Photo: Design Mom

When my adoptive house family took me on holiday to the Swiss Alps, where I enjoyed a private chalet, meals by a personal chef, expensive French wines and free snowboarding lessons in return for part-time babysitting, I felt like I was living the good life.

On the other hand, when I found myself carefully scooping soggy poo out of the bath while trying to placate two screaming, dripping children, I wondered what on earth I was doing there.

As an au pair in Amsterdam, I’ve seen the good, the bad and the ugly.

Providing childcare and light housework in return for room, board and a small stipend sounds like a simple arrangement, but with a job that requires you not only to live with foreign strangers in a foreign place but to essentially join their family, there is real potential for conflict and discomfort.

However, with an open mind and enough research, working as an au pair can be extremely rewarding and a great way to immerse yourself in another culture. Here are a few tips for securing a place with a family, and making sure it’s the best place for you.

1. Use all of your resources.

There are two ways to find families seeking live-in help.

One is through an agency that mediates the agreement between a family and an au pair, making the match and dictating the terms of employment. The advantage is the presence of a third party making sure everyone is treated fairly and the initial contract is mutually upheld.

You might have to pay a fee, however, and there is a lack of flexibility for both you and the family. For example, an agency may set the au pair salary much lower than what families who search independently are ready to offer. Agencies in a given country can be found through the International Au Pair Association .

There are numerous networking websites to help you find families conducting the search on their own. The best is Great Aupair, but Aupair.com and Easy Aupair offer something similar.

It’s usually possible to find a position without paying to use the sites, but if you’re not having any luck, a nominal fee will give you access to families’ contact information and allow you to be a bit more proactive.

Photo: alexandre.galbiati

While the networking sites are easy to use and provide hundreds of families to consider, it’s important to bear in mind that no one is making sure that agreements (or au pairs) are respected throughout employment.

It’s up to you to make sure you’re safe and treated fairly.

Au pair literally means “living on equal terms,” which is something to remember when coming to an agreement.

2. Know what you hope to gain from the experience.

It helps to know what you’re looking for before diving head on into photos of smiling families,. Do you want a family that keeps the relationship strictly professional? Or do you want to be treated like a member of the family, tagging along to grandma’s birthday party?

Do you want to spend the year in a lovely country villa with access to the great outdoors or a smaller city home with access to great museums and nightlife?

As you will be living and working in the same house, there aren’t always opportunities to make friends, so be prepared to spend some time on your own and be confident that you’ll be satisfied with the entertainment and leisure activities the location has to offer.

You can make the experience what you want it to be, depending on where you choose to go and with whom you accept a position.

3. Do your research and insist on a contract.

Ask a lot of questions. Don’t be afraid to dig deep and find out what kind of people the family you’re interested in working with are.

Inquire about background, religion, career, and parenting style. Some of these issues may seem awkward to discuss with strangers over Skype, but it’s fair to want to know what you’re getting into. You’d hate to be the only person in the house that tries to discipline the children, for instance.

There are certain employment details that should be outlined in a contract signed by both parties. These include your weekly schedule, all expected daily tasks, room and board, possible flight compensation, vacation time, overtime, and language classes.

It may not be a legal contract, but having the agreement in writing allows you to consult it later in the case of a dispute with the family, be it over taking out the garbage or the agreed employment dates.

Don’t forget to check one or two references, such as a previous au pair or, if you’re their first au pair, a babysitter. You may trust the family, but it’s always a good idea to consult an outside perspective.

Photo: willsfca

4. Be honest about yourself.

To ensure your comfort and theirs, share as much as you can about yourself on your au pair profile or application and in subsequent contact.

Not only is this more likely to land you a job in the first place, but it will prevent surprises on both ends.

My family asked that I cook dinner several evenings a week, so I made sure to mention that my skill level did not go beyond scrambled eggs and spaghetti.

This way they knew what they were getting, and instead of being disappointed, they were glad when I learned how to make a few more things.

5. Trust your instincts.

If you get a bad feeling from a family profile or Skype conversation, listen to it.

But try to have an open mind and remember that the family is taking an even bigger risk than you by inviting a total stranger into their home and giving her (or him) responsibility of their children. If they trust you, chances are that you can trust them.

Community Connection

Want to work abroad but a little wary of the kids? Check out these ten travel jobs within your reach. If you’ve got your heart set on Europe, read up on how to find paying work while traveling in Europe. And don’t forget to figure out how to get an EU work permit.

Photo by rednuht

Lights spiral up a tall building, making it sparkle like a jewel in the dark. It is the tower of one of South America’s largest cell phone carriers.

