Considering Working Abroad?
My friend Wendy is about to move to Paris. She’ll get to enjoy the best the City of Light has to offer – the outdoor cafes, the Eiffel Tower, banana and nutella crepes . . . and did I mention that she’ll be taking French classes and getting paid for it? If you like kids, are interested in learning French, and want to live abroad, becoming an au pair may just kill three birds with one stone.
How the Au Pair process works:
If you’re between the ages of 17 and 30, you can live with a French family for one year in exchange for helping out around the house. They’ll feed you wonderful French food, give you a private room to crash in, and even some euros to spend in all those fancy French cafes. All you have to do is help them out with the household (mainly watching the kids before and after school, possibly some light housework, basically anything you’d be doing if you’re living at home anyways) and take courses in French (which will immensely improve the quality of your stay).
Benefits of being an Au Pair:
You’ll have the opportunity to learn a second language (or fine-tune your French skills if you already have them) and live in a foreign country. Because you’ll be living with a family, you’ll probably see more and learn more about the country than the average tourist who never makes it past Notre Dame. In addition to the cultural benefits, this is a great way to build your resume if you’re right out of school. The experience is an added bonus for anyone who’s looking to work with children down the road.
For more information on becoming an au pair and getting your visa, visit http://www.ufaap.org/.
Additional countries that offer au pair opportunities include Austria, Canada, Finland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. Like the French model, most countries will require you to get a visa and study the local language during your stay. However, please note that the visa/age/height/weight requirements (ok, maybe not the last two) may be slightly different for each nation.
