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A simple, easy recipe. Spinach and Goats Cheese Quiche.

I’ve been nannying just shy of one year. And I have to say, I’ve been cooking for just about the same amount of time. I am what one used to refer to as a “hopeless cook”. However, sadly when you look after 3 children, that excuse just doesn’t cut it and you can’t just head out for dinner every night as I would have back in Sydney!

I thought for my first recipe post I would keep it to an easy one for any other kitchen challenged nannies out there… Its spinach and goats cheese quiche. I did this some time ago and since then have actually found better ingredients to use so I will just add them in as I go!

To make this you will need:

1 x Pastry base. Make sure you get the savoury one. I made myself a little quiche the other day and without realising it bought a sweet crust and then whole thing was inedible … into the bin it went!

1 x Goats cheese. In the pictures I have used the goats cheese you buy in the log, however I have since learnt that if you use the one which comes in the cone shaped box it is much more creamier and tasty!

Spinach. I just buy the frozen cubes of spinach from the supermarche here but you can use Fresh spinach too.

Bacon squares or salmon squares. I have found that buy adding these you get just a little more flavour, defeats the name of spinach and goats cheese quiche but that’s ok, it’s just an option to add at the end it you like!

4 x Eggs and some cream. Beat these together with a pinch of salt and pepper.

A handful of grated cheese. Emental or cheddar…whichever you have in the country you are in!

To make this… simply lay your crust into a quiche dish. Add the goats cheese. When using the softer one in the cone I tend to use half of it here. Just spoon it out in chunks onto the base. Otherwise if you opt for the other goats cheese, just lay it out like this.

Next you need to add the spinach. If you buy the frozen one you will need to have put it on the stove first to defrost it. Always put the spinach into a strainer after this and press it to drain all the water… otherwise you will find when you slice into your quiche, it’s all watery and soggy at the bottom!

After this, I generally add the rest of the goats cheese on top of the spinach here as I love the taste and this way it’s almost infused with goats cheese. It might be a bit much for some though!

Pour over your egg mixture and top with, if you like, the little bacon cubes or salmon cubes. Sprinkle your cheese on top and pop it in the oven on 180 (Gas mark 4) for about 40 mins … or until its brown on top and when you poke a knife in it comes out with no liquid on it.

I’ve tried to make that as easy to understand as possible for any - as I mentioned before, cooking challenged people like myself!

The next recipe I will post will be stuffed zucchinis which, believe me, is easier than it sounds!

Enjoy!

Note … Quiches in France are basically the “what to do when you have leftovers in the fridge”. You can add anything to a quiche … Just pastry, filling and egg mixture. We made one with left over ratatouille once and it was excellent!

Eliza

Tetta Ley, climber for Destiny of a Child’s “Climbing for Children”. Her story.

As you would have seen is previous posts, and on our Facebook and Twitter in the past month or so, we have been promoting our CSR through the charity Destiny of a Child. This charity supports profoundly deaf children, disabled children and Aids orphans. In Jan 2013 they are setting off on their second African fund raising event and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro as well as building 6 schools in Tanzania.

Whilst the registrations for climbers and builders have been growing steadily I thought it might be interesting to tell the story of one of our climbers, Tetta.

Tetta is a 49-year-old mother with a daughter aged 9. She is a trained teacher for the deaf and whilst she hasn’t worked for some time she is still in regular contact with many of the families she supported as a peripatetic teacher when their children were being fitted for cochlear implants.

After meeting with a long time friend, Sue Pearce – another registered climber for Destiny of a Child – and chatting about her upcoming climb, Tetta was very interested. Upon receiving the link for Destiny of a Child, Tetta was immediately hooked. Coming from a background in teaching the deaf and seeing that we raise money for The Ear Foundation, it confirmed to her that this was a climb she needed to do.

This however was not the only reason Tetta was interested in the impending climb. In 1990, Tetta joined a central team of 5 - of which she was the only woman! - As the expedition secretary. The team of 5, were joined by 15 other members who changed every 2 months, set off on a year long expedition organised by the Welsh Guards. The expedition’s aim was to climb mountains over 10,000ft in Africa and to canoe the length of the Zembezi in Zimbabwe and to link these objectives by travelling overland in 4 vehicles.

