M’s Au Pair Diary: A Milan Reunion with Friends
Every week as an au pair looks a little different — some weeks are about settling into routine with your host family, and some weeks are about reconnecting with the friends who make this whole experience feel like a community. This week for M was both.
Grateful for New Friends
Asked what she was most grateful for this week, M didn’t hesitate: new friends. It’s one of the quieter perks of the au pair year — the people you meet along the way often end up being as memorable as the places you see.
The Challenge: Train Strikes
Not every week is smooth sailing. M’s biggest challenge was navigating train strikes — a reminder that a little flexibility (and a backup plan) goes a long way when you’re getting around Italy by public transport.
Her “Wow” Moment
“I went with my host parents to my host child’s school to watch him present his final project — he designed a robot and was so excited to see me there to support him!” Moments like this are a good reminder of how quickly au pairs become part of the family.
Settling in at Pontedera
M spent the week at her host family’s main home in Pontedera, a town she describes as “like a mini Pisa.” It’s a good example of how an au pair placement in Italy can introduce you to towns and cities you’d likely never find as a typical tourist.
Meeting Up with Other Au Pairs in Milan
The highlight of M’s week was a weekend trip to Milan to meet up with fellow Rome Abroad au pairs in person for the first time. She met up with J2, B, E, and A6, and by all accounts, it was a blast:
- Hanging out by the Duomo and browsing the shops in central Milan
- Riding rentable electric scooters around the city
- Trying out Milan’s app-based electric Vespas — M even drove one solo
- Taking in the piazza views and grabbing breakfast together on Sunday morning
They didn’t make it inside the Duomo itself — the ticket line was long — but as M put it, the cathedral’s exterior is stunning enough on its own to make the trip worthwhile.
Bittersweet Goodbyes, and What’s Next
The weekend had a bittersweet note too: M met B during B’s last week in Italy, so their time together was short, though M was glad to have gotten the chance to meet her at all. She’s hoping to see more of E, whose host family isn’t far from her own, and she had Paris with A5 to look forward to the following weekend.
FAQ: Meeting Other Au Pairs in Italy
Do au pairs get to meet each other during the program?
Yes. Many au pairs placed with Rome Abroad end up meeting for weekend trips, day outings, or simply hanging out when their host families are located near one another, just like M did in Milan.
How do au pairs get around cities like Milan?
Public transport is common, and cities like Milan also have app-based electric scooter and Vespa rentals that make getting around for a day of sightseeing easy and affordable.
What if there’s a train strike or transportation delay?
Strikes and schedule changes happen from time to time in Italy. It’s worth building some flexibility into your plans and having a backup route in mind, especially on travel weekends.
Will I get to travel to other cities or countries as an au pair?
Au pairs typically have days off and weekends to explore on their own, which many use to visit nearby cities or even other countries, much like M’s planned trip to Paris.
If weekends spent exploring cities like Milan with new friends sound like the kind of year you want, an au pair placement in Italy could be your next step.
Part of the Rome Abroad team helping young women live and work abroad as au pairs since 2015.
