Ready for something new!

Granny Monika is in the process of turning her life around. Since the end of 2020, the 66-year-old has been in Italy, taking care of the two children of her host family. Since then, she has been overcome with a feeling of happiness. The beautiful house. The pool. The view of the deep blue Lago di Varese, with the mighty Monte Rosa massif in the background. Postcard idyll. And a few days ago she wrote to us: "I am just buying a small house on Lake Maggiore and will therefore stay in beautiful Italy for a few more years. I will continue to take care of "our" two children: we have really become a family and I am more or less an elective grandmother. Everything was not originally planned this way - but it has become all the more beautiful.

Living with a Granny Aupair
Living with a Granny has been a very pleasant experience so far, however the main challenge could be in making sure that everyone is enjoying their privacy. On our first Granny experience, the Granny used to come to our private spaces like bedrooms and study rooms. Her intentions were good and it was her first Granny experience so we didn’t take it personally. But we noticed some cultural inconveniences and personal space discomfort on our side.
On the following Grannies’ visits, we started to explain - from the beginning- that the family needs its privacy to manage their personal interests and affairs. In return the Granny has free access to all the ground floor but not to our bedrooms and work areas. The ground floor includes the kitchen, the living room, TV, and access to patio and house yard.  This proved to be a good organization of space and made everyone comfortable.

Cultural differences are not a myth , especially when it comes to cultural uniqueness related to women status for example across societies. The Grannies usually come with certain views of how women are treated in Arab and Muslim culture and it is very difficult to convince them that not all these views are real. With time our family realized that it is not easy to change their perspectives.  Now we overlook negative views / comments and leave it to the Grannies to see the realities by themselves.

There are many happy experiences with our Grannies to be honest. An example is when we took one of our lovely Grannies to meet our great grandmother, and our grandmother gave her Burga (Battoulah) and asked her to try it . We took photos of the two as they were communicating with signs and laughs, it was really a happy moment and a warm human interaction.

We really appreciate our lovelyGgrannies and their help to improve our kids’ German language. We stay in touch with almost all of them. Some of them are so kind and generous that they post gifts for the kids. The Granny experience is not only a cultural encounter but a unique human encounter that is warm and full courageous exploration. We admire the courage in every lady who made the decision to be a Granny Aupair in a totally new culture from her own. Their courage keeps on impressing us! 

Dear Mrs Hansen, Dear Granny aupair Team,

Last weekend I came back from California after 2 months.
It was wonderful and exceeded my expectations. I experienced something new almost every day and sometimes I couldn't get out of my amazement.
As soon as I have a gap again, I will definitely become active with you again.

Many thanks and best regards
Beate

Dear Michaela Hansen and Granny Aupair Team!

I would like to write to you how happy I am to have had the opportunity to go abroad as a Granny Aupair. For half a year I have been staying with a very nice family in Dublin with two small children. I already thought at the beginning of my assignment that I had landed with a "model family" for Granny Aupairs and it still fits!

As it was my first assignment, I had specified three months, but settled for the desired six months and have never regretted it. I'm going back to Germany in three days. I am happy that I can continue to support the family next year; we have agreed that I will be there again in March at the latest.

It is exciting to see how the children are developing; the younger one is just learning to speak, the older one will start school next year. I am happy that I can witness this and also stimulate it. I have taken them all to my heart and am happy to be able to accompany the family a little further.

It is a nice feeling to be needed, to give and receive love. It keeps you young, both physically and mentally! And in my free time I get to know the beautiful Ireland with the pulsating capital better and better!

A big thank you to the Granny Aupair institution!

Gisela Z.