I scan the burnished windows and imagine the CEO sitting comfortably at his desk, not wondering where his next meal will come from.

I despise this person because the amount of money I need to get home is pocket change to him, and the least he could do is share.

Photo by James Preston

Then I look again at the streets of Lima, and see a blind man holding out a tin can for money.

Next to him a woman carries an infant over her shoulder and two more children circle her legs as she vends small bags of candy. In the 25 minute bus ride, I pass dozens of poor men and women trying to feed families and simply stay alive, and guilt overruns me.

I left an apartment in southern Brazil to traverse the continent of South America and landed in its geographical armpit: Lima, Peru. I have reached a controversial point in my trip, a point I was pretty sure would come but am in no way prepared for.

I am broke.

And what a place to have chosen! I am walking the streets of a city where a quarter of the population lives in poverty, and I am dreaming of handouts. Lima is the fifth largest city in Latin America, yet with empty pockets, it feels tiny and suffocating.

I took a combi bus downtown (26 cents) and stopped at Church of the Nazarene. Not being a religious person, praying for help seems a last resort.

A man with no legs sits on a grate outside the church and shakes a plate of loose change. The grate emits a hideous odor and passersby walk more quickly to avoid it, ignoring the legless man.

The buildings and streets around us are sad: their greens and reds have dulled with a thick coat of vehicle exhaust, and the gutters overflow with plastic bags.

Photo by adpowers

There is not a breath of fresh air in this part of town; I haven’t had one since I arrived.

It is so noisy that I almost don’t hear the moans of a lady sitting by the cross walk. She has snow white hair, starkly contrasting her reddish brown skin, which is wrinkled like a discarded blanket from her years of apparent suffering.

She doesn’t look up or even hold out a hand; she just sits and moans.

Roughly ten years ago marked the end of Peru’s worst internal conflict of modern times.

Due to increased terrorist bombings and resistance effort violence, along with a severe national economic crisis, civilians fled from the valleys and mountains to the coastal city to look for jobs, food and shelter.

Unfortunately, Lima was not equipped to accept some two million new inhabitants, and this led to the development of poor shanty towns on the perimeter of the city, and a lot of mouths to feed.

Photo above and feature photo by antifluor

This is all too apparent if you’ve spent five minutes in Lima.

The slums that circumscribe the desert metropolis lack running water and electricity. The shelters are made of wood planks and makeshift adobe, and sanitation is practically non-existent.

The life expectancy of a child born in this area of Lima is ten years less than those living in the developed world.

On top of this, unemployment in Lima is roughly ten percent, and 50 percent of people are said to be underemployed.

And the gringa needs a job.

One guy offered me work as his pastry girl to humbly take his cakes to the streets of Lima. He pays “average,” which amounts to less than $200 USD for a month of full-time work.

My plane ticket will cost $800 and panic starts to set in. I decide to take a breather in a park in the nice area of the city.

Photo by visualpanic

There is a man in a business suit reading the paper beside me, drinking Starbucks. A woman on a Bluetooth drives by in her Mercedes. Groups of well-dressed students sit down at a classy restaurant.

Other people’s wealth is starting to make me crazy.

I suddenly understand the desire to steal, and all of the worries I had protecting my things while I’ve been backpacking immediately come full circle and slap me in the face.

Lima is certainly not without its wealth.

In fact, even with the global economic downturn, the Peruvian economy is on the rise. All across the city, the streets are being torn up and repaved, new buildings are replacing crumbling ones and parks worthy of a New England suburb are plopped down in the most dangerous areas of the urban center.

The government is using the improving economy to bring changes to Lima’s exterior, yet it still doesn’t have a plan for the four million impoverished peasants seeking a better life.

I take another combi to a different part of town. At a traffic stop, a young boy juggles sticks of fire between the green lights. He is no more than ten and has the talent of a circus performer. Quickly, he runs from car to car and knocks on windows, hoping for anything he can get. On this light, he gets nothing.

Image by circo_de_invierno

I found a volunteer job that houses and feeds me for a small fee, and the noose loosens slightly.

One day the group of volunteers decides to explore Lima. We visit the historical sites and museums, eat its inexpensive food and browse its markets.

Throughout it all I am consumed with thoughts of money. I find myself scorning flagrant tourists who spend unabashedly. I painfully envy individuals who seem to have disposable income, or who have any income for that matter.

Destinations

Community Connection to Peru

My workmates want to eat at the place recommended by Lonely Planet, and I am the only one who can’t afford it.

