MY EMBASSY INTERVIEW!

Disclaimer: I've written this before with the notion that I would be able to pass my visa application as an Au Pair in Denmark hassle-free. But we know how life is; not everything that we plan comes into fruition. I am publishing this right now so other people can see the step-by-step guide even if it did not work out for me. This would definitely help out others who wants to be an Au Pair in Europe. I'm still waiting for the result of my appeal to the Danish Immigration Appeals Board. They declined my application because they said that they did not found the stay to have a natural correlation with my life. The decision confused me a lot because this is a cultural exchange experience. Anyway, more of this later when I am finally able to write the result of the appeal.

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I am writing this today, July 22, eight hours after my embassy interview.

I am freaking out right now because I felt like I made a terrible boo-boo as I was really nervous during that time that I failed to count properly. I just couldn't think straightly. Anyway, I will tell you a lot more details down below.

Hours before the Interview

I woke up really early since I wasn't able to sleep properly the night before. I am always like this. Even when we have scheduled fieldworks the next morning during my undergrad years, sleep would elude me all the time. My classmates thought that I was joking and even laughed at me when I told them about this but damn, I couldn't really have a good night sleep if I have such big events the following day.

I was up at 5am, when I slept at around 1am or so. The cold wasn't helping too so I was really uncomfortable and worried that I might get sick because of it. I just lie down in my bed, checked my game and waited for my boyfriend to call me at 6am. He promised to help me practice answering the set of questions I've prepared (see previous blog) so I wasn't really stressing out about that. The previous night though was another story but I wouldn't really tell you about that.

So we practiced. Then we chilled a bit afterwards to watch One Piece and Ken's video about that stupid TLC show (sister wife?). We said good bye at 9am and I started to prepare. I also answered some officemates who really doesn't respect the meaning of a "time off" or a filed leave. I mean it's okay for my friends but for those people that I SPECIFICALLY ASKED TO NOT CONTACT ME!? Chill, bruh. I have been so sick and tired of their bullshit all week and it's not my fault that we are not able to achieve their deadline. Not my problem.

Getting There

My appointment is for 12:30pm. As it was raining a lot these past few days, I decided to NOT commute as I am wearing a really nice office attire (gray skirt and blue blouse, y'all! Feeling girly-girl!) I really tidied up for today, even wearing the clips that I bought years ago for my long hair (now, I am sporting a short one).

I was already dressed up at 9:50am, taking photos for my jowa to judge me (and he did judged me). I told myself that I would be there as early as two hours before my appointment. I checked my Grab for fares and I reserved a car at around 10:40 or so. Already late in my mind but wth! I was trying to watch a portion of the H3's Families Podcast. 

As I am currently residing in Mandaluyong, the Grab ride only lasted for about a good 20 minutes or so. I looked at my phone when the driver dropped me off at the building where the Danish Embassy is located. It was 11:03am in my clock. I immediately asked the guard the time I can go up and wait there and he told me it's gonna be at 12:00pm. 

Waiting Time

There was a Burger King in the building itself and an adjacent KFC next door. I opted not to stay inside of both establishments since my braces just got readjusted and it is an agony to eat. I also don't want to eat, ngl. I don't want to smell bad or something when I do the interview. I am already freaking out of nervousness and another concern wouldn't help me.

So I walked. Walked like a madman in the rain. Walking is something that I would do if I am restless. I explored that portion of BGC with a wet feet and doll shoes albeit a tranquil spirit. I saw a Jollibee nearby but decided against it as well. At first I was contemplating to just get an ice cream and sit there but then I remembered that I don't have any cash with me (first world problem, I know). I walked in the opposite direction of the Jollibee and saw from a far a church (I think it's St. Michael the Archangel Parish Church if I am not mistaken). Also played with the idea of just sitting there for awhile and maybe pray but the church is close (as it should be during this pandemic). 

I then found myself following directions to get to the Uptown Mall. I am not familiar with the mall so I just walked and walked until I get there. Despite the rain, I noticed that there are some people dining out in al fresco style. They don't mind to get wet. Kinda fun imo if only I could eat properly.

Once I got to the mall, it was already 11:13am. Walking felt forever but since I am a fast walker, only a short amount of time has passed. I told myself that I should stay in the mall until 11:30am or so then start walking back to the embassy.

And so I walked some more. I entered a Toys R Us store and looked at their Barbie stuff. I did not saw anything special but it was quite interesting that Mattel is now selling some dolls packaged inside a reusable pouch. A good idea considering that the plastic they use in their packaging bothers me a lot. They should do that for all their dolls (save the environment as much as you can). I did not buy anything in there. I just looked around.

