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• These stories matter: Each year, hundreds of families and au pairs nominate each other for Au Pair and Host Family of the Year. These nominations are celebrations of the moments when cultural exchange becomes family, when childcare becomes love, and when a year together creates bonds that last a lifetime.
• The beautiful diversity of connection: This year's finalists shared everything from navigating the unexpected together to celebrating Sinterklaas traditions, from learning the Kiddush to dancing to Colombian music in Minnesota winters. Every story is unique, yet they all share one common thread: the transformative power of welcoming someone into your life with an open heart.
• Gratitude for your courage: Thank you to every au pair and host family who shared your story. Your willingness to be vulnerable, to celebrate the small moments and the life-changing ones, helps others understand what's possible when you choose cultural exchange. You remind us daily why this program matters.
• Family has no borders: These stories prove what we've always believed: family isn't about where you're from—it's about who shows up for you, who celebrates your culture, who sits with you during hard moments, and who makes you feel like you belong. Thank you for creating global family.
We hope you enjoy reading these stories.
Au pair of the year finalists
Incredible au pairs, nominated by their host families
Geraldine, au pair from Columbia
The moment I truly felt Gera become part of our family happened on a fall trip to South Carolina. One afternoon, we went on what my children dubbed “shell huntin’.” I watched Gera walk the beach with my daughters for over an hour, searching for “shells you can hear the sea in.” The beaches of South Carolina are very different from the beaches of Colombia, but standing together in the sand, sharing stories and laughter, our family felt whole.
-Chelsea, host mom from Illinois
Genilson, au pair from Brazil
One evening I got home from work while Gen was still making dinner. On their plates, he arranged sliced carrots around a mound of pasta with little veggie stems and leaves. The thought and care, and love, he put into this meal told me so much about Gen and how he felt about our family.
-Rebecca, host mom from Georgia
Mia, au pair from Austria
All we could hear was a chorus of the most heart-warming, beautiful, joyous laughter from the family room where Mia was playing with our children. The three of them were giggling, rolling around and having the most fun time. Mia's innate attitude makes her the ideal au pair: she is naturally giving and interested in children, to whom she devotes all of her attention, affection, awareness and fun, engaging personality.
-The Wells family, host family from Connecticut
Virginia, au pair from Argentina
When I called Virginia to ask if she could pick [my son] up early, she told me she was already on her way. She had the same instinct—that something didn't feel right—and acted without hesitation. That experience showed us exactly who Virginia is: a person of incredible judgment, courage, and love.
-Daniela, host mom from California
Francisca, au pair from Chile
Francisca came to our family during a time of transition, after welcoming our third baby. It was our first time hosting an Au Pair.
All I can say is that I am so happy that it was Francisca that walked off that plane and into our home. She calls our youngest her best friend and has seen her grow from a baby to a toddler, now speaking both Spanish and English. All of our kids have been able to try new foods from Chile and helped expand their understanding that the world is a big place.
-Jana, host mom from Michigan
Vendula, au pair from the Czech Republic
Within moments of meeting us, she was running around laughing and playing with Jesse. She had Czech sweets she brought for him. When we went to lunch, she shared her food with him. She already loved him the day we all met, and that was the moment we knew Vendy was family.
-Stephanie, host mom from New Jersey
Maria, au pair from Denmark
Maria had gently positioned [our son] near the petting zoo, allowing him to "meet" a goat for the first time. The genuine wonder in his eyes, even at five months old, was palpable. Maria hadn't just watched him; she had captured the exact, perfect moment of an unscripted, pure childhood experience.
This moment showed us precisely who Maria is. She didn't just meet a childcare obligation; she sought out a memorable adventure, dressed him for the occasion, and ensured every magical moment was photographed for us. It proved her initiative, her resourcefulness, and, most importantly, her heart.
-Greg, host dad from California
Vrichica, au pair from France
Six months into our first year, renewing her for another year was not even a question. Their bond was far too special to interrupt!
At some point, I stopped thinking of her as our au pair and simply saw her as part of us, the three of us moving through life together. She is not just a caretaker. She is an extension of our family, and our lives are richer, softer, and more supported because of her. We love her so, so much.
