Au Pairs

If you want to learn about becoming an au pair you will have many places to do so but online is a good source. What is an au pair and would it be a job you would be interested in? If you love children and seek to learn about life in different cultures, then becoming an au pair may be something you want to research.  A definition of an au pair is a foreign national domestic assistant, and you would be working for and living with a host family. Young women or girls are typically au pairs and you will become part of the host family for the duration of your stay. You will share the responsibility of raising the children and assume some of the housework. There is usually a small allowance for your personal expenses.  Au Pair comes from the French term meaning “on a par” or “equal to” which is why you would become a part of the household, not just an employee.
The benefits to an au pair would be learning the different aspects of each others life styles and cultures. Normally an au pair would be between the ages of seventeen and thirty years of age and unmarried. This varies in the United States where the age is eighteen to twenty six years of age. The term for your arrangement is up to two years in a foreign country. You usually have a set number of hours to work and you will get a full day off and sometimes two full days. You will have your own room just like any member of the family and an allowance for your personal needs. The Council of Europe strongly suggests that you have a standard contract with the family to whom you will be the au pair.
If you are interested in becoming an au pair you can expect to be an equal part of the family and you can enjoy your own private time. Many host families like to have this time as well, usually after the evening meal. You should be involved in some of the family outings and even vacations. You will want to make sure you have a solid understanding that you are not a servant but a member of the host family, to ensure an enjoyable experience for both host family and au pair.
You may find that the country in which you are working has limits as to how many hours an au pair may work. You will want to discuss with the host family just what type of things they will require from you. Most of your responsibilities will be taking care of the children, taking them to or from school and many of their activities after school. You may find babysitting for an evening is also something that is expected of you. The main expenses that an au pair has will be paid for by the host family. This is a wonderful chance for a young woman to have a fascinating look at the world and its many different cultures.