I, who went to the United States to work as an au pair family nanny, was bullied by the two children until I cried, but I was very grateful

Interviews with real people

2024-06-22 20:40Published in Jiangxi

This is the 3,434th real story we have told

I am Qiuqiu, a girl from a peasant family, graduated from an ordinary second college.

But I love tossing and turning and longing to see the bigger world. In his freshman year, he went to the Maldives to pick up garbage and volunteer. The junior organized 32 friends to go to Xinjiang to teach.

I went forward for my dream, and now I have run to the United States alone as an Au Pair and become a family "nanny" to take care of two school-age children.

Some people laugh at me for being a cheap babysitter, but I want to say that people can only live once, and I try to live as I want, which is cool!

(This is me, a post-95s girl who loves tossing)

In 1997, I was born in a rural family in Qingxu County, Taiyuan City, and I also have a younger brother who is three years younger than me.

I live in a very harmonious and happy family. Dad is a truck driver who goes out early and returns late every day to earn money to support his family, and Mom works in a bank.

My parents loved each other very much and gave me and my brother enough love, and I was spoiled by them as a little princess.

When I was a child, I was very introverted, I didn't like to talk, and I loved to blush when I saw people.

Since the third grade of elementary school, I have changed, because I like English, I will take the bus to and from the county seat every weekend to take English lessons, and I also actively participate in various English competitions.

Not only did this foster my independence, but it also made me talk more and less introverted.

I started living on campus in junior high school, and my independence was thoroughly exercised, which laid a good foundation for me to go abroad in the future.

(When I was a child)

In 2016, I was admitted to the School of Animation of Shanxi University of Media and Communication, which is an ordinary second-class college.

When I went to university, I started working part-time jobs to ease the burden on my family. There are various part-time jobs, such as delivering meals to classmates, picking up couriers, teaching painting at art training schools, and working in coffee shops.

Dealing with different people, making money and accumulating contacts at the same time, I feel that this kind of life is very fulfilling and exciting.

Because of the proximity to home, I go home every week. My parents often talk to me, and my mother is very tolerant, although she is very clingy to me, she also respects me.

A message she sent to me and my brother made my eyes wet: "You don't have to fight for me, let alone help me support my old age." As long as you two are healthy, let me have a chance to walk with you for a while......"

This passage touched me for a long time, because of the nourishment of my parents' love, I am simple and kind-hearted, and I will treat people and things around me with kindness.

(Me in middle school)

I have a lot of friends, and one of them often shares some interesting stories with me. She had participated in an international volunteer trip to the Maldives and when I was recruited again, she encouraged me to see it.

Born in an inland city, I longed for and was fascinated by the sea, and I didn't hesitate to sign up after hearing about my senior sister's volunteer experience.

The project lasts for half a month, and the purpose is to raise the environmental awareness of locals and tourists through our actions and publicity, and restore nature to its original state.

I was thrilled to be a volunteer from the Maldives, the Indian Ocean, and ...... For the first time in my life, they were up close.

During the winter break of my freshman year, in January 2017, I set off with a few other volunteers.

After a long flight, we arrived in Malé, the capital of the Maldives, and then took a boat to our destination, Thoddoo Island.

Along the way, I watched the clouds roll outside the cabin, and I met travelers of different colors along the way. The first time I went abroad, my brain was always excited, the ship sailed into the deep blue ocean, and it felt like I was dreaming.

(I'm in the Maldives)

After arriving at our destination and getting a little familiar with the work, we went to the beach to pick up plastic bottles, clothes, yogurt bottles and other garbage that is harmful to marine life.

In addition to promoting environmental protection, my companions and I also participated in activities such as snorkeling and night fishing, and we learned that there are so many interesting things to do in the world.

The people here are simple, and once, we bought some food and visited the homes of local residents. Unexpectedly, I was warmly welcomed by them.

This trip is not just an ordinary trip for me, it means a lot. Going abroad for the first time allowed me to see the wider world and understand the living conditions of people in another land. I am even more proud to have become an international environmental ambassador.

I love doing something meaningful and want to volunteer as a new attempt in the future.

So, I tried my best to take advantage of the college vacation to participate in various practical activities, and I wanted to volunteer as a teacher in my junior year, and I thought it was also very meaningful.

I found relevant public welfare organizations on the Internet, and after screening and interviewing, I successfully applied for the project to teach in Xinjiang for more than half a month.

(Traveling during the university period)

After training, in January 2019, I set off.

On the way, I met fellow villagers in Shanxi who went to teach together, and later we formed a proper revolutionary friendship, accompanying each other all the way, no longer worrying about being alone.

Dozens of our volunteers finally went to the Central Primary School in Careke Town, Xinjiang.

The security and environment here are better than I expected, there is a security check at the door, and the teaching buildings and student dormitories inside are also very new, and it seems that the working environment is good.

My children and I quickly became acquainted with each other, and their simple, welcoming behaviour makes me want to cry when I think about it now.

One day at noon, a little girl dragged a stool to me, carefully took out a grocery bag from her pocket, put it in my hand, and said, "Teacher, you eat, you eat." "It turned out that this was the chicken leg that my grandmother specially brought her.