Before I knew it, it's almost 11:30. I called a friend to chat with him for a bit to amused myself. He was working on the side and his connection was really shitty. He blamed it on his headset though and I was not buying it. Haha. I felt like he was in a rave or something. I was still on a call with him when I decided to head back to the Danish Embassy. I panicked a little bit because I couldn't remember where I entered the mall and there seems to be three entrances in there. He then laughed at me and told me that I would be really stupid to get lost when I am a geologist. I don't really know why it matters because I can also get lost in the field, lol.

When I got out of the mall, after some curious stares from the guard there who heard me panicking that I couldn't remember where I came from, it was raining harder than it was earlier. I sucked it up and walked back immediately as time was moving a little bit faster now that I am rushing. I have to stop though two blocks away because it was really pouring hard. I have to stand in front of a bank with other people who were also waiting for the skies to calm the f down.

In the Building

I managed to get into the building unscathed at 12pm sharp. With only my feet wet, I did the standard Covid Info Sheet. The guard then asked me to go to the front desk and show my appointment to the receptionist. Surprisingly, they did not asked for any ID card. I was weirded out by that but that's one less hassle to deal with.

The receptionist just wrote my name and he told me to just hop on the elevator and press the 11th button. While waiting for the elevator though, I saw this girl wearing a denim miniskirt stand next to me. She's also waiting. I thought about the "dress code" that this building is implementing. I guess they accept a denim miniskirt inside then.

The girl hopped in the elevator with me as well and surprised, surprised, she's also alighting on the 11th floor. It was now really weird because I was trying to figure out if she's working for the embassy. 

So the elevator door opened and I got so confused. The girl entered on the first door in that floor. So there's another tenant in the 11th floor aside from the Danish Embassy. Forgot the name of her company.

The Danish Embassy Premises

Once you get out of the elevator, turn right and walk directly to the door where you can see a police officer and a guard hanging out. That's where you're going to be interviewed.

Surprisingly again, they are both nice unlike the experience of that girl I watched on YouTube. They even made some small talk with me, asking me if I was cold since I moved from where I was sitting down and if it's raining hard outside.

Anyway, your belongings will be surrendered and put in a locker where the key will be given to you. You will be then asked to sit down in another lobby facing two doors where the interviews will be conducted. A glass panel separates the interviewee from the interviewer. You will not have a direct contact with them.

I was the only one waiting in there and it was getting a little bit lonely. It stayed that way until the interview started at exactly 12:30pm (I supposed since I waited in there to what it seems to be forever). I was alone. No one else came for the 12:30pm schedule. 

So the most interesting part:

They will tell you first that the interview is gonna be conducted in English to test your English Proficiency but the final decision is still up to SIRI (Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration). They will also inform you that they will be recording your answer so they would be typing while they are interviewing you. Then the interview will commence.

Here are the questions that were asked to me:

1. Why do you think English is important?
2. Tell me about your family.
3. Why do you want to be an au pair?
4. What are the tasks that you will do as an au pair?
5. What is your highest educational attainment?
6. From the date of your graduation up until this point, describe what you've been doing or working on.

Since I was wearing a mask (double masks!), the interviewer asked me quite a few times to repeat my answer because he couldn't hear me. I think they were used to the situation though because he was really apologetic every time he asked me to repeat my answers. I was talking really loud though, I felt I was shouting.

About the fucked up I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, it was about my contract with a Bureau I've worked before as a Contract of Service. In reality, I wasn't lying. They did made us sign a 6-months contract when in reality, we only worked for 5 months. Don't asked me what happened to that 1 month salary, I don't know what to tell you. So in my application form, it was written that the job started in February, not January. Technically, the data that I said vs. the data that I declared in writing were NOT compatible. So I am nervous about that. I don't know what to do with it.

After the interview, they would tell you if you passed the English Proficiency or not. They will then tell you to sign the transcript of the interview and then repeat once again that the result of this will not affect the decision of SIRI (well, that sucks).

Aftermath

The interview was probably really short. The guard was really surprised when I got out of the door because he asked me if it was already over. I obviously said yes and he was really confused. I then asked him if it usually last longer while I was getting my stuff and he confirmed it. He said that it usually does take long. I got scared by that comment. What if I already failed? 

Anyway, after my interview, I informed my host mom that I was already done with it and now we're just gonna wait for the visa. She was really happy about it and the fact that I managed to get an earlier date for my interview (I surprised her with it). She then told me that she will call SIRI on Monday and asked immediately for the status of it. She said that she's gonna give the embassy some time to send the documents from Manila to Denmark before she calls them. Besides, she was also in a holiday in Spain with her family. She also mentioned that their current au pair is with them. I kinda felt happy about that. Haha. I hope they would also be comfortable enough with me to take me to holidays.

Conclusion

Well, the waiting and preparations were grueling but the event in itself was rather uneventful (at least for me). I let nervousness get the best of me and I kinda slipped in there a bit. I am just gonna wait for the result for now and trust in fate and God that this will work out fine.

