Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Scotia Personnel Experience


Going to an Italy summer camp was an experience I will never forget. Thanks to Scotia Personnel Ltd. I not only got to fulfill one of my biggest dreams of going to Italy I was able to find a job at a summer camp so I could spend my time working with children, another passion of mine. Another perk to working abroad is travelling and Italy was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. I will never forget the warm sun, smells of the most delicious pastries in the air and seeing renaissance art in person. Scotia Personnel Ltd. gave me a dream come true in Italy.

 

I began my journey as a counselor and moved on to becoming an English teacher as I had previous experience and loved being able to educate the children about my language and culture. I received cards from my students at the end of their camp time and it touched my heart hearing about how they enjoyed my classes and learning with me.

 

To experience another culture is one thing when you are visiting a foreign Country, however, I got to live like the Italian people and learn new things that changed my life in a positive and rewarding way. I made friends not only with the other counselors and teachers from all over the world but I also made friends with the Italian people that I still keep in contact with today. Scotia Personnel Ltd. gave me the chance to make friendships I will cherish forever.

 

Scotia Personnel Ltd. gave me the chance to cook real Italian pizzas with the children, ride horses on a daily basis and teach lessons to children wanting to discover my Canadian culture and the English language. My days off were filled with strolls through the ancient city of Rome, boat rides down the Grand Canal of Venice and enjoying Gelato and shopping in the street markets of Florence. I feel like the company (Scotia Personnel Ltd.) really cares about its clients and helps them find the chance to fulfill their dreams.

 

The whole process with the company (Scotia Personnel Ltd.) was very easy because they listened to what I was looking for and were quick to help me achieve it. I was always able to reach an employee when I had questions and they were always helpful with anything I needed. I found them to be professional and caring which also contributed to making the whole process go so smoothly. As a result of this experience I made a decision to attend University and achieve a degree in Communications. I cannot say enough wonderful things about my experiences abroad and I owe Scotia Personnel so many thanks for giving me this opportunity and memories that will last a lifetime. Without their help I would have never been able to see and live the true Italian experience.

 




 
One of my favorite places I got to visited while I was travelling and working abroad was Malta. I would like to share some pictures of this amazing little Country with you:
 




 
It was only a short ferry ride from Italy but such a different culture and sights to behold were in Malta! I had such a great time and because I had met another girl at the summer camp I was at who lived in Malta I also was given an apartment for free to stay in while I was visiting her!!!
 
For those wanting more information check out the Scotia Personnel Ltd facebook page. You can find it here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scotia-Personnel-Ltd/294821707200045 It has lots of great photos from people who have travelled around the globe and lots of comments to read!
 
Here are a few more of my Italian experience photos!!!






Here I have added some photos from my visit to Switzerland! I was so lucky that I got to see a few different Countries while I was working abroad!!! Going to a real life castle was a really exciting experience!




77 comments:

  1. I did the UK camp program through Scotia Personnel a couple years back. What a fantastic summer experience –it was a blast! Don’t get me wrong, you do have to work! I highly recommend this, meet great people from all over the world!
    Darren

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    1. Hi Darren

      Thanks for the reply! I agree you do have to work but its such a great experience that makes it all worth while! I am still in touch with the people I met in Italy and have made some truly valuable friendships! I am so glad you had such a great time too!!!

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    2. Yes, work is part of the deal but how wonderful to work in lovely locations with people who become dear friends. It is really can be the perfect balance.

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  2. Hi my name is Erin and I just wanted to say what an exciting time I had last summer working in the Italy summer camps through Scotia Personnel as well. I had heard about the camp opportunities through our university website. It was such a wonderful experience at the camps working with the children. I have always wanted to go to Italy (my grandparents are from there!) and see what the culture, people and countryside was like. I can tell you the food is great, the people are interesting and the countryside is spectacular!

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    1. Hi Erin

      Thank you for your reply! I am so glad to hear about the other people that got to experience what I did! I dream about all the food I ate there all the time!!! Thats wonderful that your grandparents are from there what a neat experience and thanks for sharing.

