text: Living abroad is a great opportunity that need to be considered carefully. Fear of loosing your friends should not stop you - because any friend lost for an absence of a year is not a friend worth keeping. They could even use the opportunity and visit you!\n\nBefore accepting an au-pair contract though, make sure you understand in full, and agree to, what it means. It is actual work - housecleaning and working with children, and it is at times harder that you can think. If the mom works out of the house, you may also feel alone, and miss your friends all that much more. \nMake sure your situation will be legal! you need a work permit, and a legit health insurance - problems are fast to creep up, and you don't want to find yourself without a place to go, and sick.\nE-mail and talk to your family several times, make sure you discuss all worries you have; keep in mind not only your point of view, but also the family's. Make sure you have a fall-back option - a friend close by, or a plan of what to do - or a credit card to charge a back-home ticket if something really should go bad (it can happen)\n\nUltimately, remember that this is an employment, not an alternative family or friends. Like in all life situations, you may end uup being great friends, but first the employment experience must be a good one.