Tschuss for now.

Or in Danish, farvel. 

[Life Blog] Guides on How to write your Motivation Letter - Au Pair

One of the first step that you should do to get into this whole au pairing thing is to look for a host family. But, out of all the applicants out there and only a couple of host families, how are you going to stand out from the rest? Of course, it’s via writing your motivation letter/letter to the host family.

Just like in every formal/grown up thing you do these days, a proper presentation of yourself is very important. Since the families can’t really just talk to you when they want to, writing about yourself in a striking and promising manner will make you memorable. Remember, most of these families are looking for a perfect fit in their household so your values should fit in more ways than one.

The dummy guide is this: for those who are still studying, it’s the same when you wrote your motivation letter to get into the college or program of your choice and for our working brethren, it’s equivalent to your cover letter. You write it to get it and not just to be done with it.

One of the coolest guides that I encountered during my journey is from Aupair.com. These are the main topics that they will give you to outline your letter for your host:

• Who you are,
• Why you want to become an Au Pair,
•  Why they should host you,
• Why you qualify for the position,

The good thing about this is –you can get as personal as you want it to be. The answers to these are not as formal and, I wanna say, cold, as to the questions that you should answer during the embassy interview.

Who you are

The basics are of course: (1) an interesting opening as to who you are, (2) your educational background and (3) your current occupation and/or interest that you are focusing on right now. The most important thing under this topic is (4) the description of your family life and your interactions with children.

For Filipino aspirants, the fourth subtopic is a rather easy one to write about. I don’t know how it is for other cultures, so I am gonna stick with the one I know best. Since most of us grew up and is continuously living with our extended family (living with aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, etc. for those who are not familiar), it is easy to say how well-versed we are with childcare and household works. In my own experience, I grew up with 1 younger brother, two younger cousins and a younger aunt (I know it’s weird). I basically ruled, I mean, watched over them since I was the oldest of the bunch. So it was rather easy for me to write how it was to baby sit and play with children, help them with their schoolwork and to clean after them.

 

Why you want to become an au pair

The definition of an au pair is a straightforward one; it is to live with a family in a host country to do childcare and light housework in exchange for food and board. But why would you want to go to this host country though? The answer to that is the cultural exchange.

For someone like me who dreams about Europe since I was a kid (thanks, Madame Tussaud and Marie Antoinette!) but who can’t really afford to do something about it, this is a great opportunity to explore the continent. You can probably do other things to get to Europe like do an Erasmus but imo, this is the easiest way to do it.

Tell them that you are really interested to get to know their country and culture the same way that you are also interested with sharing them yours. Tell them all the things that make their country desirable to you.

If you are done with the previous part, relate to them in a more personal way how you would impact their household and their children's lives. You are after all gonna take care of their children and look after their household in a minor way.

Why they should host you

Why would someone choose you to live with them? What are your characteristics that are desirable to live and be around children? Are you dependable and responsible? Are you able to help around the house without them instructing you? In Filipino, "Marunong ka ba mag-kusa?" 

The questions above can help you in this topic. Try to imagine being their family member and living with them between a year or two. Describe to them how you are going to be an asset and not a liability; that you are someone that will not cause some problems and/or give them headaches. Just like a real member of the family, are you someone that they can trust?

There was this one Facebook post that I've read while I was scrolling through all the au pair groups. She was looking for a rematch because her host family let her go due to reasons not specified. What was appalling in her post are the lines: "Must be allowed to sleepover to my friends' place any day of the week. I am not a party girl but I do enjoy hanging out with them." She might be a good person and responsible in her own ways but if I am a host family, I would probably skip her application. First of all, since she's going to be under my care, her not staying at my place at night would worry me. I don't know if her friends are good or bad people so that is an additional worry. What if something happens to her? I would have to deal with that; an added hassle to my already busy life. Lastly, present yourself in a way where they will not question your motivation on going to another country. Sure, it's okay to have fun, meet and interact with new people and do a whole lot of other things but you must know hot to set your boundaries as well. You have a duty to them too, a task that you should also do. If your host prefer that you to stay with them at night, then do so. Tell them in writing that you will not give worry them.

Why you qualify for the position

Persuasion is an art. Communicating in a way that encourages your future host family to give you a chance is a great asset. Aside from the qualities that you have, the reasons why they should host you and your personal background, being able to tie up everything in a neat little bow is an advantage for your application.

In this portion, it is very important to thank them for reading your letter. Add a convincing and persuasive sentence on why they should give you a chance to be their au pair. Unlike other parts of the letter, I am gonna give an example just for this one (I am trying to avoid copy+pasting for such an important letter):

Thank you for reading my letter. I appreciate the time that you've spent in my application. All I ask is for you to give me the opportunity to share my culture to your household and express my love to your children. My only promise to you is that you'll be secured with me living in your home and that your children will be properly taken care of.