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    2. It is so nice to hear such fantastic stories.

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  3. I went to California as an au pair for a year through Scotia Personnel - loved it!

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    1. Hi Sara

      Thanks for sharing! I bet California was wonderful!!!

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    2. California is a popular place for au pairs. Glad you enjoyed it.

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    3. With winter coming, I certainly wish I was still there! And yes it was a wonderful place to go! The family was so kind and great to work for!

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  4. I did an au pair program as well thru Scotia Personnel in the US. I au paired for a wonderful host family with two kids. It was a great experience and an still in regular contact with my former host family. They were so kind!

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    1. Having a good connection with the host family and the kids makes the whole experience smooth and pleasant. And that's important.

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  5. Hi Megan

    Thank you for your response. I think being an Au Pair would be such a great experience! Where in the US did you go? Glad to hear you had such a wonderful time!!!

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    1. Being and Au Pair can be one of the most rewarding experiences in your life.

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  6. I also did a summer camp in Italy and was really glad for the experience. I look forward to doing another summer camp soon.

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  7. What are the ages of kids you work with in the Italy camps - how good is their English?

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  8. Sarah - California was definitely a blast! I met a lot of great friends and the weather was unbelievable!

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  9. ks, the kids ages ranged from 5 to 15 years old. Their English was good we were all able to communicate and I even picked up some Italian as well!!!

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  10. I have added some pictures from the Au Pair in America website in my blog, these pictures are showcasing some great experiences people have had while going through the program in thanks to Scotia Personnel. I really want to try this awesome Au Pair experience!!!

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  11. Anyone else curious on the Au Pair program in America please check out this link to their u tube video was quite helpful to me! Here it is: http://youtu.be/TBSP2cDrLBI

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  12. Hi! Really cool photos! Ive been looking at other stories on scotia personnels facebook and it looks really cool...The first pic you put up is awesome! where are those colored buildings?!! Ive never seen anything like that!

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  13. Mckenzie, thanks! The first pic is from Italy in a place called Cinque Terre meaning 5 villages. It was one of the most amazing places I have ever been! Italy is by far one of the most incredible Countries I got to travel to while working for Scotia Personnel, and I got to see most of it on my days off from working at the summer camp. I highly recommend doing one of the programs if your interested.

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  14. Hi Sarah! Beautiful photos! I went to holland with scotia personnel and had a blast too! The only thing i regret is not arranging a trip to italy :( I went all over but skipped Italy...now i want to go back haha!

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  15. Thank-you everyone for all your comments! It is wonderful to receive such positive feedback on our various camp and au pair programs. Our summer camps for 2013 are unfortunately filled however we are now actively recruiting for summer 2014 camp positions. Our camp positions fill very quickly(usually by the fall for the following summer)! Please see our website http://scotia-personnel-ltd.com for further details.

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  16. Hey Sarah...wondering if when you were there did you get much time to travel around?

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  17. Hi Emma, I bet Holland was amazing I would love to go there! Italy was so beautiful I definitely recommend going sometime! I got to travel a lot and saw most of italy and even went to Switzerland and Malta on my time off. It truly was a great experience!!!

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  18. Check out the Scotia Personnel Ltd Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scotia-Personnel-Ltd/294821707200045

    It is filled with amazing photos and comments from people who have done programs all over the globe!!!

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  19. Thanks Sarah! There are some great pictures on Scotia Personnel Facebook page!

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  20. Check out their twitter page too for pics and exciting tweets!!!

    You can access it here:

    https://twitter.com/ScotiaPersonnel

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  21. Great Summer Experience! I did a kid's summer camp as a camp leader in the UK through Scotia Personnel and had a summer of a lifetime! This was my first summer away from home but I met young people from all over the world including people from Australia, New Zealand and Europe. The team from Scotia Personnel were great and just wanted to thank them again!

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    1. Mackenzie, sounds like you had so much fun! I loved all the experiences I got to have through my time with Scotia Personnel and the amazing working holiday I went on!!!

