Who knew Cultural Care host dads were so funny? And caring? And such great cooks? Keep reading to find out why au pairs living all over the U.S. appreciate their host dads!
"I’ll never forget when my host dad corrected me when I said I didn’t have any family here. He smiled and said, 'Of course you do—us!'” — Julie Feldt, Danish au pair in Minnesota
“Gerald (or Gerry, as friends call him) is my host dad. From the moment he picked me up at Tysons Corner, I felt so comfortable and at ease. He’s incredibly easygoing, and with him, I feel like I’m talking to a close friend—someone I trust, and who trusts me. We both share a love for football, but what’s funny is that we support different teams: he’s a Green Bay Packers fan, and I cheer for the Dallas Cowboys.” — Maria del Carmen Calzadillas Valles, Mexican au pair in Virginia
“Steve, my host dad, is hilarious. Every morning, he wakes the kids up by singing silly songs he just made up. And he tells jokes—at least three times a day!” — Natalia Karolina Rozycka, Polish au pair in New York
“One day, I went with my host dad to an event, and everyone kept asking who I was. He proudly told them, 'She’s part of our family.' It was such an amazing feeling!” — Esra Demirkaya, German au pair in Virginia
"My host dad, Chris, is always encouraging me to try new things, like water skiing or skiing through the woods. He’s all about adventure and getting me out of my comfort zone." — Adriana Jukic, Austrian au pair
“My host dad, Gordon, works a lot, but when he’s home, he’s always telling the best jokes and does an amazing Australian accent. He has this way of making me feel truly at home and loved.” — Janelle Miller, Australian au pair in Washington
“When I first met my host dad, I expected a handshake, but instead, he gave me a hug like we were teammates who had just scored the winning goal. It felt so welcoming and warm.” — Silas Gabriel Piton, Brazilian au pair in Massachusetts
“Craig is the funniest colon cancer surgeon you’ll ever meet—he’s got a sharp wit, knows everything about sports, and even The Godfather like the back of his hand. Every day with him is full of laughs.” — Ana Carolina Mello Araujo, Brazilian au pair in Colorado
"I remember for my birthday, just one month after arriving in the U.S., my host dad asked if I had any plans. They had already organized a surprise trip to New Hampshire! It was such a thoughtful and special gesture." — Florine Oizna Marie Lamcilak, French au pair in Massachusetts
"My host dad travels a lot for work, but he always makes me feel special. After every trip, he brings back souvenirs for the girls—and for me too. It's not about the gifts, but the fact that he includes me in his travels. It really makes me feel like part of the family." — Arani Rodriguez, Mexican au pair in Pennsylvania
"Matt (my host dad) and I always end up talking about politics or random things we find on the internet. He tells the worst jokes, but the funniest part is that he genuinely thinks they’re hilarious." — Addi, Mexican au pair in California
"My host dad, George, is incredibly smart, caring, and passionate about the people he loves. He’s generous and an amazing person to talk to—I’ve never had a boring conversation with him. I truly cherish him as both my host dad and ‘adopted’ family member for life." — Fiona Frommer, German au pair in California
"My host dad reminds me so much of my real dad—he's just as polite and decent. It's comforting to have someone like him around." — Katherin Gisset Diaz Vargas, au pair in Texas
"My host dad is great! He always manages to get me with his jokes, and we have a good laugh over the confused look on my face. I’m finally getting the hang of his humor, and it turns out we have the same sense of it!" — Cecilie Damborg, Danish au pair in New York
"My host dad makes me laugh every day, especially during dinner—one of my favorite moments of the day. He’s an excellent cook, and he always takes the time to learn about my culture and country. I truly appreciate that." — María Pineda, Colombian au pair in Washington
"My host dad and I both love running, so we decided to do a 10-mile race together in Annapolis. It was an unforgettable adventure! We ran the whole race side by side—it was tough but fun, and I don’t think I could’ve done it without him." — Arthur Parent, French au pair in New York
"My host dad is Matt, and he’s the best host dad I could ask for. He always makes sure I’m safe and that everything is going smoothly. He’s super funny, caring, and loves Texas, which made me a fan of the state too. I know I can always go to him if I have a problem." — Lisa-Marie Grugel, German au pair in Texas
"A couple of weeks ago, I was feeling really sick, so I called my host dad to see if there was any medicine at home. When I got home, he had brought me German chocolate and "Stollen" from the store to make me feel better. It’s not a big thing, but it shows how much they care, and it really made me feel like part of the family. It’s the little things like this that make me feel at home." — Lilli Lang, German au pair in Pennsylvania
"From the second my host dad picked me up at the airport, I was already a member of the family." — Kathrine Kjallander, Swedish au pair in Virginia
"My host dad, BJ, may look serious, but he’s actually a complete joker! He’s also calm, wise, and a great person to be around." — Chenxi Wang, Chinese au pair in Virginia
"My host dad, Tom, loves to cook, and it’s so special when he helps me prepare dishes from my home country." — María Fernanda Castañeda, Colombian au pair in New Jersey
"Matt, my host dad, always helps me find courses I’m interested in and shares recommendations for fun places to visit with friends. He’s truly passionate about intercultural exchange, and I love talking to him about my language, culture, and food." — Karen Paola Manzanero Figueroa, Mexican au pair in California
"My host dad, Doug, is very funny. He’s always ready to explain things I don’t understand, and he makes me laugh when he tries speaking Italian! Everyone would love to have a dad like him!" — Francesca Bagnaresi, Italian au pair in Texas
"My host dad makes the best steaks for our family every Friday night. It’s definitely the best meal of the week!" — Maria Adson, Brazilian au pair in Illinois
"Every morning, my host dad makes breakfast for the whole family, including me. On Sundays, he picks up bagels for us, and for my host mom and me, he grabs coffee just the way I like it." — Nicole Friedwagner, Austrian au pair in Connecticut
"Duncan may be the busiest man in the world, but when he has free time, he truly cherishes every moment with his kids. He’s so fun and loves joking around! He’s been respectful and caring towards me." — Fabiola Inzunza Vazquez, Mexican au pair in Massachusetts
"My host dad Eric is so funny! He once called me their ‘Mary Poppins,’ and even though it’s just a fairy tale, I felt so honored! He really makes me feel like part of the family, and I admire how patient he is with the kids." — Sofia Mercatelli, Argentinian au pair in New York
"My host dad is a pilot, so he’s often away. Even when he’s exhausted after a long trip, he’s never too tired to be an amazing dad or to fire up the barbecue. He’s always ready to help, and his sense of humor is infectious—it’s impossible not to laugh when he’s around." — Marlene Danyar, Danish au pair in California
"Stephen is such a funny guy. He shows me the American lifestyle in such a fun way, but he also knows a lot about American history! It’s always really interesting to talk about those things with him!" — Nina Klimbacher, Austrian au pair in Colorado
It's clear that host dads have a profound impact on an au pair's experience. We'd like to extend a huge "Thank you!" to all of our incredible host dads for making this journey so memorable and special for so many au pairs.