Safety in London Daughter off to be an Au Pair

[katebar]

I hope some of my price scope friends can give me some insight into life in London. My beautiful 18 year old has accepted a job as a "Mothers Helper" in her Gap year. The family look delightful and live in a lovely home in the South of London. 2 of her friends are also being au pairs near her but about 20minute away. Her care of the children would be in the morning and in the afternoon and the rest of the day would be hers.
She knows no one iin London but lots of her friends will be in the UK for a Gap year and she plans to catch up with friends on the weekend.
I know am biased but my daughter is drop dead gorgeous an a little naive. What possible hints or tips can any Uker scopers give?

 

[niccia]

Date: 11/1/2009 3:23:37 AM
Author:katebar
I hope some of my price scope friends can give me some insight into life in London. My beautiful 18 year old has accepted a job as a ''Mothers Helper'' in her Gap year. The family look delightful and live in a lovely home in the South of London. 2 of her friends are also being au pairs near her but about 20minute away. Her care of the children would be in the morning and in the afternoon and the rest of the day would be hers.
She knows no one iin London but lots of her friends will be in the UK for a Gap year and she plans to catch up with friends on the weekend.
I know am biased but my daughter is drop dead gorgeous an a little naive. What possible hints or tips can any Uker scopers give?

I worked as an au pair just outside of London in 2000. I didn''t have a very positive experience and left my position after 2 months (I stayed in England but got a live in hotel job instead). If she has gone through an au pair agency to get her positon, they usually do a decent job of screening the families and stay in touch with the girls to make sure that everything is working out well. If there is a problem, they will try to find them a new family quickly. I would make sure she has access to an emergency fund just in case she runs into any problems. Most of the other girls I met had a very good time and were placed with great families so I wouldn''t worry too much. I never felt unsafe either, I just ended up with a family that took advantage of the situation and I decided to leave. It is great that she will have friends close by; hopefully they can do a lot of travelling together on the weekends. I loved England and it was one of the best experiences of my life despite any issues I had, and I hope your daughter has a wonderful time too.

 

[Gailey]

Katebar, you say South of London, can you be a bit more specific? My son lives in London and works for Starbucks head office, but they might be quite a distance from each other.

 

[katebar]

Thanks Niccia that very encouraging!
Gailey Fulham is the suburb.

 

[noelwr]

I would just worry that she will have enough money. even though she''s got rent and food paid, London is very expensive just to hang out in.

 

[Phoenix]

Kate,

Fulham is a very nice and affluent area of London and London on the whole is a very cool place to live in or to visit.

Personally, I don't have any experience with being or having an au pair or have friends that have had one. The only thing I'd suggest is that your daughter be extra careful when travelling around/ when she goes out late at night. I never used to take public transportation (esp the tube, ie subway) after 9pm. I certainly wouldn't do things that you (ie. one) wouldn't normally do at home, like walking across the park or walking down dark alleys or deserted areas late at night, particularly not on your own.

I'd watch out for pickpockets in crowded areas and again on the tube and on buses. I wouldn't wear any flashy jewellery or carry designer handbags or having expensive gadgets like an iPhone out in public either. And if she were to ever (and I really sincerely hope that this would never ever happen to her) to be mugged or about to be mugged, I'd just give the muggers the material possessions rather than fight back and risk getting hurt. And most of all, should your daughter find herself in a place or situation where she feels uncomfortable (I place great reliance on intuition, or gut feeling and I think us women are really intuitive but sometimes we choose not to listen to our gut), then she should just run/ get the hell out!

She should be ok, but it never hurts to be extra vigilant. There are too many people who risk their personal safety by doing silly things, IMO. Not saying that your daughter is like that, but this is the advice that I give to everyone who goes to London, or who goes to any place that they're not familiar with - for that matter.

Your daughter might also want to register with the US Embassy there just in case she needs assistance. And ditto the emergency money.

 

[Londongirl1]

Date: 11/2/2009 4:39:23 AM
Author: Phoenix
Kate,

Fulham is a very nice and affluent area of London and London on the whole is a very cool place to live in or to visit.

Personally, I don''t have any experience with being or having an au pair or have friends that have had one. The only thing I''d suggest is that your daughter be extra careful when travelling around/ when she goes out late at night. I never used to take public transportation (esp the tube, ie subway) after 9pm. I certainly wouldn''t do things that you (ie. one) wouldn''t normally do at home, like walking across the park or walking down dark alleys or deserted areas late at night, particularly not on your own.

I''d watch out for pickpockets in crowded areas and again on the tube and on buses. I wouldn''t wear any flashy jewellery or carry designer handbags or having expensive gadgets like an iPhone out in public either. And if she were to ever (and I really sincerely hope that this would never ever happen to her) to be mugged or about to be mugged, I''d just give the muggers the material possessions rather than fight back and risk getting hurt. And most of all, should your daughter find herself in a place or situation where she feels uncomfortable (I place great reliance on intuition, or gut feeling and I think us women are really intuitive but sometimes we choose not to listen to our gut), then she should just run/ get the hell out!