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  22. Scotia Personnel placed me in a hotel right out side of London, England for a year after my college graduation! I got to live with people, and travel, all over Europe and had an amazing time! I spent the week of my 20th birthday in Madrid, and spent St. Patrick's day in Dublin; it was amazing and I'm very thankful for everything Scotia Personnel did to help me.

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    1. Jenna, England would be awesome! You sound like you had an incredible time!!! I have Dublin on my next list of places to go! Scotia Personnel really does create dreams come true!!!

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  23. What a great BLOG!!! I, as well, have participated in a program that Scotia Personnel provides!!! What an AMAZING adventure I had! I was an Au Pair in New York and I will never forget every memory I made while I was away!!! I am so glad that the information is getting out there about Scotia Personnel Ltd and the programs they provide! Marilyn and the staff are absolutely amazing and knowledgeable. I never would have stepped out into the world if it wasn't for this program, I now have a love of travel, and friends all over the world that hopefully one day I will be able to visit!!! Thank you Marilyn!!!!!!!!

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    1. Michelle, I agree the team at Scotia Personnel are the best! They helped me so much with everything I needed to go abroad and work and they were so professional and supportive!!!

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  24. Hey Vanessa, your comments were very helpful! After doing the Au pair in America program for a year and having such a great experience, I'm considering applying thru Scotia Personnel for the Italy camps for next summer!

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  25. In 2008 I decided to apply to be an Au Pair. I had wanted to apply since graduating high school in 2006 but my parents wanted me to pursue post secondary education first. So I did so for two years; at that point I wasn't sure which direction I wanted to go with my education, so I knew it was a perfect time to apply to the Au Pair in America program. With great help from Scotia Personnel I was able to get my forms completed and interview done before Summer. I matched with a family in Georgia, USA in just a few weeks and was set to start my journey in September 2008.



    I could not have asked for a better experience! My host family was absolutely amazing and I ended up learning so much about myself and meeting the love of my life.



    To this day my host family is still my second family; we keep in contact via email and still have visits whenever I'm in the area. After finishing my year; although I wanted to extend for another, I knew I wanted to pursue a field in child and youth care, so I returned home to complete the Child and Youth care program at Holland College.



    And lastly one of the most amazing life changing experiences was of course meeting my fiancƩ! We will be together for 5 years this coming January and now have a 16 month old daughter together. We met while I was still in the Au Pair program, so after my year was up we decided to try long distance, and it was the best decision we ever made. We have been back and forth ever since and i'm happy to say now that we are getting married this coming January 2014!



    I could not thank this program enough for what it has given me! A great experience which taught me so much about myself, led me to my education and my new family! I urge anyone interested in this program to check it out; it will definitely not disappoint.


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    1. Brittany, thanks for sharing your experiences it sounds like you had an awesome time! Must have be wonderful meeting your fiancƩ during your travels!!! I agree using Scotia Personnel is an excellent choice!

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  26. Having done the Au pair in America program through Scotia Personnel already, I'm now considering doing a summer au pair job in Eurppe thru them again. I'd love to go to either Italy or Spain!

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    1. Sara, I may be biased but Italy rocks! So beautiful and the food is delicious!!! Anywhere you choose to go you will have an amazing time!

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  27. Vanessa, what a great time that sounds like! I love hearing others wonderful experiences!

    Megan, Italy was by far the best place I have ever been. Working and travelling there was AMAZING!

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  28. I also had a great time in Italy and I am now looking at the United States cannot wait will be leaving in March I am so excited.For once I am happy not to have a boyfriend.

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    1. Jennifer, Italy was amazing!!! What was your favorite part about travelling to Italy? Have a blast in the US!!!

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  29. I wanted to take a minute to write about my experience au pairing in Spain with the help of Scotia Personnel.

    I left for Madrid at the end of August in 2010, after having decided on Spain and au pairing after speaking with the staff at Scotia Personnel. I was really ecstatic to have found an economically savvy way to live extensively abroad.

    The first months in Spain were incredibly rewarding and challenging at time, as is the case with anything new. I took language classes, explored the city and made many friends (many au pairs, as nearly all au pairs are eager to meet up and as such, getting to know people is not a problem).

