A Week in the Life: K’s Joyful Week Exploring Italy
Every au pair’s placement abroad has weeks like this one — full of small victories, a few missed trains, and the kind of “wow” moments that sneak up on you. Here’s what K, one of our au pairs on the Rome Abroad au pair program in Italy, shared about a recent week with her host family in Rome.
What were you grateful for this week?
This week I am grateful for many things. The first is that I have a host family that I am genuinely excited to come back to! Of course traveling is amazing, but there is nothing better than feeling at home in a new place.
What was the most challenging part of this week?
The most challenging part of this week was saying no to getting the kids gelato, especially when I wanted one!
Tell us about a “wow” moment you had this week.
I feel like I always have “wow” moments here! A great one this week, though, was when the little girl came into my room during my off time and wanted to play. I was just resting, so I said of course. We played for a while, and it made my host mom really happy!
Tell us about your week!
This week has been amazing! To start with this past weekend, I went to Naples and Castel Gandolfo. Naples was the chaotic mess I always dreamt it would be. Castel Gandolfo, on the other hand — wow. A beautiful, stunning, calm little town. S and I explored it together on a relaxing day trip.
“We’ve started taking day trips during the week, and I’m so grateful for it. It’s amazing to be able to hop on a regional train for the cost of a coffee and be somewhere completely different.”
I was supposed to go to Pisa as well this weekend, but my phone died and my alarm didn’t go off. I was very upset, especially since I’d already paid for the ticket. Still, I took myself on a little date around Rome instead — something I don’t do nearly enough. I’m glad I’ve gotten comfortable here, but I know I need to keep reminding myself not to get so comfortable that I stop exploring.
The kids and I had a lot of fun this week, too. We’ve been playing new games and making up new ones as we go. My favorite time with them is when I pick them up from school and they play with their friends at the playground. All the other kids love to talk to me and hear English, which is really special. I’m just so happy to be here!
FAQ: Exploring Italy as an Au Pair
Do au pairs get free time to travel on the weekends?
Yes — au pair schedules are built around set working hours, and the time off in between is yours to explore. Many au pairs use weekends and days off for local outings and day trips near their host city.
Is it easy to take day trips from Rome?
Rome sits close to plenty of smaller towns and cities, and regional trains make it simple to hop out for the day. Popular nearby spots include Naples and lakeside towns like Castel Gandolfo, both reachable without a long commute.
What is host family life actually like day to day?
It varies by family, but most au pairs describe it the way K does here — a mix of childcare routines, shared meals, and the small moments that make a host family start to feel like home.
How do I find out if the au pair program is right for me?
The best way to know is to talk it through with a program advisor who can walk you through placements, requirements, and what day-to-day life looks like in each country.
If weeks like K’s — gelato with the kids, spontaneous day trips, and falling for a small town you’d never heard of — sound like the kind of year you want, Rome Abroad can help you find your own host family in Italy.
Part of the Rome Abroad team helping young women live and work abroad as au pairs since 2015.
