ketjusha

Aloha from Kärt

Kärt is an au pair in America. She is from Estonia and thats why this post is both in English and in Estonian. Read about her experience and get a glimpse of what being an au pair in USA, specifically in Hawaii, is all about.

Scroll down for Story in Estonian ❤️. 


Aloha from Hawaii, 

My name is Kärt and I am an Estonian girl who is currently living in the Hawaiian island called Oahu as an au pair and I would love to share with you my experience being part of the Au Pair in America program.

So let’s start from the beginning. Why did I decided to become an Au pair? In January 2015, after 4.5 years of studying in Tallinn Healthcare College I got my diploma in midwifery and nursing. After that I started working as midwife but during the studies and also after working for some time my dream of going to live abroad and travel won over the safe everyday life I was living and I decided I have to find out more about my opportunities. So when I heard about the au pair program in America, I decided it was the perfect opportunity for me because I have always enjoyed taking care of children, playing with them and helping them.

After contacting the Au Pair in America Estonian office it took me around 3 months to fill in my documents and find the perfect family for me and overall it took 5 months from applying until I flew to the USA to start my au pair experience. Before meeting my family I had a few days of training in New York City and then I flew to my family. I was beyond excited to meet them. I arrived to Oahu early in the morning and my host mom picked me up from airport and then we drove to my future home for the next year.

The drive to my host family’s house was magical because it was just like from a tropical movie seeing all of the beautiful Hawaiian nature around us. When we arrived my host kids where just waking up and came to check out this new au pair called Kart who came from Estonia to take care of them. My little host girl welcomed me with big smile and invitation to play with her and our friendship started instantly. But with her younger brother it took more time for him to get used to me being there. My host mom and dad where both really welcoming. I believe with them communicating openly is key to having a great host family and au pair relationship.

So far being an Au Pair in America has been an unforgettable experience what I would not change for anything. I have learned so much from my American family about great family values, I’ve given my heart and soul to these two wonderful Hawaiian kids, I’ve travelled around Oahu and Indonesia, I’ve made new friends and I’ve grown as a person.

For young people thinking about applying to be an au pair then research more and if you believe it is something for you just do it. There is nothing to lose and you will gain so much from this experience. Becoming an au pair allows you to live like a local and really experience America in a way that you wouldn’t be able to if you were visiting as a tourist.

Finally, choosing one highlight of my year so far, is the hardest thing! Every day as its own highlights so how do I choose? It could be hiking in beautiful green Hawaiian mountains with friends, having a beach day, making sand castles, swimming in one of the most beautiful beaches in the world with my little ones or snorkeling with colorful fish and turtles. In conclusion I feel being an au pair in Hawaii with a great host family is the best part of my experience.

Aloha to all of you! Aloha oukou!

Kärt

  

Aloha Hawaiilt,

Minu nimi on Kärt. Olen eesti neiu, kes elab hetkel Au pairina Oahu saarel Hawaiil. Soovin teiega jagada oma kogemust seoses Au Pair Ameerika programmiga.

Alustan algust, miks üldse otsustasin hakata Au pairiks? 2015.aasta jaanuaris pärast 4.5 aastaseid õpinguid Tallinna Tervishoiu Kõrgkoolis sain ämmaemanda ja õe diplomi ja alustasin töötamist ämmaemandana. Aga õpingute ajal ja samuti hiljem töötades unistasin võimalusest jätta turvaline igapäev ja minna avastama maailma reisides. Kuuldes Au Pair Ameerika programmist tundsin, et see on võimalus millest olin unistanud kuna olen alati nautinud laste eest hoolitsemist, mängimist nendega ja kontakti leidmist, samas programm annab võimaluse avastada vabal ajal Ameerikat reisides.

Mõeldud ja otsus Au pairi kogemuse kasuks langetatud kontakteerusin Au Pair Ameerika Eesti osakonnaga. Mul kulus 3 kuud esimesest kontaktist ning dokumentide vormistamisest lõpuks sobiva pere leidmiseni ja pärast pere leidmist veel 2 kuud, et Ameerikasse lennata. Enne perega kohtumist osalesin nelja päevasel treeningul New Yorkis, mille järgselt lendasin Hawaiile oma tulevase host perega kohtuma. Ootasin seda kohtumist väga. Saabusin Oahule vara hommikul. Lennujaamas oli mind ootamas host ema, kellega koos sõitsime mu tulevasse koju. Autosõit oli maagiline, tundsin, et olen just kui troopilises Hawaii filmis. Imetlesin kogu autosõidu vältel suurte silmadega seda imeilusat roheliste mägedega loodust ja kogu väsimus pikast lennureisist oli kadunud.

