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Julka’s host family played a huge role in making her year so special. She cared for twin five-year-old boys and a three-year-old who quickly became her “little bestie.” What started as a childcare role turned into something much more—her host parents made sure to exchange traditions, celebrate everything together, and welcome her as part of the family. The bond became so strong that she nominated her host family for Cultural Care’s Host Family of the Year award—and they won!
“My host family showed me how welcoming, loving and caring you can be for a person who, at the beginning, is not even in your family,” says Julka. “And our connection began before I even set foot in the USA!”
Three weeks before Julka embarked on her au pair year, her host mom, Amanda, had a business trip to Germany—just a short distance from her home country of Poland. Though Amanda had hoped to visit Julka’s hometown, her work schedule made it impossible. Instead, Julka and her family decided to travel to Germany to meet her. “It was amazing!” Julka recalls. “Since we met, we talked almost every day. The first minute my host family picked me up from the airport I already felt like I was already at home.”
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Julka built a strong support system in Utah, outside of her host family, as well. She quickly became close with her Local Childcare Coordinator (LCC), Sophie, and loved attending her LCC meetups. These gatherings gave her the opportunity to connect with other au pairs in the area, making it easy to form friendships that would last far beyond her program year.
She also found friendships that stretched across the country. “I have a lot of friends in different states,” says Julka. “We visit each other, travel together, and support one another.”
One of her most special connections was with her best friend, Sky. “She’s my soulmate here in Utah,” Julka explains. “We’ve been through the best and the worst together. You know, becoming an au pair is exciting, but moving across the world and putting yourself in that situation can be tough at first. Every person who helps you, smiles at you, or is there for you, makes you feel more comfortable and happier.”
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For Julka, becoming an au pair also opened the door to some incredible travel experiences. Moving to Utah introduced her to a state she never expected to love so deeply. Surrounded by breathtaking nature and five national parks, she discovered a new passion for outdoor adventure. “In Utah, wherever you look see mountains. During summer you can hike and during winter you can ski or snowboard. More au pairs need to know how great Utah is!” she says.
Julka also made sure to check off some bucket-list destinations while in the USA. Her dream trip to Hawaii happened just four months into her program, when she travelled with a group of other au pairs for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. “I joined this group of friends for their Hawaiian trip as a brand-new au pair. They made my first big trip so special. I didn’t feel left out at all. We experienced skydiving together and later visited each other in our home states.”
But perhaps Julka’s most incredible travel story was her adventure to Alaska—a trip that almost didn’t happen. “People were dropping out, and I couldn’t find anyone to go with me,” she recalls. But when she posted in a Polish au pair group on Facebook looking for a travel buddy, she found Natalia, another au pair. They met for the first time less than 24 hours before boarding a cruise together. “As soon as we stepped on the ship, we were best friends,” Julka says. “She made my au pair journey incredibly special.” They continued traveling together and even spent Thanksgiving with Julka’s host family, proving that friendships built during the au pair program leave a lasting impact.
Looking back, Julka knows that her au pair year wouldn’t have been the same without the incredible people she met along the way. “Every relationship taught me something important,” she reflects. “My host kids taught me to be the best version of myself. My friends became my second family. Every word of support and every act of kindness made me feel seen and understood. Every person I met during my au pair mattered.”
Ready to start your own journey in the USA? Explore what being an au pair could mean for you.
