I know, I want to be just like her when I “grow up”.

What did you talk about in the interview process that made you feel connected?

Tati: Looking back, I think it was the small things that made us connect. Being honest about expectations in a respectful and understanding way and seeing effort from both sides on meeting in the middle was big for me. It showed commitment and care and that was fundamental. Through talking about hobbies, likes and future goals we found out that our personalities and values match very well and that instantly made us feel connected.

What does your host family do to make you feel included?

Tati: My host family includes and welcomes me as a family member in all kinds of outings, from important holiday celebrations to simple dinners at the grandparents’ house. However, at the end of the day, it’s not really about them asking. Seeing how excited they are when I join them in those festivities is what truly makes me feel included.

What is your favorite thing you all do together?

Tati: Laugh! We always have so much fun together, no matter what we’re doing and every time I’m around them, I always learn something new!

Do you have any family traditions?

Tati: Tuesday night is Uno night, and everyone wants to be on William’s team! William is my sweet 4-year-old host kid and I’m gonna say he’s the absolute Uno Champion most of the time, and we’re always playing for real!

What do you love the most about your host family?

Tati: I love my host family for so many different reasons, but I will point out two!   The first one is how they make me feel about myself. They make me feel trusted, give me guidance, and make me feel confident. They are the first ones to support and trust my judgment and decisions, inside and outside of working hours.

Second, I love how much effort and care they put into building strong relationships with their community and extended family members. Those connections have only enriched my experience and it has been fun to meet so many different people.