All things aside, political or otherwise, Tetta and the team ended up climbing 7 mountains, of which Tetta personally climbed 3 – Mt Cameroon, Cameroon,13,350 ft – Mt Karisimbi, Rwanda, 14, 780 ft and Mt Mulanje, Malawi, 10,000 ft. At the time, Tetta did not have the chance to climb Mt Kilimanjaro as the expeditions purpose was to provide adventurous training for the military and the Kilimanjaro climb was full with the soldiers! Thus, Destiny of a Child’s climb was the perfect way to finally get to the top of Kilimanjaro!

I personally, as well as the Destiny of a Child team, find this story incredible! Everyone at Destiny of a Child is delighted to have Tetta, and all of our climbers and builders, on board and we look forward to helping Tetta achieve her 4^th African mountain!

If you have a goal of climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, or supporting some great charities, including Destiny of a Child, ACE Africa, The Ear Foundation and Valence School, visit our website for information on how you can register.

www.destinyofachild.com

www.twitter.com/destinyofachild

www.facebook.com/destinyofachild

Eliza

The Benefits of using an agency.

As you may have noticed on our Facebook page this past week, at Nannies Incorporated we thought it would be a good idea to look at the many benefits of using an agency to search for a new role in childcare or a maternity nurse/nanny to join your family. In this week’s blog post I will endeavour to point out these benefits from not only the family’s perspective but also the maternity nurse’s/nanny’s perspective.

There are several online companies putting families in touch with nannies for a small fee, usually paid by the families searching for their next helping hand. What these online companies do not offer however is anything further than simply providing contact details for either party. Another common way of searching for childcare is through the ever-growing social media circuit of Facebook and Twitter. Whilst these are both great tools to maintain contact and link with people, they may not be the most reliable way of recruiting for your childcare needs.

Recruitment agencies specialising in the recruitment of maternity nurses and nannies offer far more than just the contact details. Whilst the fee is higher, there are many more advantages that will help to put your mind at ease and ensure that you have been offered the best possible candidates for your family, tailored specifically to your needs.

From the family’s perspective, you can be assured that the highly experienced consultants at Nannies Incorporated have personally:

- Screened each candidate presented to you.  We conduct in-depth face-to-face interviews with each and every maternity nurse and nanny that we have on our records.  With our offices located in London, Paris, Dubai and Sydney it is rare that we will have to use Skype for our interview techniques.

 - Conducted reference verifications, Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks Paediatric First Aid checks and relevant childcare qualification checks. We are thorough with all of these checks to make sure that candidates are suitable and meet our high standards. An article in the Sunday Times (http://www.nanniesinc.com/press.aspx) highlights the importance of these checks.

 - Confirmed the identity of the maternity nurse or nanny against original documentation such as their passport, driving license or birth certificate. 

Upon the offer of a position Nannies Incorporated will provide advice and assistance on the employment contract between the family and the nanny. With over 23 years of experience in the field of recruitment of maternity nurses and nannies, we will give you information on holidays, sickness, duties and salaries.

Nannies Incorporated provide support after any placement has been made. We will do a follow-up call to both the family and maternity nurse/nanny to ensure that everything is going well. We also offer a competitive 8-week guarantee period for our permanent placements.

It is also beneficial for maternity nurses and nannies to engage an agency for their job search.

We can assure you that our team has:

- Conducted a personal interview. This is a face-to-face interview where we are able to get to know all of our candidates so we can be assured to know the type of family and role they are looking for.

- Searched for the perfect fit. After meeting with maternity nurses and nannies we match all candidates with families that best suit one another’s needs and requirements. We ensure these steps are completed to the best of our ability to ensure both parties are happy.

Once placed with a family through Nannies Incorporated we will provide you with support whilst in the placement. This includes follow-up phone calls to make sure that you are happy and there are no problems.

