We're going to Germany for an exchange

At the last courses of the institute, almost every student faces a choice - on which career path to go further: whether to work in the specialty, or change the field and get a job, for example, as a seller in a store. One option is to move to another country, particularly Europe.

Often, students leave on the Au-Pair program (which means “in pairs”). Germany or France. I want to say that although, in fact, you go to work in a family of nannies, but in general, this program refers to cultural exchange programs. It involves your complete immersion in the life of the chosen country, the study of its culture, traditions, language.

In general, such programs are very popular in the world and, after looking at the feedback of participants, you will understand that young people willingly go to work in this way in another country. I would like to note that this program, like other youth programs, is widespread in many countries. Britain. Australia. USANew Zealand, France, Germany, Italy. But some countries, such as the UK and Australia, for some reason are reluctant to accept girls and boys from Russia into their families. Yes, young people can also work on this program. Of course, they will be taken only in a family where a child of the same sex, girls have no restrictions.

Anyone from 20 to 28 years old can become a participant in this program. The main condition is knowledge of the language of the country where you are going to go, and experience in communicating and caring for children. The second point is taken very carefully – you should either have documented work experience in kindergarten, or experience teaching in elementary school, or you should have small children in your family to care for. It is advisable to back up the photo. These requirements are very important to understand, because if you have not had such experience, then, having come to the family, you will not be able to work well, as you need to be mentally ready to work with children, know their psychology, be able to communicate and look for an approach to them. So decide for yourself honestly whether this is right for you or not.

I will also add that during your stay in the family and work you are paid a salary. You have a weekend, by agreement, you can go somewhere for a few days. You are also paid for language courses. All this is discussed individually, but these are mandatory conditions for the implementation of this program. Other trips, surcharges, training depend on the material security of the family in which you work.

As a participant in this program with practical experience, I note that there are many advantages, as well as disadvantages, of this opportunity. Let's talk about the good. In order to become a participant, you need to contact an agency that specializes in such programs, fill out documents, provide certificates confirming practical experience in working and communicating with children, write a letter to the family.

The process of finding and selecting the family in which you will live is complex, creative, serious. Difficult, because you will have to live with initially unfamiliar people under the same roof, to adopt their way of life – and at a distance, photos and telephone conversations it is difficult to fully understand what people. But in general, this is not an unsolved issue.

Omitting further all the formalities that each participant of this program faces, I will say about the impressions. While you come to another country, face many new moments in terms of life, communication, behavior of people of the country where you came, experience separation from close people, friends and relatives (“Skype, of course, no one canceled, but still), you have many new opportunities. The opportunity to communicate and deepen the knowledge of the language, the opportunity to travel around Europe, see the beautiful castles of Germany and France, the lakes of Switzerland, and at the end of the program go to university and stay in Germany. Or maybe vice versa – at the end of the program, return to your hometown and enjoy communication with those who have not seen a year. It’s also important to come back knowing you’re waiting!

This year, during which you participate in this program, will allow you not only to accumulate some knowledge and experience, expand your horizons, but also think about how important you are those people who will not be with you for a year, understand how you love and miss them, rethink your behavior and overall life plans and priorities.

Angelina Sobolevskaya

Source: http://www.uralstudent.ru/articles/preview-1313-201.html