This might sound cringy but I feel like any parent would welcome someone they can rely on in their home.

Anyway, just sharing. I hope this one helps.

Tschuss. 

[Life Blog] Prepping for my Embassy Interview

I am actually writing this exactly one week before my Embassy Interview but surprised, surprised, you'll be reading this months after. 

So it's July 15 today. Yesterday, I got a call from VFS granting my request that my appointment be moved earlier than what it is. It's just a 5-day adjustment but it's a big thing when it comes to visa processing. Time is gold and I am running out of it. My host family is actually expecting me to be in DK next month, on the 2nd of August, but sadly, it can't be done.

I was actually surprised that I got my sched for the interview almost a month after my VFS appearance. That isn't the case most of the time but I guess there is a stream of applicants of all types and the embassy is overloaded already due to cancellations and delays caused by COVID. Well, in my experience, you can get an earlier appointment IF it's truly pressing and if your host family ask you to do so. I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND THOUGH to rig the system by buying tickets going to another part of the Philippines just to make your appointments earlier. It's unfair for everyone.

I am writing this blog to document my preparation before my interview. It's something that I am really preparing for and I am nervous about. I know people who passed it already say that it's done just to check your English proficiency but think twice. I've watched tons of YouTube videos about this and I am certain that it's not for that. It can be a part of it but it's NOT for that.

Before the interview

1. Reading your application form (AU1 Form) and taking notes of the important things in there

I am not saying that you have to memorize some part of it but you have to absorb what is important. As I am not really sure what to expect and I am just getting my information from previous applicants, I try to outline my notes as best as I can to accommodate all information that I think is relevant. 

Here's a sample of my notes:

Name of applicant:

Passport number:                     Expiration date:

Year of Graduation:

Expected Date of Entrance to Host Country: 

Rate:

Contract Period:

Name of Host Parents:

Address of Host Family:

Languages in household:

Name of children in the family:

Birthdays of children in the family: (take note of their age)

Weekly number of hours:

Duties and schedules: (page 17 of 23)

The most important part of the application form is the Conditions of the Au Pair Stay with the family (from pages 15-16 if you're doing the paper-based application and page 3 if you're printing from the online platform). This section includes your rights, privileges and the legal amount of light household chores that you're allowed to do while staying with the family. It also includes the things that you shouldn't do while you're an au pair in your host country. Remember, kababayans, that you are representing your country and any wrongdoings of yours will greatly impact and affect future applications of other Filipinos who wants to pursue this cultural exchange program. So be very careful and follow the laws.

2. Prepare the things that you will bring

If you look this up online, you'll see that there's no specific list of what you should and shouldn't bring during an embassy interview.  Most YouTube videos aren't clear as well when they discussed this so I am gonna try my best to list it down for you (at least for the Royal Danish Embassy interview, but I guess it'll work for the others as well?)

1. Embassy Interview Letter
2. Pen
3. Valid ID Card

3. Practice answering common interview questions in English

Although most of us are bilingual and has been speaking the language since we're toddlers, an anxious and nervous state can still make you stutter or lost your train of thought. Aside from this, it's been proven time and time again that being prepared will give you success.

It's a good thing that the Checklist issued by the Norwegian Embassy contains some guidelines that can be helpful to every au pair applicants. You can practice answering on this set of questions which you can access on this website completely. 

But for an easy reading and concise reference, here are the questions that they listed:

1. Why do you wish to be an au pair? Why this host country?
2. How did you find out about the au pair scheme?
3. What does it mean to be an au pair?
4. How did you get into contact with the host family?
5. Do you know anyone living in your future host country? If yes, what are their names and how do you know them?
6. What will your duties in the host family be?
7. How many hours will you work each day? Please describe briefly how you imagine it will be.
8. How many hours will you work each week?
9. What will you do if your host family offers you to work more hours than what is stated in the contract, so that you can earn extra money?
10. What will you do if someone outside the host family asks you to do extra work for them?
11. What are you planning to do in your host country when you are not working?
12. Do you already have any knowledge of the host country's language?
13. What are your plans for learning the language while you are in the host country?
14. Does your host family have an au pair at the moment? If so, what is their name?
15. What are you planning to do when you are finished being an au pair in your host country?
16. When are you planning to return to your home country?
17. Do you have children of your own?
18. Describe your life at the moment. Are you working? Are you studying?

There are also some questions that I gathered from the group chats that I am a part of. This is specific for the Danish Embassy interview:

Why is English important?

Tell me about your family.

Tell me about yourself.

Tell me about your host family.

Why do you want to be an au pair? Why Denmark?

What did you do after you graduated?

What will you do when you finish your contract?

