Referring to my last post regarding my summer plans, I mentioned that if things went well, I would be getting on a plane in 9 days to start my job as an au pair. But things didn’t go well. The European Union put a ban on travelers from countries where COVID-19 was still a big threat; the U.S. being at the top of that list.

So now it’s 9 days later and I will not be getting on a plane today. I will not spend a month in Spain living with the family I have been getting to know since October.

I have been trying to convince myself that this change in plans is not that bad and that there are some positives. I am able to spend more time with close friends before they start their full time careers. I can spend time up at the lake with my family. I don’t have a job anymore (this sounds like a negative) but for me being a workaholic, this is a great time for me to enjoy the summer and relax.

However, this is something that I have been looking forward to for months. I realize I am very fortunate. I can’t go to Spain during a pandemic? Boohoo Jess. There are millions of people out there who have MUCH bigger problems during this time. And I recognize that.

What I do believe though, is that my feelings are valid. Of course I’m bummed. I would like to think that the positives I listed and for my safety, this change hasn’t really affected me. But it has. Within this past week, I have been EXTREMELY moody and irrational with my parents (sorry mom). I have constant thoughts about what I would have been doing if I was in Spain instead of at home. I had to unpack my suitcase that I was starting to pack, INCLUDING the gifts I had recently bought the little girls. I now have to find new ways to practice my Spanish instead talking to a local in a coffee shop. So ya, I’m bummed to say the least.

BUT, I have to mention that I am blessed to have such an amazing experience with my host family. My family in Spain has already offered me a spot in their home as soon as I can get there. Whether it’s immediately after student teaching, or next summer, I will have my job as an au pair. “This is your Spanish home” and “we will wait for you” texts from my host mom, of course followed by multiple smiley and heart emojis, sounds VERY promising to me. And I look forward for my time to come when I can call Zaragoza home.

So what’s an au pair? I describe it as a live in nanny who is compensated with a home, food, and a small weekly allowance, although every family does it a little differently and has their own expectations. I don’t know a ton yet about all of my duties, but I do know I will be watching the girls for a few hours everyday and I will be speaking to them in English so they can learn and practice.

Back in October I was starting to stress about what to do the summer after I “graduated” but before I student teach this fall. Yes, I wanted to make a little money but my one goal was to keep practicing my Spanish. I remembered that one of my friends in Spain had mentioned that he had been an au pair so I reached out and asked him a bit more about what it was like. Later that day, I made a profile on aupairworld.com and was messaging families throughout Spain.

I didn’t have many expectations while looking for a family because I didn’t know what I should be looking for. I knew I wanted a decent sized city somewhere that I had not traveled to when I studied abroad. I messaged a ton of families stating what I was looking for and my background with children and teaching.

One day, I got a very sincere message from a family that lives in Zaragoza with two little girls. We kept talking and the mom gave me the phone number of their previous au pair to ask about her experience and ask any questions. I reached out to the girl and she did not have one bad thing to say about the family. I decided they were the ones that I wanted to spend my summer with.

I found the process of getting the job to be pretty simple! It’s similar to an online dating application in terms of pictures, preferences, and sending messages. The match between family and au pair has to be mutual of course. I found it interesting that there is nothing that commits the families and au pairs to each other besides trust and constant open communication.

I feel lucky to have had such a great experience throughout the process and am open to answer any questions about it!

9 days. In 9 days I will be getting on a plane to Madrid. From there I will take a train to Zaragoza, the 5th biggest city in Spain. I will be welcomed into the house of a family of four. A mom, a dad, and two little girls. I will adapt to their everyday life and become apart of their family for a month as their au pair.

Pre-Covid, I was suppose to leave 10 days after my graduation. I planned to be in Spain for about two and a half months to nanny for this family. Obviously, with the world basically stopping, my flight was cancelled and my plans were put on hold.

I had continued to talk to the family throughout this whole time and I learned that they prioritize exposing their girls to as much English as possible. As for me, I am prioritizing practicing my Spanish before I student teach this fall. Me and the family decided as long as the travel ban was lifted, I would get to Spain as soon as I could to spend as much time together.

So, if all goes well in the next 9 days, I am sticking to this commitment and will be boarding a plane for this new and exciting journey!

How am I feeling? I am feeling a lot of things. I am excited to get back to the country I called home for 5 months. Anxious to travel with COVID spiking in the U.S. again. Nervous to live in a new city with a family I have never met and no friends (yet!). But most of all, I feel fortunate. No matter how this next month goes for me, I have the opportunity to immerse myself in the Spanish culture and language again, despite the many travel restrictions that are in place.

Many updates to come on how this all plays out! Stay safe out there!