“I didn’t leave nursing behind” – Jessica’s au pair year in Canada

I’m Jessica, a NICU nurse from Germany, and I spent one year as an au pair in Lillooet, Canada. For me, au pairing was not about running away from my career. It was a way to go abroad, work with children and still use the experience I already had.

Why I chose to become an au pair

I had always wanted to go abroad, but I never did a gap year or a long trip after school. But after I finished my nursing training at 20, I went to Thailand for one month and that trip changed something for me. I remember thinking: I don’t want to go home yet. I want to see more.

When I went back to Germany, I started working as a NICU nurse. I worked there for one and a half years and loved working with children, but after a while I realised I was not really happy anymore.

Then one day at work, a doctor asked me, “Why are you even here if you’re unhappy right now?”

That question stayed with me. I started searching for ways to go abroad while still doing something meaningful with children and that is how I found au pairing.

But I didn’t  just walk away from nursing. I actually got one year of special leave from my boss, which made the decision feel much more realistic. I could take a break, experience another country and still know that my career was not over.

Finding a family that felt right

When I found my host family, I honestly thought the profile might be fake because it sounded too perfect.

I had just signed up on AuPairWorld and very quickly came across a family in Canada. They lived in a small town, had two children and were looking for someone to help care for a child with special needs.

It was exactly the kind of placement I had hoped for. Still, I wanted to make sure it really felt right and that there were no warning signs I should pay attention to.

I sent them a message, and they replied almost immediately. We had one phone call and sent a lot of messages to get to know each other and talk through the details. I asked about their daily routine, the children, what they expected from me and how life in Lillooet would look.

Those conversations helped me feel more confident before making my decision. About half a year later, I moved to Canada. Sometimes I still cannot believe how well it all worked out.

Why this placement made sense for me

One thing that was important to me was not losing the part of myself that was a nurse.

I wanted to go abroad, but I also wanted to keep working closely with children in a way that still felt meaningful. That is why finding this specific family made the placement feel like a really good fit for me.

My daily life included normal au pair tasks, but also care that was connected to my background. I helped with meals, bottles, laundry, playtime, physio therapy and daily routines around the children.

Some days were easy. Some days were more intense. Caring for a child with special needs meant being patient, present and flexible.

But it also taught me so much.

For me, this was not a random break. It was a smart pause. I got to live abroad, build my confidence, experience a new culture and still grow in a direction that fit my work with children.

Being clear about what mattered to me

Before I went to Canada, I thought carefully about what would help me have a good au pair experience.

For me, it was important to find a placement that still felt connected to my nursing background. I also knew that living in a smaller town and having access to a car would make everyday life much easier. 

Because I was in a relationship, I also wanted to be open about the possibility of my boyfriend visiting during my au pair year. Talking about this with my host family before I arrived helped me feel more comfortable with the decision.

Looking back, I think that was one of the best things I did. I was clear about what mattered to me, and the family was clear about what they needed too.

That made it easier for both sides to know whether the match really fit. Not everything has to be perfect, but the important things should be spoken about honestly before you make the decision.
 

What I would tell someone who is unsure

If you are thinking about becoming an au pair, but you are scared that it might look like a step back, I understand that feeling.

I had a real job. I had training. I had experience. And still, I knew I wanted to see more of the world.

Looking back, I do not see that year as a gap in my career. I see it as a year where I learned independence, communication, patience and confidence in a completely new environment.

I was still working with children. I was still using what I knew. I was just doing it in a different country, in a different way.

It was not always easy, and of course there were days when I missed home or when things felt hard. But I also grew in a way I really needed.

For me, au pairing  was not just about going abroad. It was about choosing something that felt right for my life, my career and the person I wanted to become next.