Kui jõudsime mu tulevasse koju olid lapsed just tõusnud ja tulid uudistama, kes on see Au pair Kart, kes neid hoidma tuli Eestist. Mu väike host tüdruk tervitas mind suure naeratuse, kutsega hakata temaga mängima ja meie sõprus algas esimesest hetkest kui kohtusime. Noorem vend oli, aga alguses häbelikum ja temal võttis veidi kauem aega tutvumine ja sõpradeks saamine. Host ema ja isa mõlemad võtsid mind sõbralikult vastu ja leian saavutamaks head suhet host vanematega on oluline avameelne suhtlus, mis meil ka on alati olnud.

Siiani Au pairiks olemine Ameerikas on minu jaoks olnud unustamatu kogemus, mida ma ei vahetaks millegi vastu. Olen õppinud imeliselt Ameerika perelt väärtuslikke laste kasvatus tehnikaid, jaganud armastust ja hoolt kahele suurepärasele Hawaii lapsele, reisinud Oahu saarel ja Indoneesias, loonud uusi sõprussuhteid ja kasvanud isiksusena.

Noored, kes te mõtlete kandideerimisele Au pairiks Ameerikas uurige oma võimaluste kohta rohkem ja kui tunnete see on teie jaoks, lihtsalt tehke seda. Uskuge teil pole midagi kaotada, ainult võita. Olles Au pair on teil võimalus elada nagu kohalik ja kogeda Ameerikat parimal viisil.

Viimasena paluti mul jagada teiega oma selle aasta ühte tipphetke, aga leian, et liiga raske on valida välja üks parim hetk. Iga päev pakub imelisi hetki, milline see võiks siis olla? Matkamine kaunites rohelistes Hawaii mägedes sõpradega, ranna päev lastega, tehes koos liivalosse ja ujudes ühes maailma ilusaimas ning siniseimas ookeanis või snorgeldamine värviliste kalade ja merikilpkonnadega? Kokkuvõtteks leian, et parim hetk on kogu kogemus olla Au pair Hawaiil suurepärase perega.

Aloha teile kõigile! Aloha oukou!

Kärt

Published by ketjusha

Who we are My name is Ketlin and I come from small place called Palivere, situated on the West of Estonia. I am about to finish high school and the doors are open for me. Only, I don’t know which door I should use. I can’t say that my choices are overly appealing to me anyhow. I am typical restless teenager, my grades are not that good anyhow to be welcomed on any school, thought, I am hopeful and I ooze willpower to do something great. Not the best of start, Right! I will not dwell on the not so great perspectives I had back then, rather let me fast forward and fill in of what I do today and how did I get there. Today, I am a mother of 2. I have 2 higher degrees and I must admit, I had to get to my master’s studies to realize that I love to learn, I am actually pretty good at it and I am excellent at giving advice and helping young people who at are torn on choices after high school on what they could do with their life. No, I am not occupation counselor, and no, I am not psychologist. I am an ex au pair (1998-1999 in Ohio, USA), I have lived also in Finland and I have been interviewer for Au Pair in America program for nearly 15 years. I have Ilze on my side on this journey with me who is also an ex au pair … My Au-Pair experience took place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in great American-Pilipino family. This year in America opened many doors for me in the future and made me better person. At first I didn’t realize how important was to be that little part of that big Au-Pair community. But looking back at my experience as Au-Pair, I would never change that year to something else. It made me to believe that dreams can come true, that I can do more than I think and that world is so interesting and exciting. Now I live in my home country Latvia in the capital city and work several jobs and projects. I love to gain new experiences, to meet new people and to travel places. My dream is to see Iceland one day. I am spending lots of time with my family and French bulldog Dilly. I love books and mountains. I believe that meeting Ketlin was “written in the stars” long time ago. And for a while we both had this idea to write a book what helps, entertains and what makes the difference. After some time I even realized that next Au-Pair in my host family after me was form Ketlin’s Estonian agency. Somehow we were connected long time ago.

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