E a melhor Au-Pair do Ano é... Neila Maria Costa!

A Au-Pair do Ano já foi eleita! E fala Português! 

A Neila Costa, natural do Brasil, foi considerada no ano passado a melhor Au-Pair entre as centenas de jovens estrangeiras que todos os anos embarcam nesta aventura nos Estados Unidos!

Deixamos-te o testemunho de uma cumplicidade que vai muito para além da simples relação Au-Pair/Família. Uma história que começa pela necessidade de uma família Americana que, pelas circunstâncias da vida se viu obrigada a ter alguém em casa para ajudar a cuidar das crianças...

"Everything started when I received an email from my host mom's sister in law. Her message was anything but happy; her father passed away last January (2018), just two months later her husband suddenly passed away from a heart attack. It became obvious that the family needed an Au-Pair to help with their two boys. We exchanged a few emails and I decided without hesitation that I would try to help this unfortunate family. Soon after I decided I would help, Mary called me. 

Because my English skills were still insufficient, all I could hear when Mary called was, "Blah, blah, Neila! Blah, blah, right? Blah, blah, blah. Ok, see you soon." All I could say was, "Yes", "Okay", and "Bye". (My host kids and I always laugh when I tell them this story.) Though I didn't know what she said on that call, I did know that I could help her

My host mom is one of the strongest and nicest people that I've ever met. I don't know how she can handle everything, but she does. Maybe it is the coffee. Who knows?! We’ve gotten along very well since the beginning and she treats everyone she meets with respect. She has so many good qualities, but the way she always puts others first really stands out. She has set an example for me and to everyone in her life. She is constantly inspiring others to improve and believe in themselves. It has inspired me to do my best in helping with the kids and the house. I try to make her happy every day because I know how much she deserves it. She is the best host mom I could have asked for and I know there isn’t one person who would disagree with me.

Then there are the boys; Sean, age 8 and Scott, age 10. I now see them as my younger brothers. We have so much fun together and never run out of things to do. We play sports, play video games, bake the best pumpkin cookies (among other crazy recipes), ride bikes, swim, watch movies, and eat lots of ice cream, which usually ends up all over our faces. No matter what, it's always fun to be around them. We even created some games together. One of our creations is a mix of football, wrestling and basketball, that we call 'fightsketball'. It's never boring over here. I try to teach them some Portuguese, so they can visit me in Brazil someday and I teach them some Spanish too, it always can be useful here. It’s been fun teaching them how different we do things in my country. They love hearing my stories, and love interrupting my speech to help with my pronunciation.

Throughout my time of being an Au Pair, I've learned so much about a wide array of things. I've learned more about myself as a person, about my limits, my bravery, my beliefs, and more. Looking at myself before this experience, I can tell how much I've improved. I've learned that helping people is something that I really enjoy and that is something I will take with me in future jobs. I never thought I would be able to write an essay in English or read a book without using a translation app. I didn’t think I would ever talk to Americans without being nervous or even watch movies without subtitles. Now, I feel that the world is mine, and I can do everything I want. I've met some very sweet and honest people here. I feel that I'm safe and if I ever need them, they will be always here for me.

I am glad I decided to come to the USA and live this unique experience as an Au Pair because it has changed my life completely and the way I see the world. I'm thankful for the opportunity to meet this family and to have an amazing time during my experience that has built a beautiful connection. We will certainly keep in touch when I leave this country. And when Mary calls me when I am back in Brazil, I won’t just hear a bunch of English noises this time. I will be able to listen and talk to my host family!”

Antes da sua partida para os Estados Unidos, a Neila, como a própria conta, mal sabia falar Inglês. Passado um ano, escreve-nos este testemunho totalmente em Inglês! Como se já não houvesse motivos suficientes para realizar este progrrama... eis mais um: Aprender Inglês!

Para mais informações visita o nosso site e contacta-nos. 

Até já!