Very often during the first weeks, due to a small vocabulary, young people develop language problems. The fear of saying something wrong leads to the person stopping talking altogether. Communicate and do not be afraid of mistakes! Ask the family to correct you if you make mistakes. If you do not ask, the hosts will remain silent out of politeness. To quickly improve your language knowledge, you need to regularly attend language courses, talk a lot, read newspapers, children's books, listen to the radio, watch TV.
It is not excluded that during a long stay abroad you will feel homesick. Many au pairs have this feeling - it is hard to get used to a new family, language, country. Nostalgia manifests itself in various forms and often indirectly. In the first days, new things and experiences leave no time to think about home, a person is in high spirits. Then suddenly comes awakening, culture shock, and with it longing. Thoughts come about home, friends, family, about everything one is used to. In such a situation, it is better to cry it out, write letters home, or call. But do not let this feeling take over you! Better talk to someone about it: the hosts, other au pairs, or friends. Nostalgia will pass in a couple of days, maybe someone needs a little more time. The main thing is not to give up.
Be sure to find common ground with the hosts. If something remains unsaid, unclear, many difficulties will arise. Often they are the result of different views on the rules of housekeeping and childcare. If you cannot find a common language with the family, you need to contact the agency that placed you here to help you resolve the conflict. Do not panic and immediately pack your things.
It happens that au pairs change families. The reasons are very diverse. It can depend on the family, on the au pair, and sometimes on both sides: there are hosts who violate the rights of program participants, and it happens that young people carelessly perform their duties. Families are changed and au pairs are dismissed only in exceptional cases and after preliminary discussion with the agency. The notice period is two weeks, and it is not always possible to immediately find another family for a replacement.
As for friends, how quickly you find them depends on many factors, and first of all on yourself. You do not need to remain alone on principle; you can meet young people from different countries. Meeting an au pair who has already been in this country for a long time is a great stroke of luck, because he can give good advice on spending free time and attending courses. However, you should not lock yourself only in the circle of au pairs and, moreover, compatriots. Try to make international acquaintances, and for this you need to take initiative - be active, but at the same time careful, so that your openness is not taken advantage of.
Whether you can invite friends to your home depends on the family. Usually the hosts do not mind this, but friends must be introduced to the family. Moreover, your meeting should not turn into a loud party. Remember, many believe that friends negatively affect the au pair's work, so discuss everything in advance. As for the overnight stay of your friends or relatives in the host family's house, as a rule, hosts are not against guests from your homeland, but you should not be disappointed or angry if the family says "no" - that is their right.