-Chloe, host mom in California
Marie, au pair from Germany
The moment our toddler saw Marie, her whole face lit up. She ran straight toward her, arms wide open, smiling from ear to ear, and wrapped her in a big hug. Then she turned to her teachers, lifted her little hand, and said, "Bye!" Hearing her voice so clear and confident was something no one there had witnessed before. When Marie arrived, our toddler used about 15 words and sounds. Today, she has closer to 50, and counting.
-Raquel, host mom from California
Tamara, au pair from Hungary
That night on the couch showed it before any of them had the words. Kids don't snuggle into someone's lap unless that person makes them feel safe. They don't choose to spend their free time with someone who's only temporary. We wanted an au pair who would help care for our girls. What we got was someone we trust, respect, and genuinely care about and love.
-Audrey, host mom in Alabama
Sara, au pair from Italy
Our family was stretched thin, and I was carrying more than I could manage. From the moment she stepped into our home, it felt as though a massive weight lifted off my shoulders. She embraced our family—our strengths, our challenges, and our chaos—with maturity, grace, and an open heart. She didn’t just adapt to our household; she transformed it. I don’t remember what life was like before her.
-Ashley, host mom in Tennessee
Monserrat, au pair from Mexico
She has gone above and beyond what I expected, from creating craft lessons for my toddler, to becoming a perfect addition to my bookclub. She is the teacher my toddler needed, the sister I always wanted, and the missing piece to our growing family.
-Carolina, host mom in Washington
Oliwia, au pair from Poland
She has taught Simona so much, from early communication and independence to confidence and curiosity. Simona absolutely adores her, and the bond between them is incredibly special. Oliwia is truly like a big sister to her—someone she trusts completely and feels safe and happy with at all times.
-Aleksandra, host mom in Virginia
Annika, au pair from South Africa
Annika chose to spend her birthday with our family, even though it was her day off and she could have made big plans with friends. Instead, we spent the day together and went out to dinner as a family. Our toddler was especially thrilled, proudly repeating "Happy Birthday, Annika" over and over - something he still says to this day.
-Maria, host mom in California
Claudia, au pair from Spain
From the kitchen, I stopped what I was doing just to listen. In that moment, I realized our children were not simply being cared for. They were being loved. My husband has a demanding career saving lives, and there are times when our home feels overwhelming. She observes, steps in with common sense, and supports our family like a true member of it.
-Maria, former au pair and host mom in Pennsylvania
Felicia, au pair from Sweden
As a full-time single mom to an infant and a 4 year old, I felt that I was drowning balancing work, daycare runs, chores, and cleaning. Felicia has relieved my stress and added joy to our lives in immeasurable ways. She’s the teammate I needed. She’s a calm, reliable, and a caring presence who has truly become part of our family.
-Randi, host mom in Colorado
Julia, au pair from Switzerland
Having Julia with us has been more than a cultural exchange—it has been a gift. She has brought warmth, laughter, and a sense of ease into our home, and we are so grateful she chose to spend this year with our family.
-Nikol, host mom in New York
Ilse, au pair from The Netherlands
The final night of Sinterklaas stands out as a moment I’ll never forget. Ilse didn’t just celebrate with Bryan and me, but with my parents and brother as well. Ilse jumped right in- both giving and receiving- with humor, confidence, and ease. Watching her laugh alongside my family, it was clear she wasn’t a guest or an outsider. She was simply one of us.
-Katherine, host mom in Oregon
Laura, au pair from the UK
Having Laura join our family last year was nothing short of magical. She was and has been the glue that has made our busy family work so well. With two working parents with demanding careers and three children aged 4 and under, it was like a weight lifted off our shoulders once Laura arrived and we could breathe.
-Kati, host mom in Tennessee
Host family of the year finalists
Open-hearted host families, nominated by their au pairs
The Adeyemi family
The Adeyemis aren’t just people I live with. They’re people who changed me. They helped me grow, pushed me to evolve, and showed me what family really means. Being able to choose your second family is a privilege and I'm forever grateful that Emily and I listened to our gut and decided to go on this Journey together.
-Marana, au pair from Austria
The En`Wezoh-Liu family
What I value most about my host family—besides their humor, positive energy & love for adventure—is their incredible sensitivity & attentiveness. From the very beginning, they made me feel truly seen.
Cultural exchange is lived daily in our family. They make sure we don't miss important cultural or religious celebrations and often experience them together, which deepens our mutual understanding and respect.