As you can see, most of them are lateral questions. Work out your answers on this and practice answering in English and you'll be fine. Another tip is to make sure that you countercheck your answers with what's written on your application form. Don't lie and don't give made-up and/or incomplete answers. This website has some great tips on what to avoid during visa interviews.

4. What to wear

If you go to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark website, you'll be able to locate this portion once you scrolled down. It's literally below, as if it's a foot note of some sort.

Locate the portion of ACCESS PROCEDURE AT THE EMBASSY and take note what the last thing that they wrote in there:

As you can see, there's a dress code that is being implemented in the building. There's nothing specific in there but as a general rule, follow this one and you'll be fine:

Your office clothing will do just fine.

5. Know how to get there

One of the most important one, I guess. Everything that you do before the interview will be nothing if you fail to appear on time. In order for you to avoid the hassle and bustle of the city life, plan ahead your route so there will be no surprises for you when the time comes.

In your embassy letter, it is stated that you should be there 15 minutes before your appointed time BUT I would recommend to be there an hour before your schedule just to make sure. It will also give you time to freshen up, set your phone on airplane mode and for you to calm your nerves before the actual interview.

So, if you're like me who doesn't own a car or knows anyone who can take me there, and you're also going to have your interview in the Danish Embassy, here's a little tip for you personally checked and tried by myself. Being someone from Makati, I am still gonna claim that BGC is in Makati City for the lols. It's a walking city so prepare for a whole lot of walking, okay?

Danish Embassy address: 11th/F 11th Corporate Center, 11th Avenue corner Triangle Drive, Bonifacio Global City

Starting Point: MRT 3, GUADALUPE STATION

1. From the MRT station, alight from Guadalupe Station; if you're coming from the north, use the bridge to cross to the other side. This will take you to Guadalupe Mall. If you are not familiar with the place, don't go inside the mall. Use the staircase to go down and pass through the wet market. This will take you to the jeepney/e-jeepney terminal directly. I am from Makati and I still get lost inside that mall.

2. Walk and look for the terminal to Pateros/C5. Currently, there are also e-jeepneys in there going to C5-FTI. That's what we are gonna ride in order to get to the Embassy.

This photo is taken in 2019 and during those times, they were only catering Pembo-Pateros rides. Currently, there are e-jeepneys in there going to C5/Market-Market

If you don't want to ride the e-jeepney (but I really think you should), you can look for a jeepney. There is an FTI-C5 Terminal down the road from the Guadalupe Mall. It is easy to locate but you will walk from the MRT Station for quite a bit.

3. Ask the driver to drop you off at Kalayaan PSBank or mention 11th.

4. Walk straight along 11th avenue until you reach the first intersection.

5. When you see Burger King, you're at the right building already.

I hope that this blog helps you!

Now for the Embassy Interview experience!

Tschuss.

[Life Blog] The Journey: Looking for Your Host Family and Where should you look for exactly

Immediately, after getting the rejection letter from the university I applied to (I got in but not the scholarship so...I can't really attend it anyways), I look up the au pairing thing online. It has been in my radar since 2016 but back then, I was still full of hope for my 'chosen' career path and let's be honest, I am kinda tied down because of my responsibilities to my family. It was never an option back then.

When I really think about it, I am quite lucky when it comes to the search for a host family.  I started the search on April 1, 2021, the moment I got the rejection letter. I talked to a lot of host family and most of them are German families. Well, for those who are knowledgeable with the program, being 26 already doesn't bode well if you want to do a cultural exchange in Germany. They are only allowing 18-26 year old people with A1 language certificate. With the COVID and all and me studying the German language on my own, I of course wouldn't be able to make it since I turned 27 last July. It was sad but then again, that is life's way of telling you that there is a whole new different and PERFECT path just for you.

So, are you looking for your host family? Maybe this list of sites can help you find one.

1. Au Pair Websites

There are a lot of au pair websites out there. Some are paid, some are free. Imo, the best ones are the paid ones because then, you will have the opportunity to contact your family directly.

I signed up to only two sites; Aupair and Aufini. Honestly, I can't really sign up on other sites such as Greataupair.com because I feel like they are blocking Filipinos from sending their profiles in there. This is of course an alleged case but I've read a lot of post  on Facebooks haring the same experience.

Aupair.com has a lot of profiles. Although this is the case, I feel like most of them are inactive or just forgotten by the host families. I talked to a lot of families in here and as I mentioned before, most of them are German. They liked me but I am not qualified because of age and the missing requirements. There are also families who politely declined as I am still currently in the Philippines, something that I don't really understand. When you think about it, being an au pair is a cultural exchange. Why would you not take someone who's currently living in their own country and just choose someone who's already in the EU? Why not give chance to others? I am not saying that the Filipinas doing their au pair thing for quite some time now are to be blamed but clearly, they already have all the cultural experience that they can get in their host countries or the EU countries nearby.

