One of the best ways to explore the incredible city of Barcelona and be paid at the same time is to be an au pair. It’s a great way to get to know a new culture, pick up a different language, travel, and meet new people. If you like children and have the desire to try something new, being an au pair could be the perfect job for you!
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Who can be an au pair?
Photo credit: Ed Yourdon via Visual hunt / CC BY-NC-SA
Being an au pair is an unforgettable experience that will allow you to live in Barcelona with your expenses paid and earn some extra money as well. But who can be an au pair? As outlined on Aupair-village.com, a website that helps to partner prospective au pairs with host families, there are a few requirements to fulfill the position. To be an au pair you must be between 18-30 years old, unmarried, without children, and ideally have experience with kids. You must also be in good health and not have a criminal record, all au pair companies will ask you for documentation to support this. You must have graduated from high school. Some au pair programs will ask that you have a college degree as well. Once you can provide all the mentioned documentation you will be set up with a host family with whom you will live for the duration of your job.
The job
Being an au pair is a job unlike any other. You will have the opportunity to work and live with a host family, which will give you the chance to get an inside look into the Spanish way of life. You can expect to work about 30-35 hours a week taking care of the children; the rest of the time is yours. Your room and board are provided for by the host family and you can also expect to earn about 50-70 euros in spending money each week. Au pairs in Spain are guaranteed by their contracts to have at least one day off a week, but you can negotiate your hours and schedule with your family to suit both of your needs. Most au pairs use their free time to attend language academies to brush up on Spanish or learn Catalan. The easiest way to become an au pair is to apply through an agency, like Aupair.com or Bestaupairbarcelona.com, that will tell you the specific rules and qualities they are looking for in their candidates.
Life as an au pair
Photo credit: Ed Yourdon via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-SA
Most au pairs take on the job as a way to study in a new place or to travel and keep costs low at the same time. As an au pair, you will probably be expected to take part in family meals and maybe some activities. In your free time, you can explore the city of Barcelona and see the sights, go to the beach, and enjoy life at the leisurely Spanish pace. Most importantly, you will have the opportunity to try new things, such as flamenco lessons, Spanish cooking classes, or simply meeting young people from all over the globe. However you end up spending your time, you are sure to leave your au pair job with memories for a lifetime.
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