Through dissolving borders, technological enhancements
and the increase in communications powered by social
media, it has never been more important to understand
and appreciate our international neighbors. The Obama
administration has consistently pushed the theme of
creating and improving international relationships
outside of government affairs. However, this cannot be
done through technology alone; we need personal
relationships forged by cultural exchange programs like
the
Au Pair programs.
In a speech given by Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton,
she pledged her support and stated, “We’re also
expanding our partnerships beyond traditional
government-to-government efforts. We’re working with
women’s groups and civil society, human rights activists
around the world, and we’re encouraging more
people-to-people cooperation. I believe this may be
one of the great new tools that we have in our
diplomacy.”
Individuals likely are the most powerful and influential
tools available to aid foreign diplomacy. During a
diplomacy initiative launch at Harvard University, Under
Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public
Affairs, Judith McHale, recalled the following
experience:
“I was recently in Germany and I met a reporter there
from one of the larger newspapers in Munich. He was a
smart guy, a very knowledgeable person. And he told me,
very candidly, that he had always had a somewhat
arrogant attitude toward the United States. He thought
it was crass. He thought it was somewhat of a bully. But
then he came here on one of our exchange programs, and
he met with some of our academics, politicians, and
journalists. And it completely changed him. His view of
the United States—and the way that he reported on our
country for a very influential paper—was changed.
That’s public diplomacy in action. In most cases—not all
cases, but in most cases—people who come to the United
States leave with a far more positive impression of our
country. This is good for people-to-people relations –
but it is also good for our nation.”
People-to-people cooperation is one of Washington’s key
messages and tactics to improve suffering foreign
relations. On another occasion, McHale repeated the same
sentiment that Clinton communicated.
“In today’s rapidly changing world, the United States
must continue to move beyond traditional
government-to-government diplomacy and seek innovative
ways to communicate and engage directly with foreign
publics.” McHale noted, “We must move beyond messaging
and use all functions of public diplomacy for the
primary task of relationship building and
person-to-person engagement.”
 Congress
has also displayed its support with the approval of
increased funding for the State Department and Diplomacy
“including $633 million for State Department educational
and cultural exchange programs in FY 2010 and ‘such
sums’ as may be needed for FY 2011.” The educational and
cultural exchange programs being funded include the
Au Pair,
EduCare and EducationUSA Programs to name just a
few. Based on funding and priority given to the cultural
exchange programs, Washington could not be sending a
stronger plea to increase foreign relations.
In addition to increased funding, McHale has continued
to add to the foreign relations rhetoric.
“The goal of this kind of person-to-person engagement
has always been to form lasting relationships. This is
now a foundation of our communications strategy as well.
In a crowded media environment, relationships offer a
way to break through the clutter.” Breaking through the
“clutter” is one of the greatest challenges of
diplomacy.
Diplomats, and Ambassadors are appropriate for the
government and it efforts to increase foreign relations,
but how can individuals do their part? One of the best
ways to increase person to person engagement on an
international level is through cultural exchange
programs like the
Au
Pair program.
The foundation of the Au Pair program is child care
through cultural exchange. As international young adults
who come to the U.S., Au Pairs provide 45 hours of
live-in child care and light housekeeping each week.
Common Au Pair responsibilities include: general
supervision of children, driving, children's laundry,
homework help and preparing meals.
Au Pairs come to the U.S. to learn another language and
culture through living with a Host Family and caring for
their children. Host families also benefit by being
exposed to the language and culture of the visiting
Au
Pair.
 While commenting about her Au Pair, a Host Mom from New
York said, “Anna has provided us with quality home
childcare and has introduced our family to a whole other
culture. Our children love her because she is patient,
loving and best of all, fun! The Au Pair program has
made a tremendous difference for our family!”
Families across the nation opt for Au Pair child care to
provide their children with many different benefits.
Some hire an Au Pair because they want their children to
be exposed to another language. Other parents prefer Au
Pairs because they want their children to be “globally
aware and educated.” And of course, there are parents
that love Au Pairs because they act as an older brother
or sister for their children.
Never before has there been such a great opportunity to
participate at an individual level and increase our
country’s foreign relations. As tension rises between
countries and stereotypes intensify, a large
responsibility falls on the shoulders of the citizens of
our great nation. Impressionable young Au Pairs hosted
by families across the U.S., receive the unmatched
opportunity to gain an understanding and appreciation of
the U.S. by experiencing the culture, people and way of
life, rather than simply seeing such things through the
filter of their local media.
By hosting an
Au
Pair, families do much more than receive 45 hours of
child care per week. A Host Family has the opportunity
to teach their Au Pair about the U.S. and our culture.
Even President Obama said, “Government can promote this
cooperation, but ultimately individuals must advance
this cooperation, because the greatest resource of any
nation in the 21st century is you. It's people; it's
young people especially.”
After completing the year long Au Pair program an Au
Pair from Poland said, “I think being an Au Pair is a
lifetime experience. It shows you how two cultures can
differ. It also opens your minds and make you believe
that everything is possible – especially here in the
U.S.”
As the Obama administration continues forward with its
increased foreign relations, cultural exchange will
become more and more important. From a summer exchange
program to an
EduCare Au Pair program, opportunities are replete
for every U.S. citizen to improve foreign relations.
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