Share some au pair host family stories.

One horror story is when a host family made the au pair work excessive hours. They constantly added more tasks like cleaning the whole house daily, taking care of multiple kids alone for long hours, and also doing all the grocery shopping. It was way more than what was agreed in the contract, leaving the au pair exhausted and stressed.

One horror story could be a host family overworking the au pair. They made her work from dawn till late at night, taking care of the kids, cleaning the whole house, and cooking all the meals without proper breaks. Another is a host family being extremely rude and disrespectful, constantly criticizing the au pair's appearance and accent.

One way is to have an open and honest conversation with the host family during the interview process. Au pairs can ask about the family's expectations and also share their own. And during the stay, if something is wrong, don't be afraid to speak up or seek help from the au pair agency. Au pairs should also trust their instincts. If something seems off during the initial contact with the family, it might be a sign to look for another opportunity.

Sure. There was an au pair who was promised a certain amount of free time each week. But the host family kept canceling it without any valid reason. They would suddenly ask her to babysit when she had planned to go out. It was so unfair as she had no time for herself and couldn't pursue her own interests or meet new people.

I heard of a host family where the au pair was from Japan. She introduced the family to the art of origami. The kids were fascinated and they would spend hours making different origami figures with her. It was really interesting to see how a simple cultural activity could bring so much joy to the family.

There was a host family in a big city. The Southwestern Advantage representative staying with them was very polite and respectful. The family was initially a bit hesitant, but as time passed, they became really close. The representative often cooked meals from their homeland for the family. They had great evenings sharing stories about different places. This not only broadened the family's perspective but also created a long - lasting friendship.

One interesting AFS host family story is about a family who welcomed a student from a different culture. They introduced the student to their local traditions like a special harvest festival. The student was amazed and participated wholeheartedly. It was a great cultural exchange experience for both the student and the family.

Sure. One horror story is about a host family that was extremely controlling. They dictated every minute of the guest's day, from when they could eat to what they could wear. It was like living in a prison.

Sure. One horror story is when a host family made the exchange student clean the entire huge house alone every day. They didn't respect the student's study time at all and just treated them like a free maid.

There was a host family in Italy that welcomed a Brazilian student. The student was homesick at first. The host family made a special effort to recreate some Brazilian dishes for her. The student then taught the family some Brazilian samba dance steps. This story shows how a host family can make a foreign student feel at home and create beautiful memories together.