Dear Host family, My name is Dominique and I am 26 years old. I was born and raised in Johannesburg. Johannesburg is also known as the city of gold. I grew up in a large family. I was adopted when I was 3 years old. My adopted mother has five children of her own and she adopted another 14 children. She provided a safe place for abandoned babies and therefore I grew up caring for many siblings from new born age. We also had a foster child who had cerebral palsy, several with dyslexia and other learning disabilities, and an adopted cousin who is deaf. I also used to work in a daycare centre called Mimosa where I cared for children between the ages of 1 year to 6 years. My duties included changing diapers, playing learning activities, doing arts & crafts, dressing, assisting the children with potty training and putting them down for a nap. I have been a local nanny for a 3 year old boy. My duties with him included preparing meals, feeding, doing the dishes, washing, and folding his laundry, doing arts & crafts, playing learning activities, tidying his room, playing sports outside, handling toddler tantrums, changing his diapers, putting him down for a nap, bathing and assisting him with dressing himself. I am currently a babysitter for 2 boys, they were 5 & 8 years old when I started caring for them. My duties included swimming, doing arts & crafts, playing learning activities, driving, tidying their rooms, assisting with the bathroom routine, and assisting them in dressing themselves. I really enjoy working with children as I am enthusiastic and full of energy which I think helps when working with young children. I am keen to learn new things and to improve my skills. I am patient with children and happy to work with special needs children. I always try to prepare fun activities for children including outdoor activities and games. I have a fun and positive attitude towards life and I enjoy being with people of all ages. I enjoy sport and I have joined a running club. I play basketball with other people in the local park. I also enjoy swimming, hiking and I have also played touch rugby, netball and volleyball. I am interested in fashion and occasionally model clothes for a designer friend of mine. I have also given her the odd fashion suggestion which she has then added to her portfolio. I would really like to travel and work as an au pair in Europe. I have not travelled outside of South Africa except once when I was very young when I travelled to Europe on a fundraising trip with my mother. I would love to experience and meet new people and experience new things. I would love to become your next au pair because I have always been passionate about children. Ever since I was little, my first career choice has been to become a teacher and working as an au pair will give me that opportunity to look after children, gain more childcare experience and see new places. I will try my best to keep you as my host family happy, I would respect your boundaries and always keep the communication open. I am looking forward to hearing from you. Kind regards Dominique