PARTE 1: AUPAIRWORLD
Lo prometido es deuda! ;)
Os contaré mi experiencia por tierras inglesas. Todo empezó el año pasado, estaba terminando la carrera de Psicología y la situación en España era pésima (como sigue siendo ahora). Así que pensé que un cambio de aires no me iria nada mal...
Mi propósito principal era aprender inglés, además era una experiencia que me llamaba mucho la atención. Estados Unidos siemper había sido mi destino soñado pero tras valorar la opción y teniendo en cuenta que nunca habia vivido sola, que nunca me habia separado de mi familia...me parecia demasiado.
Así que opté por algo mas facil, Reino Unido. Una vez tomada la decisión, lo comenté en casa. Las reacciones fueron de sorpresa general y de incredulidad por parte de todos, pero al ver que yo seguia adelante, toda mi familia me apoyó e incluso me ayudaron en todo el proceso. La verdad, que es super importante el apoyo de la gente que te rodea.
Bien, pues la cosa siguió adelante, tenía claro que me queria ir pero no sabia como hacerlo, a donde recurrir, NADA. Tras investigar un poco, encontré varias opciones:
- Agencias que te ayudan con todo el proceso, las hay de dos tipos:
* Las que te buscan trabajo en el extranjero.
* Las que te ofrecen cursos de idiomas en el extranjero.
Ninguna de estas opciones me interesaban, eran demasiado caras y no hacian nada que no pudiese hacer yo misma. Así que seguí con la búsqueda.
- Webs de autocandidatura para trabajar como aupair en el extranjero. Es aquí donde encontré la fórmula para conseguir mi objetivo, llegar a Reino Unido! La web que elegí es: www.aupairworld.net .
Aupairworld:
Se trata de una página GRATUITA dónde tanto los candidat@s como las famílias publican su perfil. Al registrarte debes incluir información personal, académica y profesional. Además de fotos (es aconsejable fotos donde aparezcas con niños con los que hayas trabajado como niñera, profesora...aunque también puedes poner una foto tuya con algun primo,vecino...) y una carta dirigida a tu futura host family.
Al registrarte te aparecerán varias preguntas del tipo:
- Disponibilidad.
- Preferencias.
- Fumador/no fumador.
Bien, una vez que has completado tu perfil, las famílias tienen acceso a él y tu también tienes acceso al de las famílas. La web dispone de un sistema de mensajería, dónde las famílias se ponen en contacto contigo o tu contactas con las famílias. Este sistema te da la opción de enviar un sms previamente escrito o escribir tu propio mensaje a la família comunicándoles tu interés. De la misma manera, para descartar solicitudes de famílias que no te interesen.
Si alguna família contacta contigo mediante la web, te llegará un email comunicándotelo. Ellos no tienen acceso a tu información privada (email, teléfono). Si tras tener el primer contacto con la família mediante la web y visitar su perfil, sigues interesado, puedes solicitarles seguir hablando por skype y email. Es entonces, cuando tu das tu información (dirección de email, skype e incluso teléfono si quieres).
Cuando no interviene ninguna agencia de por medio, aparecen una serie de ventajas e inconvenientes. Como ventajas: te ahorras el dinero que pagarías a la agencia. Como inconvenientes: todo el proceso depende de ti y de tu experiencia. Con esto me refiero, a marcar las normas, límites y llegar a un acuerdo que deberá de ser cumplido por ambas partes. Una agencia suele facilitar un contrato a ambas partes que tiene que ser firmada como prueba de que tanto host family como au pair han llegado a un acuerdo y esas cláusalas se cumplirán. En caso de que no sea así, la agencia deberá intervenir y siempre podrás recurrir a tu agencia ante cualquier problema.
En el caso de utilizar aupairworld, recomiendo: dejar todo atado y por escrito antes de la llegada. Me refiero a horarios (jornada laboral - horas que trabajarás, dias libres), salario, clases de inglés, tareas que realizarás, tareas que NO realizarás. En caso de conducir, disponer de un seguro y conocer las condiciones de éste. Debes saber si la família pondrá a tu disposición un teléfono y acordar las condiciones.
Es muy importante, saber de antemano dónde te alojaras: tu habitación (solicitar fotos) así como de la casa y de las facillidades de ésta (ubicación - céntrica/no céntrica, internet, télefono, baño - compartido/privado).
SKYPE:
Conoce a la familia por skype antes de seleccionar ninguna de ellas. Aprovecha las llamadas de skype para conocer mejor a las familias. Te aconsejo realizar una lista de preguntas sobre aspectos importantes que debes conocer sobre ellos (estilo educativo, creencias/valores, normas, establecer un acuerdo en cuanto a jornada laboral, tareas a desempeñar...).
AVISO: Es muy habitual sobretodo en Reino Unido que las famílias busquen au pair mediante este tipo de webs con la finalidad de encontrar limpiadora/chica multiusos. Establece de forma clara y por escrito tus normas y no dejes que se incumplan. No olvides, estás realizando un trabajo, aunque pongan a tu disposición alojamiento no les debes nada, es un intercambio, estas pagando con tu trabajo la comida que te dan y la habitación. Para la família es rentable, una niñera con un contrato laboral, seguridad social, etc...les costaría mucho mas que alojarte y alimentarte.
How I promised, I'm gonna tell you my british experience!
