Au Pair in New Zealand: visa information

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We were very happy to have chosen Bouchra from the applicants. She has grown very fond of the children and has often been a great help and relief in our daily lives as working parents. We wish her all the best for her education.

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My experience with the Strong's has been more than enriching in many ways. Willie is the kindest fella that you will ever know! This family is located on a farm where they raise cows so the whole family context is tied to this work as such. I remember with nostalgia the first day I volunteered to feed the calves, being close to the animals is really fun and heart warming. As I arrived in early summer, my first few months were very hot so I was constantly cycling around the cows, or on the road to a nearby canal. What a beautiful and relaxing place. They live in a cozy house that has all the conveniences you can imagine. Wi-Fi, hot water, washing machine... I had the second floor bedroom and bathroom just for me, across a hallway there was another room that is used by Willie's children when they visit him. My room had a window, and inside closets to hang my clothes, although they provided me with a hanger and drawers to accommodate my clothes because I asked for them. That is how I got to have a room completely decorated to my personal taste for most of my stay; it also has a heating system for the winter, and they provided me with a bed warmer. So the winter was totally cozy, it should be said that in Ireland there are 20 days of sunshine a year spread over 4 months so I could not ask for more. As for food, they would do a weekly grocery shopping, so they would give a list to the family member in charge of the shopping, and she would stock the house. Hence, I didn't miss my local food and managed to cook for the family to give them a taste of Chilean food. There is a car available to get to the village, which is no more than 20min away. I do not have a driver's license, so I did not use it. As for working with Willie, he usually eats before going to bed and like a good Irishman has a cup of tea with milk and a couple of biscuits. He was pretty laid back, he likes spending time with people with a good sense of humor, making jokes and playing the accordion some days not too long before going to sleep because he gets headaches. I fondly remember one day he wanted to teach me, but I ended up making a complete mess so he said something like: ah stop with that, I had enough of that joke. We laughed afterward, that's how I spent my days with him, always laughing about something; most of the time. Having mild dementia, he is still able to remember some things, and have meaningful conversations. He also remembers the jokes that I used to make, there were days when he remembered his deceased loved ones, his mother, his daughter, and his wife. Thus, as a professional, I put into practice everything I had learned to respect the grief of people with mental health problems. I always provided emotional support, containment exercises, especially with him, given that in a certain way you can act professionally without forgetting that he is now part of your life and that you see him every day. For me, it has been a more than gratifying experience to be able to make him company. It was a very touching experience in many ways, I had the right words to calm his sorrow, especially when we were saying good night, and he thanked me for my help. Regarding English learning, my biggest teachers were Nuala and Peter Raine. Family friends who are constantly looking after Willie. They made me very good company and to this day they are also my friends. They also helped me with my migration process and local language adjustment. Not only that, but they and their children were the ones who enhanced my afternoons on the farm, which can be very lonely. Day after day without company can seem like a permanent vacation in an oasis. I felt confident and loved by the Strong's family, they made me feel supported during my migration process. I got a second job in the afternoons in a cafeteria near the farm. I can only say thank you for the opportunity to work with them. Just thank you for the opportunity to be part of your home and your culture... And for making me feel welcomed. Now, I will have someone to send letters to.

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It was very nice to host our next au-pair. Once again it was a great time!

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Had a great experience on this website and pleasantly surprised with how easy it is to find someone.