AU PAIR-ENT page 53

EF Au Pair, a division of the Ed-
ucational Foundation for Foreign
Study. 'The people who come here
are dedicated to what they are do-
ing, whereas some of the babysit-
ters around here lose interest
after a month."
This is a consistent form of
child care and a cultural experi-
ence for the host family and the
au pair," she added.
Like the Kerwins, other host
families cite the ease of finding
reliable, in-home care as their rea-
son for enlisting the agencies. In
addition, the child's potential cul-
tural experience in having a for-
eign-born caretaker makes the
program attractive.
For the au pairs, the program
is touted as a cheap way to expe-
rience America for one year. Col-
lege campus postings show au
pairs in attractive American
homes, and booths at job fairs de-
pict a cosmopolitan lifestyle of vis-

iting American landmarks and

attending American schools.
Prospective au pairs who have
applied at European field offices
are interviewed and matched
with families that have applied
at regional centers in the Unit-
ed States.
"Families are generally given
two choices and the au pairs are
never forced to go to a family that
they are not comfortable with,"
Ms. Simon said.
As a regional coordinator, Ms.
Simon works with the families in
preparing for the arrival of the au
pair. She then works with the
hosts and the au pairs after their
arrival to maintain a good rela-
tionship.
"Thankfully, we haven't had
any problems that couldn't be
worked out," she said.
But while the program seems
to be the ideal answer for the fam-
ily seeking child care with a cul-
tural twist, some say the system
has much room-for error.
"It is a lottery," said Greta, an
au pair for a local family who re-
quested her name be changed for

Au pair Nadine Ried
horses around
with her new charge,
Marla Kerwin.

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