Andrea, Nanny (München)

I am Andrea, a young female solo traveller from Munich in Germany (turning 31 in December). I have been exploring the world (Ireland, UK, Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Seattle/Bainbridge Island, Canada, Greece, Italy, Austria, Switzerland ... with short stops in Laos, Kuala Lumpur, Stockholm & Lille) for four and a half years now.

Back when I was 19/20 years old I spent 6 months with an extremely special family of 6 (mum, dad, Caleb (3 1/2 yrs), Jayla & Hannah (1 1/2 yrs) & Jared (0 yrs)) near Edmonton in Canada. It was my first time as an au pair - and I still treasure the memories I made there and the lessons I learned. In 2018, I joined Jade (single mum) and her two amazing kids Ioane (5) and Ainslee (3) in Martinborough near Wellington, New Zealand for 2 months... and loved every second of it. This year, I became an au-pair to an international family with two kids (girls aged 7 and 10) near Nyon from January ’til the end of May. The family and I formed a really special bond and we’re still in touch weekly.

About me

In 2015, I quit my job as an online journalist, sold everything I had and started travelling with carry-on luggage only cause I strongly believe we're not made to sit in front of a computer/in a cubicle for 40 odd years. I knew that it wasn't the right thing for me - so I walked away and started embracing uncertainty.

I learned that the most fabolous things happen when I don't make plans; that travelling is not so much about the places I go but always about the people I meet; that arriving at a destination is great but that the magic of traveling more often lies in the lessons I learn along the way.

I grew up in a very catholic, slightly struggling middle-class family with a mum, a dad and a little brother (2 years younger than me). I spent most of my holidays at my grandparents place close to the Alps in Bavaria (Chiemsee region) - I guess, that's where my love for being in nature and the mountains comes from. I went to kindergarten, elementary school and the "Gymnasium"/German high school and eventually did my "Abitur"/A-Levels.
Never went to university as I started a paid internship at a local newspaper right after I got back from my 6-month au-pair stint in Canada, got into a trainee program in an online newsroom, became a freelancer, got a contract again and specialised on producing search engine optimised content for newswebsites.

While traveling I helped in a private organic garden, with an Airbnb business and garden work in Scotland, did some housesitting, worked as social media and marketing manager in Northern Thailand, helped a single dad raising 2 teenagers and running a household near Seattle, built a website and did content management + social media strategies for a rehab center near Bangkok in Thailand, helped a single mum with 2 kids under the age of 5 in New Zealand and spent a summer working at a chalet/refuge in the Austrian Alps.

What my friends say about me:

Very organised | highly empathetic | great cook | very clean & tidy | enthusiastic about pretty much anything| resourceful & dedicated | practical & logical | honest & straightforward | efficient | quick start | flexible & adapts quickly | loyal | trustworthy | safe driver

I also don't drink (ever - and never have even tried alcohol), don't smoke and don't do drugs.

Why do you want to be a nanny?

I want to be a nanny because I love kids but are not ready to have any of my own yet. I especially enjoy exploring the world together with them and through their eyes as well as learning with and from them. I hope to enrich the kids life through teaching them some of the things I have learned along the way (may it be a language, cooking/baking, falling in love with books and stories, enjoying the outdoors, not being afraid of different cultures, etc.).

Why Switzerland?

I am currently looking for a position in Switzerland (preferably either in Vaud/around Geneva or in the German-speaking part) to be closer to friends & family.

If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to get in touch and fire away.

I am also happy to provide references and letter of recommendation from my Swiss au-pair family (but it's too long to post here).