Ultimate Au Pair Nominee
Au Pair: Juliana Fernandez
Brazil
Host Family: The Rittis
Location: California
After many discussions and much research, my husband and I decided that an au pair would be the best choice for our family after the arrival of our second child. We knew it made the most sense financially, and would alsoallow us the flexibility in hours that we needed due to our careers. An au pair would also provide stability for our 2 year old and 3 month old little girl. We were excited about the idea of hosting someone from another country in our home, but had no idea the amazing impact it would have on all of our lives.
Juliana arrived in the United States from Brazil in late March. It was her first time out of the country and I could sense the excitement in her voice when she called us to let us know she was on her way. We were all anxious for the first meeting, but we knew instantly that she would be a wonderful addition to our family.
Juliana exceeded our expectations for an au pair on all levels. She is responsible, mature, gracious, trustworthy and so very helpful on all levels. She not only dedicated her days to playing, reading, and teaching our children, but she also helped with laundry and kept the children's rooms organized. We also spent many hours discussing her culture and the differences here in the United States. We all learned a lot from each other. We were excited about the opportunity to show her different states (and Mexico) and my husband and I enjoyed the luxury of going to dinner and spending alone time on vacations again. We did not have to worry about a stranger babysitting the kids in the hotel.
We had more than convenient childcare this year; we added a loving member to our family who enriched the lives of our children and our family. Juliana was the finest and most superior au pair and we valued her hard work and her friendship. We are planning to take the children to visit her and her family in Brazil in the near future and will always consider her a special extended member of our family, forever.
