I've been learning Chinese for a little while now and I've met someone online who I've practiced with a lot these past few months. Anyway they've been talking about doing the Aupair system to travel to the US and after doing some cursory research on it, it seems really sketchy and exploitative.
Is anyone more familiar with it and can say that it definitely shouldn't be trusted?
Death to America
I thought an Au pair was effectively a live in nanny possibly with some housekeeping duties? It seems terrifying to have your immigration status or visa tied to someone who is also your employer and providing housing. Just a huge amount of vulnerability to someone you have no prior contact with.
When I was looking it up it seemed like the government didn't put any effort into dealing with issues that came up from the system, of which I'm entirely not surprised. I figured I'd ask around on here about it. Thanks for the input.
I was an au pair and had some friends who had au pairs growing up. You really are dependant on the host family and the country. I would suggest your friend speak with potential families, meet the kids via video chat (kids, especially little ones, are worse at hiding problems) and get references from former au pairs.
It's also good to define what "light cleaning" means ahead of time. For me, it was mopping and floor once per week and emptying the dishwasher/taking out the diaper trash), but for others it was deep cleaning the family car they weren't allowed to drive.
Yeah in theory I thought it actually sounds cool as hell. Kind of like "go be a big sibling for a while", I was just worried because it seems like a really vulnerable position. Thanks for your input. I'll pass on your suggestions.
Yeah, you can always pm me. The thing is I was an au pair in a country with strict rules about working hours and language courses. I was also older than average. I got really lucky with my family - I'm still in contact with them many years later. I "met" with a few families but chose the one where I ended up because they really made me feel welcome. I swam a lot and the little girl was so proud to show me her Barbie swim cap via Skype. Tell your friend to trust her gut.
As an american I would tell them that they really don't wanna come here, especially with our healthcare system collapsing in the middle of multiple pandemics, especially not to live with/work for the kinds of rich fucks who can afford an au pair
It’s extremely exploitative and fucked up but i guess it can be worth it depending on the circumstances that you’re coming from.
I had a rich uncle who had one after another coming from the Balkans every few years to raise his kids for him. 2 of them ended up marrying his nephews (my cousins). The few times i visited his house it seemed like they worked very hard. For not nearly the amount of money that a US citizen would accept to do the same job in terms of per hour pay.
Of course he is a millionaire right wing libertarian brainworm infested freak too.
Right so that just sounds like what I was expecting. Rich dick heads making people do way to much work and then holding their ability to stay over their heads.