-Suemeyye, au pair from Germany
The Barritault family
The moment I realized my host family had truly become my real family didn’t come all at once — it grew naturally from the very beginning. Our cultural exchange became a beautiful part of our connection. I shared my Guadeloupean culture by cooking traditional dishes for her. And she made sure I could fully experience American traditions: we celebrated Thanksgiving with all the typical dishes, she introduced me to eating corn on the cob the American way, and we made s’mores together.
-Vrichica, au pair from France
The Kornfeld family
Our house is made of 3 different nationalities (USA, Türkiye and Brasil) and this makes our experience being SO MUCH MORE cultural than I expected once we can try different dishes together, cook together, learn about each country/language and be happy with that. This family will be always special for me and the best hosts that someone can have in this world.
-Mariana Gabriela, au pair from Brazil
The Hamann family
When I arrived, nervous and exhausted, they surprised me by cooking my favorite German food as a welcome meal. They had even invited extended family to welcome me. Sitting at the table, tasting flavors from my childhood thousands of miles away from Germany, I felt an overwhelming sense of being seen.
-Lana, au pair from Germany
The Mewett family
As we stood there, lighting candles in 35-degree weather, with Bombónbunes (Colombian Lollypop) dancing to Colombian music, doing the family's famous "Elbow Dance," while practicing our Snowman choreography… but with Pastor López. I looked around and felt something shift inside me. That night, I didn’t feel like I was missing my family. I felt like I had found another one.
-Yesenia, au pair from Columbia
The Gibbons family
They were not only celebrating my birthday, they were celebrating my coming of age in their country, as if it were just as meaningful to them as it was to me. It was no longer about being an exchange student, an au pair, or a guest. In that moment, I realized I wasn’t just living with a host family anymore, I had found a second family, one that chose me as much as I had chosen them.
-Luiza Helena, au pair from Brazil
The DeLuca/Olivares family
From day one, my host family has always done everything to make me feel at home. I am included in family events and traditions, encouraged to share my culture, and supported in my passions and future plans. I truly consider the two little girls I take care of as my little sisters. This experience showed me that family is not defined by blood or distance, but by care, inclusion, and love.
-Eryne, au pair from France
The Summy family
Every day they ask me how I feel and if I am happy, I think this is the most important thing; that they make you feel good at all times. They shared their traditions with me and I prepared typical Italian "bruschetta" for them, they share everything with me, from dinners to holidays, such as Thanksgiving and soon my first Christmas with them. But at the same time they leave me space for myself; when I went to Washington DC for a weekend class, every day they called to see how I was.
-Cynthia Dayana, au pair from Italy
The Dailey family
It is the small gestures, like saying “Good morning, Maru,” showing interest in my country, or making every effort so I could watch an Argentine soccer match on TV—and the big ones too, my first Christmas stocking, with my name alongside theirs—that make an Au Pair feel truly at home.
-Marianela, au pair from Argentina
The Sahlman family
What I like the most, is that my host family is deeply committed to providing a true cultural exchange. Knowing how important field hockey is in my life, [my host mom] took the time and effort to organize and find a place where I could continue teaching as a volunteer and playing field hockey, allowing me to maintain the lifestyle I had in Argentina and helping me feel like myself in a new country.
-Stefanía, au pair from Argentina
The Awojoodu family
There were many moments when I felt welcomed by my host family that truly made me realize I wasn’t just living with a host family — I was part of their family. From my first day with them, they surrounded me with good energy, openness, and love. We made memories through parks, new restaurants, movie nights, and everyday life. They listened to me when I felt homesick, supported my English learning, cared about my health, and always encouraged my goals.
-Maria Isabel, au pair from Columbia
The Climo family
My host family and I made a new ritual because I love sunsets. We go see the sunset with the kids everyday, if I'm on duty or not, we go to different places and see the prettiest sunsets!
My host mom is my literal life role model. The way she manages work, kids and the regular everyday life, while training for a hyrox. She’s just a super woman. My host dad is also a firefighter and the literal super hero for our kids. The way they manage life with so much love to give is just incredible and deserves an award. I love them so much already and can’t wait to make lifelong memories with them.
-Kim, au pair from Germany
The Zita family
One night, after we all sat down together for dinner, my host sister took out the card game “Let’s chat”, provided from Cultural Care, and we started playing. As I talked and laughed with them, while responding to the questions, I realized we weren’t just playing a game, we were sharing pieces of ourselves. In that moment, sitting at the table with them listening to my story, I realized I wasn't just staying in their home. I had truly become part of their family.
