<p>Hi,I'm a freshman at college right now and I think I may want to take some time off next year. I feel confused, unmotivated, and diectionless. I feel like time is flying by and I have to pick a major and decided where to study abroad, etc. and I real have no idea what I want to do with my life. I feel like I just need time away from the craziness of college to regroup and just think. I've also been considering transferring, but time is moving too fast for me to make a decision and I feel like my whole life is just flying by and that when I finally know what I want to do, it will be too late. And I know people say you don't have to know what you want to do in college, but I'm not sure if this is the I want to spend four years at.
So, any ideas for a gap year? My family doesn't have much money, so something that I could make money with or break even with would be nice. I've been thinking low-paying job or something like Americorps. What about au pair positions? What are those like? Anything else?</p>
<p>Feeling confused.</p>
<p>Thanks,
Ashley</p>
<p>I am taking a gap year next year (I'm a high school senior) as an exchange student to Germany. However, I was considering becoming an au pair in France, Germany or Austria so I researched it a lot.</p>
<p>To actually become an au pair, there are 2 things you can do: either go through an agency, paying money, or you can go through a free website. I have NO money so I was doing the latter. One you can try is <a href="http://www.aupair-world.net%5B/url%5D">http://www.aupair-world.net</a>
You can find positions rather quickly here.
Typically most families give you a salary of about 200-250 euros/month, you work 20-30 hours a week and they provide your room and board. You spend your working time with the kids!! Also most au pairs attend language schools, where you can meet other au pairs during your time there. If you have any more questions, pm me or email me, I have gotten a ton of letters from interested families who tell me what they expect and offer, so I can give you a better idea of how it is!!</p>
<p>Also, the fact that you speak English is great as well as unfortunate. I speak Spanish, and not a word of French or German, but the fact that I speak English made families ok with that. However, most families want you to always speak English to their children, and sometimes the parents, so it is harder to learn the language of the country.</p>
<p>Are au pairs ever of the male persuasion?</p>