Wie weit ist es zum Flughafen?

Some have asked me how I came to be an Au-pair, while others ask me even “why?” The answer is somewhat complex in that it’s been many years in the making, but I can honestly attest that I truly am in the right place, at the right time, for this period in my life.

With my acceptance to various universities came the offer of joining the coop program at the University of Guelph from the very start. Most schools require students to wait to apply to coop after their first year. It was much more comforting to know that I had a spot (provided I maintained a particular grade point average) reserved from the start. And on top of that, Guelph was offering me the greatest entrance scholarship. How could I turn it all down? But in all seriousness, the Psychology program is great at Guelph, and I am quite intrigued by the research that the faculty is doing. There seems to be a lot of funding there.

Coop doesn’t actually begin until second year. In first year you must take a course on cover letter and resume writing (which was very tedious to complete and doesn’t count as a credit), of which you are required to pass. I completed it successfully, of course – one would have to try to fail in order to do so – and went on to my first term in the Winter of second year. The process of finding a job requires a lot of work and timing, and begins the semester before we intend to work. As students we’re given a user ID for the coop web page, on which we can view and apply to several opportunities according to our field of study. It isn’t uncommon to apply to 10 different jobs, and go through interviews for at least half of them, before getting an offer. We’re allowed to turn down one offer, but the next that we receive we are required to take. This ensures that employers get a student just as much as we get an employer. I really like the co-op design at our particular University. Having talked with friends in co-op at other schools, they don’t receive as much support as we do. For example, if we’re having trouble finding work, our advisors will step in to help us fix our weaknesses and find something before the search time is up. Also, if we want to find our own placement, our advisors will help us through the process of negotiation. And that is exactly what my advisor, Shelley Gallina, did for me this work term. Ms. Gallina once described that the co-op department is actually quite small once we get beyond first and second year. Quite a few students drop after even just the preparation course. There is A LOT of work involved in everything, but despite all of that, I really think that it is worth it. I've picked up so much from everyone that I've worked with/for, and I know where exactly I definitely don't want to be after graduation. I've also discovered which areas of Psychology I want to focus on in school, and have actually applied what I have already learned in a real setting. It's a lot of fun. For anyone considering taking coop, I highly recommend it, and if there is ever a time when you don't like the placements available, then talk to an advisor and figure out what you need to do to find your own.

After having done two work terms back-to-back (one at George Brown College where I ran a computer lab and taught a computer skills course, and the other at the University of Guelph Child Care and Learning Centre, where I am still employed as a caregiver for children 5/6 years old and under), I decided that my third and final (to be had after a year back in classes) was going to be something more of a risk. I study English and German also at Guelph, and since I didn’t have the room to complete the suggested semester abroad at a German University, I decided to combine the two a little. In that sense I am now working in Germany and practicing my language here, but am also completing a placement.

This year in the German Cultural Society of the UoG, we had a frequent guest from Germany looking to have a little familiarity in a country foreign to her. She was working as an Au Pair in Fergus to an English family. While originally I intended of finding a job teaching English in Germany, Mariam opened up the possibility of the Au-pair also. When summer semester came and I had to begin my search, I started to look also for Au-Pair agencies in Canada, found the closest one in Halifax (Scotia Personnel Ltd.), went through a series of interviews and background checks, and was finally taken on as a client towards the end of July. They promised to find me a spot, and they delivered. Two weeks later I received an e-mail from the Armbrusters expressing their interest and from a phone call with them a little later we decided to go ahead with the match. As an Au-pair I am promised accomodations and food from the family, monthly pocket money, within country transportation, and insurance - an amazing deal, I think.

It was such a whirl wind from there. I had to finish off school and physical exams before I could jump on over, but I booked my ticket not 2 weeks before departure, had a phenomenal going-away party at my house the week prior, and before I knew it was on the way to the airport with my mom. I really didn’t have a chance to fully realize just how major a thing this was. The stress of school and that German paper hanging over my head demanded all of my attention, and while at times I felt little bits of anxiety for the move, I was actually just really excited for the Summer semester to finally end and for something new to begin. I do regret not having really experienced the anticipation, but not having done so may very well have helped me to actually make it over here without the thought of backing out ever crossing my mind. This will all go by fast regardless, and I’m certain that in returning I will feel the mixed sense of excitement and regret for leaving Germany. I am in the beginnings of a love affair with the country, and I am really very happy to be here. Guelph is still my home for this time in my life, and I have 1.5 years yet to finish in the UoG when I get back (yup, I’m doing 5 years), but this is a nice addition to my learning schedule. Perhaps I will return for longer after graduation (that is, if doing an MA in Scotland doesn’t work out right away).

Candles