The team at Nannies Incorporated pride themselves on being available for you both before and after any placement. We will respond to all questions and queries promptly and endeavour to support you to the best of our abilities through all your placements with us.

I hope that you have found this blog entry a helpful way to understand the importance of using an agency to assist you in the employment of your next maternity nurse/nanny or the search for your next position within the UK or Worldwide.

We have offices in London, Paris, Dubai and Sydney and you can be assured that a high level of service is provided in all of our offices.

For information on how to register as a client or candidate with our agency you can visit our website:

Client registration (for families)

http://www.nanniesinc.com/client-registration.aspx

Client Registration Paris

http://www.nanniesinc.fr/client-registration.aspx

Candidate registration (for maternity nurses or nannies)

http://www.nanniesinc.com/applicant-registration.aspx

Candidate Registration Paris

http://www.nanniesinc.fr/applicant-registration.aspx

 Positions currently available

http://www.nanniesinc.com/positions.aspx

Eliza

Relocating to Paris

A while ago I posted a blog entry on moving to Dubai and all the little bits and pieces that you need to either sort up before arriving or they’re just generally good to know before setting off on your new journey! I’ve decided to do another post, with some of my information from Ellie in Sydney, however this time regarding Paris. I am currently living in Paris now but hold an EU passport so this is all a learning process for me too and I hope it can be of use to you also.

Visas

Australians

To be eligible to live and work in France, it is required that you obtain a 12 month working visa. This visa requires you to obtain travel insurance for the 12 month period, despite whether you intend to stay for the entire period. The start date of your travel insurance is applied to the working visa. For more information or to begin the application process please visit http://www.ambafrance-au.org/spip.php?rubrique1

To be eligible you must:

• Be aged between 18 and 30 inclusive at the time of application
• Hold a valid Australian passport
• Not have previously participated in this Working Holiday Program
• Hold medical and comprehensive hospitalisation insurance
• Have a return ticket or sufficient funds to buy one
• Provide a police certificate from any country you have spent more than one year in over the last ten years     

Many other European countries also allow Australians to obtain a 12 month working visa. However, it is important to note that each country differs in their eligibility requirements and application processes.

UK Residents

For residents of the UK travel to France, with regard visas, is quite simple. Due to the EU Passport, any holder has the right to travel and live freely within the European Union.

Schengen Visa

This visa is a tourist visa for leisure, tourism or business and therefore not applicable in the case of relocating for work. For ore information on the Schengen Visa however see here: http://www.schengenvisa.cc/

 Accommodation

Due to the countless laws protecting tenants in France, landlords will likely require several things to cover your guarantee. These things may include salary slips, bank statements, tax forms and at times a third person must put up a bond to cover you.

Rents usually do not include water; gas, electricity or telephone but at times will include heating.

Finding accommodation can be the tricky part. If you go through an agent to find your property you can expect to pay an agency fee that is equal to roughly 12% of the total rental price agreed. Some useful websites include

www.seloger.com

www.lefigaro.fr/immobilier/

www.pap.fr

www.paris.en.craigslist.fr

(The last 2 are usually advertised direct from the owner and thus voiding the agency fee)

Health care

The French social security system remains one of the most generous in the world. If you live and work in France you are entitled to the same social rights as to French citizens. Foreign workers in France must get a social security number, which is organised by your employer in France. Upon receiving this number you can receive a “Carte Vitale” – Health Card. This card is accepted by most doctors and pharmacies and enables a ‘copayment’ for health care.

Bank Accounts.

If your stay in France is going to exceed 3 months then it is highly beneficial to open a bank account. As most things are done via direct debit in France it makes sense to open a bank account, which, believe it or not is relatively simple. The required documents that you need include;

Valid ID or Passport

Proof of residence in France

A valid residence permit (where applicable)

The debit card and check book will be delivered without difficulty and the debit card (Carte Bleu) is accepted almost everywhere. Most accounts attract a monthly fee of around €10 per month. Banks are usually open Tuesday to Saturday. Some useful banks;

HSBC France 

http://www.hsbc.fr/

BNP Paribas

http://www.bnpparibas.net/ 

Societe Generale  

http://www.societegenerale.fr/ 

Hope you find this information helpful! And of course, any questions don't hesitate to contact me as I have done this ever so exciting move to Paris myself!

