Alexa, a former Au Pair from Mexico, reflects on her unforgettable years in Indianapolis, Colorado and New York . Alexa is now studying for a law degree back in her home country. Keep reading to find out how Alexa has used her Au Pair experience to help her with her career.
Tell us a bit about yourself?
“Hi I’m Alexa, from Mexico!
I started my Au Pair journey in February 2020, just two weeks before the pandemic hit. I stayed with my amazing host family in Indianapolis for four months until their budget was cut due to the global situation. My host mom was incredibly supportive and helped me find a new family. She sat down with me after each interview to discuss the pros and cons.
I then moved to Denver, Colorado, where I stayed for the rest of the year. Surrounded by mountains and stunning scenery, I enjoyed living in a vibrant city with plenty to do. For my extension year, I decided to try a new place and ended up in the suburbs of New York. My host family lived in a small town just 30 minutes from the city by train. The house was right across from the train station, giving me the best of both worlds—peaceful small-town life with a wonderful community and events every weekend, while still being close enough to enjoy everything New York City had to offer.
Who did you look after when you were an Au Pair?
In Indiana, I cared for four sweet and independent kids, ages 4, 6, 8, and 10. The pandemic had just started, so we found creative ways to entertain ourselves, like mini Olympic Games, baking, and celebrating Children’s Day the Mexican way. They were so kind and used to fight over who would sit next to me at dinner. I missed them a lot, and they still call me occasionally from their iPads.
In Colorado, I cared for a 22-month-old toddler and a 9-year-old boy who was incredibly smart and funny. The 9-year-old was often at school or camp, so I spent most of my time with the toddler, who was the funniest kid ever. Every day felt like an adventure, whether we were visiting parks, museums, the zoo, or just playing in the snow.
Finally, in New York, I looked after 5-year-old twins, a boy and a girl, both extraordinary kids. They were curious about the world but never afraid of it. I truly felt like myself around them, and the fact that they thought I was the funniest person ever made me feel completely at ease.
What made you want to become an Au Pair?
I’ve always loved taking care of kids. I started volunteering at orphanages and schools at 15 because I enjoyed making a difference while doing what I loved. I’d also always wanted to study in the US, even if just for a short time. When I discovered the Au Pair program, I knew it was the perfect fit for me.
What are you doing now?
I’m currently studying law back in my home country. I left Mexico at 18 to be an Au Pair, and that experience really opened my eyes. This semester, I’ll be doing an academic exchange in Europe because it made me realize there’s so much world out there and so little time to enjoy it.
A favorite memory from my time as an Au Pair was when I took the twins I cared for to see the Statue of Liberty. Despite Manhattan being just 30 minutes away, they had never seen it before. As locals, they weren’t that interested in tourist spots. They were thrilled to finally visit, sharing interesting facts about it. It warmed my heart to know we were experiencing our first visit to the Statue of Liberty together, and it’s a memory we’ll never forget.
To read more blogs like Vanessa’s click here – https://blog.aupairinamerica.co.uk/
