FAQ

Hello All! I created this blog mainly to keep those who care about me or at least find me vaguely interesting updated on my adventures in the post-college world. As many of you have heard I am currently in the process of becoming an au pair. I am currently committed to a family in Zafra, Spain, a small town close to the border of Portugal. I will be writing about my travel plans and other fun facts that I have found in my google searches, as well as providing information from the emails from the family.

I have been asked many questions about the general process of becoming an au pair and wanted to answer some of those.

*How did you find out about this?
I was searching the internet for interesting things to do once I graduate. I wanted to find a situation where I could go abroad and get paid to travel. After many Google searches I landed at a site for gap year students. For all those who don't know, kids in Australia and possibly other countries are encouraged to take a year off after high school after they commit to a college. They get to go travel or work while having the security acceptance to a school. This site helped me search many options and I thought that this would be an ideal situation.

*Why au pair?
As I said I wanted to get paid to travel. I did not go abroad for a school semester for many reasons and really wanted to have an opportunity to live abroad and experience another culture. It will be great if I choose to continue in schol as an anthropologist, as well as be a great overall experience. As an au pair you live in another country and you get enough time off to explore and travel while still being paid. You are provided with food and board as well as a small pay (almost as an allowance, as ideally you are to become part of the family).

*How do you find a family?
There are many ways to find a family. The process has been made much easier because of the internet. There are thousands of au pair and nanny "agencies" on the web, but it is important to make sure it is not some sort of scam. I used Almondbury Au Pair agency (link to the right). They are a free agency that is easy to apply to and easy to search and they also have good support and are on top of the family and au pair profiles.

*What are your duties as an au pair?
As I understand it differs from family to family, but au pairs work 5 days a week, as well as up to three nights of babysitting. You are also expected to do light housework and possibly light cooking.

*Why Spain?
I chose Spain because I know some Sanish and would really like to be able to speak the language better. It is an asset to have when applying for jobs in the United States. It also shows I have a capacity for language, a plus as an anthropologist. Also, I just think Spain is cool.

I will write more about the family I have chosen and answer more questions later.

Laters!
Jenn