Testimonial - Au Pair in France
American in Montpellier
Rosalie Simonitch left Santa Rosa, California in the US at the end of August 2003 to embark on a new experience as an Au Pair in Montpellier. Rosalie spent 26 hours travelling in order to get to Montpellier and six of those hours were spent waiting for a connection in Houston, Texas. From there, she flew on to Paris and finally arrived in Montpellier.
She was met at Baggage Reclaim at Montpellier Airport by the family she has spent the last three months working for. Mum, Dad, two children and a visiting cousin. Rosalie's responsibilities have been as Nanny for the 11 year old daughter in the family, Mathilde. She has had to make sure that Mathilde's room was tidy and that her laundry was done as well as helping her with her homework and her English and picking her up from school. Rosalie also helped with meals and the tidying up afterwards as the whole family did.
We asked Rosalie what her worst and best times have been with her host family and here is what she said :
« I think the worst time would have to have been when I first arrived and was being shown round the house and having my areas of responsibility pointed out to me. I was still kind of culture shocked and was still trying to get to grips with the language so I missed some of the things that were being said to me and missed some of the instructions that were being given, so over the next few days, Madam would say, 'I thought I told you to do this or that' but when you are trying to take in so much at once it really is very confusing. »
« As for the best times, I think I would have to say Sundays. On Sundays, the family has an early dinner and then the kids plug microphones in to the radio and they sing and dance. The little boy plays the guitar and it is just a real family moment. »
We also asked Rosalie what she found the biggest differences were to her life at home :
« Cheese ! After every meal, the family has a cheese course, which we don't have in the States so when I arrived I was given an introduction to cheese and advised that to get the best from the flavour of the different cheeses and to be able to appreciate them better I should start with the lighter ones and work my way up to the stronger ones. That was an education ! »
Rosalie has been told about the Au Pair experience by a teacher of her's in school who had taken part in an Au Pair programme in Paris and who had really enjoyed it and recommended it to Rosalie. So Rosalie, interested in learning more about the French language and culture, got on the internet and started looking for information on being an Au Pair in France. Luckily for her she found the French American Center website and got the information she was looking for. The French American Center sent her all the information she needed, Rosalie filled out the forms, went along to the French Consulate and spent the day sorting out her Visa which was granted within half an hour and then started preparing to leave for France.
And now, three months later, it's all over and Rosalie is on her way home to California.
When asked to summarise her experience here in France and her plans for the future Rosalie said :
« It's been a great experience and I wish I could stay but I'm sure that I will come back because I really like the culture and the people. It's really great here! »
Says it all really!!
Other Testimonials
4, rue Saint Louis | 34000 Montpellier
tel: +33.(0)4.67.92.30.66
Email:
- General Inquiries: reponsefac@gmail.com
- Au Pair in America Inquiries: aupairinamerica@gmail.com
- Camp America Inquiries: campamericafrance@gmail.com
Heures d'ouverture - du Lundi au Vendredi de 9h30 à 12h et de 14h à 18h30, renseignements sur place sur rendez-vous
Quick Links
Calendrier d'animations et manifestations
- 11/10/2011 10:43:51 AM
- Réunion d'information pour le programme Au Pair Aux USA
Jeudi 10 novembre 2011 à 18h au French American Center, 4,rue St Louis, Quartier des Arceaux à Montpellier
Venez vous renseigner sur les programmes et écouter les témoignages. - Thanksgiving Kids Lunch
Mercredi 16 Novembre de 12h30 à 13h45
Jeux et repas pour les kids. - Réunion d'information pour le programme Camp America
Mercredi 16 novembre 2011 à 16h à l'Espace Jeunesse
6, rue Maguelone, Montpellier
04 67 92 30 50
Rencontrer des personnes qui ont déjà participé aux programmes, pour rencontrer notre équipe et pour vous renseigner sur tous les détails du programme. - The Apéritif Party
Jeudi 17 novembre à 19h au French American Center
Conversation Exchange on the theme of Native American History 
La librairie Sauramps, le Café des Femmes en partenariat avec le French American Center vous invitent à rencontrer la célèbre dramaturge américaine auteure des "Monologues du vagin"
Vendredi 18 novembre 2011 à Montpellier
A 17h30 : Signature de la dramaturge Eve Ensler (ses livres sont disponibles en anglais et en français à Sauramps)
Lieu: Librairie Sauramps - Rayon Littérature - Centre-ville de Montpellier (entrée libre)
A 19h00 : Rencontre avec Eve Ensler, animée par Hélène de Chabert, présidente du Café des Femmes.
