Ican’t believe it… I am actually moving half-way across the world to live in Sydney, Australia in just a few short months!! Yup, I am saying goodbye to my well-paying, top tech company, corporate job, and moving abroad for a year to be an au pair. Why you ask would I make this huge change? Because I can right now and it’s always been a dream of mine to live abroad.
Why I’m Moving to Sydney
I am 23 years old and only a year out of school. In July I will hit my year mark with my current company when I am expected to move up into another sales role – and I have come to realize sales is just not for me. My lease here in Austin, Texas is up in August. I am not dating anyone and don’t have a family of my own yet. Everything has aligned and fallen into place to set this up to be the perfect time to fulfill my dream of living abroad.
I always wanted to study abroad in college, but it just never quite worked out. Whether it was not wanting to leave a boyfriend/friends or not wanting to miss out on the fun at UT (both terrible reasons, I know now) or having to find someone to sublease my apartment for an entire semester… it just never quite worked out. But I have now been given the opportunity to live out my dream.
I originally thought of going to Spain, it would be a perfect place to practice my Spanish, as I really want to be fluent. But upon further research, I realized getting a visa to stay longer than 3 months was going to be tough and required me to be a full-time student taking at least 20 hours a week. I have done my time taking classes in college and just didn’t think being a full-time au pair and a student was going to work. So after researching more, I decided Australia was going to be the best option!
Becoming an Au Pair
I found my host family through the website aupairworld.com. I was a little hesitant to find a family to live with for a year on a website, but after talking and skyping with The Blake’s, I knew they were the family for me!
Gwen, the mother, is absolutely wonderful. She is so kind, and I can tell she’d do anything to make me feel welcome and at home in their family. She also co-owns an AMAZING design company that she is graciously letting my intern at two days a week while both kids are in school. Boxer and Co. – go check it out!
Stephen, the dad, works for an adrenaline sports company in Sydney… aka I’m totally going to go skydiving!
The two kiddos seem so sweet. Samson, 6 years old, seems very smart. While skyping with the family, he could barely put his book down to say hi haha! It reminds me of myself at that age. Onnie, 3 years old, is PRECIOUS. She is too cute, and all the previous Au Pairs have said she is so sweet and absolutely hilarious. I can’t wait to meet them all in person!
Starting this blog
I have decided to start this blog up to document my time in Australia. This website was originally a class project where I had to write a blog having some Latin/Hispanic aspect to it. I wrote on my travels to countries that speak Spanish or have a Latin/Hispanic heritage. I was going to delete them, but they look good on the front page soooo going to just leave them for now.
xx, Chels
good luck! 🙂
I will right away seize your rss feed as I can’t to
find your email subscription link or e-newsletter service.
Do you have any? Please let me recognise in order that I may subscribe.
Thanks.
Hi Jim! In the main menu on the side there is the option to sign up via email! Thanks so much!
I will miss you Chelsea.😔 And good luck!👍🏽 And thanks once again for the key chain!😋
– your cousin E
You are very welcome!! Give it some fun googly eyes 😉
Maybe. 😋
And also how do you change your name? Because mine right now is anonymous..
-Your cousin E
Hmm I’m not sure! There should be a space for you to put your name in when you comment 🙂
I’m going to try..
-cousin E
I got it!!! 😋
How are you doing so far in Australia?😋
Its great!! I am loving it 🙂 I’ll be posting a new post shortly with lots of pictures!
I did the same thing when I was 18 and spent a year in Australia, I absolutely loved it. Hope you’re having a fabulous time!! 🙂
I am loving it! Hard being away from family at times, but Australia is amazing!
I flew with Volaris and realized that budget airlines can pleasantly surprise. Check-in was hassle-free, the staff was polite, and the prices were pleasing. There was a question about luggage, so I just found the volaris phone number and clarified everything directly, conveniently and without nerves. Now I’m planning my next flight with them, let’s see if it will be as smooth.