Embracing the American lifestyle

I’ve often heard au pairs say that they want to “experience the American way of life”, when asked why they wanted to become an au pair. The American culture and lifestyle plays a huge part in your experience as an au pair. You’re surrounded by it! 

Now I’ve heard of au pairs that have their parents ship things over on a daily basis. Some get clothes from home, some get medicine and others get a whole lot more. I’ve heard of toothpaste, tissues, candy and other diverse items being shipped over. And I get it. I miss a lot of the food that I used to eat at home. I miss our traditions and I miss my things. But this year is about experiencing new things, it’s about getting to know a different culture and lifestyle. If you have everything shipped over from home, you’re basically living the same life, just in a different place. Why don’t you try, just for this one year, to fully embrace this lifestyle? There will certainly be things that you won’t like. And that’s okay! You don’t have to eat food you don’t like and you don’t have to do things you don’t want to. But the important thing is to try. What is the point in being here for a year if you’re not even going to try something new? 

Spending a year in America is not only easier but also a lot more fun if you embrace the culture you’re surrounded by. Sure, sometimes it’s hard and can take some getting used to. Sometimes you’re going to think “Americans are so weird”. But you might just discover things that you like better about the American culture than your own. It will help you look at cultures with a new-found perspective, maybe more critical in some aspects and more open-minded in others. 

There is so much other there to discover and experience. Why not embrace it?