Entrepreneurs are not born, they evolve

I always wanted to know the definition of au pair...but was too lazy to look it up! Thanks

Man… and I thought it was something totally different! It is related to jobs… I thought it was half a job. Come up with things like that again.

Due the fact that in 2004 the rules on au pairs changed, allowing them to stay longer, increase in the number of au pairs residing here, to 15,297 in 2004 from 11,171 in 2003. In 2006 is being tested a pilot program, allowing four-month summer stays. Another program for 2007 will allow au pairs to stay as long as two years with host families, up from one year. This means that the number will increase significantly.

Thanks Adam! I was as lazy as Gina.

An au pair is a young person who helps a family with childcare and/or housework. He or she receives not much money but lives on an equal basis with the host family in a foreign country. An au pair it treated like an extended family member. The term “au pair” comes from the French term “au par” which means “equal to”.

I work for a company which helps families find au pairs. If you check out the Department of State's website, you'll find that an au pair is actually paid by the family to live in their home and provide childcare and child-related tasks. Au pairs are not permitted to work more than 10 hours a day or 45 hours per week. They and their host families are very closely monitored by local representatives who check in each month and who also provide monthly cultural activities for the au pairs. In exchange for their work in the home, au pairs receive tuition assistance from the host family as well as a weekly stipend that starts at $139.05. I know that sounds like a tiny amount, but they are receiving health insurance, room, board, 2 weeks paid vacation, and use of the family car. Host families end up paying approximately $14K per year to host an au pair which is less costly than putting 2 infants into full time childcare.
It's a wonderful program and I have many repeat host families each year.