Yucaipa, Calif. – When Kristin Wojtke dreamed of exploring a foreign country, images of California’s sandy beaches and sunny skies danced before her eyes. She was not expecting the rural landscape and small-town feel of Yucaipa.
The 20-year-old au pair came to the United States to care for two children and learn about American culture firsthand. After finishing school in Berlin, Germany, Wojtke stumbled across the Cultural Care Au Pair program and immediately signed up.
The local chapter, started by Yucaipa resident Cyndi Fehler, offers young people an opportunity to live in America, provides parents with affordable live-in child care and gives children a glimpse of other cultures.
“An au pair can open your children’s eyes to the world beyond their reach,” says Fehler, 38. “Your kids might be out of school and having fun, but they are still learning. And the lessons they learn will be ones that last a lifetime.”
Since Wojtke’s arrival in January, she has educated the host family on German life and traditions, especially holidays and pop culture.
While “precelebrating” Fehler’s birthday, Wojtke explained that it is bad luck in Germany to enjoy a birthday cake before the actual day. The family also learned that Germans hide small gifts rather than eggs on Easter.
The children, 5-year-old Kevin and 13-month old Krissy, also are learning to break down language barriers. Kevin and the au pair often debate the proper pronunciation of “Darth Vader,” and Wojtke plays a German singing game with the toddler.
The U.S. State Department operates the au pair program, and all candidates undergo a rigorous screening process. Au pairs must speak and write English, have at least 200 hours of child-care experience and write an essay about themselves.
Once the host family lists certain criteria, the organization matches them with au pairs.
Karen Maloy, a host mother in Palm Desert, Calif., says she requires her au pairs to speak good English, have driving experience and be nonsmokers. She has employed an au pair, 26-year-old Donna Uchto of Poland, for more than a year and revels in having extra hands around the house and the exchange of cultural customs.
“It’s kind of a culture shock for both the au pair and us,” Maloy says. “But having somebody in the house makes her like a part of our family, and it’s made it a lot easier for me to get things done around my house.” Of the 20,000 au pairs who apply to Cultural Care annually, about 30 percent are accepted. All au pairs enter the country through New York and are given a crash course on child development and U.S. customs and laws.
About 5,000 youths from other countries are placed in American homes each year. Most come from Germany, Sweden, Poland, Brazil, Czech Republic or Australia. The program does not send American girls to foreign countries because most are not fluent in another language, Fehler says.
Wojtke said her visit has confirmed many of the American
stereotypes whispered among Europeans. People drive too fast, eat too much fast food and don’t exercise nearly enough.
“I wanted to try all the new things at first, but everybody is in a hurry here,” she says. “I’m getting to know another culture, and it’s different than Berlin.”
The children become Wojtke’s responsibility at 7 a.m. during the week when the Fehlers head off to work. After making breakfast and dropping Kevin off at school, the au pair struggles to simultaneously do laundry and keep Krissy safely entertained.
After picking Kevin up from school at 12:30 p.m., Wojtke helps him with his homework while keeping a steady eye on Krissy as she happily rummages through discarded boxes in the living room.
Because au pairs are allowed to work only 10 hours a day, Wojtke is released from duty at 5 p.m. but often hangs around the house to help out.
Although many au pairs choose to stay for a year, a summer program started in March allows families the option of hiring an au pair for 10 to 16 weeks while kids are on break from school.
“Until recently, the only way to tackle the daunting task of summer childcare was to piece together every option until somehow all the bases were covered,” Fehler says. “With a summer au pair, parents can relax and take comfort in knowing that their child is going to have a great summer with someone they can trust.”
Many host families say the au pair program is more affordable than sending children to local daycare centers.
Au pairs are given room and board, use of a car, a cellphone and $140 per week. In exchange, they provide child-care services and light housework.
Start-up fees are about $6,000 for the family, and the au pairs are required to complete between three to six college credits at the expense of the host family. The fees are the same regardless of how many children the au pair will be caring for.
