Living abroad as an au pair is an incredible experience, one that every young person should
have. Living in a new country with a new family can be challenging, but it is seriously rewarding.
Being an au pair abroad allows you to make friends from different backgrounds, try new food,
experience various cultures, open your world view, and ultimately have a once-in-a-lifetime kind
of experience.

Make Friends

Living in a new country gives you plenty of opportunities to meet new people and make new
friends. The first people you will likely meet on your au pair journey are the members of your
host family. It is important to remember to make an effort to get to know your host family,
because, after all, they have opened up their home to you. By creating a close bond with your
host family, you can have a connection that will last a lifetime.

Another perk of being an au pair, especially with Rome Abroad, is the network of au pairs you
are connected to once you sign up. Through the program, you will be able to meet countless
other young adults who are in the same situation as you. Talking with and meeting these other
au pairs is another fantastic way to make new friends, opening the door for you to create lasting
memories abroad.

Experience Another Culture

No matter what country you decide to travel to, there will always be different cultural aspects for
you to explore. Language can obviously provide a big culture shock, but it can give you cultural
insight as well. Even if you don’t become fluent in a new language, picking up a few words here
and there can go a long way in immersing yourself in the culture and giving you a more
authentic experience.

Food is another large part of almost every culture. Trying new food is always an adventure, but
even more so in another country, whether you are at your host family’s home or at a restaurant.
Wherever you travel, you are sure to find food that is delicious, authentic, and hard to find
elsewhere.

Art and architecture are also important aspects of a country’s culture. Most countries have art
and architecture that they are proud of, and that they feel represents who they are as a whole.
By allowing yourself time to truly appreciate the art and architecture abroad, you will be able to
really soak in the culture and have an amazing time in the country you are visiting.

Open Your World View

Through travel, you are able to expand your worldview and gain greater empathy and
understanding for those around you. In the words of Mark Twain, “Travel is fatal to prejudice,
bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.
Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one
little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” Ultimately, through going abroad, you are able to
recognize that there are many different ways of living, and that beauty can be found in each of
these ways of life.

Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience

No matter where you decide to go, living abroad as an au pair is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime
experience. Rome Abroad helped make this dream a reality for me, and can do the same for
countless others. Because of the ease and affordability of the Rome Abroad programs, this
once-in-a-lifetime experience is accessible for so many young adults out there.

Undoubtedly, living abroad as an au pair is an experience that you will talk about with friends
and family for years to come. Not only will you be able to make new friends, experience culture,
and open your world view, you will also have incredible memories that you will be able to look
back on fondly for the rest of your life.

 

This post is by Karlie, one of our Traveler graduates. She lived in Italy during the summer of 2022.