As for Aufini, I signed up at Aufini later on when I saw a Facebook post suggesting to try it out since that person got her host family thru there. I opted to pay for the subscription fee or something since that's the only possible way for you to contact families in there (unless of course they contacted you first). I chose the 1 month plan which cost me around P500.00. I don't know if I was just being cocky or what but I told myself that in the span of 30 days, I should be able to get a host family for me. Of course, although I paid for it, the possibilities of frustration, disappointment and even heartaches are inevitable. I talked to a looooooot of host families. Some of them are polite, some are downright rude, some will just leave you on read. But that's okay. Just like in life, you have to move forward. Oh, by the way, this is the site where I met my host family now. :)

2. Facebook

A lot of people that I've encountered or met during this journey found their host through Facebook. Honestly, this is something that I wouldn't recommend because if you're someone who shares everything in there, I don't think that this would be good for you. You're privacy is kinda invaded, I feel like. Everything about your life is gonna be brought out and laid in front of your future host. I am not saying that it's a bad thing but if you're like me who values their privacy, this is not something for you. Oh, almost forgot to mention one thing, I DON'T EVEN HAVE A FACEBOOK PROFILE to begin with. Haha.

But okay, here are some groups that you can join to look for a host or post an ad that you're available:

1. https://www.facebook.com/groups/aupair.europe.eu.au.pair/

2. https://www.facebook.com/groups/tobeaupairinspain/

3. https://www.facebook.com/groups/AupairinGermany/

The first one is something that I've followed before using a dummy account and it was a really helpful one. Once you follow it, other groups that you can join as well will appear for you. :)

3. Agencies

There are some Filipino "agencies" offering to match you with a host family in the EU. For this portion, I am NOT gonna post a specific agency because I feel like I am not gonna say a lot of nice things about them. If you want to know more about this issue, read these articles: The Au Pair Recruitment Business Part 1 and Part 2. Beware of paying a huuuuge sum of money to these people when you can basically look for your host family on your own. I've heard and read that some people even paid around 50-80k Philippine pesos to get into this cultural thing. Don't do it! Remember, this is a cultural exchange and not a job. You don't have to spend money in here because the host family would be the one to pay for everything (visa might or might not be included, depends on your talk with your host family).

There are several international agencies though which are legit and whom I've known to really match a host family for people I know. Here are some of them:

a. Energy Au Pair - Norway    

b. Sunshine Au Pair Agency - Netherlands

c. Nanny Nina - Netherlands

d. Happy Au Pair - Netherlands

4. Referrals

This is a double-edged sword, imo. It can either be a good or bad thing for you.

If you know someone who's already in EU as an au pair, talk to them if they can refer you after their contract date. If they agree to do it for free, that's good. Kudos to them. If they ask for payment, I would suggest to just walk away and don't let them grow their horns. I've heard several people who are asking for recommendation fees which can range between 10k-50k Philippine pesos. That's a major no-no. 

Anyway, I hope this will help you for your search! You can comment here if you have other questions. I would be willing to help you.

Bye for now!

[Life Blog] Deciding to be an Au Pair

Perhaps, deciding to be an au pair is one of the hardest thing I've done. It was never a part of my plan; I have never imagined that this is the path that I would take. But regardless of my narrowmindedness, at least when it comes to the things that I plan for myself, here I am, one step closer to my dreams.

In this blog post, I am gonna write about all the processes that I've done and encountered while I was preparing for my au pair journey. An acquaintance of mine shared their list regarding their experience but again, to each their own as I always say.

This will only encompass the paper's processing; both the experience and the challenges I've encountered. The part before leaving the country and catching my flight would be posted on another blog; the same with the embassy interview and the preparation for it. This is written in step-by-step order.

Coordination with the Host Family

This is the most important thing of all. In this portion, you can already show them that you are well-researched on the application-filing already. 

Prepare the following documents immediately:

1. Scanned copy of your ORIGINAL or Certified True Copy of your Birth Certificate (PSA Copy, the Yellow one);

2. Scanned copy of your passport ALL PAGES (sama mo na cover, honestly); make sure that it has still a three (3) year validity; a sane suggestion since Denmark Au Pair Contracts can last up to 2 years;

3. Scanned copy of your educational records (Diploma and TOR; if wala, high school diploma and your Form 137; no need na magpasa ng original so wag na kayo kumuha, sayang lang ang gastos. Photox lang din naman ipapasa niyo sa VFS);

4. Vaccination Card (it depends on your host family but not really required as of now; 7/8/21)

Your host family will ask you for these documents before they pay for your Case Order on the Danish Agency, SIRI. The Case Order is your 'case' or application filed to be documented as an au pair in Denmark. 

