OK... I'm thinking out of the box here

[jessia]

I am English but live in Poland with my Polish DH and my 2 DDs (preschool age). My kids are bilingual, DH speaks Eng but not fluently.
I just had the thought this week that maybe I could brainwash encourage a teenager from the UK to come and au-pair for me. I first came to Poland myself on a Gap year and fell in love with the place immediately. We live in a village just outside Krakow, which is one of the best places to live in the country (the flagship tourist city), on bus routes.
I am in need of occasional childcare (mainly when kids are ill, they go to a kindergarten all day), and light cleaning/ironing, the AP would have their own room and we have 2 bathrooms.
The au pair could also earn extra pocket money by offering English conversation lessons.
I know it usually happens the other way round but... do you think there's any chance of a British school-leaver being interested in coming to Poland?

I bet they would - why not? If I were 20 years younger and sans DP/DC, I'd come.

I presume you have friends and family in the UK - could they not find a suitable person for you?

i cant see any reason why not

sounds like a lovley idea

you never know

why not put an ad on www.gumtree.com

Jessia I went from UK to another European country to au pair for a family where the mother wanted to improve her children's English. I was on University holidays at the time. It was a fantastic experience. I was recruited through a friend of a friend...e.g. if you have any friends / family in the UK whose children are at college / Uni, they could ask around, put an ad on their site / noticeboard or something. I think most students would be interested.

Wow! Thanks, you've really given me heart. I didn't think it was realistic, though I know I would have done it had an offer come my way.I think we'll start off like ephrine suggests and try the idea out over the summer, and if it works try a GAP thing.

Thanks again