Yo pienso que el secreto para tener un casi perfecto MATCH con tu Host Family, es que antes de decirle SI, Acepto, tu debes estas segura de la familia que estas escogiendo y poder ver si ellos podrían adaptarse a ti y tu a ellos. Para esto es MUYYYYY importante que te tomes el tiempo para conocerles un poco antes de tomar tu decisión y saber qué condiciones tienen ellos para que seas su Au pair, así sabrás que ellos son los indicados y que cuando estés allá en otro país, lejos de tu familia, amigos y seres queridos, no la estés pasando mal porque escogiste una mala familia, o una familia que no es acorde a tu personalidad y educación en tu hogar.
Por eso te dejo un listado de las preguntas que son importante que hagas y que ellos te contesten para poder saber cuáles son sus condiciones, NO te sientas incomoda por hacerlas ya que es el momento indicado para que las hagas.
Acerca de la Familia:
- Could you describe the personality of each member of the family?
- How is one day on your family?
- What kind of activities do you do on weekends?
- Do you spend your free time in family? What do you usually do?
- Do you like travel and meet new places? Would you like that your Au Pair take part in your free time activities too?
- How does your family celebrate holidays, parties or birthdays?
- Do you meet adult friends or family friends over regularly?
- When something bad or upsetting happens in your family, how do you handle it?
- Why do you want to have an Au Pair?
- What kind of rules would you ask an Au Pair to follow?
- What type of food do you eat? Do you like cooking and tasting new meals?
- Do you follow any diet in particulary? Do you usually eat or have dinner together?
- Do you work inside or outside the house?
- Do you have pets? If you have pets – Are they allowed to go outside on their own?
- Are they friendly? Do I have to look after the pet?
- Are you religious? Do you have any special religious habit?
No tienes que hacerlas todas en la primera entrevista, e igual de los nervios vas a olvidar muchas, pero es importante que si no las haces en el Skype, las hagas por correo o en una próxima videollamada. NO tengas miedo por sentirte preguntona o que ellos no les guste, yo te digo, si ellos se incomodan entonces no son los indicados, porque ellos deben entender que para ti es importante saber con quien compartirás un año de tu vida, con quién convivirás todos los días y si no tienen paciencia para estas preguntas, imagínate tu allá preguntándole de todo para aprenderte la rutina diaria y saber como estar bien con ellos y ellos todos enojados o estresados.
Acerca de los niños (Enfócate mucho en esto, ya que las familias les gusta que tu muestres desde el inicio interés por ellos)
- Could you tell me about their personalities or how do they get along with each other?
- Are they going to day care, preschool or school? How far is school from your house?
- Does the kids do any activity after school? When your child has a game, a play or an activity – who in your family goes to watch?
- What do they like to do? What activities do you like me to do with the children?
- Does the children have any heath problem?
- Could I go to parks, zoos or museums with the children?
- Do they like to play games outside?
- What time do your children wake up?
- What forms of discipline do you use?
- What do you consider most challenging about your children?
- Do you allow your children and their friends to play in your house?
- Would you describe your children as “high energy” or “mild energy”?
- Do you want that I talk with your children in Spanish or in English?
About our responsabilities
- What will be my main duties as your Au Pair?
- What kind of housework will I have to do? Will I have to go to the supermarket, for example?
- Do you have a fixed timetable for the organization of your aupair’s work?
- What do you expect for your aupair?
- How many hours does the aupair have to work more or less? At what time does my work begin? And finish?
- Do I have to work weekends?
- If you need extra hours, how much you’re willing to pay for them? How often would you need me to work extra hours?
- Can you list my responsabilities for each child?
- Will I have to drive them? When, to where, how often?
About our free time
- Which will be my free time? How can I use it?
- Can I use the car in my free time? What kind of transportation do I have access to?
- Will there be a curfew on weeknights and weekends?
- Can I stay at friends on weekends?
- Can I travel on weekend to anywhere if I have free time?
- How will I go to college/university? Are there places or opportunities to study near your home?
- Will I have access to the internet? Is there any restriction with it?
- How will be the aupair’s room? Will I share the bathroom?
- Would you be fine with me inviting friends or family to visit me?
Normalmente en las entrevistas con la Host Family, los niños estarán presentes, porque para los padres es importante ver que tanta química hay entre ellos y tu!. Por eso cuando estés en las videollamadas trata de charlas con los niños, así tenga 2 años ellos entienden que les estas hablando, así que intenta saber más de ellos para que ellos se sientan bien contigo, el listado siguiente son de posibles preguntas que puedes hacerle a los niños, elige cuales aplican según la edad de ellos y la capacidad de responderte!
Preguntas para conversar con los niños y romper el hielo
- What is you favorite color?
- What is your favorite food?
- What is your favorite animal?
- Do you have pets?
- What is his/her name?
- Mi HK mayor, ama el fútbol así que también le pregunte: ¿What is you favorite soccer team? y ¿Who is your favorite player?
- Do you like going to the park, to the library or to the zoo?
- What is your favorite cartoon series?
- What is you favorite film?
- What is your favorite sport?
- What is your favorite team?
- Do you like going to the swimming pool?
- Can you swim?
- Do you get on well with your brother/sister?
- Do you play together?
- When is your birthday?
- How do you usually celebrate it?
- Do you invite your friends to your party?
- Do you like going to school?
- Do you have friends at school?
- Do you like reading books?
- What course are you in?
- What do you like to do after school?
- Do you study Spanish/French/German/… at school?
- What can you say in Spanish/French/German/…?
- What is your favorite subject at school?
- What do you do?
- What do you want to be when you grow up?
Nunca olvides lo importante de escoger bien tu Host Family, hacerlo con calma y escoge la que de verdad te mueva el corazón!. Muchos éxitos y si necesitas saber algo adicional de este tema no dudes en escribirme!
Aventuras de una Au Pair en Estados Unidos 