Immediately, after getting the rejection letter from the university I applied to (I got in but not the scholarship so...I can't really attend it anyways), I look up the au pairing thing online. It has been in my radar since 2016 but back then, I was still full of hope for my 'chosen' career path and let's be honest, I am kinda tied down because of my responsibilities to my family. It was never an option back then.
When I really think about it, I am quite lucky when it comes to the search for a host family. I started the search on April 1, 2021, the moment I got the rejection letter. I talked to a lot of host family and most of them are German families. Well, for those who are knowledgeable with the program, being 26 already doesn't bode well if you want to do a cultural exchange in Germany. They are only allowing 18-26 year old people with A1 language certificate. With the COVID and all and me studying the German language on my own, I of course wouldn't be able to make it since I turned 27 last July. It was sad but then again, that is life's way of telling you that there is a whole new different and PERFECT path just for you.
So, are you looking for your host family? Maybe this list of sites can help you find one.
1. Au Pair Websites
There are a lot of au pair websites out there. Some are paid, some are free. Imo, the best ones are the paid ones because then, you will have the opportunity to contact your family directly.
I signed up to only two sites; Aupair and Aufini. Honestly, I can't really sign up on other sites such as Greataupair.com because I feel like they are blocking Filipinos from sending their profiles in there. This is of course an alleged case but I've read a lot of post on Facebooks haring the same experience.
Aupair.com has a lot of profiles. Although this is the case, I feel like most of them are inactive or just forgotten by the host families. I talked to a lot of families in here and as I mentioned before, most of them are German. They liked me but I am not qualified because of age and the missing requirements. There are also families who politely declined as I am still currently in the Philippines, something that I don't really understand. When you think about it, being an au pair is a cultural exchange. Why would you not take someone who's currently living in their own country and just choose someone who's already in the EU? Why not give chance to others? I am not saying that the Filipinas doing their au pair thing for quite some time now are to be blamed but clearly, they already have all the cultural experience that they can get in their host countries or the EU countries nearby.
As for Aufini, I signed up at Aufini later on when I saw a Facebook post suggesting to try it out since that person got her host family thru there. I opted to pay for the subscription fee or something since that's the only possible way for you to contact families in there (unless of course they contacted you first). I chose the 1 month plan which cost me around P500.00. I don't know if I was just being cocky or what but I told myself that in the span of 30 days, I should be able to get a host family for me. Of course, although I paid for it, the possibilities of frustration, disappointment and even heartaches are inevitable. I talked to a looooooot of host families. Some of them are polite, some are downright rude, some will just leave you on read. But that's okay. Just like in life, you have to move forward. Oh, by the way, this is the site where I met my host family now. :)
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