Our au pair is already talking about the time afterwards. Is that normal?

What lies behind it

Many au pairs come to Germany with a clear goal: they want to use the au pair year to learn German, gain experience and prepare for their next step. Accordingly, they often think about training places, an FSJ or a Bundesfreiwilligendienst months in advance.

This next step can be just as exciting and connected with uncertainty for the au pair as the decision to come to Germany as an au pair once was. A new application process, interviews, authorities, and the question of what happens after the au pair year - all of this takes place in a country whose language and structures can still be new.

That is why the time afterwards may be discussed quite openly in your family. Feel free to ask about their plans and show interest. Perhaps you could look over a CV, give a tip, or explain how an application works in Germany.

Of course, it is not part of your tasks as a host family to find a training or FSJ place for your au pair. But sometimes even a small piece of advice can be incredibly helpful.

Imagine you were a young person yourself in a foreign country and had to plan your next professional steps there. You would probably also be grateful for someone on the ground who gives you a tip now and then or explains how certain things work.

That can be a particularly nice way to end an au pair year: you have not only welcomed a young person into your family for a time, but perhaps also accompanied them a little way further on their path.