Au Pair in USA: about the country I'm going to

The United States of America is a very self-sufficient country, separated by two oceans from the rest of the world, confident (partly rightly) that this is the best place on earth to live. You must learn not to be surprised that Americans have no idea about the city, or perhaps even the country, where you live, and that learning foreign languages is not their most common hobby or a mandatory subject in university.
Americans generally are easy to get to know, they are sociable and sometimes even overly friendly (it’s hard to get used to the fact that a person you’ve met for the fifth time in a day beams with another “Hi! How are you today?”). But perhaps in some ways, it is worth trying to be more like Americans, at least for the limited time of your visit—after all, it is not that hard to smile first.

I learned such useful things as how to live in harmony with others and with myself, and I learned to be more independent. And if anyone is in doubt—whether to participate or not, I can only say: “Go ahead!” And enjoy every day of the program—a year will fly by very quickly, and every day you will learn something new.

Celia, Spain

Bad is the educator of children who does not remember his childhood.

Maria von Ebner-Eschenbach