Cheapen Your Travels: Au Pair Abroad
February 18, 2010 | Lizelle Jackson
It goes without saying that babysitting kids all day is not necessarily the most exciting way to visit another country, but for those cash-strapped students out there, it could be a ticket to see the world. After all, you would be getting paid. Granted, we’re not talking pockets full of cash, but considering your room and board is taken care of, those pennies earned can stack up quite nicely to form a fairly hefty travel fund.
While in the U.S. hiring an au pair tends to be reserved for the more wealthy families in big cities, in Europe it is quite commonplace, even taking place in small villages. That means there are plenty of jobs out there for those willing to take the leap. Oh and boys, while it is an occupation that is primarily ruled by women, there are still plenty of families out there that are more than willing to hire a manny.
A job as an au pair is not just looked upon solely as a childcare/housekeeping position. In fact, most people regard it as more of a cultural exchange program; meaning you tend to be paired up with families that are ready and willing to give you the best overseas experience possible.
Need some more reasons to give au pair-ing a try? Many countries require that an au pair take language lessons while working abroad and more often than not, it is something that is paid for by the host family. So you can check off learning a new language from your bucket list. Travel? Just like any normal job there will be vacation days, so keep those bags packed, as you will surely find time to explore.
Au pair contracts vary from country to country in regards to monthly/weekly stipend, airfare, language lessons and free time; however, nearly all contracts will include room and board. There are also many countries that have specific visa requirements when it comes to au pairs so it is very important to understand the rules, you can get a good idea of what they are here.
Below are a couple sites to help with your au pair search:
International Au Pair Association
So….”Au Pair Jackson” in your future?!