The last year, I was finishing my degree as Psychologist and the economical situation in Spain was so bad (It is still being bad). This is why I decided to change my life for a year.
My objective was to improve my english, furthermore it was an experience I' had always dreamt. US is the place where I wanted to live but I wasn't brave enoguh to do it. Why?
Well, because It was going to be my first time living abroad, far of my family, friends... so I thought UK was the best place.
When I took a decision, I told it to my family and friends. At first everyone was so surprised and they didn't believe it was real. I mean, They didn't believe I was goint to do it. But I done it! :)
Then,hen They realize it wasn't just a dream, it was real; Everyone in my family supported me and it's so important to continue and to get the success.
Well, I continued with my plans but I didn't know how to do it. I started to search some information. I found this information:
- Companies who help you. Two types of them:
* They can help you to find a job and accomodation. OR
* They can offer you an English course.
Both of them weren't for me. It is so expensive and at all they didn't do anythin I couldn't do. So my searching continued. I found the perfect option for me: It was a website called www.aupairworld.net .
Aupairworld:
It is a FREE website. The aupairs and the host families post their profile. If you gonna join you will have to include information about you, academic details and work experience. You also should post some pictures of you and a personal letter to your future host family. The website ask you some things as: yout availability, if do you smoke or you don't, driving license,...
When you finish your profile, you cant post it up. Then, the families will be able to see your profile as you will be able to see them. The website has a messenger sistem, it is like an email. You can write an email to a host family or a host family can write you. When a family contacts you by the website you will also recive an email to alert you.
If finally, you find the perfect family you can still talking with them and knowing more about them by skype or email. If everything is ok for you the next step will be the match.
If you get a company that helps you with the process...
It has some good points and some bad points. Good points: You won't have to pay. As a bad points: you will have to do everything by yourself, no one will helps you. If you have experience about it, will be ok. But If you don't have experience You will need some luck finfing a good family.
If you decide to use aupairworld...
You should have everything written. I mean is better to talk about important things by email (timetable, days off, wages, english lessons, duties,accomodation). If you are gonna drive, you'll need a driving licence and an insurance.
Skype:
It is the best way to meet the family. You should do an slype before you do the match. Use the skype calls to know more about the family. You can write a list of questions you can ask to the family, like: educational style, beliefs / values, rules, establish an agreement...
ADVICE: Is so common in UK. The families use this website but they are not looking for an au pair, instead of it they are looking for a cleaner/cooker...
So be careful! try to explain clearly to your HF what are you gonna do and what you aren't. Make an agreement and don't forget you're working. The HF is giving you an accomodation , food and pocket money but it is just an exchange, you are working hard for it.
How I promised, I'm gonna tell you my british experience!
The last year, I was finishing my degree as Psychologist and the economical situation in Spain was so bad (It is still being bad). This is why I decided to change my life for a year.
My objective was to improve my english, furthermore it was an experience I' had always dreamt. US is the place where I wanted to live but I wasn't brave enoguh to do it. Why?
Well, because It was going to be my first time living abroad, far of my family, friends... so I thought UK was the best place.
When I took a decision, I told it to my family and friends. At first everyone was so surprised and they didn't believe it was real. I mean, They didn't believe I was goint to do it. But I done it! :)
Then,hen They realize it wasn't just a dream, it was real; Everyone in my family supported me and it's so important to continue and to get the success.
Well, I continued with my plans but I didn't know how to do it. I started to search some information. I found this information:
- Companies who help you. Two types of them:
* They can help you to find a job and accomodation. OR
* They can offer you an English course.
Both of them weren't for me. It is so expensive and at all they didn't do anythin I couldn't do. So my searching continued. I found the perfect option for me: It was a website called www.aupairworld.net .
Aupairworld:
It is a FREE website. The aupairs and the host families post their profile. If you gonna join you will have to include information about you, academic details and work experience. You also should post some pictures of you and a personal letter to your future host family. The website ask you some things as: yout availability, if do you smoke or you don't, driving license,...
When you finish your profile, you cant post it up. Then, the families will be able to see your profile as you will be able to see them. The website has a messenger sistem, it is like an email. You can write an email to a host family or a host family can write you. When a family contacts you by the website you will also recive an email to alert you.
If finally, you find the perfect family you can still talking with them and knowing more about them by skype or email. If everything is ok for you the next step will be the match.
If you get a company that helps you with the process...
It has some good points and some bad points. Good points: You won't have to pay. As a bad points: you will have to do everything by yourself, no one will helps you. If you have experience about it, will be ok. But If you don't have experience You will need some luck finfing a good family.
If you decide to use aupairworld...
You should have everything written. I mean is better to talk about important things by email (timetable, days off, wages, english lessons, duties,accomodation). If you are gonna drive, you'll need a driving licence and an insurance.
Skype:
It is the best way to meet the family. You should do an slype before you do the match. Use the skype calls to know more about the family. You can write a list of questions you can ask to the family, like: educational style, beliefs / values, rules, establish an agreement...
ADVICE: Is so common in UK. The families use this website but they are not looking for an au pair, instead of it they are looking for a cleaner/cooker...
So be careful! try to explain clearly to your HF what are you gonna do and what you aren't. Make an agreement and don't forget you're working. The HF is giving you an accomodation , food and pocket money but it is just an exchange, you are working hard for it.
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