An open heart abroad: life as an Au Pair in France - Emma

Épisode de La Grande Famille par Manuela Dizier Chanfreau · 2 janvier 2026 · 22 min

This podcast is an interview with Emma, a young Australian woman from the Sunshine Coast, sharing her experience as an au pair in France. After finishing high school and realizing university was not the right path for her at that moment, she decided to travel, discover Europe, and immerse herself in a new culture. Becoming an au pair offered her the opportunity to learn French, live abroad for the first time, and grow personally while caring for children.

The interview explores her long journey from Australia, her adaptation to life in France, the similarities she sees between Biarritz and her hometown, the role her large blended family played in shaping her adaptability, and the challenges and joys of caring for children in a language she didn’t speak at first.

With this guest I discuss the following themes:

Her background growing up in a large blended family of seven brothers

How her childhood and home environment shaped her adaptability

Her motivations for choosing Europe and France

Her decision not to pursue university immediately

Her previous experience as a caretaker in a dementia care facility

Her arrival in France with no French language skills

Building communication with children who didn’t speak English

Discovering the cultural similarities between the Sunshine Coast and Biarritz

How she maintains ties with her family from the other side of the world

Emotional and personal growth through the au pair experience

The importance of communication and honesty within the host family

What this experience has taught her about herself and her future

Who is my guest Emma?

Emma is a young Australian woman from the Sunshine Coast. She grew up in a large blended family with seven brothers, which helped her develop strong adaptability and caregiving skills from a very young age. After completing high school, she briefly tried university but realized she needed a different kind of experience—one focused on exploration, growth, and learning.

Before coming to France, she worked as a nursing assistant in an aged-care facility specialized in dementia care. In 2023, she decided to become an au pair and moved to Biarritz, where she cares for young children while learning French and fully experiencing local culture. Her journey reflects independence, courage, and the desire to discover the world beyond Australia.

Some quotes from the podcast with Emma:

"Europe was always a big dream of mine. It’s the opposite side of the world from Australia, and that made it really exciting."

"Being an au pair really felt like the best way to learn another language."

"I had no idea if I was going to be able to look after kids in another language, but you’ve got to try it to find out."

"Caring for people is something that comes naturally to me."

"Biarritz is kind of like the Sunshine Coast of France."

"The kids didn’t speak English and I didn’t speak French, so we had to learn to communicate without speaking."

"My host family and I work really well together — it’s teamwork."

"Being so far from home has made me even closer to my brothers."

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