The BEST 8 Months — A Goodbye Note That Made Our Week

Every placement ends eventually — the good ones just end differently. This week we received a goodbye message from Faith, one of our au pairs from South Africa (a British national), as she wraps up her placement and gets ready for her next adventure. Shared here with her blessing:

"I just wanted to say thank you again for all the help I've received with my placement! I've had the best 8 months with my host family 😊🥺 I've had such a great experience with you guys and met really lovely people! Thanks a million ☺️🌸💘" — Faith, au pair from South Africa

Off to university — exactly as it should be.

The reason Faith's placement is ending? She's heading to Sheffield to start university. And honestly, that's our favourite kind of ending.

Au pairing was never meant to be forever — it's a chapter. For many of our au pairs it's the bridge between home and whatever comes next: a year of independence, confidence, day-to-day responsibility and a second family, before stepping into university or a career. Faith arrived as someone's newest au pair and leaves eight months later with a host family who adore her, a circle of friends made through our au pair community, and the kind of real-world experience no gap year brochure can promise.

The bit that made us smile most..

Faith mentioned she'd left our au pair group chat — and took the time to explain why, so nobody would wonder. It's a small thing, but it says a lot. The group chats we run for our placed au pairs are where the "really lovely people" she mentions come from: friendships, weekend plans, and someone to ask when you're new to the UK and everything feels unfamiliar. When au pairs leave the chat because they've outgrown it — off to uni, careers, or their next country — that's the system working.

Thinking about a chapter like Faith's?

Whether you're a young person weighing up a year as an au pair before university, or a family who'd love to welcome someone like Faith into your home, this is what a great placement looks like on both sides: matched well at the start, supported throughout, and ending with a thank-you note and a full heart.

Good luck in Sheffield, Faith — we're cheering you on. 🎓

Find out more about becoming (or hosting) an au pair at smartaupairs.com.