Avec la participation de Jeanette Franklin, directrice du French American center. La soirée sera accompagnée d’une lecture-spectacle d’extraits de Je suis une créature émotionnelle ( la rencontre se déroulera en anglais et en français)
Lieu: Médiathèque centrale Emile Zola - Antigone - Centre-ville de Montpellier (entrée libre)
En partenariat avec Montpellier Agglomération, le French American Center et les associations féministes de Montpellier.- Thanksgiving Soirée
24th November à 'Tommy's Diner' à Odysseum à 19h - réservation obligatoire
Apéritif et manifestation sur l’histoire Américain suivie d’un repas typique de Thanksgiving au restaurant Americain à 'Tommy’s Diner' à Odysseum. - Kids Christmas Lunch
Mercredi 14 Decembre de 12h30 à 13h45 au French American Center - Réunion d'information - Camp America
Jeudi 15 décembre 2011 à 18h00 au FAC
Rencontrer des personnes qui ont déjà participé aux programmes, pour rencontrer notre équipe et pour vous renseigner sur tous les détails du programme. - Christmas Party
Mercredi 21 Decembre 2011 à 20h au French American Center.
Carols, Santa Claus and White Elephant. And evening of fun and seasonal celebration. - Le centre sera fermé du 24 Decembre 2011 au 1 Janvier 2012 inclus.
- Happy New Year Party and Potluck Dinner
Vendredi 6 Janvier à 18h30 à la salle de la Maison des Relations Internationales Hotel de Sully Montpellier - Réunion d'information pour le programme Au Pair Aux USA
Mardi 10 janvier 2012 à 18h au French American Center, 4,rue St Louis, Quartier des Arceaux à Montpellier
Venez vous renseigner sur les programmes et écouter les témoignages. - Réunion d'information - Camp America
Mardi 17 janvier 2012 à 18h00 au FAC
Rencontrer des personnes qui ont déjà participé aux programmes, pour rencontrer notre équipe et pour vous renseigner sur tous les détails du programme. - Le French American Center présente le programme CAMP AMERICA.
Mercredi 18 janvier 2012 à l'Espace jeunesse Montpellier, Rue Maguelone de 16h à 18h - The Apéritif Party Conversation exchange
Jeudi 26 Janvier 2012 à 19h à la salle de la Maison des Relations Internationales 14 rue Descente en Barrat (au bout de l'esplanade Charles-de-Gaulle)
Dance demo from Odyseelle - Valentines day Craft Workshop
Mercredi 8 fèvrier 2012 de 12h30 à 13h45 - Le French American Center présente le programme PARTIR AU PAIR
Mercredi 8 février 2012 à l'Espace Jeunesse Montpellier, Rue Maguelone de 16h à 18h - Valentines Day Party
Mardi 14 Fèvrier 2012 à 19h30
Fun surprises laughs and lot’s of love! - Apéritif Party Conversation Exchange
Jeudi 23 fèvrier 2012 au French American Center à 19h
Let’s go nuts ! (Let’s talk about Crisps, Nuts and pork Scratchings - with help from our local Publican !) - PARTIR A L’ETRANGER
Mercredi 21 mars 2012 à l'Espace Jeunesse Montpellier, Rue Maguelone de 14h à 17h
forum, conférences avec plusieurs partenaires (en cours d’élaboration). - Le centre sera fermé du 24 Decembre 2011 au 1 Janvier 2012 inclus.
- Et n'oubliez pas notre Tea Party tous les Mercredis après midis de 16h à 18h - échange de conversation.
- Animation Archives