With 3 months away from moving back to the States I started reflexing back to my two years in Paris. My au pair experience has been one of the best. I 100% recommend it to anyone looking for a little adventure.
1) Young, Wild & Broke.
I remember it clearly. I was working two good jobs. I had a booming social life. I had a degree waiting to be used. But yet I wasn't happy. I felt trap, bored, and honestly disappointed with my choices that brought me to where I was at that point.
May 2017, I had college debt and was BROKE AS HELL. These were the same reason why I didn't think or even try to move to France before. After research, being an au pair was the only plausible solution for me to make this move. I would work for a family for maximum 30 hours a week while they would pay for my housing, food, transportation, and health insurance.
It is a great exchange and I barely pay to stay in the country. It is a great solution for anyone trying to get away a couple of years and try something new but doesn't have the financial means to support themselves.
2) Bitten by the Travel Bug
I started traveling my junior year of college, and I have never been the same since. Traveling as a tourist and living as a local is so distinct. I visited Paris three times before moving, Paris was as great as ever; but living here.... I can't even express how amazing Paris really is.
I have the time to get lost through the Parisian streets and stumble upon little cafes with fresh pastries. I picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower without a time limit. I watch the sunset melt into the seine until all I see are stars.
One of the greatest treasures of living in Europe, is the easy access to transportation to get anywhere within your budget. You can take a bus, train, plane, or car for a good price and not nearly as high as the States. Weekend Getaways are so in.
3) Finding yourself
Some of us are born, raise and live in the same place our whole lives; We live only one version of ourselves I liked my town but I hated the version of myself that I was living at that moment. Having a chance to move somewhere was the desperate fresh breath of air that I needed.
With this job, you have moved to a new country, you have to step out of your comfort zone. You left your family and friends, your usual spots and habits. When you face unknown situations, different sides of you will come out in order to be able to face it. Maybe sides and qualities you didn't know you had before. It's never too late to find the real you. I found myself, a more independent, stronger, more confident version.
4) New language and culture
Getting used to French was very frustrating. I felt so stupid not being able to order my lunch or saying "Pardon?" too many times when someone was speaking to me.
Slowly but surely I caught on. I was surrounded by the language: conversations, signs, menus, all in French. Two years living in Paris, I can understand 95% of conversations and I can order a lunch in french with substituions while flirting with the waiter.
I live, breath, eat Parisian. I walk around my neighborhood with my empty black Longchamp ready to fill it with in-season produce, minutes-made baguettes, and of course, cheese. The best feeling is knowing where I can find the best baguette in my area.
These are a few of the perks from fully immersing yourself, there is a whole new world to discover.
5) The Family
Your host family is your job but if you are lucky enough like me and form a close connection with your family, it won't feel like a job at the end of the day. You will be part of that family.
I absoluletly love my host family. There are 3 kids ages 10, 15, and 18. I spend most of my time with the 10 year old. He is literally what I want as a son. He is polite, funny, sarcastic as hell and has an equal love for Harry Potter as I do. He does have his moment which isn't a surprise as he is still a kid but those are super rare and over in a blink of an eye. His english is close to perfect, so this lets us have lots of heart to hearts, and made our bond strong.
Thanks to them I found my joy of cooking. Every Wednesday I look up new recipes and cook a huge feast. Last year I made their first grand Thanksgiving dinner ( My first as well, as I have never cooked a turkey nor cooked a Thanksgiving meal in my life). I love it as much as the love eating it. My host mom loves cooking as well, so these dinners are very special for all of us to share together.
6) The Perks
As an American au pair living in Paris you need to get a Visa, specifically a student visa. And yes, you are required to take up 10 hour of French classes. There are classes specifially for au pairs and it's only twice a week, phew.
When you enroll in classes, they give you a student ID. This ID is your little magic card that will help you unlock doors of free entries and discount prices at museums, monuments, cinemas and theaters, and special events...the list could keep going.
Also your school could offer a lot of discounted activities like mine does at France Langue. They give you a discount on Disney Paris tickets and even offer trips at bargain prices.
The "I'm broke" excuse won't fly over here, mesdames et messieurs.
7) Friendships
You are bound to meet people along your au pair journey. Some you carefully curated a life long friendship, while others you meet spur of the moment, have a great time and never see again. Either way it's fun and memorable.
I've found friends from all over the world, who equally love to travel as much as love they grabbing a drink after work. We go to events, visit museums even go on trips together. I met people who taught me things, people made me think in different ways, people who I have shared drinks and memorable laughs with. Some exchanged contacts with me and we keep up with each other lives. Others we say our final goodbyes before becoming strangers again as if we never met.
These are moments that have shaped me, moments that were only set in motions by taking a chance on new opportunities.
8) Re-inventing yourself
You could always re-invent yourself. You can become who you always wanted or runaway from the person you don't want to be. It's a clean slate.
There is no pressure keeping up with others, or maintaining an image or status. Moving to a new place means you are the mystery. No one knows your past, what you are capable of doing, or anything about your dreams. You have a chance of becoming the person you always wanted to be and find new people who appreciate this new person without using the old person against you.
9) The Bridge between cross roads
I am not planning to live the rest of my life working with kids or accept just any job to pay the bills. I want, NEED, a career I am proud of. I wanted to explore my creative art side before I committed to a job in the criminal justice field. Paris was the perfect place to do just that. As an au pair, I have a lot of extra time. This allows me to explore my interests, take seminars, discover what other possibilities are out there for me.
Since I get to see the French life up close and personal, I understand what job are available to me and what I could offer to potential jobs. This is something I couldn't have found out on my own in the States.
I made the realization that the job I now want requires me to go back to the states, not sure for how long but I know now how to come back to Paris and this time with a career of a life time.
10) The best F**king time you will have.
This earth is gigantic with so many different and unique countries, with languages you can't even translate without losing its real meaning, filled with people with quirks and never before seen talents. Having the opportunity to understand and educate yourself more, makes this world a little smaller and a little less scary.
If you have the guts, or even if you don't, hold your breath and jump. You will discover new things to love, you will see things in a different perspective, you will have a different understanding of life.
There is no need to bring out the big bills, or take out loans to get an experience of a life time. A simple job as an au pair will take you on a whirlwind of adventures.
Makes me want to be an au pair now :)