Nicole

If you click on one of these links and make a purchase or a booking, I may earn a small commission from that at no extra cost to you. I had wanted to go to Australia since I was 6 years old when we had an exchange student live with us for six months, but the cost to get there was significant, especially for a university student. Being an au pair is the best gap year experience for those who want to travel, learn languages, and get to know new cultures. It’s easy to stay connected to your family and friends, study online, or even do extra freelance work.

Au pairs typically work morning and afternoons for 15-35 hours per week and are free in the evenings and on the weekends to enjoy their own interests and activities although these hours will be dependant on the specific family and their needs. You can work as an au pair in nearly every country around the world although there are some popular locations such as Australia, New Zealand, England, Italy, Germany, USA, and Canada. There are some great sites such as Au Pair World, Great Au Pair, and Au Pair. You will need to consider the minimum and maxiumum ages of the children you are willing to care for, whether you want to live in the city or countryside, which country or countries you are willing to work in among other things.

Traditionally it was meant as a period to nap, but fewer people are now using the time to actually nap and instead enjoy the break from work. Some of the top museums to visit in Madrid are: In Madrid, people are used to tourists, especially tourists who are not accustomed to taking breaks. Some of my favourite parks in Madrid include: There are also many beautiful churches you can visit, such as: Taking a siesta allows you to have more energy later into the evening and with the Spanish nightlife lasting well into the early morning hours, utilizing the period of rest to refuel your energy means you will be able to take in all the Spanish culture. If you enjoyed this, be sure to check out more from Julia at Backpack English where she writes about travel and shares tips for learning a new language along with ESL teaching material for people looking to teach ESL overseas.

When travelling, we tend to place more emphasis on our phones and social media apps because we’re not physically back home to show our loved ones what we’re seeing. If you’re travelling with an existing mental health condition, you’ll want to make sure all bases are covered. It’s important to always store a specific country’s emergency numbers (usually three digits, but they vary around the world) in your phone, as well as phone numbers of info centres and your local accommodation. While travel has been clinically proven to reduce anxiety and depression by boosting gratitude and satisfaction, keep in mind that you also need to take care of your mental health and wellbeing while on the road.