Eliza

Destiny of a Child. Climbing for Children - What to expect!

Destiny of a Child – Climb Mount Kilimanjaro Jan 27^th – Feb 6^th 2013

7 Days on Mount Kilimanjaro

In keeping with last week’s blog post about the wonderful charity that all of us at Nannies Incorporated are committed too, I thought it would be helpful to include a breakdown of exactly what those who are already attending or who are contemplating taking this climb of a lifetime will be doing over the 11 days in Tanzania in January 2013.

The route that Destiny of a Child and the team at Hoopoe Safaris has chosen is the Machame Route. Its 64 km long and is to be done over seven days and six nights. Although slightly more challenging than other routes there is a variety of vegetation, scenery and stunning views.

Day 1. Today the team will meet at Heathrow Airport awaiting their overnight flight to Nairobi.

Day 2. After arriving in Nairobi a connecting flight to Kilimanjaro airport is arranged. Upon arrival in Kilimanjaro you will be taken to the Arusha Hotel for a welcome brunch. Throughout the day you will be welcomed by Ake Lindstrom the very experienced mountain leader. A personal medical checkup will be carried out and your equipment will also be checked. Early in the evening a group BBQ will take place before everyone retreats, ready for the first day of climbing the following day.

Day 3. This is the first day of climbing. You will be climbing from Machame Gate to Machame Hut. This climb is estimated to take between 5-7 hours and camp is pitched at around 3000 meters. On this part of the climb you will experience the mountains lower lush rainforests.

Day 4. Climbing again today for 5-7 hours from Machame hut to Shira Camp and Lava Tower, you will cross a valley and a stream, climb up rock ridges and hike through heather. You can expect an aggressive ascent of a steep volcanic fin that juts out of the mountainside however after this the terrain levels and the path eases onto the Shira Plateau. The camp is set with views of Kibo and the Shira Plateau at 3840 meters.

Day 5. Today you will be climbing for 7-9 hours and will enjoy some typical sightseeing that Mt Kilimanjaro has to offer. Reaching a high point of 4600 meters you will enjoy lunch before starting to descent for the afternoon. On clearer days, during this walk from Shira Hut to Barranco Valley, you can see Lava Tower and some distinct glaciers. The descent to Barranco Valley is particularly rewarding, the views of Kibo Massive are spectacular.

Day 6. Today the group will begin their ascent from Barranco Valley to Karanga Valley. At 4100 meters you will have lunch and have plenty of time to relax and take an aclimitisation walk if you desire. The views of the southern ice fields here are amazing.

Day 7. From Karanga Valley the group will now head towards Barafu Hut. This is another ascent and as with the day before the group will take it slowly and arrive in time for lunch and an afternoon of relaxation. After lunch, you guide will prepare you for your final ascent in Day 8.

Day 8. Today you will be climbing from Barafu Hut to the highest point in Africa, Uhuru Peak and back down to Mweka. This is at 5896 meters. The attempt on the summit occurs during nighttime, very early in the morning. There is a summit guide to ensure that everyone makes it to the top and/or is returned in complete safety. The distance for this part of the climb is relatively short however the climb is a slow process due to there being less than half the oxygen here than at sea level! On arrival at Uhuru Peak the team can expect to feel an array of emotions. If timing is good you can watch the sunrise from the highest point in Africa. After sunrise the camp begins the descent to the ground. The camp tomight is pitched at Millennium – around 3750 meters.

Day 9. The final day of climbing for the team sees you descending from Mweka to Arusha and a shower at the hotel. The walk takes you through the lower heath section, which quickly turns into afromontane forest. The walk concludes at Mweka Gate where you are greeted with a cold drink for the finale. This evening you will have a farewell dinner with your fellow climbers and enjoy you night of rest and relaxation.