Still the couple dollars in my bank account is more than the boy outside the restaurant has. His clothing is tattered and face marked with dirt, and he squats with his head between his legs.

From my apartment in Central Lima, I think about that boy while I watch my bank account dwindle.

I realize what a fortunate hand fate has dealt me in that I am able to find shelter and food in a strange city, while a native Peruvian may be hard pressed to keep a roof over their head.

As I observe a busy street of people earning their daily bread, I have three wishes: I hope to help the kind people of Peru, I hope to learn from these lessons of life, and I hope to do it all with a happy ending.

Have You Heard About The Bloodshed In Peru?

On June 6th, 2009, dozens of people were killed over controversial oil fields in the Peruvian Amazon. We’ve got the story right here on the Matador Network.

“Peaceful Protesters In Peru Attacked, Killed”

For another traveler’s perspective on Lima, check out “Arrival In Lima”, part of the journal pages series at the traveler’s notebook.

Seoul by TylerDurden1. Feature photo by Stinkie Pinkie

Make that liberal arts degree finally work for you! Come join the best and brightest of a generation and teach English in South Korea!

All you need is a college degree, a passport from a first-world English speaking country, the willingness to adapt to a foreign culture.. and a pulse.

Pusan monks by Ryuugakusei

In this time of economic uncertainty, teaching English as a second language abroad has suddenly become an attractive career option, or at least something to do while waiting for a dream job to materialize.

And what better place to teach ESL than South Korea – “The Land of the Morning Calm” – which is one of Asia’s strongest economies?

Koreans are crazy about learning English. They recognize that it’s the only way to economically move their country forward. And they’re willing to pay top dollar – or won – to learn.

The salaries, along with the relatively low cost of living, make Korea one of the most attractive options for teaching in Asia.

But before learning to like kimchi and jumping on that next plane to Seoul, take a look at the three main types of teaching jobs that are available to foreigners over here:

Teaching by Kai Hendry

1. Hakwons

Hakwon is the Korean word for “academy.”

You can’t throw a soju bottle without hitting a language hakwon in this country, and it’s likely the first place you’ll end up teaching.

English Hakwons mainly cater to kindergartners and elementary kids, though there are also some for adults.

The hours can be long and the erratic changes in curriculum maddening, but they’ll pay for your round trip airfare to and from your country, provide you with an apartment, and give you a contract completion bonus equal to one-month’s pay.

It’s not uncommon for someone to sock away between $10,000 and $20,000 (USD) after a one-year stint at a hakwon – perfect for paying off your student loans or financing a backpacking trip around the world.

Just know this: Hakwon’s are businesses first and educational institutes second.

The academy directors will always have their eyes on the bottom line. Start losing too many students or garnering complaints from the notoriously fickle mothers, and it could mean the end of your job.

Also, like Korean barbecue restaurants, the quality of these academies varies immensely.

Some hagwons have modern facilities and provide you with a nice, new apartment, while others are dilapidated, lacking heat and/or air conditioning.

The apartment provided by bad schools is invariably as small and nasty as the school itself.

Beware of sketchy hagwon directors!

The majority of teachers have a decent experience working in hagwons, but there are some greedy, psychotic, and downright evil directors operating on the peninsula.

Horror stories abound of teachers being paid late or not being paid at all, having to live in roach-infested hovels, being cheated out of bonuses or airfare – generally being shat upon and jerked around.

Just know that in this case Korean law IS on your side, but the best thing to do is to check out your school before you sign the contract. Talk to other teachers and read any feedback you can find on the net.

2. Public Schools

In recent years there has been a big push to place native speakers in the Korean public school system, mainly through what’s called EPIK (English Program in Korea).

Public school gigs are definitely a step up from hagwons. The hours are better, the pay’s decent, and you are usually guaranteed at least two weeks paid vacation per year, though this often translates into much more.

EPIK also gives you a housing allowance and end-of-contract bonus. There is the opportunity (or requirement, often) to work “camps” over the schools’ winter and summer vacation periods.

These are intensive English courses, for which you are paid extra, of course. It’s a good way to pad your salary.

Korean market by Giladr

Beware of boredom!

Many public schools require you to come into the office all day during their vacation periods, whether you have classes or not.

Consider this paid time to hone your writing skills or delve deeper into the raging hell mouth that is facebook.

3. Universities and Colleges

These are the holy grails of Korean ESL gigs, and also the most difficult to get.

Generally, universities want at least three solid years of English teaching experience, or both a masters degree and experience.

Jobs are often landed through reference: like the rest of the world, it’s not necessarily what you know, it’s who you know.

Universities generally like new hires to be ushered in by someone they already trust.