    In November, I decided to switch to another au pair family as I was interested in au pairing with a different age range. I continue to stay in contact with my second family. The mother regularly emails me photos of the girls and we exchange Christmas gifts by mail, she also offered to pay for my flight back to Spain should I ever want to au pair for the family again!

    Around the same time, I met Alberto, who just so happens to be my husband as of last November!
    Had I not au paired in Spain, my life today would be totally different, having never met many of my very close friends, new families or husband. Nor would I be able to speak the high level of Spanish I do. As a result of my time in Spain, I have also been able to expand my resume as a child care professional, tutor and ESL teacher.

    Obviously, I recommend au pairing with Scotia Personnel to anyone who is looking to travel

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    1. Adrienne, thanks for sharing your story it was so nice to read! That's awesome that you met your husband in Spain! Scotia Personnel has so many great opportunities open to people it really is so wonderful!!!

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  30. I am so excited I cannot wait I am going to do my second program in the United States.I had a wonderful time in Europe.This should be a blast again.How I like to travel and work with children.Thank you Richelle and everyone at Scotia Personnel.

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    1. Jennifer, you will have a great time doing your second program! I loved travelling and working in Italy it was a dream come true!

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  31. I love this blog! The pictures are great and it sounds like you had lots of fun Sarah! I was an Au Pair in the USA and such a wonderful time! My host family treated me like part of the family and I couldn't of asked for better children to spend my time with!!!

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    1. Thanks Brittany! I loved my experiences it was a blast!!! Being and Au Pair in the USA would be a lot of fun! That's great you had such a wonderful family!!!

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  32. Great read and pics! I went away with Scotia Personnel to England and worked at a hotel. I had such an excellent time!!!

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    1. Thanks Ian, it was amazing!!! That's wonderful you went to England and worked in a hotel I bet it was so a lot of fun!

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  33. It’s really interesting to go back thru these blogs and read all the comments people of left of their experiences! Thanks a bunch guys!

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  34. I was reading thru this awesome blog and just wanted to write a comment about my experience as an au pair. I have been an au pair in America through Scotia Personnel. I’ve had such a wonderful time! My host family was great to me! Working with children and travelling are my two most favourite things. I’ve travelled throughout the US with the family. As well, I’ve met other au pairs through the program from all over the world. Now I have free room and board wherever I travel and great friends as well. I’ve had such a wonderful time!

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    1. Cass, that sounds great! Thanks for sharing your experiences. Scotia Personnel offers some amazing opportunities to travel and work abroad!!!

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  35. NEW YORK CITY (2007)-The year was 2006 and I was 20. I had just returned home from the United States after spending the summer in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania—working alongside an international team of young adults—engaging kids in the spirit of camp life. Working abroad opened my mind to many creative and inspiring possibilities—allowing the space to grow away from my family and all that was familiar. Upon returning home I realized I had come down with the travel bug—and Halifax just wasn’t cutting it!
    I called Scotia Personnel, an agency that offers incredible work and travel opportunities abroad. Having just graduated with a diploma in child and youth studies—I was keen to work with children. That’s when I was introduced to the Aupair in America program. The great thing is, once I was accepted into the program, families from across the United States began contacting me—I got to choose which family and state I went to —and before long it was 2007, I was 21, and on my way to experiencing life in New York City.
    Upon arriving in Stanford Connecticut for orientation, the adventure immediately began. We were a group of young women about to embark on a unique cultural experience within the United States of America, most away from home for the first time; we mingled and created memories that are told in stories across the world up to this day.
    Now I could tell you hundreds of stories about being 21 living in New York City; I could show you thousands of pictures, but you really have to create the experience for yourself. What I will tell you is that the friendships made that year, as well as tattoos, have defined me mind, body and spirit. Not fully acknowledging then how special each moment was or how intimately I would treasure that time—I’m left today feeling lucky and grateful for such an amazing experience, opportunity—I learned so much about myself and had so much space to grow personally!
    If you’re into igniting lifelong friendships from around the globe and love to travel and try new things—then this is your ticket. My group of friends that year were from Australia, Germany, South Africa and Canada—and their doors are always open. I highly recommend this program; I literally had the time of my life!

