Things are going really well for me here J - I cannot believe I only have a few weeks left! It has been a truly amazing summer. I can’t imagine trying to sum it up in one e-mail but I will try my best with some highlights!
It was harder than I imagined dealing with the time difference to keep in touch with my friends and family back home, but I never lost sight of the incredible opportunity in front of me, so I eased myself out of that transition stage and really began enjoying my new life here. ... First and foremost I have to express my great fortune in finding this family. They are kind and fair and continue to be incredibly accommodating to me and my experience. The father is loud and outgoing, while his wife is so sweet and embracive. The boys are wonderful; Enrico, the youngest (4 years old, so gorgeous!), is quite the character, and his whole family has translated numerous times how I have become his new best friend, haha. Gioele, 8 years old, is who I am most proud of this summer. When I arrived he spoke no English at all (having barely started it in school), but today we communicate almost flawlessly. He speaks full sentences all day long, and we study with beginner’s textbooks and my own lesson inventions every afternoon. It’s incredible to see that kind of progress (and I am reminded why I am in this field).
In May I planned my first solo adventure: I spent 4 days in Venice ... It was beautiful, of course, I was very excited to have my mother join me in June for a weekend in Rome and another weekend in France (Nice, Cannes, Monaco). I’ve gotten to enjoy the City of Water, the breathtaking ruins of Rome, and the beautiful beaches of France. We also recently spent a week to the sea, near Savona, where the family goes every year, so that was a wonderful getaway as well. During my first week in Italy, my family introduced me to the son of a close family friend, which was great because he is the same age as me and was very interested in also traveling abroad (I know he was in contact with the agency, maybe you know the name Federico). I met a lot of his friends and we’ve all grown very close. There is a photo attached of us when we went on a long hike through the Alps. Also, I’ve become good friends with Stephanie, an Au Pair from Canada! It has been wonderful having a fellow English-speaking companion. Another one of my highlights was the evening Fede and I cooked dinner for my family and some of their close friends – it was a really incredible experience that brought us all much closer together. I just feel very lucky for the rapport we’ve built; it makes a world of a difference, especially in such a foreign situation like this one.
This experience has taught me so many remarkable things about myself and my future. I have already gained so much in terms of knowledge and confidence and reassurance in the dreams that I’ve had about teaching and traveling since I was very young. If you had any desire for further details about my trip, I’ve actually been photo-journaling since the very beginning through a blog I created; But it’s all been about finding my passions this summer! And not being afraid to share my experience has to be part of that.
Thank you so much for checking in, I hope you are holding up just fine in the Canadian heat! It has been almost as hot back home as it is here in Italy! I have two more full weeks of work in Fossano and then I will travel with the family to Tuscany for a few days. Afterwards I have a friend from home meeting me in Paris for 3 nights, and then we will go to London (for the Olympics!) for four nights before coming back to Fossano to say our sad goodbyes and returning home to Canada. It has just gone by too fast. But I am so happy and grateful for how it has all worked out J
If you have more questions or anything, please don’t hesitate to write again!
We’ll be in touch,
We’ll be in touch,
Ciao!
- Kelsey
- Kelsey
I did a kid's summer camp as a camp leader in the UK through Scotia Personnel and had a summer of a lifetime! This was my first summer away from home but I met young people from all over the world including people from Australia, New Zealand and Europe. The team from Scotia Personnel were great and just wanted to thank them again!
ReplyDeleteI went away for a year as an au pair in the US thru Scotia Personnel and had the time of my life!
ReplyDeleteHey, I went to Italy as well and worked as an au pair with a family who had two little girls! I really enjoyed my time and am now looking at going to the US as an au pair!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great BLOG!!! I, as well, have participated in a program that Scotia Personnel provides!!! What an AMAZING adventure I had! I was an Au Pair in New York and I will never forget every memory I made while I was away!!! I am so glad that the information is getting out there about Scotia Personnel Ltd and the programs they provide! Marilyn and the staff are absolutely amazing and knowledgeable. I never would have stepped out into the world if it wasn't for this program, I now have a love of travel, and friends all over the world that hopefully one day I will be able to visit!!! Thank you Marilyn!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI wanted to take a minute to write about my experience au pairing in Spain with the help of Scotia Personnel.
ReplyDeleteI left for Madrid at the end of August in 2010, after having decided on Spain and au pairing after speaking with the staff at Scotia Personnel. I was really ecstatic to have found an economically savvy way to live extensively abroad.
The first months in Spain were incredibly rewarding and challenging at time, as is the case with anything new. I took language classes, explored the city and made many friends (many au pairs, as nearly all au pairs are eager to meet up and as such, getting to know people is not a problem).
In November, I decided to switch to another au pair family as I was interested in au pairing with a different age range. I continue to stay in contact with my second family. The mother regularly emails me photos of the girls and we exchange Christmas gifts by mail, she also offered to pay for my flight back to Spain should I ever want to au pair for the family again!
Around the same time, I met Alberto, who just so happens to be my husband as of last November!