Why all the fuss?

University jobs usually require about 12 hours of classes each week, and provide you with at least 2 months of paid vacation a year, the dream job of a habitual traveler.

Some schools give you 3 or 4 months of vacation time. There are also plenty of opportunities to pick up extra classes which, of course, translate into more money.

Beware of complacency!

Aside from the fact that some universities don’t give you an end-of-contract bonus, you’ll find yourself so spoiled by the job conditions that the thought of returning home and actually having to work for a living might make you want to remove your own eyes with a spoon.

4. Privates

Many teachers earn a lot of extra money teaching private lessons to Koreans in their homes or by moonlighting at other schools.

Know that this practice is strictly illegal. In Korea, you are only allowed to work at the school that sponsors your visa.

If caught, you will be fined and possibly deported, though this doesn’t stop many teachers from dipping into this huge well of cash.

The best way to find any of the jobs described above is to contact a recruiter.

Good luck, and as the Koreans say: Fighting!

Teaching ESL Job Resources In South Korea

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ESL Recruiters List

Dave’s ESL Cafe

Pusan Web

COMMUNITY CONNECTION!

If you’re interested in teaching English in Asia, here are some Matador articles to check out:

How To Get A Job Teaching In Japan

Is The JET Program Right For You?

Teaching English In China

10 Online Resources For Finding A Job In Asia

Photo: flickrized

I work on board a luxury cruise liner, playing games and doing crafts with children while their parents go to the casino, shop or disappear into their cabins.

Photo: author

I work on a contract basis and am usually at sea for four months at a time. I’m employed by one cruise line but the company can place me on any of their ships, which sail all over the world.

So far I’ve sailed on three different ships and have run into friends each time. The cruise ship employee world is a small, tight-knit network of young, adventurous people, many of whom feel like they’ve stumbled upon an amazing secret.

Job Qualifications

The only prerequisites for this job are a bachelor’s degree and experience working with children.

It’s also helpful to have your sea legs, physical fitness, a high energy level and a social, outgoing personality. Unwavering patience is definitely an asset.

Sea Day Or Port Day

There is no such thing as a typical day in my line of work. Forget about weekdays and weekends: the thing to pay attention to on a ship is whether the itinerary says “sea day” or “port day”.

Each port day my coworkers and I rotate who works and who has the day off. If it is not my turn to work I can enjoy some quality time off wherever the ship has docked.

Fee shore excursions are a MAJOR perk for staff. We can sign up as an “escort” for the tours offered by the ship if there’s space.

I’ve gone horseback riding in the rainforest in Puerto Rico, swum with stingrays in the Bahamas, ridden on an aerial tram through the rainforest in St. Lucia and sailed a catamaran to a remote beach for dinner and show in Mexico.

The only predictable thing about working on a cruise ship is that the day will end at the officer’s bar.

A Hard Day’s Work

Sea days are the busiest days, though I can’t complain because I still only work eight and a half hours with an hour and a half hour lunch break and a three hour dinner break. I begin work at nine a.m. and finish at ten p.m.

On sea days I follow the program of activities. I improvise when I see the attention start to wander because a focused child is less likely to cause trouble than a bored one.

On every cruise there’s always at least one child who stands out as a “challenge”, which has taught me to multitask and divide my energy between the problem child and the “good” children.

I now understand what my teachers meant when they said they have eyes on the back of their head. By the end of each cruise I have usually lost my voice from calling out instructions to the group and shouting at the misbehaving children.

“I Love My Job”

But I love my job, especially when a child runs up to me beaming and says “I saw you at lunch time!” as though it’s the most clever thing they have ever done.

Photo: ccgd

When I’m not working, the ship is my home. There are several luxuries I’m allowed to enjoy on board. I can (in fact, I have to) eat my meals in the casual buffet restaurant. I’m also allowed to make reservations at the fine dining restaurant on special occasions if there’s space.

I can go to the guest gym and use my crew discount in the shops. I can dress in my own clothes, with my name-tag on, and go to any of the guest bars or lounges or the shows. I can check out books or DVD’s from the on-board library.

On port days, I can swim in the pool or suntan on the back deck.

Another perk is the fact that I live with my coworkers and friends. If I’ve had a particularly exhausting day I’ll always find a shoulder to lean on in the officer’s bar. Frustrations usually melt away quickly with a look out the window the next day.

On any given port day I will throw a sundress over my bathing suit, slather on some SPF 30 and grab a towel from the gangway. I’ll meet up with an eclectic group of friends, we’ll scan our ID cards to get off the ship and then we’ll head out towards whatever adventures we might find.