I knew that she might not be able to eat the chicken leg once in a long time, so I hurriedly pushed it back to her, but she blushed and insisted on shoving it into my hand.

At that moment, I was really moved, and being recognized by the children was the biggest gain of my trip. At that time, I thought that I would come back again if I had a chance.

(I volunteer to teach in Xinjiang)

I teach composition classes, and I combine lessons and games perfectly, and I quickly get along with the children.

The peers are also conscientious, and everyone cherishes this opportunity to practice. One of his peers taught math in the intensive class, sometimes grading homework until 11 p.m.

Another peer teaches the language of the intensive class, and sometimes he repeatedly looks up the materials for a few knowledge points, even when he is sick.

We all love this group of lovely children, they are all smart, beautiful and understanding.

At the end of the volunteer teaching, I was responsible for writing the presiding speech and co-chairing the closing ceremony with a companion.

I learned a lot from my peers, in addition to a down-to-earth attitude, patience, and teamwork.

On the day we left, the children stood at the school gate, looking at us from afar through the iron gate, full of attachment and reluctance. My heart was so soft that I couldn't speak, and tears flowed quietly.

(I'm with the children I teach)

When I came back, the images of the children always haunted my mind, and I really wanted to see them again. When I talked about this idea with my fellow teachers, I didn't expect them to coincide with me.

This time, they recommended me to sign up as a team leader, and led the team to go to Charek Town Primary School, and several people also used video to mock interviews for me.

Starting in March, we started contacting the town secretary and the principal. A month later, when I finally got in touch, I started building a team and launching crowdfunding again.

In the summer of 2019, I set off again with a team of 32 people. After three days and three nights of hard seat trains, we finally arrived in the town of Chazhek.

Although for some reason, the teaching site eventually became Hotan, my partners and I still actively organized team building and discussed lesson plans, trying our best to achieve the goal of this volunteer teaching and broaden the horizons of the children.

(When I went to Xinjiang to teach, I gave a lecture)

This volunteer teaching has fully exercised my organizational and leadership skills. It not only gained the recognition of the teachers and students of the volunteer school, but also gained the friendship of peers.

This is an unforgettable memory for a lifetime, and the important thing is that I have been improved from ability to thought, and I have the courage and strength to go out into society and face the future.

When graduation was approaching, my family wanted me to stay with them, and it would be better to be able to take the exam and go ashore, and then get married in peace. In those days, what I heard with my ears was "blind date" in addition to "examination editor".

But I want to see the outside world more.

I couldn't stand the "earnest teaching" of my family and went to participate in the examination, but due to my inner rejection, I failed the examination.

During that time, I could always hear a voice in my ear: "If you don't do what you want to do, you will regret it." Even if you don't do it now, you will still want to do it when you are 30 years old. ”

So, I listened to my heart and began to look for opportunities to get out and see the world.

(How I was when I was in college)

But after inquiring for a while, I still have no clue, no way, I have to ensure food and clothing first. So in 2020, I joined the army of job seekers.

I've always wanted big cities, and Shanghai has become my first choice, but the situation is not optimistic.

In addition to teaching experience, I have not interned in the work of this major, so in the face of a position that requires experience, I, a pure novice, can only retreat. If work experience is not required, there will be various "pits" that cannot be prevented.

There is a company that asked me to pay 30,000 yuan for training when I met, saying that I had no money to take out a loan, but fortunately I refused on the spot, otherwise I might fall into the loan trap.

Another company signed a 15-day paid training agreement with me, but after that, I didn't pay me, so I called the police with 20 other girls to get my salary back.

(Looking for me at work)

It's really a hard work to grow wise, and I can only avoid pitfalls while groping in the workplace. When I stepped into the society, I realized that the world was sinister, and I really missed the time when I was studying.

During that time, my parents always asked me if I had any money, and I said yes. Because I don't want to "gnaw at the old", I want to earn living expenses by my own ability.

Despite the stumbling paths, I try every day like a wind-up motor, and I think it's the love of my parents that gives me courage.

My persistence finally paid off, and I ended up working at an online company as a marketer.

Every time I see the data of the section I am responsible for soaring, I am very happy; Seeing your copy being liked gives you a sense of accomplishment. This made me more and more confident when I first entered the society.

But the good times didn't last long, and in 2022, when I returned home from Shanghai to visit my family, I was trapped in Taiyuan by the epidemic.

I had to find a job in the local area, but the salary level in Taiyuan was much lower than in Shanghai, so after I finished working during the day, I went to work at a convenience store until two o'clock at night.

(Me at work)

At the convenience store, through the night light, I saw the uncle who collected rags, the snack bar that closed the stall in the middle of the night, the uncle who held his mobile phone to collect praise for his wife, and the young man who got off work in the early morning...... It seems to have seen the various states of life and felt the ups and downs of life.

I was 25 years old that year, and I had tried several jobs, but I still didn't know what I wanted, and I felt lost. On my birthday, I had a "birthday party" on the Taiyuan flyover, trying to find a direction for the future.

