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It has been two weeks today since I left Derry and came as Au Pair in the US. The past two weeks have gone by so quickly and I have done lots. I’m just starting to settle into my new role and finding my feet. 👟👟
Every year I make a to-do list, and the past few years – traveling has been on my list. So I’m happy and excited that I’m marking this off my list.
In this post, I will talk about the practicalities of packing and orientation.
I decided to pack my suitcase a week before I was due to leave. I felt this gave me enough time to buy anything I needed. When it came to packing, I didn’t know what to bring. I wanted to bring everything, LOL. I set aside a few hours one night and made alternating outfits with the items in my suitcase. I wanted to be realistic and only bring what I needed – as I knew I’d be able to shop once I would arrived in America. For orientation, I would recommend comfortable clothes – as there is a full day of sitting at a desk and then also getting physical for first aid.
Arrival.
Once you arrive at the airport – call the Super Shuttle that InterExchange recommends. I made the mistake of walking outside and having a ticket seller sell me a ticket for a bus to the city. The ticket was $20 and we had to wait over 45 minutes for it to arrive. It also left us a few blocks away from our hotel. And not being familiar with New York – the hotel was hard to find. So yeah, I recommend getting the Super Shuttle right away.
It’s blue and can’t be missed.
I arrived at the New Yorker hotel around 5.30pm on Tuesday. I was met by Kate who gave me my Interexchange pack and my room key. I was sharing my room with another Au Pair from China.
Once I put my luggage away in my room, I went exploring New York with three French Au Pairs.
I woke at 6.45 on Wednesday and Thursday as orientation started at 8.30am sharp and we were required to be seated in class by 8.20am.
We had our breakfast & lunch in the hotel diner. We had a set menu and we were given coupons in our InterExchange packs. Make sure you bring these coupons with you. Also, make sure you tip the waiter. It’s compulsory to give a tip in the US. We all usually gave a dollar each.
Classes began at 8.30 sharp, lunch was 11.30 – 12.30, and class finished at 5 pm.
I use the word sharp a lot, as everything here starts at an exact time. If you are a few minutes late from lunch, you will be late for the class.
When class ended on Wednesday, we went on a city walking tour and went to the Empire State building at night. This cost $51 in total or $32 for a City Tour (including pizza dinner and ride on the subway) and $19 for the Empire State. These tickets are sold at orientation only and I would highly recommend buying both tickets.
On the Thursday night, myself and a few other Au Pairs went to Central Park ice-skating – a really great experience.
For money wise, $200 is recommended. However, I didn’t spend that much. It’s all down to personal preferences. I often went to the local store – opposite the hotel – to purchase snacks and water. This saved me from having to buy supplies when I went out at night.
I hope this post answers any questions. Remember to enjoy this moment. It’s a great feeling and an amazing experience beginning this journey. Feel free to leave any comments or questions and I’ll be happy to reply.
Rebecca
