Go Au Pair in New Orleans offers a child care experience through cultural exchange.
Au Pairs provide reliable, live-in child care which meets the specific needs of your family.
And – an Au Pair costs the same no matter how many children you have.
What our Host Families love about the Au Pair program
Local Area Representative in New Orleans
Michelle Holt
The areas I serve in Louisiana
My territory covers the Greater New Orleans area, which includes all parts of New Orleans proper, as well as Metairie, Kenner, the Westbank, and the North Shore.
Hi! My name is Michelle Holt, and I am the Local Area Representative for Greater New Orleans. I have a B.S. in education from Boston University, an M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction from the University of Southern Mississippi, and an M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of New Orleans. I taught school for 10 years and was an editor at the LSU School of Medicine for 18 years. I have been with Go Au Pair for well over a decade now and love it as it is a great opportunity to meet so many interesting people from a wide variety of cultures. In the past, I have been a nanny myself, and I have also lived abroad, so this seemed like a natural fit for me to be able to relate to the au pairs’ experiences.
Go Au Pair is a wonderful program, full of caring, responsive people who really want to see host families and au pairs connect in meaningful ways. I have seen so many host families and au pairs stay in touch and continue to visit and remain in each other’s lives long after their placement has been completed, and it is so fulfilling to be part of forging these sorts of relationships!
Our current New Orleans-area au pairs are all from Colombia or Ecuador, coincidentally, but in the past we have had au pairs from a wide variety of countries, including China, South Africa, Belgium, Romania, New Zealand, El Salvador, Ukraine, Mexico, and more. They enjoy such activities as visiting museums, traveling, listening to music, and generally taking advantage of all the fun things that New Orleans has to offer.
Our host families also represent a wide variety – some have been with the agency for years, and some are relatively new. Some have multiple children, and some have just one. The ages of the children in our current cluster, as well as in the past, have ranged from newborns to teenagers. Our host moms and dads have represented a variety of professions, such as hospitality management, healthcare, law, education, and real estate.
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 Michelle’s cluster has been up to recently!
The poboy is an iconic sandwich in New Orleans, a city very much known for its delicious food! New Orleans takes any excuse to celebrate and have a party, and what better excuse to celebrate than a poboy?! As with all festivals in the city, there is music, dancing, and lots of yummy food! Here are some of our au pairs, in a brief moment when they weren’t eating!
New Orleans is situated in very low-lying area, surrounded by swamps. It is a great adventure to get out of the city and into one of the many swamps, in a boat that’s made for navigating the bayous and with a tour guide who knows the way! In warm weather – which we have in abundance down here – the gators will definitely be out sunning themselves and looking for food!
Additional Resources for Families and Au Pairs in New Orleans, LA
Getting a Louisiana driver’s license is not too difficult and is generally better than having an international driver’s license. Host families will need to check with their insurance agency for their rules on adding and au pair to their car insurance.
Being below sea level, New Orleans doesn’t have any sort of subway system, which is unfortunate. Many host families provide vehicles for au pairs who are comfortable driving and have a valid driver’s license. Both the au pairs and the host families typically find this to be a great convenience. However, the au pairs also get around via Uber and Lyft, rides from their host parents, and carpooling with one another or other friends. In addition, the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) offers bus, ferry, and streetcar service to various parts of the city.
As part of the requirements of the au pair program, all au pairs need to complete a minimum of 6 credits/72 classroom hours while they are here in America. We have a variety of accreditedcolleges and universities here in New Orleans where an au pair might choose to fulfill the education requirement.
In the city itself, there is Tulane University (Home | tulane), the University of New Orleans (University of New Orleans | The University of New Orleans (uno.edu)), and Xavier University (Xavier University of Louisiana (xula.edu)). In the outskirts, there is Southeastern Louisiana University (SLU) (Southeastern Louisiana University). While we have had au pairs choose to attend both Tulane and SLU and take classes in everything from chemistry to acting, by far the most popular choice is for au pairs to take classes in ESL at Delgado Community College. Delgado is centrally located, the ESL classes give the au pairs the opportunity to improve their English skills and make friends with other non-native speakers, and perhaps best of all, these classes have traditionally been free! Delgado website: Home (dcc.edu) Delgado ESL program: English as a Second Language (dcc.edu)
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 New Orleans is a city full of life and spirit, with an abundance of things to do to suit all interests. From its vibrant music and restaurant scene to its unique architecture to its fascinating museums filled with art and history to its many areas of natural beauty, New Orleans truly has something for everyone! Some family favorites include the following:
Located in the heart of beautiful City Park, the Children’s Museum celebrates the natural curiosity and wonder of children with a plethora of hands-on activities that make learning fun! Home – LCM
Rated as one of the 10 best aquariums by USA Today and Travel + Leisure, the Audubon Aquarium transports visitors to an underwater world ranging from the Caribbean to the Amazon rainforest to the waters that are the lifeblood of New Orleans: the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. With more than 3,600 animals from more than 250 species, the Audubon Aquarium is open daily and will offer you an experience you won’t soon forget! Audubon Aquarium | NOW OPEN | New Orleans, LA (audubonnatureinstitute.org)
Local families and tourists alike enjoy cruising the waters of the mighty Mississippi River. Cruising on the Steamboat NATCHEZ includes Steam Engine Room visitation, calliope, live jazz, and optional Creole food and local beverages.
