Jessika is getting ready to leave Brazil and travel to the USA, to start her next adventure as an au pair in New Jersey. She tells us all about the roller-coaster of emotions she’s felt during her last few weeks in Brazil.
“I confess that there are many “what ifs” and that you will not always get the answers right, straight away. Have courage and take the first step. In life, we may regret many things, but what hurts the most is never to have tried. Do not take away from yourself the chance to dream and to live out your dream.”
I am Jéssika Felix from Brazil and soon I will become an au pair in New Jersey, and it will be my pleasure to share with you my adventures as an Au Pair in America. As I started packing and preparing to leave home for one year, I was hit with the feeling that everything I was doing that day, I wouldn’t be doing again for a long time. It was the last time I would lay in my bed, it was the last time I played with my pets, it was the last time I hugged my mother, it was the last time I talked face to face with my old friends and it was the last time I was dazzled by the view from my porch. This feeling was completely normal as I was preparing to leave my comfort zone for a whole year.
People may tell you that you are crazy for wanting to move abroad for a year to experience a different culture. They might not understand why you want to embark on this adventure but there will be others who will help you and be at your side giving you the strength to pursue your dreams.
The process of talking to host families is a unique experience, and you will notice that from time to time you will be so excited to talk to different families that you may even be disappointed when you receive the message that they have already matched up with another au pair. This is natural, keep in mind that you are not the only one and always do your best to enable the host families to get to know you. You will find the right family for you but it may take some time. I talked to several host families before I found the family I wanted to match with and in the end I was presented with a family who I consider to be wonderful. Do you know that “feeling” you may have heard of, when you know that this is the right choice for you? That’s exactly how I felt when I confirmed the match with my host family. This year I will be responsible for two more lives and this is something I will take very seriously. As an au pair you will have a lot of responsibilities because the family have trusted you with looking after their children and I am very grateful for the trust they have placed in me.
During the whole process to become an au pair you will ask yourself “What if I can’t do this?”, “What if I don’t find a host family?”, “What if I can’t adapt to the new culture?”, “What if my English is not good enough?” or “What if it doesn’t work out with my host family?” I confess that there are many “What if” moments, and that you will not always get the answers right, straight away. Have courage, and take the first step. In life, we may regret many things, but what hurts the most is never to have tried. Do not take away from yourself the chance to dream and to live out your dream.
Well I’ve finished packing but I have left some space for the things I will experience during this dreamy year. Whatever it may be, bad or good times, I am sure everything will be worth it.
Jessie Felix.
We’ll be following Jessika’s journey as an Au Pair in America each month so stay tuned to find out what she gets up to in her first month in the USA! If you want to experience life in America as an au pair for yourself, register on our website and start your application today!