And we can’t seem to stop saying, I can’t believe they pay me for this.

Community Connection

If you’re interested in working on a ship but would prefer a smaller scale experience, check out Matador’s guide abouthow to travel the world by crewing on yachts.

If you have an insatiable romance for ships but aren’t sure about full-time employment aboard one, find out how to travel by cargo ship. And if you’re just plain intrigued by the thought of an odd travel job, investigate ten travel jobs within your reach.

Matador member Becky Timbers worked on a National Geographic cruise ship in Baja and Alaska – check out her amazing photos of killer whales and grizzly bears.

Were do in jazz band in high-school? You can get work as a musician on cruise ships – check out jazz saxaphonist Linda Little’s comment on the travel jobs piece:

Cruiselines are great for entertainers (myself), but also for anyone who can work in the hospitality industry. Casino dealers, bartenders, activities staff, and youth staff (daycare and youth activities) are easily trained jobs that pay well on ships.

Cruise ships go to most destinations, just be prepared to do a less popular run on your first contract. I did 5 months in South America and 1 month in Alaska during my brief Cruise ship career and think it’s great for those with a serious travel bug on a budget.

For more info, check out cruiseshipjob.com or browse individual cruise line employment pages.

Despite the economic gloom and doom, there are millions of jobs available these days. Many of these jobs require extensive travel or even relocation overseas.

Some of the travel jobs on this list pay better than others. Some demand specific qualifications, while others are available to just about anyone who can speak English and button their shirt. Most are best suited to young people without major attachments.

All of these travel jobs promise overseas adventure and exposure to foreign cultures, so put aside the local classifieds and explore a world of possibility!

English Teacher

English teaching jobs are ridiculously easy to find in many parts of the world. It helps to have a college degree or ESL certification, but these qualifications aren’t mandatory. The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program is one of the best English teaching gigs, but there are countless other opportunities in every corner of the world.

Top 10 Places For Teaching English Abroad

Tour Guide

Photo by Marcin Wichary

Tour guiding jobs are plentiful if you already know a place well and have good social skills. You can either freelance, using the web to attract clients, or you can apply for a job with an established tour company. It helps to have a particular skill or hobby that you can share with your clients, like mountain biking or birdwatching.

Tour Guide: The Right Job For You?

Sailor (Navy)

Even when the last factory in America has closed, the military will still be hiring. There are a ton of reasons why this situation sucks, but a Navy job actually isn’t all bad. You’re very unlikely to see combat, and you’ll definitely get to see the world.

Join the Navy, See the World

Sailor (Yachts)

Photo by sharkbait

If you can’t picture yourself on an aircraft carrier, how about a luxurious yacht? Rich people need crews to help them get around, and qualified sailors with good people skills can travel the world in style by hanging out in fancy ports and making connections with the global elite.

How To Travel The World By Crewing On Yachts

Travel Writer

Becoming a travel writer is easy. Earning a decent income from travel writing is more difficult. However, if you can write fairly well and are web-savvy, it’s possible to sustain your travels on writing income alone.

Matador Travel Writing School

Geologist

Becoming a geologist will take some time and money, but once you get your degree the travel and employment opportunities are mind-blowing. Our hunger for fossil-fuel energy isn’t going to end anytime soon, and people who can sniff out the world’s last stashes of oil will always score high-paying work in exotic locales.

Becoming A Geologist

Peace Corp Volunteer

Photo by army.mil

Wait a second, you say. Don’t Peace Corp volunteers get paid pennies? Well, yes, but how does good health insurance, student loan deferrals and a solid $5,000 bonus after the end of your service sound?

Peace Corp Official Site

Importer / Exporter

There are cheap widgets for sale in China. Americans love widgets. So go to China, buy cheap widgets, and sell them in America. Done and done.

How To Start Your Own Import / Export Business

Host / Hostess

Photo by Timothy Lloyd

Japanese men and women will pay you hundreds of dollars to flirt with them in smoky bars. Hey, it beats English teaching…

So You Want To Be A Bar Hostess?

Diplomat

Yup, the foreign service is hiring. If you read The New York Times and don’t smoke pot you’re probably qualified. Being a diplomat isn’t all fun and games, but the pay is decent and you’ll have good job security.

The Life Of A Diplomat

Final Notes

Done with travel and want to find a job back home? How To Make Travel Look Good On A Resume is a must read.

An excellent resource for finding travel jobs is the website Transitions Abroad.

And remember, if you can’t find a travel job you can always travel the world for free.

If you have a suggestion, question or just want to rant, please leave a comment below.