MUGI, 32 YEARS

Dear Host Family,

Hello, I am Mugi, a cat lover who would like to know scandinavian culture especially your country by living and learning directly with natives. Furthermore, I want to know scandinavian perspective on raising kids. There’s still bad image in my country that bad behaviour among children comes from western culture. I am not sure that western culture completely brings bad influences. I want to adopt the positive or good ways of western culture after my au pair stay. On the other hand, I am interested in parenting and education, that’s why I wrote “Pshycological Approach In Learning” to be my report on Job Training.

I currently live with my family in a house that is located in small city where Banyumasan culture exists. It takes 3 hours by train from Yogyakarta city ( maybe you know it). I like culture and art, moreover, I like watching movies, jogging, and sharing thoughts with my friends. In my free time I like swimming and playing with my beloved cats.

I’ve got several experiences in childcare. Firstly, when my aunty was ill after giving a birth. My mom took care her baby for a couple years. At that time I was 11; I often helped her feed the baby a bottle of milk and played with him. Secondly, when I was in high school, I helped my mom looked after my niece while my sister (baby’s mother) and her husband had to work in other city for 3 years. After school, I played with my niece and accompany her to look around in the neighbourhood. At night, I sang lullaby and patted her leg to make her sleep tight. Now, my niece is in secondary school and she already has a brother (7 year old). They often come to my house to stay over and play with me on weekend.
In addition, because of my mom is the oldest child in the family, her siblings and my cousins usually come to my house to have a heavy meal. Overall, we are a pretty big family. I have thirteen cousins. That’s why I can get along easily with children since I was kid. Furthermore, when I was in the university, I also worked part time in a course teaching English for kids 6-12 year old.

In my au pair stay, I wish I could explore the city since I am interested in historical places/buildings and get along with natives and others while doing my prior task to look after your kids as my brothers/sisters.
I used to live in a boarding house when i worked in Jakarta city for a few years. I have to prepare everything all I need by myself. There, i became an independent person. Next, I have got experience to be a freelance tour leader. There, I learned how to treat people nicely and patiently. Besides working as an administrative staff right now, I also join deaf community. Besides, learning Indonesian sign Language (BISINDO), we also create some programs in order to make friendly environment for deaf people in my city.

The reason why I want to be as an au pair is that I want to know european way of life as well as different cultures. Most immportantly, it would be great chance to spend an entire year taking care of children. Later on, I can apply the good side of european/scandinavian culture and share to people in my country.
I hope we can develop a good relationship, working and living together as a family. I would be very happy to experience an eventful year with you and your kids. I am looking forward to talking to you.

Your sincerely,

Mugi