All it takes is a little exploring in a foreign country before going to college to re-evaluate your priorities in life. Moving to another country is definitely harder than it looks especially when you're a nanny for three, adorable French children. Little did I know I'd learn some of the most important lessons at 18 years old and meet so many incredible people in countries across Europe.
1. Taking responsibility
When you're in high school, all you care about is yourself and what happens to you. But going abroad and becoming a nanny definitely will put your priorities in place. Although caring for three screaming, French kids were one of the toughest things I've ever done, I can say it has taught me a newfound sense of responsibility and what it takes to care for others.
2. Family is so important
It's easy to overlook the people you've been with since you were born: your family. But moving 4,000 miles away makes you appreciate them even more. They are the ones you talk to about everything and know who you are and being away from that comfort can be very hard. The only way I got through homesickness was speaking to them every day and sharing my experiences.
3. How to budget
One thing I did not know how to do before living and traveling on my own, was how to budget my money. It requires a lot of thought and self-control. There would be days where I wanted to splurge at the bakery but had to remember to save up for my upcoming trip to Italy instead. Luckily the budgeting I learned abroad will help me in college and the rest of my life. Sorry, Dad that it took me so long!
4. Navigating cities
Coming from a suburban town in Connecticut and then a rural every day in the South, cities was pretty unfamiliar to me. Who knew there could be so many lines and directions on the metro? A perk to Au Pairing, is you get your transportation card paid for so I could go anywhere I wanted throughout Paris. It also helped me when I visited new cities like Athens, Amsterdam, London and many more.
5. Making foreign friends
All my life I've never had problems making friends but crossing the ocean made me more hesitant. I was afraid no one spoke my language and that I wouldn't be able to find people I related to. That wasn't the case at all. Through my French course, I was able to meet so many like-minded people from places ranging from the Bahamas to Italy, to the state of Kentucky. I am still in contact with the people I've met while in Paris and hope to remain friends for a long time.
6. Wait to have kids
Ever since I was a nine year old playing with American Girl dolls, I have had baby fever. But nannying small children taught me that waiting to have kids isn't such a bad idea. Don't get me wrong I still love children and find them adorable, but when they repeatedly don't cooperate and make a mess then I feel pretty good living the childless life.
7. Less me more you
Throughout my time in Paris, I found myself thinking more about other people and how to make them happy as opposed to only making myself happy. Of course every day it is always important to make sure you're happy mentally and physically, but caring for someone else's well being can also positively impact you too.
8. How to survive in the big bad world
After high school graduation, you realize you aren't confined to the same four walls anymore. There is a world out there and you are every day free to discover it, which is exactly what I did. I don't regret taking a year off before college because now I know what's out there and that I want to see more. As cliche as it is, life is too short and the world is too big to stay in one place your whole life.
I hope anyone hesitating whether or not they should take a year off and go abroad either after high school or college, is inspired by this post. You are the one who decides how to live your life and it's only fun when you take chances and get out of your comfort zone.
people sitting on chair in front of computer
all stars lol GIF by Lifetime
two women talking while looking at laptop computerPhoto by 
shallow focus photography of two boys doing wacky facesPhoto by 
happy birthday balloons with happy birthday textPhoto by 
itty-bitty living space." | The Genie shows Aladdin how… | Flickr
shallow focus photography of dog and catPhoto by 
yellow Volkswagen van on roadPhoto by 
orange i have a crush on you neon light signagePhoto by 
5 Tattoos Artist That Will Make You Want A Tattoo
woman biting pencil while sitting on chair in front of computer during daytimePhoto by 
a scrabbled wooden block spelling the word prizePhoto by 
StableDiffusion
StableDiffusion
StableDiffusion
women sitting on rock near body of waterPhoto by 
Photo by 
Photo by 
Photo by 
Photo by 
Photo by 
Photo by 
Photo by 
Photo by 
Photo by 
Photo by 
