One of the most important feelings an Au Pair must deal with is not only the new experience of living in another country, but also the homesickness of missing their comfort zone. If you have ever suffered from homesickness, don’t worry, it is totally normal. We have prepared a guide on how to overcome it in X steps – don’t miss it!
Homesick or missing being an Au Pair.
Before we start with the steps to overcome homesickness, we are going to tell you exactly what it is. The term homesickness refers to the feeling of being homesick. In this case, we always miss the house where we used to live, but also the city, town, friends, family or even the food. In short, the feeling is one of longing for your old routine.
This feeling is usually caused by the change of life you are going through. Some people are more affected by these changes, so you must be clear about one thing: it is a choice that will benefit you in the future.
Being afraid or having a lot of nerves is not a bad thing, but quite the opposite. It is normal to have mixed feelings during the first few days because you are in another country that is unknown to you.
At KIDOWE we want to guide you to feel at home in your adventure as an Au Pair. Therefore, we are going to give you 7 tips to make your experience in your new family as welcoming as possible.
7 tips for overcoming homesickness
The degree of intensity with which you face each tip will often depend on your predisposition and attitude when it comes to overcoming new challenges. At KIDOWE we know that it is not easy, but we also know that at the end of the experience, it will be a great anecdote that you will be able to tell. To make it work, you must have enthusiasm and above all a lot of desire:
- Get to know your new country
The best way to deal with a big change is to get to know it. So, the first thing you should do is get to know what your new home will be like. Visit the most emblematic places, read about your family’s city of origin, try to learn its traditions, improve your language if you don’t know it yet, get to know the locals, etc. Little by little you will make a place for yourself and settle into your life there.
- Share with the family
You can always get to know your family. That’s why it’s important that you get to know your family, but also that they get to know you. Tell them about your likes and dislikes, invite them for walks or share family moments with them like watching a movie or having dinner at a restaurant.
One thing to keep in mind is that they haven’t moved to another country, which means that you can’t make them adapt to your culture. That doesn’t mean that you can’t teach them and show them things like typical food or ways of understanding certain aspects.
- Meet people and go out and have fun
Along the same lines as before, it is important that you get settled in your destination city. This means that you will gradually meet new people who will help you connect more with your new home. In most cases, you tend to meet people who are in similar circumstances, so the connection you make is very nice.
- Avoid being on the phone all the time
If you are a shyer person, you should avoid having your phone in your hand all day. This way you will miss out on the first few days, which are crucial for starting a relationship. In addition, you will give a less than positive view to the host family.
- Your room, your refuge
Probably one of the most important things about your stay abroad as an Au Pair is your room. It should be your refuge, an oasis that should not confuse you. The host family should respect this, but the Au Pair should share time with the family and not lock herself in the bedroom to watch series and films.
In times of lows or homesickness, it is your bedroom where you will feel better, but if you share your situation with your Host Family, they will help you to overcome it.
- Gradually build up your routine
The first few weeks will be difficult, but as you settle in you will gradually build up your new routine. Normally, if you have a hobby, you will be able to do it there too. Or if you don’t, you also have the option of creating new hobbies. One of our recommendations is to look for an academy to learn the language, there you will meet people like you of different nationalities, you will make friends that will last for the rest of your life.
- Support…
And the most important thing… whenever you feel more homesick than you should, lean on your new friends and family. They will be able to give you advice and get you out of those feelings. Also, video calls are still available.
At Kidowe…
At Kidowe we want your experience to be unique and for you to want to come back again. That is why we look for a 100% au pair-family compatibility. We try to adapt to all tastes so that the relationship is ideal and that in both cases, you feel at home. If you have any questions, please contact us!
