To Be An Au Pair

I've created this blog because I am going to Spain to be an Au Pair...

I have to pause a second to let that sentence sink in. This past summer was amazing. In May I ended my first and only real relationship after a year and a half. I had just graduated from college and I had made very limited plans for myself.

A wise woman (my mom), reminded me that I had wanted to travel and have adventures after college. With this in mind I spend my summer thinking about myself and my future.

Where do I want to live?
What do I want in a relationship?
What sort of work do I want to do?
Who is important to me?
What can I do to ensure my own happiness?

With all these questions rolling around in my head all summer it's a wonder I got any work done! But I did manage to work and save money. I also spent a lot of time reconnecting with old friends.

One friend told me about a volunteer organization called Jesuit Volunteer Corps. I checked it out, prayed about it, and decided it was just the sort of thing I wanted to do!

But wait, I finish student teaching in Dec of 2007 and JVC doesn't start until Aug of 2008. What will I do for seven months? Ah Ha! I'll move to Spain!

As random as it sounds the decision actually makes a great deal of sense.
1. I am going as an Au Pair (nanny... sort of). I have over two years of valuable child care experience with several families and an education degree.
2. I took Spanish in high school. And while you may think that doesn't seem like much, you're right, it's not! But at least it is something.
3. While in JVC I will primarily serve lower income communities, many of which may have a need for a teacher who knows some Spanish. And even though I don't know much Spanish now, I will in a year from now.
4. This is the opportunity of a life time. I have no boyfriend, no career, no car payment, and no lease. This is the time to go. While I have no strings attached!

So I posted a profile on an Au Pair website and waited the families to come to me. And they did! Much faster then I thought they would have. I had a bunch of interested families. The more I talked to them, the more I was able to deteremine what exactly I was looking for in a family and city.

I decided on Madrid. It is centrally located in Spain, which means it will be easy for me to get to other parts of the country for weekend trips. Madrid is also a HUGE city. There will be plenty of English speakers around to keep me from getting too lost and plenty of young college students to hang out with.

Today I chose the family I want to live with. They seem very nice. Both the parents are doctors and they have one daughter who is seven years old. I hope to hear back from them soon, so I can start choosing a date. I am ready for the countdown to begin.

Right now I will tentitively leave in four months.

Just four short months. Time flies when I'm teaching, so I am sure January will be here before I know it. Spain! I'm moving to Spain.

How amazing is that?