JOE, 24 YEARS

Basic Info
My name is Joseph, but you can call me Joe. I am an 18 year old trying to experience more of the world and learn about other peoples' cultures. Initially, I was born in California, however I've lived in six different states within America over the course of my life. Right now I am in Wisconsin, the state known for its delicious cheese and beautiful rural scenery.

Currently, I work as a cook. Cooking has always been a passion of mine and something I love learning more about as I travel. Eventually, I would like to teach English in a foreign country but I'd like to get an education at a University first to open up more opportunities for my future.

My first language is English. I was born and raised speaking English by my family and have lived in America for my whole life. I studied French in High School for three years, but I was never very good at it. I have also been studying Japanese for the past two years ever since I lived there for a short while under a scholarship from the Kikkoman Soy Sauce Company. I would consider Japanese my second best language. I also have interest in learning Mandarin and Korean, but have only studied the very basics and would not say I'm very good at them yet.

As an Au Pair, I look to gain more formal experience in childcare, learn more about other cultures, practice skills in other languages, and share the best aspects of the place I come from with others. In terms of preferences, I'd like to have a live-in arrangement with a family that would be happy to have me stay and work with them for around a year or more. I would prefer to stay with a family that is living in a city with 1-2 children who are ages 5-14, however this is not a requirement. I am very open-minded about the living situation. While staying with you, I'd prefer to not work more than 45 hours a week, however if a situation arises where I'm needed to then I will understand.

Experience
I have both formal and informal experience in childcare. In high school, I spent time volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club of Reno, Nevada. While volunteering, I would usually run activities with children and oversee children to make sure they're staying safe. On top of that, I babysat for family friends many times when they needed to go to events or make short trips without their children. While taking care of their children I would usually cook for them, drive them to and from activities, help them study, make sure they were staying safe, and make sure they went to bed at a decent time.

I like working with children because they have lots of natural energy and creativity. It always makes me happy being around them which is a large reason for why I want to be a teacher. As an Au Pair, I hope to gain long-term experience caring for children and learn many new things about the world.