Au Pair in Spain - Summer or Academic Year

I stayed in the beautiful city of Santiago de Compostela for 8 weeks with a wonderful family. I felt immediately welcomed and put at ease, and had a lovely home to stay in. The family were very relaxed, but it was still good to check in with them about my responsibilities as an au pair. They were very flexible with my needs and even helped me arrange local trips and Spanish lessons. I would spend my set hours with the children during the day, and then in the afternoon I would visit the city, go to Spanish classes, or spend time with the family if they were going to the beach! At the weekend the family would always invite me to join them with their plans if I wanted to.

Ana from the agency was also extremely helpful, she gave me potential options that would suit me and helped me find the perfect family. A major positive of this agency was that they were able to accommodate the length of the trip I wanted whereas other agencies expected a 3 month stay (whereas I could only go for a duration of 8 weeks due to work commitments). Ana regularly checked up with me throughout my time in Spain and I felt I could talk to her about any problems I had (luckily there weren’t any) and we even met up for coffee! She also made sure I was in contact with other au pairs in the area in case I got lonely.

Santiago de Compostela is a very historical city with a grand cathedral and lots of tourists during the summer due to the Día De Santiago occurring on 25th July, with lots of pilgrims attending from around the world. This meant that there were always events and celebrations on during the month of July and even in August. Everything is within walking distance in the city, as well as having good train links to other key areas in Galicia.

This was the most incredible experience I have ever had. I got to learn a new language while staying with an amazing family. They were so welcoming and I felt like part of the family. I was full immersed in Spanish culture and loved every moment. We attended most of the festivals that occurred during my stay as well as family events. The children were very energetic and we spent most days running around in the park, exploring the area or playing in the pool. This was honestly the best experience I have ever done and I would highly recommend.

I was an Au Pair in Vigo for 4 weeks and I had the most amazing experience. I was with a family who were so supportive and they took me to see amazing things and I saw so many places. However sometimes I got lonely but I think this was due to me being out of season. Ana was amazing and was always checking up on me and I met her for a coffee. I also did some solo travelling on one of the weekends which was amazing also. I would 100% recommend this agency to anyone and also the chance at becoming an Au Pair.

My experience was incredible. I stayed with the most accommodating family, who made me feel very welcome and cared for. Looking after the children was very enjoyable, and taught me a lot about not only childcare, but about myself. Ana was very supportive; I was fortunate to have no issues but I know if I had, Ana would have been on hand to help me. The communication process when choosing a family and being chosen was very clear and Ana made it very smooth and easy. Definitely stick it out longer than 1 week; it may feel very overwhelming when you first get there, but once you get to know the family and children and the routine, it’ll become enjoyable and you’ll feel much more confident, even if the first week you feel like it’s not for you or you’ve made a mistake. Learning the language is a must; I only had 4 weeks of lessons during my trip but they instilled so much confidence in me when speaking to everyone that I would definitely recommend. Also a great way to make friends, I know I’ll continue learning now I am home. I made many memories with the children that I will value forever, and learned a lot about myself from my trip. It was a great experience and I’m so glad I decided to au pair, and choosing to go through destino idiomas was the best choice.

At first I was scared about taking a gap year and what I would find to fill my free time but it was by far the best decision I’ve ever made for myself. Choosing to be an au pair in a small town in Spain was such an amazing experience I would do anything to do it all over again. I met so many incredible people and visited amazing places. My host parents were incredibly welcoming and spending time with their children was so special. Three months flew by and I already can’t wait to come back and revisit :)

Thinking of doing a gap year but are worried it’s “irresponsible?” I’m here to say it is the most responsible/wisest decision you will make.
In high school and college, I was always the “over-achiever.” I had my course schedule jam-packed every semester, took honors classes, and wore many hats with extracurriculars. Before applying to law school, I knew I needed a break. I only knew school, so I wanted to see the world and travel before getting into more studies and then a career. While I did have some hesitancies prior, I am so thankful I chose to be an au pair. The love of a family and community I experienced is something I cannot put into words. I was nervous last October because I had no idea what the town/family would be like. Yet, like always, God had wonderful surprises in store. I was blessed with the most loving and fun family I have ever seen. My parents acted like newly weds, even though they had been married for fourteen years, and took me in as a daughter. I even have Spanish grandparents 😊.
Not only that, but my little town of Casasimarro was extremely supportive. Despite cultural and language differences, I gained intentional friendships I hope can withstand the thousands of miles in distance. I joined a “stay-at-home mom” walking group, who always had my back. One even introduced me to their daughter, who is now my best friend. We celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Gal-entine’s Day together. They shared their language and advice with me, and in exchange I shared my traditions. I also was part of an English class (don’t worry, the teacher spoke Spanish with me so I was learning, too). Together, we baked treats, shared countless laughs, and even entered musical competitions. Even though Casasimarro was small, I encountered a world full of blessings. “Casasimarro devino; pan, chorizo y…” donde vivo ❤️.
As well as fostering connections, I also experienced self-growth. I grew in both my confidence and faith in this journey. I learned that I am weird, and I am totally okay with that. Rather than complaining about being stuck in a situation or not able to travel, I am determined to do things. When you get creative and refuse to let barriers stop you, you can travel anywhere you want, and for pretty cheap! I visited over 20 cities in Spain, plus small towns the locals shared. I also traveled to Morocco, Portugal, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. Because of the connections I made, I made friends and fellow travel gurus. I also traveled with my violin- playing in the streets and with locals. Sure lugging the violin was a hassle, but it opened so many doors. From playing in a friend’s holiday band, to meeting Scottish fiddlers, I was overjoyed I could live out this musical dream. My town was small, but I still took advantage of every opportunity to learn and meet someone new. Everyone has a story, so talk to them! Locals love sharing their food and homes with a foreigner who wants to learn about their life. Because of this year, I have no fear in asking for help. When you travel, you have to rely on strangers. You have to shed the self-pride and feel okay with really being helpless navigating somewhere new.
My advice for anyone considering a gap year: do it, just be smart. In my free time I did continue studying for the LSAT, so I would not be behind with graduate school. As long as you plan your time, you can have a fun and wise time off.
Don’t be afraid to talk to strangers and be open minded about stories you hear. If someone who has never traveled tries to get you to not board the plane/stay in a hostel, listen to people who have adventured and loved it. So, for my review I give Destino Idiomas a 100,000,000/10. Ana was extremely helpful and encouraging. I was never charged any fees to be an au pair; I only had to buy a plane ticket. Whenever I had questions, I knew she was there to help. She even put me in contact with the former au pair, who is now a sister to me. If you’re still questioning, just please go au pair; go abroad to gain a new family and perspective of yourself and the world.

