Are you looking for a way to travel the USA and immerse yourself in American culture? Do you want to make friends from all around the world and find a second family in another country? Are you looking to gain international work experience and perfect your English? If you’re ready to spend your gap year doing something truly incredible, it’s time for you to become an au pair.
You may not immediately think of being an au pair in America when you think of a traditional gap year program, but more and more young women and men like you are embracing the opportunity to travel to the USA with an accredited au pair agency like Cultural Care Au Pair. There are so many gap year programs out there, but none of them are quite as affordable, versatile or trustworthy as the opportunity to become an au pair for an American family. And of all the things to do in a gap year, none are as rewarding as becoming a big sister or brother to host children, discovering a second home and, best of all, discovering yourself!
Maybe you need a career break to help you decide your next steps in life; or maybe you want to try some paid work abroad to make connections and build up your resume. Whatever the reason, spending a gap year in America as an au pair will leave you feeling inspired and ready to dive in to the next chapter of your life. If you’ve been searching for gap year ideas or are feeling stumped on what to do in a gap year, we can help …
First things first: What is a gap year?
A gap year is a period of time – typically an academic year – taken by a student as an intended break between secondary school and higher education. A gap year is also often taken after some level of higher education is completed, but before graduation. Regardless of when the gap year is taken, it’s a chance for young women and men to gain new perspective and mature before they enter the next phase of their life. Activities during a gap year can range across advanced academic courses, language studies, learning a trade, volunteer work, travel, internships, cultural exchange and more. Research shows that students who take a gap year return to school and actually have improved academics compared to their fellow students who did not take a gap year.
Ok, I’m in. How do I plan my gap year?
There are countless gap year programs that will help you plan volunteer work, travel to a new country or find a company to intern with – of course, there are those people who choose to plan their year on their own. How you plan your year varies depending on how you want to spend your time and where you want to go. Cultural Care Au Pair is proud to offer a gap year solution for those who want to have an efficient and fun time abroad – and for those who want to come back from their gap year feeling rejuvenated and exhilarated for their futures. Cultural Care takes what could be a complicated process and makes it simple, so that everything from obtaining a visa to buying roundtrip airfare to securing you room and board is taken care of. Planning a gap year with Cultural Care means having global support, 24/7.
Now, tell me why I should spend my gap year as an au pair.
Taking a break from your studies or career to become an au pair will give you a fresh perspective on life and the opportunity to develop both personally and professionally. Not only will you do plenty of gap year travel throughout the USA (whether it’s with your new au pair friends, your host family or even by yourself!), you’ll also take classes at an American university and gain work experience abroad – all of which look great to future employers! By spending your gap year doing something that is so multifaceted and enriching, you’re setting yourself up for success when you return back to your home country. Being an au pair is a once-in-a-lifetime experience designed to change your life for the better.
Taking a gap year is good for you! So why not take one with purpose? Of all the gap year jobs out there, being an au pair for an American host family is one where you’ll continue to reap all the benefits of traveling and working abroad for years to come.