Why I Decided to Become an Au Pair

If someone had asked me what I enjoyed doing, my answer would have been reading, writing, and traveling. Reading and writing were part of my daily routine, but traveling was more challenging because working a low-paying contract job did not allow much room for travel, especially long-distance.

I remembered that on our family vacations, my parents always elected to drive everywhere, even if it meant going cross-country from Lexington, KY, to the Grand Canyon. Even though many of these road trips were long, I enjoyed them. It was a good time to pop on my headphones and stare out the window for 5+ hours. I did not have to think about anything except to enjoy the scenery whizzing past me. I did not only enjoy the journey but also the destination. Whether at the beach, in a remote cabin in the woods, or in the city, I enjoyed each trip.

With my contract ending soon, I was anxious about what would come next. My sister half-jokingly suggested becoming an au pair. At first, I had no idea what an au pair was, so I put the idea on the back burner of my mind and continued searching for jobs in my field. But when I continued to hit dead ends in my job search, I started researching the au pair option out of curiosity. I discovered that being an au pair was essentially a cultural exchange where you provided child care while also living with a host family. The idea intrigued me, so I created an account with an agency to explore it further.

The next question was where to go. I had always been interested in European history, and visiting as many European countries as possible had been on my bucket list. Another plus about most European countries was that a lot of people spoke some English, so communication would be simpler. Besides, if I went to an EU country, visiting more countries would be easier. However, I did not have many connections in Europe, and in my research on au pairing, I figured it would make my experience better to have an acquaintance just in case something happened with the host family.

Then, I considered Australia. Although it was even further from home than Europe, Australia appealed to me for several reasons: they spoke English, my brother-in-law had family there, and it would give me the opportunity to visit other countries during holidays or on my way back home. So, I began matching with several Australian families and considered cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth. However, one family in Canberra stood out. They had two children, shared my religious beliefs, and the city itself wasn’t touristy like Sydney or Melbourne—quiet, but big enough for me to experience the culture. After several video chat interviews, including one with their current au pair, I decided to join them, and I couldn’t have been more excited.

I am scheduled to arrive in Canberra, Australia, on October 10th. It is so close, yet so far away. I had begun planning what to do when I get there—things I could do alone, and things I could do with the kids. I made a list of American snacks to bring for the kids to try, and my brother-in-law had given me a list of foods I need to try. With my visa, passport, and plane tickets ready, I am both nervous and excited for the adventure ahead.