I look back to the month I spent in Santiago de Compostela last July with immense fondness. Santiago dC is an absolutely gorgeous city, full of history, which was exactly what I was looking for. I was living about a 10 minute walk away from the zona vieja. I would visit the old town regularly, losing myself down its many idyllic callejones. Galicia, too, is beautiful - lusciously green from all the wet weather during the winter time, when summer rolls around this green splendour is kissed by scorching temperatures from 25-40 degrees depending on where you find yourself. Geographically diverse and historically rich, Galicia ticked all the boxed for me. What I soon realised, however, was that you have to make the most of that once you are there…

The kids were away for the first week, so this gave me an ideal opportunity to ease myself into my surroundings. The parents were keen to introduce me to family friends, who they would visit in neighbouring towns and sometimes on the coast near the Rias Baxas. What a refreshing beginning, introduced to incredibly chatty, interested 30 and 40 year olds while sipping Estrella. I was a little nervous at first having to speak Spanish all the time (given the kids were away, and I’d asked for only Spanish), but found that putting myself in a situation where I *had* to speak Spanish was the best way to gain more confidence. I soon developed a love for Galicia, its gorgeous green, temperate climate, and especially the beauty of Santiago dC. Once the kids arrived, however, I went more into au pair mode, which was troubling at first given I had never au paired before. It took a few days to earn respect with the kids, which I imagine was partly due to their age, both 13 when I arrived. Despite the fact the two were practically teenagers, I still found the experience different having to look after them - I hadn’t ever au paired before. But you learn quickly, and my au pairing hours were pretty minimal.

About halfway through, I began to feel a little lonely. I found my routine slightly monotonous, and felt isolated in the time I had to myself even though I was keen to have time to myself. Given this was my first time travelling outside of home, it's not a surprise I started to feel a little isolated. I wanted to have my own space a lot of the time, and the family was very happy to give me lots of my own space, but I found that in this time to myself I began to feel rather lonely. In the final week, however, I learned to appreciate how to make the most of this space I had been granted. I began to plan how I would use my free time (far better than twiddling my thumbs); I booked myself onto tours of sites that were more hidden away in the city, I booked a tour to Fisterra and Muxia (would recommend!), I booked myself into local museums. Moreover, I realised I needed to make some friends in the area. A decent amount of my lonliness came from being away from my friends, not socialising as frequently as I would do. Being in my late teens, as much as I appreciated time with the family and to myself, I wanted something more. My first strategy was meeting other au pairs in the region (Ana was very helpful in trying to link us together), but more fortunately I managed to meet a great group of lads living in Vilagarcia who were visiting Santiago for a night. Making friends with locals your age is a difficult task - best advice would be to go to public social events where you might find people your age. You'll be amazed by how much Spanish teens are interested in foreigners, especially Brits! They invited me to a party one night in Vilagarcia, which was just the kind of break that I needed. Your own space and your own opportunties to socialise are really important, even when you are au pairing.

What I was most impressed by was the ease with which I was paired with a family in Spain. Having spent a while struggling to find potential summer job opportunities in Spain, I found Ana's service - Destino Idiomas - simple, easy, and friendly. All it took was a chat with Ana, and the completion of a few documents. After that, Ana did all the hard work trying to find a compatible family. She puts a lot of effort into this process and made sure I was comfortable with the family she managed to find for me. It was amazingly simple - in a matter of weeks I had gone from searching the internet for ideas to arriving in Santiago.

Regardless, I would offer a few recommendations for anyone planning to au pair in Spain, especially if they haven't before:
- Socialising, family life, and culture - will you meet new friends? how good are you living away from your friends, family, and your culture? I loved working my way through a new culture, a new social scene, a different family life; but I still found myself missing bits of home, missing being around people my age. You might want to think about ways you can bridge these gaps.
- Space - how much space do you want from your host family? You’ll need to communicate this well, and find different activities to fill your free time (you can get bored and lonely quite quickly otherwise).
- Make sure to establish responsibilities from the start. I ran into some minor difficulties when my responsibilities had not been properly communicated. This is why I would recommend also checking in with the parents once every week - my host family wanted a bit more space, but didn't communicate this until much later.

Au pairing was an unforgettable life experience. It might feel like a step into the unknown, but there's plenty of help available, and hey... its all part of the fun.

I went to Cordoba for 2 months during the summer as an au pair. It was an amazing experience, Ana was so helpful and kind before and I was so lucky to have been given an amazing host family with great parents and kids who I enjoyed hanging out with even on my off days! I made some great friends in Cordoba but also throughout Andalousia, the majority being other au pairs I met thanks to the au pair directly Ana gave us. I always felt safe and I had a great time! I highly recommend it if you want to travel 😃