A Week of Getting (Happily) Lost in Rome
Every week, our au pairs check in with a short reflection on how life abroad is going. This week’s update comes from C, an au pair living with a host family in Rome, who spent the week trading tourist checklists for something better: actually living in the city.
What she was grateful for
“For nature and the beauty of all things green and floral.”
The biggest challenge
“This week, directions were challenging.”
Her “wow” moment
It was the youngest host child’s birthday, so C stayed up late blowing up balloons so he’d wake up to a surprise.
Trading Tourist Mode for Real Life in Rome
This was a quiet week for C — less sightseeing, more settling in. She wandered through local street stands and the outdoor market near her host family’s home, taking in the color of fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers, and lemon trees (and, less romantically, the meat stalls).
On the rainy, gray days, she found her own routine: ducking into the neighborhood bar for a cappuccino and watching the soggy world go by outside.
Getting Lost on the Way to Everywhere
C got turned around more than a few times that week — sometimes in a hurry, sometimes with nowhere to be. On one wrong turn, she stumbled onto the Spanish Steps while looking for the Trevi Fountain. On another, she found the gardens of Villa Borghese while trying to find her way back to the Spanish Steps.
The Spanish Steps offered a sweeping view over the city, with the fountain at their base and small shops and stalls filling the square around them.
“The Villa Borghese gardens were a fairytale. I’ve never been more in love with something in my whole life. Everywhere you walk is greenery, statues, old buildings, fountains, a theatre, a lake, locals jogging, men playing guitars and trumpets. I was overwhelmed with a feeling of peace and utter happiness. The park was so large that even with all the people there, I never felt crowded.”
She visited the Trevi Fountain again after dark to toss in a coin and wish herself back to Rome someday. Lit up at night or shining in the sun, the fountain’s statues and rushing water are a lot to take in either way.
Moments like these are why so many of our au pairs on the Italy program say their favorite parts of the experience end up being the ones they never planned for.
FAQ: Life in Rome as an Au Pair
Is Villa Borghese worth visiting?
Yes — it’s one of Rome’s largest and most beloved public parks, with gardens, lakes, statues, and shaded paths that make it a favorite escape for both locals and visitors.
Do you have to pay to see the Trevi Fountain or the Villa Borghese gardens?
No, both are free public spaces you can visit any time. (Some attractions inside Villa Borghese, like the Borghese Gallery, do require a separate ticket.)
How much free time do au pairs in Rome usually have to explore?
Free time varies by host family and arrangement, but most au pairs build in regular time each week to explore their city and surrounding areas.
Is it easy to get lost while exploring Rome?
Very — Rome’s winding streets aren’t always intuitive, but getting turned around is often how people stumble onto their favorite spots, as C did with the Spanish Steps and Villa Borghese.
If wandering into fountains, gardens, and quiet corners of a city like Rome sounds like the kind of everyday magic you’re after, Rome Abroad can help you make it your own life for a while.
Part of the Rome Abroad team helping young women live and work abroad as au pairs since 2015.
