In 1970ish, I went to New York for 6 months to look after 3 children. I was met at JFK by the mother and youngest daughter aged 4. I spent the whole of the journey to their apartment trying to understand them and thinking "Oh My God, this is just as hard as it had been when I worked with a family in Germany - I don't unerstand a thing".
The parents went off sailing to Antigua after 2 days and would not be in contact so I had to get on with it (is that an expression you have too?). We had fun and games making ourselves understood and they laughed at the usual "Stay on the pavement/sidewalk" etc. I had a problem with them not understanding fortnight/two weeks and twice/two times along with a lot of other expressions which we as au-pairs had to learn in order to be understood.

Of course, when we got home, our Mum's wondered why we kept needing a bath and why we said two times instead of just twice.