An au pair's journey from Austria to Elk Grove

Sarah Neuhold is a soft-spoken, sweet girl who says she wasn’t always very outgoing. But she was adventurous enough to leave her home country of Austria and embark on a two-year journey as an au pair in America. She now lives with an Elk Grove family and cares for two children, Hudson, 4, and Kacey, 2.

I met Sarah through my job at AuPairCare, a Department of State designated au pair agency that has been placing au pairs from around the world with American host families for over 20 years.

When I asked her why she wanted to be an au pair, she said traveling to America was a dream for her but she had found studying abroad to be too expensive.

“Working with children or elderly people was always a part of my work in school and the community,” she said. “I always chose to work with babies and young kids.”

AuPairCare screens each applicant and requires previous childcare experience along with a criminal background check. Sarah provided pictures of herself with children she had cared for along with bio and contact information. Before she had time to film a video for her profile, American families were emailing with interest in her. She arrived 18 months ago and spent her first year with a family in New Jersey.

At 22, Sarah has made it a priority to see as much of the U.S. as possible. Her travels have included Washington DC, Boston, Connecticut and New York. Since arriving in Elk Grove, she’s also spent time in Lake Tahoe and San Francisco.

Of the differences between Austria and America Sarah said, “The homes are much larger here and the people a bit more open.”

She was also surprised by how far people have to drive to get to things. Thirty minutes was considered a very long drive in Austria, she said. But in Elk Grove people think nothing of driving much further than that to work each day.

Sarah’s greatest fear about living abroad was not having family and friends close by. She made a concerted effort to meet other au pairs and is very close to Sandra, an au pair from South Africa she met during her first year. She’s made friends with young people from all over the globe including Japan, Africa, Germany and Norway.

Host parents Desiré and Kelly are a busy couple with baby number three on the way. They value the benefits of knowing their kids are safe at home and have really embraced Sarah as a member of their family. 

“They treat me like one of the family,” said Sarah. “I’ve gotten used to sharing things with my host mom that I would normally be sharing with my mother.”

Au pairs receive a small weekly stipend and room and board from their American host family in exchange for providing in-home childcare. It’s not unusual for Sarah to help with meal preparation, play outings, bathing and laundry. She helped teach German to the boys in her first home. 

“It’s good for both sides,” she said. “My host families have helped me to grow and develop my English skills, too.”

In her spare time Sarah enjoys getting together with friends and traveling, seeing movies and reading. She was a competitive swimmer and would love to get involved with a swim team here for fun. When her time in Elk Grove with AuPairCare ends next year, she will probably focus on finishing her education. Yet she yearns for more travel. And one thing is certain: Sarah now has friends and “family” in many countries!

For more information on hosting an au pair, contact Kimberly Shaw at 916-670-7353 or visit www.aupaircare.com