Filling of Application

Usually, host families prefer the online platform because it's easier to navigate and the submission is directly transmitted to SIRI (The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration; don't ask me why it's acronymes as SIRI, hehe). You can access the log in page on here. All your questions regarding the application as an au pair can be look up on this page. The New to Denmark page is really helpful regarding this one.

Your host family will fill up the online application form first. Afterwards, they will give you a Reference Number and a Password. This is a *NEW* reference number and password which is unique from the first one given to them when they paid for the Case Order Number. I encountered a problem in this part because my host family failed to note the new ref no and password that's why we resorted on using the paper-based application form. This can be found on this website. 

This time, you would be the first one to fill out your portion. I used the PDF format because I don't really want to write because it sucks and I want it to look nice. You just have to print out the portion where you have to sign because you have to sign that up in real time (I will discourage using e-sig). Afterwards, ask the host family to send you their portions (Part 2 and 3) because you need this for your VFS submission to do your biometrics and your embassy interview for your visa/residence permit.

A tip, when you guys are filling out the portion of the schedule of activities as seen on the photo below, make sure that 12:00-1:00pm is free because are CFO guys will question you why you don't have a lunch break (which is kinda stupid imo because in the first place, THIS IS NOT A JOB, YOU ARE ALLOWED TO EAT ANYTIME. Why do you need a lunch break?)

Payment of Visa/Work Permit and Reserving your VFS Appointment

Once your application form is done you can now proceed to the next step. This is paying for your visa/work permit and the reservation of your VFS Appointment. 

* VFS Appointment

You can do it on website: VFS Global. You have to create your account and then reserve a slot for your appearance. Don't pay anything on the website, you can pay directly on VFS when you submit your requirements. As a rule of thumb, get the earliest possible schedule that you can get.

* Payment of Visa/Work Permit

I don't know about other countries but in Denmark, your Visa and Residence/Work Permit are the same. Before appearing to VFS to submit your application, you have to pay for your visa already because it is one of the requirements. You can pay it on this website and apparently, they only accept credit cards as per one of my au pair acquaintance. 

I don't really have an experience when it comes to paying for my visa because my host family fortunately paid for it as well. In Philippine peso, it is probably around 12-14k depending on the currency conversion during your time of application.

VFS Submission

The night before your VFS schedule of submission and appearance, make sure to check not once, not twice but thrice (or as much as you can until you're confident enough that you are prepared) the requirements that you have to bring with you.

Requirements to Bring  (Just ONE COPY EACH. Please save the environment.)

1. Case Order Payment Receipt (very important)

2. Application Form (make sure that it's complete and has 23 pages, with complete signatures)

3. Other attachments such as: passports of your host mom and dad, certificates of insurance if you already have it, and vaccination card if you are already vaccinated

4. ORIGINAL PSA Birth Certificate

5. ORIGINAL Passport

6. Photocopy of your passport (all pages)

7. Photocopy of your Diploma and TOR

8. Receipt for Purchase of your Visa or Residence/Work Permit

What to Wear

Since they will also do your biometrics upon submission of your documents, wear something that is passable on a regular passport appointment:

As for me, I wore a black jeans that camouflages as a slack and a maroon blouse. Honestly, if you're working in a corporate office, wear what you wear in there. It doesn't have to be too professional. Also, don't wear heavy make up. Just be your fresh you.

Getting There

Be sure also that you know how to get there by commuting if you're like me who doesn't really know anyone who can take me around the city. The address is written on your appointment letter:

As I would really want to help everyone out, I am also gonna tell you how to get there.

The easiest route to take is this:

1.  Ride the MRT 3 Train and alight at Magallanes Station.

2. Go in the San Lorenzo Place Mall; entrance is directly attached to the Magallanes MRT Station and you will also see the Chino Roces sign at the entrance of the mall.

3. Go to the ground floor and exit on the door which will take you to Chino Roces. Trust me, you can feel that you're lost if you got out of the mall and you face EDSA again. Haha. The image below is what you'll see if you got out of the correct entrance/exit. I am sorry if I forgot what shop was in beside the mall entrance/exit.

4. Cross the street and wait for a jeepney with an Ecoplaza signage. Do not ride the PRC jeepney despite what other websites recommend even if you're already bored waiting.

5. The driver will drop you off there even if you don't bother to remind him because there are a lot of people commuting towards the place. But if you're like me who is a sigurista, if you already can see a big-ass DHL building, you are already there. It is directly opposite of the Ecoplaza building.

Finally at VFS

Here's the thing, although they said that you should be there 15 minutes before your appointment, if you're early, like an hour early, they are going to accommodate you if there are not much applicants inside their office.

