Working as Au pair

 

 

We all need time for ourselves, time to move away from the routine paths, to move from home. We have our own way and wants and some need more and some less time… the distances are long or almost none. I think you need to see as many things as possible while still young, broaden your views and be in new situations where you can learn new things. And that's what you can get from traveling. 

 

While still studying I decided to change the setting for a while, to get some new ideas in my head and better prepare for the future. I had some second thought first, but looking back, I wouldn’t change a single thing. A year of adventures of all kinds, working abroad, fun, many new things I still think about, when I reflect too much…

 

 

Destination: Germany. Work: Au pair – a babysitter in a way. I spent 7 months with my “new family” and their four children. I tested myself in many new things and got a different view of the world, but especially learned to respect other people, the ones I can trust, even more.

 

Finding a family is really important as nobody wants to be among people who have a completely different way of life – and that takes time! It took me personally a few months to find the family I was with. The thing was, I started with a narrow choices of countries where I’d go to and then I broadened it. You can decide upon the country you want to go to, the language spoken, the age of children or how far it is from your home. There are many online sites to help you with it, by allowing you a look into the wide base, where you can always find somebody that fits your expectations (at least at the first glance). You can register at several sites. Some are for free, while other demand payment. It might be better to choose a paid site, as there’s always somebody available to assist you during your stay abroad. They also only offer families that have been checked and the administrators can also help you find the right match or a substitute family if something goes wrong. I chose the riskier option, but sometimes you just need to trust your luck and hope for the best. This is where the support of your family comes in… and enough money on your account that you can return home or finance your stay abroad until you can find a different job there, if something goes wrong with the family you’re staying with. It’s always good to get in touch with the “right” family you’ve found online. Skype them or contact them in any other way, to exchange your expectations and wishes and get to know each other better. Emailing can be too unrealistic and the actual person on the other side of the line is probably somewhat different than what you’ve pictured back home. It’s important to get an understanding about how many hours a week you’ll work and what that work includes… and naturally what your pay will be. If you’re happy with the arrangement it’s time to hit the road! 

 

 

My work was not hard, and you get used to occasional yelling and crying of children who protest with not grounds. Easy house choirs, walks to the school, kindergarten, running with dogs, making lunches, spending time playing and learning. And it allowed me to make friends I’m still in touch with, looking for days online, when we could set up meetings in real life.

 

With the thirst for knowledge you can quickly make a great leap to learn a new language in short time, and gain other skills along the way you might not even know off until you return home and others notice them. And you’ll have time to explore the new surroundings, have trips to nearby towns and get to know new things and have fun!