But in reality the two are actually quite different. A nanny is a full-time childcare provider who usually has extensive experience/and or training as such. Nannies are typically the same nationality as their employers, so they are hired as normal employees and thus don’t require work visas and paperwork that au pairs need. A nanny may have a live-in or live-out situation with the family they work for.  Nannies also make more money than au pairs and may work longer hours, depending on the work agreement.

Au pairs, on the other hand, are not necessarily trained professionals and do not have to have any experience working with children, although it is definitely a plus. The emphasis, however, is on cultural exchange. Families who hire au pairs often do so to introduce their children to a different language and culture. Au pairs usually live with their host family, but may also live on their own, as some host families offer separate living accommodations for their au pairs.The pay is also less for an au pair than for a nanny, but au pairs typically work less than nannies and are actually not technically considered employees. Au pairs also receive ‘extras’ that don’t come with a nanny job, such as language courses, help with transportation expenses, and room and board (which is not always included with nanny gigs).

So now we have it. Au pairs are not nannies and nannies are not au pairs. But if you’re an au pair – or have been or will be – you might find it easier to call yourself a nanny every now and then…

This may also be good for Americans wanting to go overseas as au pairs. The current worldwide economic climate will likely cause more families to have to work longer hours or take on additional jobs to get by financially. While this is not something to rejoice in, it does expand the demand for childcare – which is where au pairs come in. Hiring an au pair is often a better and more affordable option for families looking for full-time childcare, especially families with more than one or two children.

So while the rest of the world moans and groans about recession, you can take this opportunity to go abroad for a year, experiencing a new country and culture. Another thought – au pair “pocket money” is not exactly big bucks, so you will hardly notice the economic crunch. And ignorance is bliss, right?

The sum total of all of this can leave you overtaxed, both physically and emotionally. To keep this from happening, make sure you get time to relax and recharge. Make sure you schedule in time to take it easy. And although parties with friends are oh-so-much-fun during the holidays, try not to overdo it. Have fun, but keep in mind that after Christmas, there will still be children to look after and chores to get done!

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 reasons to considering being an au pair, and only five reasons why you shouldn’t, doesn’t it make sense to at least think about trying your hand at the au pair job? I’d say so!

In addition to these implied benefits, there are also concrete perks that come with the job. You are likely to end up meeting interesting people, seeing and doing things you wouldn’t otherwise have experienced. For example, my host family were helicopter enthusiasts – and pilots, both of them, which means we took more than one “heli” ride during my stay. While this became old news to me, a few years later on a visit, my husband was thrilled to get a tour of the Stuttgart region via helicopter, with is own personal pilot, my former employer.

My host family also loved to eat out and often dined in pricey places, and I was almost always invited to join them. Granted, usually that meant helping with children some, but getting to eat food that was no where near my price range was a pretty nice treat, and they enjoyed introducing me to their favorite places and foods. We also traveled frequently, and while we went to good places, I know au pairs who were able to spend weeks at a time in Italy or on the coast of France. Come on – even if you’re on the clock, how bad can it be when soaking up the Mediterranean sun?

So despite the hard work involved (if there is any hard work – some jobs are more like part-time babysitting), there are countless perks. If you find a family who treats you like one of their own, you will probably end up having a great time, seeing and doing things you wouldn’t otherwise get to.

But what if you aren’t sure about a whole year and want to stay less? This is possible too, it might just be a bit more difficult. Families put a lot of time and money into hiring an au pair, and they usually want to get as much as possible out of their investment. That said, there are families out there who need au pairs for shorter periods of time. These arrangements are often in the summer when families on extended vacations need someone to look after the children. This works out well for college students or anyone else who wants go overseas for the summer or for winter break. It’s also perfect for people wanting to try out au pair work without the lengthy commitment.

Families are constantly looking for reliable childcare for various lengths of time, so remember that if the one year commitment is too much, there are other ways. It just may take a bit longer and a little more effort to find your custom-fit job, but the high demand for au pairs makes it likely that you’ll find what you’re looking for.

But don’t let the idea of hard work and life with strangers scare you away. Working as an au pair can be very rewarding – besides the practical knowledge you gain, you may end up with a second family somewhere else in the world, and friendships that might end up lasting a lifetime. How many jobs offer these perks?

Since professional qualifications aren’t required for au pair positions, it’s fairly simple to find a job. Most families like au pairs to have at least some experience with children, but for most, attitude and trustworthiness are more important than years of experience with kids. If you are someone who is willing to work with a good attitude, is honest, and is open to new things (because in new surroundings almost everything will be new to some extent), you are probably a good candidate. One more thing – liking children helps, but is not a requirement. You don’t have to be the most kid-friendly person around, but you do need to be able to get along well with children, at least for a few hours a day.

Most au pairs work abroad to experience life in another country without the cost and responsibility of full-time work or living expenses. Many are looking to take a break in between high school and college, or between college and starting a career. Some work as au pairs to become fluent in their target country’s language, while others are there simply to play for a year or so before having to return to “the real world”. Some (like me) take on the au pair title to do a little of all of those things.

For any young person short on funds but big on adventure, working as an au pair is the perfect way to see some of the world. At the most, your investment will be a plane ticket and (hopefully) some money to keep on hand, and some au pairs are lucky enough to find families who will foot the bill for their flights. While there can be quite a lot of work involved, there is also plenty of play, and the au pair experience can be one of a kind, impacting you for life. Au pairs have the opportunity to move beyond the tourist version of travel to see and taste a country as a local.