- After talking to my host family, I have learned that it is indeed likely that I will see a kangaroo bounding across the horizon...I can't wait.
- They also assure me that Australia is not the deathtrap that the Discovery Channel makes it out to be...I hope they aren't just trying to make me feel better. :)
- They are planning to take me to a lovely place called Hervey Bay, a mecca for whale watching. It looks spectacular. Perhaps I will run into the crew from Whale Wars.
- I will be spending time working with Maroochy Waterwatch, a local watershed organization. This is a great opportunity to help me to meet some people and build my skills in preparation for grad school. Here is their website if anyone is interested. http://www.maroochycatchmentcentre.org.au/
- I have learned that a "jumper" is a light jacket.
- 3 of us have our birthdays during a week and a half span in September. It will be a glorious time of celebration.
- I suck at converting from Fahrenheit to Celsius.
- I've been meaning to get to this for awhile. Sorry for those who have been waiting! This is the website if you are an American citizen who wishes to apply for a Working Holiday visa for Australia. You have to meet specific age and education requirements. http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/462/usa/
- I just applied for graduation. (I realize this isn't Australia related, but it's exciting)
- Life is good.
Showing posts with label queensland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label queensland. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
UPDATE: 91 days and counting!
The day is drawing near! Only 91 days to go until I board that plane to Oz. It seems like just yesterday that I learned I was going, so this is getting crazy. A few updates and random facts:
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
What an au pair is, and how I got the job
First and foremost, for those of you who are wondering what on earth an "au pair" really is, here is your answer:
Au pair is French for "on par." This means that an au pair is not a domestic servant, but rather a person on equal terms with their host family. Duties are generally focused on childcare and light housekeeping. It is a combination of part time nanny and cultural exchange student. Most of the time, the au pair will attend classes in the native language of her host country. This, of course, will not be necessary for me since I'm going to Australia. (Although there is plenty of unintelligible slang. Seriously, they call swimming suits "togs" in Queensland! Where does that even come from?) It is not uncommon for the au pair to cook a few meals, especially for the children. In exchange, she gets room and board, weekly pocket money, and a chance to immerse herself in a new culture. In a good match, an au pair will become a part of her family (like a responsible older sister), and feel very at home in this mutually beneficial situation.
A lot of people are asking me how I got the job as an au pair. There are a lot of different ways you can go about it, but I chose to use the service Au Pair World. Au Pair World is neat because it is a forum for host families and au pairs to post profiles, and contact each other if they are interested. (It's sort of like online dating for au pairs!) There are also many good agencies out there, but I felt this was the best method for me because I got to make choices about who I talked to, and what matches I felt were right for myself. For the au pairs it's free, while the families pay a small fee for the service. Generally you send a few messages back and forth, and then set up a Skype call. I talked with a lot of families and Skyped for hours on end with people from all over the world. The interviews all went really differently. Some people were intense and really formal, whereas others were much more conversational. I had a lot of choices to make, and so did the families! I was offered a position with a lovely family near York, England, but we both soon learned that it is not possible for Americans to travel to the UK as au pairs. Finally, I "met" the family that I am going to live with in Australia. Instantly, there was a connection, and we got along really well. It's a huge leap of faith for both of us, but I had no doubts about them the way that I did with some of the other families, and did not hesitate to jump right in. I really can't wait to start!
If you have any questions, feel free to ask!
Au pair is French for "on par." This means that an au pair is not a domestic servant, but rather a person on equal terms with their host family. Duties are generally focused on childcare and light housekeeping. It is a combination of part time nanny and cultural exchange student. Most of the time, the au pair will attend classes in the native language of her host country. This, of course, will not be necessary for me since I'm going to Australia. (Although there is plenty of unintelligible slang. Seriously, they call swimming suits "togs" in Queensland! Where does that even come from?) It is not uncommon for the au pair to cook a few meals, especially for the children. In exchange, she gets room and board, weekly pocket money, and a chance to immerse herself in a new culture. In a good match, an au pair will become a part of her family (like a responsible older sister), and feel very at home in this mutually beneficial situation.
A lot of people are asking me how I got the job as an au pair. There are a lot of different ways you can go about it, but I chose to use the service Au Pair World. Au Pair World is neat because it is a forum for host families and au pairs to post profiles, and contact each other if they are interested. (It's sort of like online dating for au pairs!) There are also many good agencies out there, but I felt this was the best method for me because I got to make choices about who I talked to, and what matches I felt were right for myself. For the au pairs it's free, while the families pay a small fee for the service. Generally you send a few messages back and forth, and then set up a Skype call. I talked with a lot of families and Skyped for hours on end with people from all over the world. The interviews all went really differently. Some people were intense and really formal, whereas others were much more conversational. I had a lot of choices to make, and so did the families! I was offered a position with a lovely family near York, England, but we both soon learned that it is not possible for Americans to travel to the UK as au pairs. Finally, I "met" the family that I am going to live with in Australia. Instantly, there was a connection, and we got along really well. It's a huge leap of faith for both of us, but I had no doubts about them the way that I did with some of the other families, and did not hesitate to jump right in. I really can't wait to start!
If you have any questions, feel free to ask!
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Hello!
Hi everyone!
I'm very excited to announce that I will be embarking on the journey of a lifetime this July. I am moving to Australia's Sunshine Coast to work as an au pair for an absolutely lovely family. Since I have never been to Australia before, this will be quite an adventure. I'm really looking forward to saying farewell to the constant Oregon rain and hello to the sunny beach life, making lifelong friends in the process! What could be better? This blog will be updated with photos and stories for all of my friends and family back home. I will miss you all very much!
xoxo
Alex
Image: Google Maps
I'm very excited to announce that I will be embarking on the journey of a lifetime this July. I am moving to Australia's Sunshine Coast to work as an au pair for an absolutely lovely family. Since I have never been to Australia before, this will be quite an adventure. I'm really looking forward to saying farewell to the constant Oregon rain and hello to the sunny beach life, making lifelong friends in the process! What could be better? This blog will be updated with photos and stories for all of my friends and family back home. I will miss you all very much!
xoxo
Alex
Mooloolaba Beach
Image: lavidaocean.com
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