**PLEASE READ! As amazing of an experience that this is AND as much as I would highly recommend taking full advantage of this opportunity to anyone even with an inkling of interest, PLEASE, proceed with caution. I wanted to preface this information by kindly reminding you of a very real reality that there are scams out there that can be VERY dangerous. Prior to letting your excitement get ahead of you and blindly moving across the world, be sure to do your thorough research, verify the forum you might use or the family you might be joining, etc. for your own safety. **

Now, for the fun part….

What I learned about being an Au Pair, that I wish I had known sooner!

What even is an Au Pair? Well, that really depends on the family and place that they’re located. In a general sense, this is a really fun opportunity to share cultures, see new parts of the world on a native level, travel relatively inexpensively and make new friends (and even family) with so many different amazing people. Au Pairs are great for families to introduce different cultures, languages and customs to their families and children. I would hope it’s a mutually beneficial relationship between family and Au Pair, but that really does depend on what each party is looking for the other to fulfill. Also, I’d like to make it known that families are looking for both male and female Au Pairs so there are opportunities for anyone to enjoy this experience without discriminiation.

Responsibilities for the Au Pair could involve a range of things including:

Childcare (how much or to what extent somewhat depends on the age of the children)
Housework/cleaning/chores
Language immersion in the form of formal lessons, help with homework, or conversation
Care of animals
Cooking
Additional adult presence in the house and/or big sister role

Families often provide various resources for their Au Pairs in the forms as follows:

Housing accomodations
Pocket money (depends and varies based on tasks you are responsible for and family)
Local insight and connection
Transportation
Weekends off to explore on your own or do what you please
An extended family!

It’s also a way for younger adults to:

Spend a gap year
Have a chance of deeper self-exploration and discovery
Meet new people from around the world

I was initially looking for a way to travel in a relatively inexpensive manner, while also being able to fully connect with the places and people that I would be visiting. Taking on responsibilities of caring for children in the sense of a nanny, was not necessarily something that I had at the forefront of my mind when looking for adventure, but it’s something that makes the experience worth it.

I had often heard mention of Au Pairs, but I really had no idea what all it entailed. So, after a few Google searches, I stumbled upon Au Pair World where I learned more about being an Au Pair and that I could take advantage of this opportunity simply by completing a profile. The parents on this platform pay a subscription fee in order to be able to view your profile and get in contact with you (via messaging on this website), and you (as the Au Pair) can select your preferences of where you’d like to go, duration of your stay, age of the kids, etc.

When looking for the right match for you, don’t stress too much about it. For yourself, know what responsibilities you are and are not willing to take on and keep them in mind when you are going through the potential family profiles. Sometimes, it can be discouraging when one family seems promising, but doesn’t respond to your messages, but that’s okay. There will be more families that can be a great match as well. Don’t give up, especially if this is something that you are really interested in doing.

Once both parties have expressed mutual interest, proceed with a video call using WhatsAPP. I highly recommend a video call so that you can see them, know their real people (& not catfishing you), possibly get a tour of their accommodations, and genuinely interact with them to sense their interactions with one another as well as whether you would mesh well with their family.

Some helpful questions for you, as an Au Pair, to consider/ask in your initial and proceeding conversations could include:

Have you had any Au Pairs previously, and could I have their contact info to talk to them about their experience with your family?
Is my preferred duration of stay align with your preferences? Would you be okay if I had to leave early due to an unexpected emergency?
Would you pick me up from the airport? Or would I have to take public transportation?
To what extent do you want me to be responsible for housework/teaching language/parenting?
What amount of pocket money are you considering giving in exchange for my responsibilities?
Do you have any pets?
Would I have my own room?
Would I have to purchase my own food?
How long/often would I be alone with the children? Do you work at home or commute daily? What hours during the day would you need me to be available to help?
Would you be flexible if sometimes I wanted longer weekends for travel?
How would I take the children to their perspective activities?
Would I be able to work from home, using your wifi, while the children are at school or participating in their own activities and I have no other immediate responsibilities? Does the home have wifi?
What do you recommend I do in regards to exchanging currency?
What is the weather like there?
Do you know of an Au Pair community there that I could potentially connect with?
Do you have a contract you’d like to sign to verify the working conditions?
What do you expect me to do when the children are sick?…when I’m sick?
Where are you located in relation to public transportation/the main city?

I know I was a bit at a loss of what to ask or what I really needed to know until almost right before I left to join my first family. But ironing out some of the questionable details can confirm that the family is legitimate, and give you (and your loved ones) some security.

Once you’re with your family, it might be helpful to spend some intentional time with the family (including weekends) to establish a connection with them and get things started on the right foot. That way, should something become an issue, hopefully you can feel comfortable discussing it with the family. Bring it to their attention and mention that it is not according to what you had previously discussed as expectations. Also, in investing meaningful time with the family, as well as meeting important people related to the family, you might be able to connect more personally with them, rather than having them feel dispensable or merely that you’re “using them” to travel.

Nonetheless, I am a HUGE fan and supporter of taking advantage of this opportunity...especially if you’re wanting to travel, to be fully immersed in the experience and make meaningful connections all over the world (not just with families, but also other Au Pairs in the area). PLEASE, just be safe and smart in pursuing so.

If you have any comments or something you’d like to add from your Au Pair (or international travel) experience, I’d love it if you shared it with me!

Here's the Low-Down: Au Pair, what?

What I learned about being an Au Pair, that I wish I had known sooner!

The Pro's + Con's of Becoming an Au Pair

Now What??