Tuesday evening, I met with my group of wonderful au pairs from many different countries. I asked them questions about adjusting to life in the U.S. and if they had any advice for the newly-arrived au pairs:
:Balance your social life with work,” ” communication is everything,” ” try not to speak to your friends in your native language,” all wonderful suggestions. But then two more voices chimed in with “go slowly. Even if it doesn’t work in the beginning, it will work later on, ” and “don’t cling to your life back home (meaning stop skyping) and get involved with new friends in the U.S.!”
Adjusting to life in a new country is never easy; learning the ways of another culture is often stressful, but patience, communication and a relaxed attitude will go a long way! Before you know it, life in the U.S. will seem perfectly normal.