Many people use the terms ‘au pair’ and ‘nanny’ interchangeably, although the two are not one in the same. And yes, I myself am guilty of it, even though it is incorrect. But saying that I worked as a ‘nanny’ in Europe is sometimes just easier than having to explain what an au pair is [...]
In the US, more families than ever are hiring au pairs. This is likely due to the fact that families with two parents working are now more common than ever before, according to recent census information. This is good news to young women (and men) who want to get a taste of life in the [...]
Continue reading about why 2009 is a great year to be an au pair
The holidays are likely to make the days crazier than they usually are as an au pair. Being responsible to help out an entire family, in some way or another, can be tiring. Depending on your host family’s level of activity, you’re likely to have some – or maybe a lot – of extra work. [...]
Continue reading about it’s christmas – take time to enjoy yourself
5. You don’t like hard work.
4. The thought of living in another country does nothing for you.
3. An entirely new place – country, people, culture, way of life – scares you senseless.
2. Living with in close quarters with another family would make you crazy.
1. You absolutely can’t tolerate children.
Now see, since we have ten good [...]
Continue reading about top five reasons not to be an au pair
While the drawbacks might scare you away from au pair work, keep in mind that for every disadvantage are advantages. The greatest benefit to working as an au pair is that you really do get to experience a new country and culture in a way ordinary tourists can not. You see the ins and outs, [...]
The average au pair contract is for one year. If everything goes well and you love the family too much to leave, you will likely be able to stay longer. Of course, if you’ve had your fill of the au pair life and are ready to head out, once you’ve fulfilled your contract, you are [...]
Working as an au pair might sound a little better than it actually is. As you know, everything in French usually does. While it is a great way to live in another country inexpensively, it isn’t for everyone. There can be a lot of hard work involved, and living in sometimes close quarters with another [...]
An au pair is a girl (or guy) who lives with and works for a family, usually in a foreign country. The primary task of an au pair is to take care of the family’s child or children, but some housework is also usually involved. In exchange for an au pair’s work, a host family [...]