The office in-charge of the application in Denmark is located at the ground floor along with those of Norway, Belgium, Hungary, Austria, Poland, among the few countries that I can remember. It is adjacent on the nearby 7Eleven and in front of a café that I forgot the name. If your country is not mentioned here, the office that will be processing your appointment is located at the second floor, for sure.

You'll enter, get a number from the guard after filling out a contact-tracing form then go inside to wait your turn. The Denmark country is the last one besides the biometrics room.

The clerk will get your documents, check it, ask for a payment for their processing (P1230.00 during my time of submission - LBC Shipment included because you don't have to pick up your passport anymore due to COVID). Afterwards, you'll receive your Denmark Embassy Interview Letter where your appointment is indicated. Then, the lady will ask you to go to one of their biometrics room, take a photo of you and get your fingerprints. 

Now, all you're waiting for is the Embassy Interview. This is the most nerve-wracking part. If you're kinda unfortunate like me who sadly have to wait due to a Danish holiday in July, my interview was almost a month away from my day of submission. I waited for 28 long days!

Anyway, enough for this one. :)

[Life Blog] Update.

I finally have the courage to share my story.

I have been in total denial about what happened in here but it's now time to face the music. My plans did not fell through and now I am back to step one. Scarred, I admit, but at the same time, I am stronger and braver than before.

I can't believe that I am rewriting this blog. I wrote this a month ago, full of hope, thinking that life is finally turning around. I am so ready for change, so ready of the new life that I am lusting for. But as hard as it is to accept, no matter how much we want things, we can't really have it all.

So I tried to apply for the au pair program in Denmark. It is appealing because it's in Europe and the promise of cultural exchange is the one thing that stuck with me. As advertised, this is NOT a job so if you really think about it, people who should do this are really interested in the culture. 

After having my interview last July 22 with the Embassy, I felt weird. It was fast, cold and mechanical. As if there was no humanity in that session. That feeling stuck with me so when I got a message from VFS last July 27, only five days after my interview, I knew that there was something wrong. The decision was not in my favor and it really got me so confused.

They declined my application because they said that they did not found the stay to have a natural correlation with my life. The decision confused me a lot because this is a cultural exchange experience. I don't know what it has to do with my previous job experiences; I just want to go there and see the world.

Anyway, writing more about this later................

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I am writing this today, June 27th, two days before my submission of my au pair documents to VFS. After a couple of months of back and forth with my host family, it is finally happening: I am finally lodging my visa/work permit application. 

It has been a roller coaster ride and honestly, there have been a lot of sleepless nights. From worrying if I would be ever getting a host family to not being able to pass the visa application, I am finally done with all of that. I am writing all of these down because I am finally letting go of these fears. Let God's will be done. 

Since my birthday last July 2020, I've been feeling restless about my identity and life path. I feel like I really don't know where I am going or if what I am doing right now is what I really want to do. I am looking for something else, searching for ways where I can feel productive and happy at the same time. I started processing my paper for an Erasmus scholarship last August 2020, thinking I would be perfect for the program that I have chosen. I lodged it last October and waited for an answer which was released last April 2021. I did not get it, obviously, that's why I am doing what I am doing right now. 

Back then, I felt so lost and confused because I really want to finally move on from my toxic work environment. It was the only thing I was looking forward to and that's kinda sad. It was devastating, yes, but at the same time it really made me think harder what I want to do with my life. 

This journey is the first step of finding out what I really want to do with my life. Maybe somewhere down the road it will be taking me back to practicing Geology or a whole different career that I am currently not aware of.

[Life Blog] Rejections

After a week of trying to cope with the rejection I received the previous month, I can finally get up and do things normally. I have been really out of any kinds of motivation and I am procrastinating harder than I usually do.

I am not saying that I am finally okay. No, I am far from that. What happened was a truly missed opportunity that I could have avoided IF only I am able to lie and/or do things differently. I am proud of who I am but getting what you want in this world is rather difficult if you can't bend some or most of your principles.

For the most part, I am just looking for the silver linings of what happened. Maybe it isn't for me, maybe there's something out there which is better. I am just thinking about that. It also opened up a lot of questions or opportunities, whichever way you want it to see, about what I should do with my life.

I have a love/hate relationship with my profession. It's not because it's difficult but I feel like I can't practice in this country. There are a LOT of things I hate about the way things are being run in here and how women, in general, have less opportunities in the field of mining geology. I'm not saying that I want to be out there; traversing along unmapped locations, sleeping on flytraps or camping in a field under the starry skies above. I want more. I want the freedom to pursue whatever it is that I want that can make me happy. Whether in this field or a completely unrelated one.

I apologize if my thoughts are kinda rumbled right now. I just feel so lost and confused about the happenings in my life. There are a lot of things that I want to do and discover but I am limited because I have no money. It is a rather familiar sentiment from a child of a lower, lower middle class family. I say this with peace and love. 

Anyway, enough for now.