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Au Pair’s Dream Trip to Italy Becomes Nightmare, Leading to Viral TikTok Departure
A young woman’s spontaneous decision to accept an au pair position in Italy quickly unraveled, transforming an anticipated adventure into a difficult experience that prompted her departure after only five days. Her abrupt exit, captured and shared in a viral TikTok video, highlighted significant challenges with her host family.
Ella Reeson documented her tense early-morning departure from the residence. In the widely shared clip, Reeson appears visibly distressed as she recounts leaving at 5:43 a.m., stating, “I’m sneaking out of my host family’s house… I’m literally shaking. That was literally the scariest thing ever.”
The Decision and Initial Expectations
Reeson arrived in Italy with optimism, inspired by another au pair’s online account of living in Paris. She explained her motivation, sharing, “I’ve babysat since I was 12 or 13, and I love children.”
Her anticipated duties were straightforward: waking the child, preparing breakfast, transporting him to school, and picking him up in the afternoon. In exchange, she would receive lodging, meals, and free time during school hours, a standard setup for a cultural exchange program like an au pair stay.
Challenges Begin: Cultural Differences and Miscommunication
However, the excitement of exploring a new country soon gave way to discomfort. Reeson noted the first sign of trouble occurred during an initial meal with the host mother, who reportedly vented extensively about workplace frustrations.
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“I had just arrived, and she was already unloading all this negativity on me,” Reeson recalled. The difficulties escalated as Reeson found it challenging to immediately adjust to cultural distinctions and navigate her responsibilities with minimal guidance.
The host father, who did not speak English, was reportedly assigned to assist Reeson, despite her prior communication being solely with the English-speaking host mother.
“She would send me to him for help even though there was a huge language barrier,” Reeson stated. “It didn’t make sense why she couldn’t just show me herself.”
Mounting Tensions and Unease
Stress intensified on Friday evening when the host mother returned and, according to Reeson, criticized her for not learning rapidly enough or interacting sufficiently with her child, despite it being her scheduled day off and having spent time with him earlier.
“She raised her voice at me,” Reeson recounted. “I’m not good with confrontation, so I just apologized and moved on.”
Things worsened the following day, Saturday, during a family trip to Portofino. Reeson described feeling overlooked while pushing a stroller as the family walked ahead without acknowledging her efforts. Later that evening, she was reportedly reprimanded for falling asleep during the drive home after a long day.
“I woke up every morning feeling super uncomfortable in their house,” Reeson shared. Although she found enjoyment in exploring the city and connecting with new people during her brief stay, returning to the apartment consistently brought an overwhelming sense of dread.
The Sudden Departure
Her decision to leave necessitated careful planning. Upon returning from Portofino late Saturday night, Reeson secluded herself in her room and packed her belongings quietly, mindful of squeaky floors and thin walls.
The next morning, at 5:45 a.m., she quietly exited with two heavy suitcases, a carry-on, and a backpack, navigating several gates before reaching the outside. “The automatic gate wouldn’t open at first,” she said. “I started freaking out but eventually got it unlocked.”
Leaving the keys on the car windshield as instructed by her parents, Reeson headed for a bus stop but soon switched to an Uber to ensure she wouldn’t miss her flight due to delays.
Upon arriving at the airport five and a half hours before her flight, Reeson felt relief but remained cautious until clearing security. Only then did she message the host mother about her departure, explaining her reasons and expressing good wishes.
The host mother’s reply, a lengthy message reportedly blaming Reeson for the issues, was met with her blocking the host mother on Instagram and WhatsApp.
AuPairWorld’s Perspective
Reeson initially connected with the host family through the website AuPairWorld. A spokesperson for the company commented on their role, stating, “At AuPairWorld, we are committed to fostering safe, respectful, and enriching cultural exchanges between au pairs and host families. Our role is to connect au pairs and host families using the power of Internet while providing resources and guidelines to help them establish clear expectations and agreements before the placement. We emphasize the importance of clear communication, adherence to agreed-upon terms, and mutual respect throughout the au pair experience.
“As the au pair stays are very much in the ‘real world,’ it is common that challenges arise. In these cases, we encourage both au pairs and host families to address concerns openly and seek resolution collaboratively. Our support team is available to assist users in navigating difficulties and ensuring that the principles of fairness and cultural exchange remain at the forefront of every au pair stay. We remain dedicated to providing resources, guidance, and support to our community, upholding the values that have made AuPairWorld a trusted platform for the past 25 years.”
Reflections and Advice for Future Au Pairs
Reflecting on her experience, Reeson acknowledged that rushing into the arrangement might have contributed to the outcome. “The process was so fast: I met them one Saturday, called them the next Saturday, and booked my flight that Monday,” she shared.
She advises prospective au pairs to invest ample time in thoroughly vetting potential families. Her recommendations include, “Go through an agency if you can; ask all the questions and request references.”
Despite the difficulties, Reeson believes the ordeal facilitated personal growth. “I’ve never been away from home alone before,” she said. “Flying to another country by myself taught me how to be okay on my own.”
Nonetheless, when asked if she would consider another au pair position, her answer is definitive: “This was my first and last shot.”