Vanessa, a former Au Pair from Germany, reflects on her unforgettable year in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Vanessa gained a bachelor degree and then started to work as a social worker in June 2024. Keep reading to find out how Vanessa has used her Au Pair experience to help her with her career.
Tell us a bit about yourself?
“I’m Vanessa, 32 years old and I’m from Germany.
I was an Au Pair back in 2013/2014 in Gaithersburg, Maryland, I was the second Au Pair of my host family. Before my Au Pair experience I was working in an office and I needed a change. All my life I have always wanted to work with kids, so I eventually signed up to become an Au Pair.
Who did you look after when you were an Au Pair?
I always wanted to have an Au Pair myself when I was younger which made me decide to become one. I loved and still love to work with children. Especially toddlers they are my favorite age group to work with, also the cultural experience was an important factor for why I decided to be an Au Pair. When I arrived in the USA in May 2013 my host mum was still pregnant. So, until the baby was born in June I only took care of a two-year old girl and a five-year old boy.
What are you doing now?
When I came back to Germany in May 2014, I decided to start an apprenticeship to become a Pediatric Nurse. I finished my apprenticeship in 2018 and soon after I decided to study part time to become a certified Social Worker. During my studies I worked in a psychiatry for children and adolescents. After, I was on maternity leave for two years during which I also got my Bachelor Degree I started to work as a Social Worker in June 2024 in that same psychiatry.
Being an Au Pair helped me so much to pursue my career path. Before my Au Pair experience I had no idea what I was going to become. It also helped me grow in a way that nothing else could have done, I became more confident and I learned how to stand up for myself and my dreams. I have also improved my English. This now has made me feel confident to speak English, I raised my son to speak English fluently and I sometimes even have to speak English at my workplace. And all of this helps me do my job now!
I love to look back at my year abroad like it was yesterday. The USA is still a big part of me and I still visit my Host Family regularly. They are a part of my family and so are the other Au Pairs that they had. We try to meet up as a little group of Au Pair sisters and I just love it. As my host kids are all grown up now I can write with them and still be a small part of their lives.
Have you got a Favourite memory?
My favorite memories will be all the time I spent with my host family and friends and of course all the cool places I travelled to. But if I had to name only one of my favorite memories it definitely will be visiting Magic Kingdom in Orlando.”
To read more blogs like Vanessa’s click here – https://blog.aupairinamerica.co.uk/
