Au Pair Bucket List: 40 Things to Do During Your Year Abroad

What is an Au Pair Bucket List?

You've decided to go abroad as an au pair and want to make this experience truly special? Then it's time to create your Au Pair Bucket List, which is a list of experiences, goals and adventures you want to have during your time abroad.

The English expression bucket list refers to a list of things you would like to do at least once in your lifetime. In the case of an au pair, it can include visiting new places, improving a foreign language, meeting people from all over the world and discovering traditions different from your own.

You don't need a big budget or to organize trips every week: even a walk through an unfamiliar city, a local party or a new friendship can turn into precious memories.

Here are 40 ideas to inspire you to create your personal list!

1. Travel and adventures

One of the greatest advantages of the au pair experience is being able to explore the host country during your free time, weekends and agreed vacation periods.

• 1. ☐ Visit at least five new cities.
• 2. ☐ Take a trip to another region of the host country.
• 3. ☐ Organize a weekend getaway with other au pairs.
• 4. ☐ Visit a famous monument you've always wanted to see.
• 5. ☐ Explore a national park or nature reserve.
• 6. ☐ Take a train trip without rush, enjoying the scenery.
• 7. ☐ Watch the sunrise in a special place.
• 8. ☐ Spend a day at the beach, in the mountains or by the lake.
• 9. ☐ Visit an off-the-beaten-path place recommended by locals.
• 10. ☐ Organize a small trip to celebrate the end of your experience.

2. Language and personal growth

Going abroad as an au pair is not just about living overseas: it's also an opportunity to become more independent and improve your language skills.

• 11. ☐ Have a half-hour conversation in the local language.
• 12. ☐ Watch a film without subtitles in your mother language.
• 13. ☐ Read a book in the language you're learning.
• 14. ☐ Enroll in a language course or local activity.
• 15. ☐ Make friends with a local and speak regularly in their language.
• 16. ☐ Learn ten colloquial expressions that aren't easily found in textbooks.
• 17. ☐ Give a presentation about your culture in the host country's language.
• 18. ☐ Learn to navigate public transport independently.
• 19. ☐ Try a new activity that challenges you a bit.
• 20. ☐ Update your CV with the skills acquired during your experience.

3. Friendships and social life

The people you meet can become one of the most beautiful parts of your stay. Try to make friends with other au pairs, but also with students, classmates and people from the local community.

• 21. ☐ Make friends with au pairs from at least three different nationalities.
• 22. ☐ Organize an international dinner where everyone brings a typical dish.
• 23. ☐ Attend a local event or party.
• 24. ☐ Go to a concert or live show.
• 25. ☐ Organize a game night with new friends.
• 26. ☐ Have a picnic in a park.
• 27. ☐ Join a language conversation group.
• 28. ☐ Celebrate your birthday abroad in a special way.
• 29. ☐ Create a group of friends with whom to organize little adventures.
• 30. ☐ Keep at least one friendship from your stay even after you return home.

4. Culture and traditions of the host country

Cultural exchange is an important part of the au pair experience. You can discover culture not only by visiting museums and monuments, but also by sharing daily life with your host family.

• 31. ☐ Celebrate a traditional celebration of the host country.
• 32. ☐ Try five typical dishes.
• 33. ☐ Visit a museum or exhibition.
• 34. ☐ Attend a folk festival or celebration.
• 35. ☐ Learn a traditional recipe and prepare it with your host family.
• 36. ☐ Teach the children a song, game or tradition from your country.
• 37. ☐ Learn a song or nursery rhyme in the local language.
• 38. ☐ Visit a typical market.
• 39. ☐ Discover a family tradition you didn't know about.
• 40. ☐ Create a photo album that tells the cultural differences you discovered during the year.

5. Bonus: the bucket list to do with the host children

You can also prepare a separate list of activities to do with the children, depending on their age, your parents' wishes and your agreed responsibilities.

• ☐ Bake cookies or a cake together.
• ☐ Organize a treasure hunt in the house or garden.
• ☐ Plan a day dedicated to your mother language.
• ☐ Build a house from cardboard boxes.
• ☐ Have a picnic and observe nature.
• ☐ Create a small illustrated book of your memories.
• ☐ Learn a song in a foreign language.
• ☐ Make decorations for a traditional celebration.
• ☐ Perform a simple and safe science experiment.
• ☐ Create a map of places you've visited together.

How to create your personalized Au Pair Bucket List

You don't have to complete every item: this list is a suggestion to understand what you really want from your experience.

Here are some tips to make it useful:

Choose realistic goals. Alternate free experiences, small outings and more demanding trips, keeping your pocket money in mind.

Organize activities by season. Some events take place only at certain times of the year, while other experiences can be enjoyed at any time.

Leave room for improvisation. Don't plan every weekend: some of the most beautiful experiences can come from an unexpected invitation or a chance discovery.

Respect your commitments and your rest time. Traveling and meeting people is important, but having time for yourself is also part of a balanced experience.

Document your memories. You can use a diary, a photo album or a digital map to remember the places you've visited and the people you've met.

Conclusion: make your au pair year unforgettable

Your Au Pair Bucket List doesn't have to be a competition over who visits the most countries or has the most experiences. It's a way to give direction to your stay, try new things and come home with memories, friendships and skills that you'll carry with you in the future.

Choose the experiences that excite you the most, add new ones as you discover the country and don't forget to enjoy the simplest moments of everyday life.

Your au pair adventure is about to begin: what will be the first three things you want to check off your list?