When I was 15, I went to an english teacher to learn more about the
language. My teacher used to work in Shefield as an au-pair, so she
gave me an idea to do this job. Living in London for a year after the
school-leaving exam became my dream. My parents, and my friends
thought this is just a silly dream, that I will forget as I do with
many other dreams of mine.
But no, I got into the university, but in spite of I knew I need a gap
year, so I started looking for an au-pair job in July. I wanted to
come to London, I registered on au-pair world.
That time I didn’t really know which is important to find a family, so
I didn’t really care things such as working hours, salary, paid
holiday, I just wanted to be in London.
As I started my job it wasn’t as easy as I expected.
In my dreams I idealized the english children. The future was
different as my dreams.
Naughty english children, who don’t listen to you, they are blanking
you all the time. Every day is a different fight with them. They think
you are their maid, who give us water when they’re thirsty. (My
question, why they can’t go to the kitchen to pour some water on their
cup?) My girl doesn’t want to bring her schoolbag. Once, I said to her
no more I bring your schoolbag, and she just started sulking, and she
left the bag int he middle of the pavement. She was able to walk 2
streets without her bag, so I needed to come back with them to pick it
up. Although they give up most of the love, you receive from the
family.
Don’t talk about the mothers. They want you to be grateful to work for
them. You need to clean their house as a cleaner, to iron the parents’
and the children’s clothes, do the laundry, washing the dishes etc…
If you make such a small mistake, like breaking a glass, they want to
talk to you, to be more careful, and not so clumsy.
In my oppinion, I do all the housework, so of course my percentage of
mistake is much more higher than her who rarely does anything.
If you stay at home on Sunday when they are home, she wants you to
pick the kids to the park. What can you say? Just; I am so sorry, but
I will meet my friends soon, I gotta go. So better, if I just escape
from the whole weekend, before she wants me to work in my freetime.
The kids can’t watch telly with me, but when I came home from Central
London, she is just having a very important 2 hours long phone
conversation on the phone about X-factor upstairs, while the kids are
staring the telly stupidly with opened mouth for long hours
downstairs.
My favourite, when the rice cooker went wrong, she tried to blame on
me, I destroyed it because of my clumsiness. Sorry, but how I could do
it? Did I get my screwdriver and start to destroy the rice cooker with
it? No, my dear, your house and the machines are just old, and you
would need to know that things don’t last and work forever.
But of course, being an au-pair is just a 25 hour long easy job, you
are the part of the family,(because she asks you everyday How are you?
And how were the kids? Maybe she starts complaining about your job,
but to sum up that’s all your conversations) so have fun guys, and
good luck, maybe the problem is just with me! ;)