-Francesca, au pair from Italy
The Berg family
One of the most amazing things my host family did for me, which I’ve cherished deeply in my memory, was when I told them I was going to a country show at the Armory in Minneapolis. On the day of the show, my host dad came home and gave me a very Minnesotan shirt he had bought for me. These gestures made me really feel like part of the family, because it’s something my own parents would surely do for me. Moments that will forever stay in my memory as examples of their care and affection!
-Vitoria Maria, au pair from Brazil
The Michela family
What really touched me was how they made space for me not only in their home, but in their lives. They asked for my opinions, they wanted my presence, and they shared their happiness and their challenges with me. I could feel their trust and care every single day. It was in the kids’ hugs when they woke up in the morning, in the laughter we shared during movie nights, and in the way the parents always thanked me and appreciated everything I did.
-Polyana, au pair from Brazil
The Tanzer family
The moment I realized my host family had become my real family began during my first Passover with them. I had never experienced a Seder before, never heard the blessings, never tasted the symbolic foods. I arrived curious, but unsure if I would feel like an outsider.
Instead, they welcomed me in immediately.
My host parents explained the meaning behind each part of the Seder, inviting me to participate instead of just observe. The kids helped me follow along and made me feel included at every step. By the end of the night, I felt something that surprised me: comfort. Connection. A sense of belonging that I didn’t expect to find so far away from my own family in Brazil.
-Wendel, bro pair from Brazil
The Gupta family
I feel like I’m living with my second big sister and my brother-in-law and taking care of my nephews every day. Last night they invited one of my friends to dinner and Ashish prepared an Indian meal because I had told them that she loved Indian food, they are so attentive. I was really happy to introduce one of my friends to my family.
-Pauline, au pair from France
The McClure family
What has made me feel most at home is their love for my Dutch culture, they cook Dutch food and love to participate in the Dutch holidays. Like we recently did celebrating Sinterklaas where a poem needed to be written and a box decorated. They not only just participated but they put all their effort in it.
-Ilse, au pair from the Netherlands
The Onopa family
I was incredibly lucky when I found my host family. From our very first video call, (I have an AMAZING family made up of two moms and the most adorable, sweet child I have ever seen) I felt something truly different. It was as if I already knew them. We had so much in common, and talking to them felt genuine, easy, and light.
-Giulia, au pair from Brazil
The Driscoll family
When I try to identify the moment I realized my host family had become my real family, I find it impossible to point to one specific event. For me, it was not a dramatic turning point or a single gesture that changed everything. Instead, it was a feeling that started on my very first day in their home and grew steadily stronger with each passing week.
-Tabita, au pair from Germany
The Bourque family
The Bourque family is everything I hoped for, and even more than I ever thought I deserved. After just one year, they have become such an important part of my life, and I can truly call them my family. We have created so many beautiful memories that I will cherish forever.
-Sara, au pair from Italy
The Plaia family
I am part of the best host family. Hannah has been more than my host mom; she has been a true friend who listens and makes me feel valued. Colby has been patient and supportive, even helping me learn how to drive. I clearly remember crying while saying goodbye to my family at the airport in Colombia, and I know I will cry the same way when it is time to leave here.
-María, au pair from Columbia
The Longi family
Something very meaningful is that after our daily dinners, we often have deep conversations. A few days ago, she asked me if I feel more homesick during this time of the year. And honestly, I don’t. I have never felt homesick since I arrived, and that is because of them.
-Manuela, au pair from Columbia
The Betza family
Every time I've shared my traditions with them, they've moved heaven and earth to make those moments feel as close as possible to how they are in Spain. From going on late-night adventures to find the perfect pan to cook a proper paella, to searching for a "king" to place on a cake, or even finding the perfect log to put a face on.
-Helena, au pair from Spain
The Langdon family
I once told Olivia, "I miss Colombia, but now this is my home." And I truly meant it. This family has become my family—not by obligation, but by love. This is the true magic of cultural exchange: realizing that home is not just where you are from, but where you are deeply cared for.
-Dayanis, au pair from Columbia
The Menon family
I have been included in traditions I had never experienced before, including Rakhi and Diwali prayers, Thanksgiving reflections and upcoming Christmas with matching jammies. There wasn’t just one moment when they became my family. I do not see them as a second family but as part of my real family.
-Aarishta, au pair from South Africa
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