Next month, IAPA, the International Au Pair Association, will announce the winner of the 2017 Au Pair of the Year contest. Last year, Robert Isemer, a professional au pair and teacher with PROaupair, won the national competition. Now, back in Germany, Isemer, age 28, works as a social counselor at a refugee camp run by the German Red Cross. We spoke with him recently to learn more about his job, his life in Germany, and his thoughts on the U.S. Department of State’s J1 au pair program. [...] Read More »

How much of who we become is determined by science – by the unique genes that make up our particular DNA? And, how much is determined by our environment – the family, social circumstances and culture in which we are raised? This nature vs. nurture battles has been going on for centuries. The most recent incarnation focuses on gender-neutral parenting, the idea of raising a child in a non-gender-specific way. [...] Read More »

Julia Mertins, age 23, is a speech therapist and professional au pair from Frankfurt, Germany. She is currently living and working with the Schulenburg family of Winnetka, Illinois, and caring for their two boys, Luke (age 10) and Bennett (age 7). Julia is the second runner up for PROaupair’s 2017 Au Pair of the Year competition. [...] Read More »

Sophia Leonhardt, age 25, is an occupational therapist from the Bayern region of Germany. She spent the last year living and working with the Schuller family of Troy, Michigan and caring for their three children: ages 9, 2 and 1. Sophia is the first runner up for PROaupair’s 2017 Au Pair of the Year competition. [...] Read More »

Last week we announced the winner of PROaupair’s 2017 Au Pair of the Year competition: Maren Fander, a 26-year-old speech therapist and professional au pair from the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany. Today, learn a little more about Maren, her American host family, and why she deserves the title of Au Pair of the Year. [...] Read More »