Had I not au paired in Spain, my life today would be totally different, having never met many of my very close friends, new families or husband. Nor would I be able to speak the high level of Spanish I do. As a result of my time in Spain, I have also been able to expand my resume as a child care professional, tutor and ESL teacher.
Obviously, I recommend au pairing with Scotia Personnel to anyone who is looking to travel
I am so excited I cannot wait I am going to do my second program in the United States.I had a wonderful time in Europe.This should be a blast again.How I like to travel and work with children.Thank you Richelle and everyone at Scotia Personnel.
ReplyDeleteIt’s really interesting to go back thru these blogs and read all the comments people of left of their experiences! Thanks a bunch guys!
ReplyDeleteI was reading thru this awesome blog and just wanted to write a comment about my experience as an au pair. I have been an au pair in America through Scotia Personnel. I’ve had such a wonderful time! My host family was great to me! Working with children and travelling are my two most favourite things. I’ve travelled throughout the US with the family. As well, I’ve met other au pairs through the program from all over the world. Now I have free room and board wherever I travel and great friends as well :). I’ve had such a wonderful time!
ReplyDeleteI went away to London, England for a year working in a hotel through Scotia Personnel! I had an amazing time and I got to experience living with people from all over Europe and because travelling is so cheap, I got to go to a few different places adn was able to spend my 20th birthday in Madrid!
ReplyDeleteNEW YORK CITY (2007)-The year was 2006 and I was 20. I had just returned home from the United States after spending the summer in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania—working alongside an international team of young adults—engaging kids in the spirit of camp life. Working abroad opened my mind to many creative and inspiring possibilities—allowing the space to grow away from my family and all that was familiar. Upon returning home I realized I had come down with the travel bug—and Halifax just wasn’t cutting it!
ReplyDeleteI called Scotia Personnel, an agency that offers incredible work and travel opportunities abroad. Having just graduated with a diploma in child and youth studies—I was keen to work with children. That’s when I was introduced to the Aupair in America program. The great thing is, once I was accepted into the program, families from across the United States began contacting me—I got to choose which family and state I went to —and before long it was 2007, I was 21, and on my way to experiencing life in New York City.
Upon arriving in Stanford Connecticut for orientation, the adventure immediately began. We were a group of young women about to embark on a unique cultural experience within the United States of America, most away from home for the first time; we mingled and created memories that are told in stories across the world up to this day.
Now I could tell you hundreds of stories about being 21 living in New York City; I could show you thousands of pictures, but you really have to create the experience for yourself. What I will tell you is that the friendships made that year, as well as tattoos, have defined me mind, body and spirit. Not fully acknowledging then how special each moment was or how intimately I would treasure that time—I’m left today feeling lucky and grateful for such an amazing experience, opportunity—I learned so much about myself and had so much space to grow personally!
If you’re into igniting lifelong friendships from around the globe and love to travel and try new things—then this is your ticket. My group of friends that year were from Australia, Germany, South Africa and Canada—and their doors are always open. I highly recommend this program; I literally had the time of my life!
Scotia Personnel came to Algonquin College discussing their different travel and work opportunities, and through them I got to spend 1 year working at a Hotel in London, England after I graduated. The experience was unforgettable and the staff was friendly and super helpful. My friend and I got placed in great hotels close to each other and together we were able to travel around Europe and had an amazing time! Because of Scotia Personnel I got to spend my 20th birthday in Madrid, and was able to meet and live with people from all over Europe. I had a great time, and am looking forward to doing another program through with them!
ReplyDeleteI was an Au Pair in Washington, DC. Both the parents were architects, and the children I cared for were 18 months, and 6. My experience in the United States was something I will never forget. I made life time friendships with people from all around the word, some of which I am still in contact with after 2 years. I had the opportunity to travel the Unites States during my time off. It opened my eyes to a new world, and changed me for the better. When I moved home a year later, I was struggling with finding the right job for me. I called Scotia Personnel and they helped me find a job as a Nanny in my home town, where I currently live and work. I care for two children again, ages 1 and 6.
ReplyDeleteI had the pleasure of working with Scotia personnel through my experience as an au pair one year in the states and following with six months in China. I've always dreamed about traveling and experience another culture but never knew how or where to start. I heard from college school mates and family and friends about this angency so naturally this was the way to go. And I can't tell you enough how an amazing feeling it is to put ideas and dreams into reality.
ReplyDeleteThe Scotia personnel staff is very friendly, patient and incouraging when it comes to the process of getting ready to work and experience abroad. Any questions I had they reassured me and helped me through my process so I was one step closer to being abroad. The best thing was they share the excitement of your adventures and incourages to keep pursing them. I was blessed with two amazing host families and friendships with people despite having to part ways to our own countries once we where done, When the contract ends, we knew we would be life long friends despite the distance and time, cause sharing these kinds of experiences a hard to forget,
I had the pleasure of working with Scotia personnel through my experience as an au pair one year in the states and following with six months in China. I've always dreamed about traveling and experience another culture but never knew how or where to start. I heard from college school mates and family and friends about this angency so naturally this was the way to go. And I can't tell you enough how an amazing feeling it is to put ideas and dreams into reality.
ReplyDelete