She should be ok, but it never hurts to be extra vigilant. There are too many people who risk their personal safety by doing silly things, IMO. Not saying that your daughter is like that, but this is the advice that I give to everyone who goes to London, or who goes to any place that they''re not familiar with - for that matter.

Your daughter might also want to register with the US Embassy there just in case she needs assistance. And ditto the emergency money.

Phoenix - that sounds like sensible advice. I''ve lived in London all my life and I would give my daughter the same advice if she were visiting NY, Spain, LA etc.. I regularly travel on the tube but I prefer not to use it after 10pm but having said that I''ve never had a bad experience.

 

[katebar]

Thanks noelwr. Yes she is hoping to get another job or else daddy will drip feed her

Phoenix this is very helpful and sound advice. We her the same guidelines now but she has done silly things and she seems to think she is bullet proof. By the way we are from Australia but hear what you are saying re notifyong the embassy.
Thanks Londongirl1 I agree anywhere in the world we all need to be sensible and aware.

 

[Pandora II]

Fulham is a very nice area.

I travel on the Tube and buses at all times of the day and night and have never had a problem - and I''m often in the more dangerous areas of SE London.

I don''t know where you live in the USA, but London is as safe as any major city, as long as you don''t take stupid risks then you will be fine. I''ve been living here for over 6 years now and have NEVER had any problems at all.

 

[ursulawrite]

I lived in London for five years after leaving university, both in nice places and slightly rundown areas, and never had a problem (well, apart from being flashed on the Tube a couple of times

).

 

[janinegirly]

How old is your daughter? London is a great city. It's safe and easy to maneuver, people are friendly and polite/respectful. But it's like any city--there are pockets that aren't as nice as others and you have to have some street sense (as wel as common sense..dont go jumping in unmarked cabs, walk down dark alleys half drunk, etc etc). I'm sure your daughter will be fine, and she already has friends who will be there which is a head start.

I know Fulham, but got confused when you said suburb..plus I've never heard of it referred to as Gailey Fulham. In any case if it's the Fulham I"m picturing, that's a nice area--not the most central, but certainly close enough! I lived in SW London (which like someone pointed out is different from SE London) and loved it. I moved there at age 24 with not a friend (for work) and had a ball. But I was a city person to start so the "city" aspect was not an issue.

Assuming it's a nice family, I think she'll have a great time.

ETA saw that you said she's 18. I stilll think she's going to be just fine. I know it must be hard though!

 

[D2B]

As an Aussie who used to live in the UK and go regulary to London - she will be fine. As long as she applies the same logic and common sense as going out in any big city. so no going to doggy areas late at night, no being out drunk in strange areas, only coming home late in a registered taxi or with a group of friends, no flashing expensive things in less well of areas etc. there is extreme wealth in some parts of london and poverty in others, so if she wants to dress up, wear her jewellery etc she will be fine in the well off areas.

It really is a lovely city, the history, culture, nightlife, music, arts etc ..... she will have a ball. Just use normal common sense and all will be fine.



Oh, just realised ...doggy is an australian term, which is similiar to unsavoury, unsafe, strange, not sure if US PS are familiar with it

cheers
D2b

 

[Londongirl1]

Date: 11/3/2009 4:07:06 PM
Author: D2B
As an Aussie who used to live in the UK and go regulary to London - she will be fine. As long as she applies the same logic and common sense as going out in any big city. so no going to doggy areas late at night, no being out drunk in strange areas, only coming home late in a registered taxi or with a group of friends, no flashing expensive things in less well of areas etc. there is extreme wealth in some parts of london and poverty in others, so if she wants to dress up, wear her jewellery etc she will be fine in the well off areas.

It really is a lovely city, the history, culture, nightlife, music, arts etc ..... she will have a ball. Just use normal common sense and all will be fine.



Oh, just realised ...doggy is an australian term, which is similiar to unsavoury, unsafe, strange, not sure if US PS are familiar with it

cheers
D2b

Lol... I''ve heard of the term doggy but NOT how you describe it

In London we would say that an area is dodgy not doggy. This reminds me of when I told my American FI that I didn''t like ''washing up'' (meaning washing dishes) he looked horrified and told me that where he lives ''washing up'' means taking a shower -

 

[janinegirly]

I''ve heard dodgy used tons by Brits and Aussies but not doggy either...that was a new one for me!

 

[katebar]

Thanks Pandora. I know the Tube SHOULD be safe but she got assaulted on a bus going to the Vatican in June. So you never know but now she knows to move or shout!
Thanks ursulawrite. Gross tube stuff but see above for the things people think they can get away with.
janinegirly thanks for your hlpful info. The gailey fulham part was that i was answering Gailey''s question of what area or suburb was

D2B some great tips. The cab thing is a good one cos'' as you know we only have registered cabs here in Australia but we still have problems with assualts