Steal away with Steele

Getting paid to travel is a dream for restless hearts everywhere. A natural assumption is to become a travel blogger or photographer. If you don’t enjoy writing or can’t take a decent picture, that probably isn’t an option. Being an au pair is one option to be paid to travel.
An au pair is a young person who takes care of the children and can potentially help with the housework for a family in a foreign country. Au pairing abroad is a unique way to visit a new area and live like a local. Gallivanting abroad to au pair may seem unachievable. I am able to personally tell you that yes, it is possible.
Finding a family to live with abroad is made easier by using verified and approved websites. My search vehicle for a family was aupairwold.com. This website is user friendly and is free for the potential au pairs. On the website you are able to specify what countries you are interested to au pair in.
Aupairworld.com reviews families to make sure their profiles are not fake or dangerous. You do not need to be fluent in another language either. Many families want people who speak English to help their children improve their English.
When creating your profile, it is important to be honest. For example, if you’re not fond of working with extremely young children make sure to specify that. Being honest with your comfortable levels helps to ensure finding your perfect fit. Before you Skype with the family compose a list of question such as what the living accommodations will be and what your expected tasks will be. This will give you a better sense of the situation thus lessening pre-adventure jitters.
One of the most exciting feelings is when you first meet your family at the airport. Seeing the girls I au paired for in Spain eagerly waiting holding signs with my name on them was an experience I will not forget. Make sure to have all of your travel plans lined up and verified with the family before you leave the United States. A working phone or access to Wi-Fi might not be available when you first land.
A major benefit to being an au pair is free room and board plus you’re getting paid to live in a new part of the world. It is important to make yourself go out and meet new people to feel more a part of the community as well as battle potential homesickness. Taking weekend excursions enables you to explore more of the world. Spending time with your host family is also paramount to fully experiencing your new epic journey.
The key to becoming an au pair is being willing to try new adventures. It is quite common for people staying abroad to become nationalistic toward their home country. Face the new experience head on because you’ll never know what can be waiting around the corner.
May adventure make you soar to new heights!