Go Au Pair in Chicago offers a child care experience through cultural exchange
What is an Au Pair?
Au Pairs are pre-screened international young adults with child care experience who provide full time, live-in child care and introduces a memorable cultural experience at an affordable cost. With Au Pair child care, families in Chicago can enjoy all the benefits of in home child care.
Au Pairs can be responsible for general supervision of the children, driving, laundry, homework help, preparing meals, and providing morning and bedtime help. As an Au Pair agency, Go Au Pair is dedicated to helping families in the Chicago area choose an Au Pair that fits their specific family needs.
Local Area Representative in Chicago
Go Au Pair has a Local Area Representative in Chicago and surrounding areas to help our families during their experience. Our agency’s local representative will assist your family and Au Pair with any questions related to your live in child care needs.
Annemarie
“Annemarie has been responsive and has reached out several times in the past six weeks to ask us about the transitioning.”
“[Annemarie] is very friendly and very helpful.”
“Excellent accessibility by the LAR.”
“My LAR is a good person and her help is really important about build a good relationship with my host family…. And She write me frequently.”
“I liked everything about my living in US. Chicago is a beautiful city , there are a lot of kind of entertainment. People are so open to communication. Food is delicious amd my local area was amazing, close to forest preserve and parks”
The areas I serve in Illinois
I cover city of Chicago, and all Chicagoland suburbs spanning Lake, Cook, DuPage, Will and Lake Counties of Illinois and Indiana.
Territory major towns:
Chicago, Lake Forest, Evanston, Arlington Heights, Schaumburg, Lake Bluff, Highland Park, Northbrook, Glenview, Winnetka, Elmhurst, Downers Grove, Oak Brook, Hinsdale, Glen Ellyn, Naperville, Wheaton, St Charles, Lisle, Burridge, Park Ridge, Orland Park, Plainfield, Lemont, Gary, Hammond
My name is Annemarie Blahova, and I am Area Representative for Go Au Pair in the Greater Chicago Area. I am globally minded. I have lived, studied, worked, and travelled abroad and I have firsthand insight into making each cultural exchange placement successful.
I am passionate about the Au Pair program! I enjoy working with all the Host Families and Au Pairs, helping to create a wonderful experience for them throughout their year!
I have been fortunate to be part of a fabulous group of professionals at Go Au Pair and I’ve seen what an incredible impact the program has on the Host Parents, their children, and Au Pairs.
We have growing cluster here in Chicago and surrounding areas. Our carefully screened and trained Au Pairs are from all over the world: South America, Europe, and Africa. Their backgrounds encompass diverse cultures and many languages such as African, German, Mandarin, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Ukrainian to name few.
Our Host Families have infants, toddlers, preschoolers, school age children all the way up to late teens. Many Host Parents have demanding careers in healthcare, sales, marketing, finance, accounting, legal, education and IT professions. They recognize the benefits of choosing Go Aupair program and have confidence that they chose the best care for their children.
Au Pair Cultural Activities
Au Pairs are required to attend a number of Cultural Activities with their Local Area Representative and nearby Au Pairs to make sure they experience the local community and culture during their stay. Below are some of the activities Erin’s cluster has been up to recently!
Au Pairs attend several Cultural Activities and Events with their area representative and their hosting families to assure they can experience the local community and culture during their stay. A concert, pizza night, pedal boating, art museum, bowling- Chicago and suburbs offer endless opportunities for fun. Here are some noteworthy we have recently enjoyed:
We traditionally kick off winter at Lightscape festival in Chicago Botanic Garden, taking time to walk the illuminated trail filled with interactive displays.
Skating at the McCormick Tribune Ice ring in Millennium Park followed by nice cup of hot chocolate or coffee was so much fun. For some of the au pairs this was their very first time standing on skates!
The thrill of annual Air and Water Show returns to Chicago every summer for whole weekend and there was no better way to enjoy it than on the beach, rain, or shine, with au pairs and host families .