Day 10. After a buffet breakfast at the Arusha Hotel, you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro Airport for your late afternoon departure to Nairobi and onto London Heathrow where you will arrive on Day 11, February 6^th, 2013. The final day of Climbing for Children.Join us on this amazing challenge.

For more information on the climb or an application form contact Destiny of a Child.

www.destinyofachild.com

www.facebook.com/destinyofachild

www.twitter.com/destinyofachild

Eliza

Destiny of a Child.

If you are following us on Twitter or you are a fan of our Facebook page you may have noticed that the Nannies Incorporated team have been talking about Destiny of a Child a lot this week. I thought it may be a good idea to give our readers a bit more of an insight into this great charity which supports profoundly deaf children, children with disabilities in the UK and France and aids orphans in Tanzania.

In 2002, following her first telephone conversation with her godchild after he had received his cochlear implant at the age of 3, Annie Martin, founder and managing director of Destiny of a Child and Nannies Incorporated, was amazed and touched by the gift this cochlear implant had given him and decided she would like to help other children with the same condition. Thus, Destiny of a Child was created. Since its creation Destiny of a Child has grown and now supports other charities in the UK, France and Tanzania.

In 2011 Destiny of a Child embarked on a journey to Mount Kilimanjaro. The event, Climbing for Children took place in January 2011 and a film is available on YouTube and on the Destiny of a Child website www.destinyofachild.com/fundraising-events/default.aspx

The event raised £227, 000 with proceeds going towards the UK’s Ear Foundation, Generation Cochlee, Ace Africa and Catholic Sisters of St Joseph Children Aids victim centre.

In 2013, Destiny of a Child is embarking on yet another climb. This time however they will be “Climbing for Children, Building for Children”. The 2013 climb will be supporting Valence School for disabled children in Westerham, Kent UK, The Ear Foundation UK, Ceop France and ACE Africa, Tanzania. The funds raised will benefit profoundly deaf children in need of cochlear implantation in the UK and France, Children with physical disabilities and associated learning difficulties in Kent, UK and also a Tanzanian charity supporting AIDS orphans. As in 2011, there is more than 1 option available to people interested in joining Destiny of a Child in this great cause. In 2013 you can participate in either of these 2 options:

· An ascent of Kilimanjaro to the summit at 5,896 meters/19,340 feet with an experienced expedition leader, Ake Lindstrom.

· Participating in the building of a children’s educational centre in Arusha, Tanzania. Local builders will support the volunteers with this project. No special skills required.

Nannies Incorporated, on behalf of Destiny of a Child, is asking all our followers to please support this charity, like them on Facebook and follow them on twitter. If you believe in the cause but don’t want to participate in the event, even sharing a story or re-tweeting a post is a great help in getting our message out.  You never know what one of your friends or followers would be interested in getting involved and we need all the help we can get to get our message to as many people as possible!

The project is limited to 3 groups of 20 climbers and 36 builders and is open to men, women and couples. Each participant is required to raise a minimum of £1,500 for Destiny of a Child in addition to covering the cost of participating. The  £1,500 can be made by personal contribution or by fund raising activities amongst family, friends or colleagues and in comparison to other charities who require a minimum £3,500 donation is hopefully a reachable goal for anyone interested.

For more information on this great cause, please visit these links:

www.destinyofachild.com

www.facebook.com/destinyofachild

www.twitter.com/destinyofachild

www.destinyofachild.com/fundraising-events/default.aspx

If you are interested you can contact Destiny of a Child for a brochure outlining both options in great detail and more interesting facts on the other charities “Climbing for Children, Building for Children” is supporting. 

Eliza

Information for nannies and families regarding Ofsted registered nannies.

It has been discussed in the news in the UK recently that David Cameron is considering proposals under which working mothers/families would be given tax breaks for employing home help such as nannies, cleaners and gardeners.  Ofsted registration coupled with the childcare voucher scheme gives families a helping hand in financing a nanny. The Nannies Incorporated team has been working on putting together some helpful information on Ofsted, which can be found on http://www.nanniesinc.com/ofsted.aspx and also on this blog post. 

What is Ofsted?

Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education) is known for carrying out inspections and providing feedback for schools in the UK.  It also carries out inspections on Ofsted registered nannies to ensure a nanny is meeting the requirements of caring for the child/children.

Why would a Nanny become registered with Ofsted?

Although it is not compulsory to become registered with Ofsted it is a benefit for families looking to employ a nanny as they are able to claim the childcare element of working tax credits or employer supported childcare vouchers (if their nanny is registered). It also serves as a peace of mind to employing families, knowing that their nanny has passed all of the required checks such as First Aid Training and has a full, up to date CRB check.

What are the advantages for a family with an Ofsted registered nanny?

An Ofsted registered nanny provides an array of benefits for the employing family, including benefits from the childcare voucher scheme. Employers are only eligible for the childcare voucher scheme if the nanny is Ofsted registered.

What are childcare vouchers?

Many companies offer the childcare voucher scheme because it is an easy and convenient way to contribute to quality childcare for their employees. It is not compulsory to take part in this scheme but it benefits the employees greatly, giving them huge savings on childcare over a long-term basis. It is used in conjunction with employee’s salary sacrifice.

How do you apply for Ofsted?

The nanny must apply for the Ofsted registration herself. She must apply as a ‘Home Child-carer’ not a ‘Childcare Provider on Domestic Premises’ as this is different. The nanny must hold a valid Ofsted registered certificate for presentation to families upon request.

The registration process for Ofsted can be done entirely online at the Ofsted website. Upon receiving your application, Ofsted will contact you with details on receiving your CRB check (even if you have a CRB check you will need another as part of your application process).

In order to register you must meet certain criteria, including;

1. You must have public liability insurance

2. You must have a valid paediatric certificate

3. You must confirm you have the ore skills in childcare and that you are suitable to work with children.

4. You are required to have an enhanced CRB check - this will be done as part of you registration process

The fees with registering with Ofsted are:

• Application fee of £103 (includes the CRB check and verification service operated by the post office). Please note a nanny does not require an additional CRB check if she has had one completed in the last 3 years by Ofsted.

• Public Liability Insurance: The cost of Public Liability Insurance varies depending on how much cover is required (generally around £70-£90).

• Paediatric First Aid Certificate: If the nanny already holds an up to date paediatric first aid certificate, she does not need to have a new one.

• ICP Course (Introduction to Childcare Practice Course): The nanny needs to confirm that she is suitable to work with children and has the Common Core skills in childcare. If the nanny has sufficient experience she does not require any formal qualifications in childcare. If the nanny has none/little childcare experience and no formal qualifications she will have to attend this course.

The whole process can take up to 12 weeks for the nanny to be approved. Nannies can apply to Ofsted at any time during their career, be it before or after receiving interviews with potential employing families.

Useful links

www.ofsted.gov.uk

www.childcarevouchers.co.uk.

Nannying abroad.. An Interview with a Paris based nanny, Heather.

I thought it might be interesting for any readers out there considering a nanny job to get a little insight into the life of – well, a professional nanny! Four months ago, I had the pleasure of meeting a fellow nanny, Heather, here in Paris. Heather is from the USA and decided to spend some time in Paris working as a nanny.  We have become good friends and shared some common traits: neither of us knew anyone when arriving, spoke minimal French and have both since fallen in love with the country. I asked her a few questions.

Tell me about yourself?

I am 24 years old, graduated from college last May, and I am a nanny working just a few minutes outside of Paris. I live with my employing family, which is German actually, in a beautiful large house and I take care of three children Monday through Friday.

Why did you decide to come to France to work as a nanny?

I was here in the summer of 2010 doing some research for my degree and fell in love with the city, the people, the language, the food, the list goes on. I graduated from college in May 2011 and decided I wanted to come back to Paris to experience being a nanny and learn French so here I am!

Could you speak French before arriving in Paris?

In high school I took two semesters of it but by the time I returned in August 2011, I still didn’t know more than basics so it was basically like starting from scratch.

What is your family like?

