InterExchange 2010 Au Pair of the Year Ilse Jaquire
The Winning Au Pair of the Year Essays
Also see: Ilse's essay
We are a busy family with two working parents and two boys: the youngest, 8 and the oldest, 12. At first, we had our doubts that the au pair program would be right for us. Our boys are no longer angelic cuddly little toddlers. They are energetic, imaginative boys, complete with ups and downs and a healthy dose of sibling rivalry. Our home is not a pristine and organized haven like the photographs in magazines. It is a tad short of chaos, with creative projects in every corner and a mini-zoo of pets, including snakes, geckos, fancy rats, a frog, a goldfish and a standard poodle.
Would it really be possible to find a warm, responsible au pair who would be willing to give us a try? We spent much time discussing this on the phone with our wonderful Local Coordinator, Dawn Middleton. She assured us that we were not asking too much and that there was an au pair out there who would be a good match for us. She was, of course, right.
We felt an immediate bond with Ilse Jaquire. After speaking with her on the phone, her candor and wonderful sense of humor convinced us beyond any doubt that Ilse was the right au pair for us. At the first glimpse of Ilse bounding down the escalator in the Newark Airport, a huge satchel swinging by her side, an electric guitar case bobbing on her back and a smile as big and sparkly as her earrings, we realized that… Ilse is unique.
There she stood, half a world away from the comfort and familiarity of her own country, culture and family, yet she beamed with energy and readiness to take on what ever came her way. We marveled… Ilse is brave.
My boys warmed up to Ilse on our very first outing to New York, as she commandeered my camera and took silly pictures with them. Children instinctively know when someone truly cares and is interested in them. Their response to her is proof positive that… Ilse is genuine.
Ilse was very clear in all her letters that she is a girly girl and has no athletic aspirations. Yet she happily embraced the interests of the boys beyond her own comfort zone, whether it be riding scooters in the cul-de-sac, building models of tanks at the local hobby shop or even catfishing at the local park. We saw that… Ilse is joy.
Getting boys to do all that they are supposed to do is no easy task. Somehow we came home to homework finished, beds made, animals fed, musical instruments practiced and a few new words in Afrikaans learned for good measure. We are not sure what type of magic she employed to accomplish all this with the boys still smiling, but we knew that… Ilse is inspiring.
Ilse has an intuitive understanding of what it means to be part of a family. To help out, anticipate the needs, and just plain make it a little easier on working parents. So many times I would ask Ilse, “Would you mind…” only to hear her respond pleasantly, ”Oh, did that already”. We were grateful that… Ilse is understanding.
Ilse was always there for the important events in our family. Whether it be a second grade poetry reading, a family birthday party, decorating for holidays or sitting through a concert of 30 beginner violinists, her keen understanding of the importance of just being there to support the boys showed us that… Ilse is thoughtful.
Did I mention our boys are not angels? They are not always polite, respectful or as kind to each other as we would like them to be. Ilse somehow managed to diffuse so many of these situations. Sometimes, there were difficult issues that need to be reported to us. Ilse handled these with such honesty, kindness and maturity. We appreciated that… Ilse is compassionate.
There are some people who come into your life for a brief period, yet who leave a mark forever. I know that our bond with Ilse is strong and permanent regardless of how many miles separate us. Ilse has made us see what an au pair really is: part big sister, part friend and part guardian. We are fortunate that… Ilse is family.
Having the right caregiver for our children is critical to the balance and happiness of a family. We are grateful to InterExchange, Dawn Middleton and most of all, Ilse Jaquire for this wonderful year.
Winner of 2010 InterExchange Au Pair of the Year
Au Pair: Ilse Jaquire
Time is flying by and it feels like only yesterday when I first set foot in New York City. Being part of this program is not something that is easy to try to explain. This is definitely something you need to experience for yourself. When I first came to the States the weather was cold, but the hearts of the people were warm. I never thought that I would be able to feel so much at home, so far away from my own country. Being part of the au pair program allowed me not only to see the country and all its beauty, but also get to know the people on a personal level and help me understand who they are and what they are truly about.
When I arrived at my host family's home, I was received with compassion and love, as if it were my own family. My host parents are both designers and active in the business world. And yet, even with their busy schedules, they always make time for their family and now, also for me. They always ask me questions about my country and my customs and have even joined in a few times when I talked to my family via Skype.
Being part of and having an influence in the children's lives has also enriched my life so much more. There is nothing more rewarding than watching these children go through all their trials and changes and growing with them every day.
I thought it would be fun to teach the boys and their parents some words of my mother language, Afrikaans. So, in exchange for teaching the boys some Afrikaans words and phrases, I am now schooled in the arts of “scootering”, catfishing, video game car racing and “S'mores-making”! But I can honestly say that I don't think I'm as great at scooter rideing as they are at speaking Afrikaans.
We have a lot of fun talking about our different cultures and ways of doing things every day. The boys try to identify Afrikaans words when I play them some of my favourite Afrikaans folksongs on our way home from school. And at least once a week we have “International Night” where I would make something that I would typically eat in my environment in South Africa. After a few tries we came to the conclusion that the cinnamon sugar crepes (or Pannekoek as we call it) have proven to be the favorite!
In my adventure so far I have been fortunate enough too see places such as Portland OR, Seattle, New York City, the redwood forest, Philadelphia, the Columbia Gorge, the Amish country, Renaissance fairs, American muscle car shows, the California coast and of course my favorite … Hollywood in Los Angeles! Being part of the Portland, OR Race for the Cure walk was definitely one of my highlights.
In my family I have been invited to join in all the family activities and I have enjoyed every moment of it! From going to second grade poetry readings to decorating the whole house in spiders and ghosts for Halloween with the older boy, while going to wake boarding and guitar lessons and learning how to build a model car with the younger boy. All these have been super fun times that I will never forget.
My host family is a tight knit family with many family activities and I have had so much fun being part of every one! I have been accepted by the whole family as the big sister. And I have come to love them so much for it. It will be so hard for me to say goodbye, because this family has been so good to me in every possible way. I know and hope that we will be friends for life. And I look forward to their visit to South Africa someday!
Thank you for having this program and making it possible for me to be part of your wonderful country and have this true American experience.
Read last year's winning entry - the IAPA 2010 Au Pair of the Year
