Coming from South Africa as a 19-year-old girl and standing in Times Square was a core memory for me. My 13-year-old self, who had dreamed of traveling the world, would not have believed how far I’ve come. As an au pair in the USA, I tick off things from her bucket list every day.
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<a href="https://www.culturalcare.co.uk">Becoming an au pair</a>  was probably the scariest thing I’ve done—leaving the comfort of my little beach town and the support system I had back there—but I couldn’t be more grateful for everyone that encouraged me to take this journey. You will find the purpose you’re searching for in all the risks you take, and I’m so glad I took this one.
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My host family is lovely. They welcomed me with open arms, and I felt so comfortable from day one. They allowed me to ease into my schedule by showing me new things as they came and allowing room for mistakes. They feel like my second family and constantly remind me that they are. My host mom Tonya is always saying to me, &#8220;We&#8217;re your family!&#8221; It&#8217;s the most wholesome thing.
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I think everyone should take the opportunity to experience au pair life because it really does take you out of your <a href="https://blog.culturalcare.com/advice/the-importance-of-stepping-out-of-your-comfort-zone">comfort zone</a>  in all the best ways. It helps build your character and shapes the person you become. Everything you do on this journey will really make you see that you are capable of anything.
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You discover a new meaning to being independent and responsible because you’re not only dictating your own life path, but you’re also shaping the lives of your host kids. That’s a huge thing. You’re helping these tiny humans discover who they want to be in this world and what role they want to play in it, while at the same time discovering more about yourself. I’m only 2 months in and I still discover daily parts of myself I never knew existed.
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I knew I always wanted to be a teacher and shape the lives of little humans. This journey made me realize even more that I have such a passion for kids—I want to constantly be around their energy and encourage their growth by reminding them that they really do have the world at their feet.
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As an au pair, you’ll go places that make you feel so small. It will overwhelm you most days, and you’ll experience a bigger sense of gratitude for our world, realizing just how much it holds. You’ll meet all kinds of people who will teach you things that you’ll remember for a lifetime.
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It really is a once in a lifetime experience that you shouldn’t miss out on—a chance to catch the dreams you’ve been chasing. You shouldn’t just exist in the world; you should live and experience it to the fullest
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Hear why South African au pair Logan chose to become an au pair and live life to the fullest—and why you should too!

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