Most of us will remember being stuck at home for much of 2020. But for 26-year-old Ella Felce, from Northampton, England, memories of the pandemic will forever be tied to one of her life’s biggest adventures: living as an au pair in the USA.

Ella arrived in the States in September 2018 and spent just over 2.5 years working for two American host families in the New Jersey suburbs outside NYC. During her time in the US, Ella took advantage of all of the au pair programme benefits. She earned a weekly stipend. She also took classes—including Social Media & Marketing, Finance & Business in America and Digital Lifestyle—which were subsidised by her host parents. And she traveled—a lot! Ella returned home in March of this year a changed person and grateful for the au pair experience. 

We chatted with Ella about what it’s like to be an au pair in the US, how the experience has changed her future and what she recommends for other young people who are ready to start the same journey.

Why did you decide to become an au pair?

Ella: Prior to being an au pair, I worked for four summers at a children’s camp in the US state of Pennsylvania. This experience made me love America—especially the NYC area—and being an au pair let me live, travel and earn some money in the US for more than just a summer at a time. 

While travelling in Australia I met some au pairs and they told me how rewarding and fun being an au pair was so I knew it would be perfect for me! My goal was to visit as many US states as possible. I ended up visiting 35 states total!

What were your host families like?

Ella: My first family lived in Westfield, NJ. I had 2 host kids, a 9-year-old boy and 6-year-old girl. I extended at the end of my first year for another 12 months, so had two great years with this family. One of the most rewarding moments was teaching my host kid how to ride a bike.  

During the summer of 2020 and due to the pandemic, I moved to a different host family. I lived in Summit, NJ caring for two boys ages 5 and 7. We had a great 6 months filled with lots of adventures in the snow. I love both of my host families, stay in touch with the kids with FaceTime calls and I can’t wait to go back and see them again! 

What did you love about living outside New York City?

Ella: I lived in two amazing towns in New Jersey, both under an hour’s trip to NYC. They both had great places to eat and things to do. It was also a very easy to drive to cities like Philadelphia, Boston and Washington DC.

Once I developed a routine and got used to the kids and their schedules, I really felt like it was my normal life, not just an exchange year. I started to feel like a local when I went into my favourite bagel store and they knew my order. I joined a gym and went to the local coffee shop multiple times a week to meet up with au pairs. I also made friends with Americans and really settled in.

I loved that there were so many choices. My favourite thing to do with my friends was going into NYC on our weekends off for brunch and explore the city!

What was the best/worst part about being an au pair?

Ella: The best thing about being an au pair was the people I’ve met. I now have friends for life from around the world, and two amazing families and friends in the US that I will stay in touch with forever. 

Obviously with all jobs there are some challenging days and it can sometimes be hard to live in someone else’s house and live where you work. It was also really hard to leave. After being in the US for 2.5 years everything around me became so normal in my life. But overall, I wouldn’t change anything.

How have you changed as a result of this experience?

Ella: I’ve learned a great deal about myself in this time. I have become more patient with others and definitely gained a lot more skills to use in the future. I have matured a lot in 2.5 years and learned that I need to take time for myself in order to be happy.

What advice would you give other young people who want to be au pairs?

Ella: I have four pieces of advice. First, go into your au pair experience with the willingness to learn. Second, choose the family, not the place. Next, try your best to develop a great relationship with your host parents from day one as this will be the key to a successful year. Lastly, keep an open mind when it comes to meeting new people and making friends. Give everyone a chance!

Written by Steph Vandale

You can find more information on traveling to the US as an au pair on Cultural Care’s website, or on their Instagram pages: @culturalcare and @culturalcareuk. Read more au pair stories about working, living and studying in the USA on the Candy Picnic blog.

This sponsored article was written together with Cultural Care Au Pair to share this unique opportunity with City Girls. We don’t receive anything when you click on the links, but please consider supporting City Girl Network via Patreon or a one-off donation.