I am working for a family that moved to Paris one month before I arrived because of job relocation for the father. The mother works from home and they are both marketing directors of American companies. They have a 10-year old daughter and twins, one boy and one girl, that are two and a half years old. 

Tell me about a typical day for you.

I’ve learned working with children that are young means no day is typical no matter how much you try to keep the routine, I suppose. Monday and Friday they have daycare from 8:30am until 12:00pm so the mother wakes them and dresses them, I eat breakfast with all three kids, the mum or dad takes the 10-year old to the bus while I get the twins in the car and to daycare. I pick them up usually and when we come home we eat lunch and then the twins have their nap but having no nap is just around the corner. Then it’s a combination of snack time and getting their sister from the bus. They play in the playroom while I help her with her homework. And then it’s dinner at 7:00pm and bath is every other night for the twins. I would say half of the time I give the bath, the other half of the time the mum does but from there I am done for the day.

Tuesday and Thursday are great, slow waking up for the kids followed by breakfast with just us and playing and getting dressed. Daycare from 11:30am to 6:00pm so I’m free for a long time. I get the 10-year old at 4:30pm from the bus, help her with her homework, we pick up the kids, and I drop her off at dance. Once we get back it’s a short 30-45 minutes of playtime and then dinner at 7:00pm, possible bath, and then I’m free. They cuddle with the parents and get books read to them until bedtime at 8:30/9:00pm every night.

Wednesday, I think every nanny in France would say is our least favorite day. It consists of no school or daycare so for me it’s a full day with twins but for others it’s running around shuffling kids from activity to activity. We met another German family with a girl only a few months older than the twins so every Wednesday after breakfast we go to her house or she comes to ours and we play together and eat lunch together until naptime.

That would be what my life is like every week but nothing is typical. The parents are frequently traveling leaving me to do a lot more work around the house. It can be exhausting but ever-changing and fun.

Has everything lived up to your expectations?

I would definitely say so. I love this experience more than anything. I’ve learned so much from this family and from my kids. I not only learn about the French culture but also about the German one, including different traditions. This experience has exceeded my expectations. I love my job. It doesn’t even feel like one.

What advice could you give to other nannies wanting to nanny in France?

I have to say that being a nanny is not for everyone. Yes we may all be great parents one day but this job is not just about taking care of children, especially if you live with the family. You really have to be able to connect and become a unit of the family and be happy to be flexible. My best advice is to take your time, make sure you know what you want and make sure the family is a perfect match with your expectations, goals, and personality.

I love my family like they are my own. If it’s not a perfect match the experience will not be as rewarding and positive. Just don’t jump into everything and choose a family for the wrong reasons; choose them because you would make a great team!

What are you planning to do when your contract with your family is over?

I hope to get a teaching job that I’ve applied for so that I can stay for another year. My degree was in education so I really hope I can use it and stay for one more year. I may even continue to work with the family part-time because the twins will be in daycare all day and my job would basically be a chauffeur and entertainer for an hour while the mum and dad get off of work and make it home in time for dinner. So we will see, I haven’t solidified any plans yet. 

Relocating to Dubai to Nanny? Here are some facts to give you a hand.

With nannying in the UAE - and specifically Dubai and Abu Dhabi, becoming increasingly popular, I thought it might be helpful to include some blog posts on the ins and outs of moving to another country in terms of getting ready and set up both before departure and after landing in the UAE.

Over the next few weeks I will write some (hopefully) helpful tips regarding visas, health care, accommodation, tax and various other things that can make the exciting endeavour of moving overseas nothing short of stressful!

I will be getting this information mainly from an expat blog website I came across - a great place to have a look at if you are moving overseas as there is lots of helpful information on there as well as thousands of personal blogs about living/working/holidaying all around the world!

VISAS

For nanny placements in Dubai or Abu Dhabi through Nannies Incorporated, the families arrange all visa formalities for their nannies as the employing family will become the nanny’s sponsor for work permit purposes.

It may however be very useful for you to have some information on the process involved.

In order to live or work in Dubai you must hold a working visa. In order to commence your visa application process you also must have a current, valid job offer.

