Living and Working as an Au Pair in France

As my contract ends, it's important to reflect on this past year.

It began last summer 2013. I made a somewhat last minute decision to venture to Paris, France - mainly to escape the realities of being a struggling actor, but also to cure my internal 'travel bug'. I went online and set up an Au Pair profile. Not the smartest choice, since you are "playing the lottery" as some say, but also the fastest route to settle employment and accommodation.

Out of all the websites, I chose a fairly respectable one through an experienced friend. After three Skype interviews, I found a match. Considering I was an ignorant twenty-three year old rushing to leave Canada, you should always plan around five to ten interviews. This was where I learned a valuable lesson. My French was basic, as in grade nine high school basic. However, this didn't affect my final decision, as the family offered to enrol me in French classes (along with an impressive reconciliation package).

The fact that the parents knew little English and the children didn't have any knowledge (except for two or three words), never phased me at the time. What I saw on Skype was a young established family. They had three children aged two to five, and lived in the luxurious seizième arrondisement. What they offered? A liveable wage, my own apartment, vacation time, and the opportunity to visit their family farm in Châtellerault. An excellent package, and the language barrier didn't matter...until I was there.

In the first few weeks, it was clear the family was gracious but also socially inept. Their social circle consisted of accountants and management analysts. It was evidently adverse to my artistic community back home. A month in, it was all fun and games except for the attachment issues. Another month flew by, and the language barrier was certainly an issue as the children grew more and more impatient with me. The French classes were helpful, but were only three times a week for three months. Plus, the parents preferred I speak English.

We had our ups and downs as the year passed, but what became internally vexing was the inability to communicate with the family and friends on a more empathetic level. Coming from Canada, the surface stereotypes are true; Paris can be a cliquey city full of blunt people. I found my social circles here and there, but it was a very isolating time. March arrived, and I contemplated ending the contract early for a new one, but my intuition said no. Birthdays, pregnancy announcement, social gatherings, Noël; we had already shared so many moments, I truly couldn't quit.

Summer rolled around again, and our moods lifted. The parents and I both understood we weren't the best match, but we made it work. My valuable lesson? Please remember if you accept a job overseas, familiarize yourself thoroughly with the team or company. They are your lifeline.

Overall it was a year full of history, art, classic cuisine, French romance, and dirty diapers.

#France #AuPair #Paris #language