My name is Annalise Kraus. Yes, I know...an American girl with a German name. Ironically, it seemed only fitting that I fly across the pond in search for how to incorporate my German heritage into my young-adult life.
Participant Stories
When I first decided I wanted to au pair in Germany I knew exactly where I wanted to go. Düsseldorf! Not the biggest or most exciting city in Germany but I knew people who lived there.
I had it all figured out. I would arrive in Düsseldorf and meet up with my friends. They'd take me under their wing, introduce me to their friends and I'd go to all their favourite places. Everything would be done for me.
One tiny problem was stopping my plans from working. There were no families in Düsseldorf looking for an au pair at the time of my application.
Roseanna from NZ, au pair in Kronberg 2013/2015
Name, age, home country:
Roseanna, 20 years old, New Zealand
Town of host family:
Kronberg
When did you arrive in Germany and how long do/did you stay?
I arrived in Germany on December 11th 2013 and will stay until March 2015.
Kaitlin from the US, au pair in Frankfurt 2013/2014
Name, age, home country:
Kaitlin, 24, USA
City of placement / host family:
Frankfurt
When did you arrive in Germany and how long do/did you stay?
October 2013; one year
Lisa from the US, au pair in Berlin 2011
When did you arrive in Germany? How long will you stay?
I arrived in July, 2011 and will be staying for one year.
Describe your host family:
My host family is amazing. They have been welcoming from the beginning which has been helpful.
Being an au pair in Berlin, Germany 2012
What is it like to be an au pair in Germany? I would describe it easily with: Amazing. I’ve learned so much about life and myself in these past months, that I know that everything has been worth it.
Kaitlyn from the US, au pair in the Berlin in 2010/2011
So you want to be an au pair? If you are anything like I was in your position, you have an endless bank of questions you are itching to have answers for. In the end, your experience will be completely unique from mine, but I can paint you a little picture of my story thus far.
Willem from South Africa, au pair in the Karlsruhe region in 2010/2011
Germany, the heart of Europe! - I was looking for adventure and a chance to travel, meet new people, and learn a third language! The urge to see some of the world and the call of adventure has always been on my mind, and I have been planning on taking a GAP year after school for as long as I can remember.
Emily from Australia, au pair in Berlin in 2011
I started my journey to becoming an Au Pair in August 2010. I decided to be an Au Pair as a GAP year program to earn some money before heading off to university. The application process was pretty easy and fast, it was mainly just filling out all of the forms and getting everything together that took the time, but once done it felt good and the excitement set in.
Cynthia from the US, au pair in Berlin in 2012
Why did you choose Ayusa and its AuPairCare Germany program for your au pair experience?
I chose Ayusa/AuPairCare Germany because it is an agency that provided equality to both parties. It also clearly seemed to provide safety and fun and other such qualities to both parties, the au pair and the host family, things that other agencies didn't seem to exhibit. I was sure I was on the right path on choosing them.
Andrea from the US, au pair in Berlin in 2012
Choosing to come to Germany to be an au pair as a gap year was the best choice I could have made for myself. I have only been here three months and I already have grown and learned so much.
Alexander from the USA was an au pair in Dessau (Berlin region) in 2011
I first got the idea of becoming an Au pair when looking into exchange programs in Germany. The genuine experience of being an Au pair was more appealing than just living in a different country surrounded by friends and people I already know.