The working visa allows multiple entries, therefore you can leave and re-enter for work or vacation as you please with no extra formalities.

Your employer in Dubai/UAE is your sponsor and will need to begin this procedure with the immigration department.

Upon validation you will receive your labour card. You need this labour card to apply for a residence visa, which lasts for 3 years and is renewable. For foreigners residing in Dubai, this visa is mandatory.

HOUSING

Whilst most of our placements in Dubai are typically ‘live-in’ (i.e. the family will provide you with a bedroom & bathroom in their home or occasionally, a separate studio apartment), if for any need you need to find some accommodation to rent it is best to approach an experienced real estate agency. The growing demand for property in Dubai makes searching on your own quite difficult.

HEALTH CARE

To obtain a public ‘health card’ in Dubai you will need to go to our nearest health care office and present them with your official documents, including your passport, certificate of employment, 2 passport photos and a signed application form. After you receive your ‘health card’ you can receive free treatment at any of the hospitals in the public health system in Dubai. Hospitals, care and treatments are of very high quality in Dubai.

BANK ACCOUNTS

Opening a bank account in Dubai is a fairly straightforward process. You will need to bring the following documents to the bank:

•  Passport
•  Copy of your rental agreement
•  Residence visa
•  2 photographs

Upon presentation of these documents, you will receive either a debit or credit card. International credit cards are widely accepted in Dubai, however cheques are rarely accepted.

If you are planning on moving to Dubai in the near future I hope that this can be of some use to you.

For more information and to find out more about our latest exciting vacancies in the UAE or elsewhere in the Middle East, contact Nannies Incorporated and check out http://www.nanniesinc.com/positions.aspx.

Eliza

Franglish. A fun and exciting way to practice your French whilst helping others improve their English.

As I mentioned in the previous post, I am an Australian Nanny working for a family abroad in the beautiful country of France. As I also said, I speak very little French.

In my situation, I am lucky enough to have the time to attend 9 hours a week of French language classes at Alliance Francaise, Paris. Whilst my reading and listening have improved dramatically since arriving, my speaking is still under developed highly due to the fact that I speak English at home.  Also, my friends here in France are generally in the same situation as I am – English mother tongue speakers, or are French but speak English fluently and thus the conversation almost always reverts back to English.

After relaying my situation to a friend back in Sydney, she put me onto the idea of Franglish. On first look, I thought this most likely wasn’t for me. You sign up to attend one of the 3 sessions per week in Paris and upon arrival, you pay your 10 euro admission fee, receive a voucher for a free drink and take your place at one of the tables set up just for you and fellow Franglish-ers. When the session begins you have 7 minutes of talking to your first partner in either French or English (you will be paired with either a native French or English speaker – depending on what your native language is) before one of the Franglish team let you know its time to change to the opposite language. What language you start with is up to you and what you talk about is up to you. After the 14 minutes is up, its time for one of you (they let you know which native speaker has to change each time so don’t panic) to say your goodbye/au revoir and the process starts all over again.

Why I thought it wasn’t for me? Naturally I can be a bit of a shy person and the thought of heading into a crowded room, full of people I don’t know and talking in French when I’m not that confident of a speaker was utterly terrifying. The reality? Every single person that attends one of these events is in exactly the same situation as you. Of course you may be paired with someone for 15 minutes who’s level of language exceeds yours and you may have some moments of despair when you cant remember what conjugates with who but more often than not, the person sitting opposite you is going to help you get through it and their advice might be the one to help you remember it once and for all. You need to remember that they have been in your situation before also.

The session lasts an hour and a half and after the session I attended recently I spoke to roughly 5-6 different people. They all varied in ages, had different levels of English, were wanting to speak English for a variety of reasons and were a variety of men and women. If you’re new to France, not only is it a great way to practice your speaking but also the perfect opportunity to meet new people. Franglish holds events in both Paris and Nice (For those of us struggling with Spanish, they have something for you too, Spanglish – French/Spanish).  I would highly recommend it, and I am really looking forward to my next event!

Find out more information here:

http://www.franglish.eu/