Last Saturday  on May19’th au pairs from Au Pair in America (www.aupairinamerica.com) volunteered at the Dexter Southfield fair to experience some American traditions with Children.

Vanessa Heinrich from Germany, Camille Albaret from France, and Katrine Algreen-Jensen from Denmark are part of the Au Pair in America exchange program. They live with hostfamilies in the United States for one year with a J1 visa to help with childcare up to 45 hours a week.

During this program they learn a lot about the American way of live as well are able to introduce their own culture into an American family.

The Au Pair in America exchange program is a wonderful experience for host families to learn how diverse our world is and to get our kids learn respect other cultures and their traditions every day throughout the year.

Katrine’s hostmother Karen Mueller, mother of five children, in Chestnut Hill told us why she choose this childcare program for her family:

"We chose the au pair option for childcare because it is a very flexible way to get the childcare help we need, and at the same time bring someone into our family to whom the children can look for love and companionship."

“One of the most touching elements of the au pair program is that our girls are always very willing to reach out and give back to the community,” explains Au Pair in America’s Brookline local community counselor Heike Kriszun ( heike_kriszun@hotmail.com or 617-650-2565.

Regulated by the U.S. Department of State’s Exchange Visitor Program, the au pair program allows 18 to 26-year-old foreign women the opportunity to live in the U.S. for up to two years as live-in child care providers. Each au pair is screened thoroughly, must have at least 200 hours of recent, documented child care experience and speak proficient English.