I put a big board on the flyover, chatted with my peers, children, and gray-haired professors who passed by, and invited them to write down what they wanted to do or stories they had ever done when they were 25 years old.

A boy my age wrote "Find Yourself". Probably the tacit understanding between peers, I looked at these four words and was very emotional, I didn't want to "find myself".

The boy came back after walking away, smiled and said to me, "Take this picture for me, and when I'm confused, take it out and take a look." ”

I will smile in my heart, yes, the confusion and confusion of 25 years old is also a stop in our growth. That night, after thinking about it for a long time, it suddenly dawned on me.

(I had a birthday party at the overpass at the age of 25)

I told myself that my next stop was to go abroad to see the world.

When it comes to going abroad, I learned a little about the WHV (Working Holiday Visa) when I was in college, and then I learned about the "Au Pair" program at work.

Au Pair is a very popular cultural exchange program, where young people can go to other countries to experience different cultures and learn different languages, which is a good opportunity to broaden their horizons and increase their knowledge.

You can choose to live with a volunteer host family, who will provide you with free room and board, and you will need to do some childcare and household care for the host family, so that you can get pocket money, health insurance, and language learning opportunities.

This program made my eyes shine, as an Au Pair, I can see the world without my parents having to come up with pension money to help me.

When I heard that I was going abroad, my parents' first reaction was to stop me, feeling that the outside society was not safe, and they were afraid that I would be deceived.

But finding a stable job and living a life where I can see the end of the day is not the life I want. Fortunately, my parents would respect my decision even if they didn't want to.

(I bought a gift for the host family)

So I started to actively prepare the profile of the Au Pair in the United States, make videos, interviews, etc.

The whole process is full of twists and turns. I interviewed 4 families and none of them were matched, and I was frustrated and thought I wasn't good enough.

But when I met my current family, I knew I had made the right choice.

Before I went, I consulted a lot of other people's posts, asked the host family what they liked, and then carefully purchased gifts.

In January 2023, I flew to San Francisco, my first trip to the United States.

As soon as I got off the plane, I saw the parents of the host family, who had been waiting at the airport for nearly two hours.

When they saw me, they warmly asked me if I was hungry and sleepy. What do you like to eat? The brief exchange instantly dispelled my nervousness and concerns.

As soon as I entered the house, they gave me an iPad as a gift, and they also helped me sync my phone, and my name was added to the TV at home.

Woo woo~ I'm about to cry warmly, I feel super lucky.

(I'm in the US)

Afraid that I would be cold, they also bought me a lot of winter clothes and shoes, and gave me a red envelope of 600 yuan for the Chinese New Year, so that I could treat this place as my home.

Because of their care, I quickly adapted to the role. Prepare breakfast at 7 a.m. and send two children to school at 8 a.m.; At 2:30 p.m., I picked up the children, and then accompanied the children to do their homework and take a bath.

I naturally like children and quickly got to know them.

Sincerity for sincerity, we all treat each other as family.

When faced with challenges, the parents who hosted the family would tell me, "Don't think that the road is straight, life is not just black and white, and you should be bold to try and make mistakes." ”

What touched me the most was that they took me to their alma mater, the University of Berkeley, and said that if I wanted to take a course here, they could sponsor it. I literally met a family of fairies.

(I'm taking care of two kids from my host family)

Of course, when you are away from home, there will inevitably be difficulties and unhappy times.

When I first arrived, language was a big problem, and I was learning new words whether I was getting a driver's license or doing other things.

I cried when I was too homesick, and I felt aggrieved when I was too much of a joke by my two children. Fortunately, the parents who host the family are very caring, always comfort me at the first time, educate and guide the children, and ease our relationship.

I will also cheer myself up, what is easy? Hold on, and you'll be fine after a while.

This year, I have grown up, my world has also grown, and I have made many friends from all over the world.

Chatting with new friends every day, going out with friends, seeing far-flung places in geography textbooks, my language has improved rapidly, and I feel more confident.

Later, I also enrolled in a free spring ESL program in California to further my education.

Come out and see the world while you're young, it's the Au Pair program that makes my dream come true.

I am grateful to my host family, and I am sure that this experience will be a special gift in my life.

(Meet a friend)

I would also like to say to those who are considering applying for an Au Pair that before you come, you must understand the program clearly, don't think too ideally, and what kind of family you choose is too important.

Many people online say that an Au Pair is a cheap babysitter. But I would like to say that everyone knows the Au Pair differently, the experience will not be the same, and the harvest will naturally be different.

The voices of the outside world are too noisy, just listen to your heart.

Along the way, I was a young and ignorant "young man", but also a passionate young man with dreams, I have been confused and confused, but more is the courage to pursue dreams.

Dear friends, you only have one life, go do what you like.

[Dictation: Qiuqiu]

[Editor: Nature]

We can't experience different lives, but we can feel different life trajectories here, every photo here is a bit of life, every story is a real life, if you also like it, please click to follow!

(*This article is based on the oral statements of the parties, and the authenticity is the responsibility of the oral narrator.) Friendly reminder from this account: Please identify the relevant risks by yourself, and do not blindly follow the trend to make impulsive decisions. ）

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Personal opinion, for reference only