Athletic Au Pairs Reside in Potomac

When Jackie Schmitt came to the United States from Germany, one of the first things she did was search for a nearby swim program where she could train.

The Potomac resident found the U.S. Master’s Swim Training program at Curl-Burke Swim Club in Damascus and started training six days a week. Now this athlete, who has competed in triathlons in Germany, is competing in swim competitions around the nation thanks to one program that helped bring her to the United States — the Au Pairs in America.

Schmitt is one of Potomac’s au pairs that is passionate about learning about a new culture, caring for local children and especially sports.

Schmidt, Meg Edwards and Kimberlee Gross are au pairs in Potomac. They were matched with their host families through Au Pair in America — a 25-year-old company that partners host families with live-in childcare providers from around the world.

“I became an au pair because I did not really know what to study and wanted a gap year,” said 19-yea-old Schmitt. One of the children she cares for is also a swimmer and they often have the opportunity to train together. Schmitt will return home to Germany this summer but will continue to swim and start training for a triathlon.

Edwards and Gross are also Potomac au pairs who are competing in athletic endeavors. They decided they wanted to become more fit by exercising together and wanted to take up an inexpensive sport so they started running on the C & O Canal.

Since one of their host family members was competing in the Walt Disney World Marathon, the two started training for the Disney half-marathon in September. Both young ladies triumphantly completed the 13.1 miles. 

“We loved running through the Magic Kingdom and meeting the characters like Donald Duck and Goofy,” said Edwards and Gross. “We will remember the experience all our lives – but we were exhausted after the race!” 

These Potomac au pairs are members of the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS), which has been a leader in educational and cultural exchanges since 1964. Au Pair in America has more than 60 young ladies living with families in Potomac – and many more in the Montgomery County area. 

Victoria Paton, Senior Community Counselor for Au Pair in America holds interviews all over the world for au pairs. The program has a stringent screening requirements where the applicants must be a high school or college graduate with good grades, know how to drive, be willing to enroll at Montgomery College for a minimum of 6 course credits, successfully complete the au pair training, perform favorably in a personality exam and in a personal interview, and provide solid references and work experience, Paton said.

“Of course, the major requirement is they must love children and have experience in taking care of them,” Paton said. “Many of our au pairs are nurses, teachers and college graduates.”

The au pairs arrive on a J-1 visa and provide their host families with dependable, flexible and cost-effective childcare, Paton said. Also, the au pairs often offer an enriching cultural experience for the entire family, she added.

But it’s not just a walk in the park for the Potomac families who host au pairs. The host families must also follow strict regulations. No au pair is permitted to work more than 45 hours a week. They must be given time to go to college and two weeks off per year. Also, the host family pays the au pairs between $195 to $225 per week.

Schmitt, Edwards and Gross said they are enjoying their stay here, appreciate the opportunity to live with a host family, learn more about the U.S. and practice their athletic pursuits. Schmidt, Edwards and Gross all said that life in the U.S. is easy to adjust to because Americans are so open and friendly.

“I love walking down the street here because everyone says ‘hello.’  This is not at all true in my country,” Edwards said. 

These au pairs have found living in the U.S. a pleasure and are excellent ambassadors of the program. If you are looking for an au pair, contact Au Pairs of America online or call 800-928-7247.