Additional Resources for Families and Au Pairs in Chicago, IL
Driving can be part of your Au Pair’s responsibilities. If this is the case, the Au Pair will need to pass the test and get a driver’s license from the nearest Illinois (IL) DMV office preferably within first two months of being in the US. Host Families need to check with their car insurance agency for their rules for adding an Au Pair to the insurance.
Au Pairs can learn about inexpensive solutions to travel around town. Many Au pairs get their USA driver’s license and are allowed to use a host family’s vehicle for a personal use with certain restrictions, although taxis, Uber, Lyft, and shuttles are also available.
Au Pairs need to complete their education requirement as part of their exchange program in the United States. There are many places in Chicagoland they may be able to enroll. Full list of all accredited school is readily available to Au pairs and Host families on our community website. Here are some options.
- https://www.ccc.edu/colleges/Pages/default.aspx
- http://www.triton.edu
- http://www.northpark.edu/
- http://www.maccormac.edu/
- https://nl.edu/
Oakton remains an open-access community college, offering associate degree, certificate, and adult continuing education programs.
College of DuPage strives to be the center for excellence in teaching, learning, and cultural experiences. The COD campuses are in west suburbs.
College of DuPage | College of DuPage (cod.edu)
Many Au pairs choose to complete portion or all 6 credits / 72 hours at Au Pair weekend classes offered through accredited colleges and universities in each location across the U.S. These programs satisfy U.S. Department of State J-1 Visa educational requirement
Au Pairs and Host Families can learn about tax withholdings and filing specific for the Au Pair program. Always consult a tax advisor to learn how taxes apply.
An Au Pair will need to get a Social Security # before getting a bank account and driver’s license. Go Au Pair will provide a welcome packet with social security information, on the Au Pairs arrival. We advise Au Pairs to wait 10 days after arrival to get their social security number. You can make an appointment at a social security office, closest to your home.Child Friendly Activities for Au Pairs and Host Families
Au Pairs will find that Chicagoland offers a wide variety of exciting things to do and places to visit. There are many science and historical museums, art displays, scenic touring, and physical activities. Families and Au Pairs can find activities they are most interested in.
https://www.choosechicago.com/listing/willis-tower/
The Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, is a 110-story building designed by Bruce Graham of the firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. One can step outside what’s not only the tallest building in Chicago but the third-tallest building in the Western Hemisphere! The viewing tower offers spectacular views spanning up to four states
https://www.choosechicago.com/listing/art-institute-of-chicago/
No trip to Chicago is complete without a visit to the Art Institute. Consistently rated among the world’s top museums the Art Institute of Chicago is home to the greatest collection of Impressionist paintings outside of Paris. The Modern Wing has its extraordinary collection of works by Chagall, Dalí, Matisse, Picasso, and Pollock. The Art Institute has something for everyone!
https://www.choosechicago.com/listing/shedd-aquarium/
Shedd Aquarium’s mission is to spark compassion, curiosity and conservation for the aquatic animal world. From whales to snails, tarantulas to turtles, look nature in the eye as you meet 32,000 animals from aquatic habitats around the world.
Visitors can go nose-to-nose with gorillas and chimpanzees, howl with red wolves, peer into a black bear den and immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of Africa with wild dogs, pygmy hippos and black rhinos. Beyond providing a wild home to hundreds of species, Lincoln Park Zoo also operates one of the largest zoo-based conservation and science programs in the country.
https://www.choosechicago.com/articles/tours-and-attractions/find-the-chicago-boat-tour-for-you/
One of the best ways to see Chicago is from the water. The city is home to two stunning waterfronts — the Chicago River and Lake Michigan — and each offers plenty of cruise options. Admire the skyline on a lakefront cruise, learn about the city’s iconic architecture on a Chicago River cruise, enjoy dinner and dancing aboard an all-glass vessel, sip cocktails on a tiki-themed boat, paddle your own kayak — the options are truly endless