...and so the matching had begun. My au pair agency paired with an host family agency in Australia and my "packet" was sent overseas. Below is the included "Dear Family" letter giving those host families insight as to who I am allowing them to decide if we might be a good fit.
Dear family,
My name is Sarah. I am a cheerful 26 year-old (female) from sunny Dana Point, Southern California. I am currently the store manager for a local Starbucks coffee shop and have been with the company for the past 6 and half years. Prior to working in the coffee/retail industry, I had worked in many facets of health and wellness from certified personal training, to membership services, to Kid’s club attendant, to Sales manager. I pride myself in my self-driven work ethic and have been prioritizing climbing the “corporate ladder” since I was legally allowed at age 16.
I come from a Christian family of 3: my mom, Mona, a stay-at-home mom and housewife and my dad, David, a principal engineer for Boeing. Most of my extended family is spread out across the United States and Canada and I try to get around and see them all as often as my budget and time off work allows. Growing up as an only child was lonely at times and I had always wished for younger siblings, but filled the void with long-standing friendships and volunteering in our church’s nursery/toddler care room.
In my free time, I enjoy spending days at local beaches (playing volleyball), sipping on a rich cup of coffee, staying active and healthy, practicing yoga, and trying delicious cuisines with my friends. My favorite pastime, though, is traveling. There is no better feeling than sinking my toes into the sands of unfamiliar beaches and exploring places I’ve never visited before. I love to experience cultures different than my own to learn other ways of experiencing life. There are so many places in the world that I have yet to see (Sydney being one) and that is what drew me to this program. In my current profession, it is hard to break away long enough to experience these things. I have decided that now is the time to re-prioritize and take time away from “corporate America;” traveling the world in a responsible way beginning with Australia pairing my love for working with children with my favorite hobby (travel).
As for childcare experience, I was able to start young in the church’s nursery playing with and caring for babies as young as 3 months. Throughout high school I babysat for neighbors and family friends while the parents went on date nights or had plans on the weekends. It was through their referrals that I was able to connect with families that I otherwise would not have known and was trusted to care for their children (ages 1yr.-13yrs.). I am so proud to see the people they are today and find it extremely rewarding to see the children grow up over the years and see what they decide to become.
My preferences for this program include a 6-month au pair arrangement with a friendly host family that would be happy to have me stay with and work for them 30-40 hours per week with some time off to be able to explore the city (It would be important to me to take off New Year’s Eve this year as the celebration in the Sydney harbour is on my bucket list). I am happy to care for children of any age and am able to drive if necessary. Any family that shares my passion for coffee, health, volleyball, yoga or the beach would be a blessing to be paired with.
If you think I might be the right au pair for your family, I would love to speak with you: to answer whatever questions you may have about me or my childcare experiences; to learn more about your family; your hobbies and priorities; and to get to know more about what your expectations are for this au pair arrangement.
Thank you so much for your interest in my application!
I look forward to hearing from you,
Sarah Anthony
