Westford Home Provides Cultural Exchange for European Au Pairs

For one home on Evergreen Circle here in Westford, the need for childcare has grown into an international cultural exchange.

Over the past 18 months, the Neilson family has hosted Marisa Nyffenegger of Bettlach, Switzerland to be an au pair, an experience that has helped the 22 year old discover America.

Although she worked in an office before leaving Switzerland and hopes to become a police officer when she returns, Nyffenegger’s time caring for the Neilson children has left an indelible mark.

“I really like it here,” she said. “It’s pretty different though, it starts with the people and the culture and the people and the language, and everything’s bigger here. But I like it.”

Despite the differences between Switzerland and America, a previous background in child care earlier in life helped Marisa adapt quickly to life in Westford.

“There’s a certain amount of orientation going into things, helping her understand the rules of the road and how things go on in the house, but she has a lot of experience taking care of kids,” said Erin Neilson. “It was almost like she was a family visitor or something that I was trying to welcome into my home.”

Nyffenegger left earlier this month to make way for Paulina Biega, a 19 year old from Gizycko, Poland, a small town near the borders of Lithuania and Russia, but not before helping her replacement learn some things she discovered during her time here as an au pair.

“Marisa showed me many things like what the kids like doing, how they like to spend their free time and how they like to eat, she was really helpful for me,” she said.

Still, Biega believes that despite her experience taking care of kids in Poland, she will have to adapt to childcare here in America, a task she believes is within her reach.

“It’s impossible to compare (American kids with Polish kids), everybody is different and likes different things,” she said. “I’m still learning something new about this family and these kids because every family has their own habits and their routines.”

Biega marks the third au pair for the Neilson home from AuPairCare, a nationwide company that brings au pairs here to America, including just under a dozen currently here in the Westford area.

“One of the biggest advantages of having an au pair from overseas is the opportunity for cultural exchange,” said Trish York of AuPairCare. “Many families want an au pair who will speak a specific language with the kids so they can become bilingual. At the same time, an au pair provides flexible and affordable childcare.”

At the Neilson home, the bond between Marisa and young Graham Neilson grew to the point where Marisa took him home to Switzerland and France last summer.”

“(Graham) was so excited that when he came back, he asked for a French au pair next so he could visit Paris next summer!” said York. “Now that Paulina’s there, perhaps he will want to see Poland instead. Families do tend to form strong bonds with their au pairs and stay in touch for many years.”

More information on AuPairCare is available on their website.