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    1. Sarah, what a great time you had!!! I can relate I loved my experiences with travelling and working abroad so much! Scotia Personnel really did give me a dream come true and I can see you as well!!! Thanks for sharing your incredible story!!!

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  36. I went through Scotia Personnel to be an English tutor in Italy and it was an experience of a lifetime! I lived just outside of Tuscany for 3 months with an amazing host family who were so wonderful. I couldn’t be more grateful to Scotia Personnel for giving me this awesome experience.
    My host family was so kind and really placed a strong value on family life and they made me feel like such a part of the family. I was very fortunate to be on the coast of Italy so I was able to spend a lot of the time at the beach and they were so amazing!!! The family also had a boat so I was able to do lots of boating and visit this beautiful island that they frequent lots.
    I got to do lots of travelling and see Italy on my time off and it was so beautiful that words cannot even explain! I am still in touch with the family I stayed with and feel like they are an extended part of my family now!
    Scotia Personnel gave me the chance to have such an amazing experience and I feel so appreciative to them for giving such wonderful opportunities to people like me who love to travel and work!
    Melanie

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  37. My year as an au pair was a dream come true! I am from Canada, and living in the USA is something that I always wanted to do. I was fortunate enough to find a host family in Hawaii...my idea tropical destination. Right from the start, I knew that Au Pair in America was a perfect program for me. I really enjoyed the first few days of training in Connecticut and meeting so many girls from all over the world. Some of them came from countries that I had never heard of before. And of course, visiting New York City was something that I will never forget. For me, the program was so enjoyable because of everything that it included. The fact that I didn’t have to pay for rent, food or a car was great. I took care of 4 teenagers which was an eye opening experience. They kept me very busy but I learned how to cook and run a household...skills that have come in handy now that I am a mother. I made so many good friends and have been able to keep in touch with them throughout the years! The other au pairs always included me and invited me to special outings and events. This is something that was very important to me as the previous year, I had taught English in Japan and I felt very isolated and lonely and did not have a very big social circle. The fact that I also had a community counsellor available to talk to if problems arose and someone who planned monthly activities was one of the reasons I enjoyed this experience so much. During my 12 months on Oahu, I was always on the go and always living life to the fullest. The absolute highlight of my year though was meeting the man of my dreams....who is now my husband! We will be celebrating our 8th wedding anniversary this July 1! He has since become a Canadian citizen, we have started our careers, bought a house, had two beautiful children and we have even traveled back to Hawaii as a family. I can’t say enough good things about this program and I am very grateful that it was available to me in my early twenties. I now want to tell other young Canadians about the opportunities that exist for them in America. I recently read a quote which said “The only thing you should be doing in your twenties is living abroad.” I couldn’t agree more!

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  38. I just wanted to share my story in more details as well:

    I recently went to a summer camp in Italy and it was an amazing experience! I went through Scotia Personnel and it was such a nice opportunity to work and travel in one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. It was great to meet new people and work with children which was a truly enjoyable! I am still in touch with many of the people I met in Italy. During my time off from the camp I went to many places and tried so much delicious Italian food. I not only made great Italian friends I also met lots of other people who were working at the camp too! I feel blessed I was able to get to do this opportunity. I feel like the company (Scotia Personnel Ltd.) really cares about its clients and helps them find the chance to fulfill their dreams. The process of applying was really easy as the employees were very professional and took the time to help me through each step. I always got the answers I needed and found all the application process to be straight forward and simple to complete. I also found they were available to help me even after I left to go to Italy. It was nice to know I had support while I was traveling. My parents were very supportive of the whole process and really encouraged me to try this new adventure. They were also impressed with how professional Scotia Personnel was. The camp was an adventure camp so I got to do lots of fun activities with the children such as swimming, walking, site seeing, making fun Italian foods like pizza and horse riding. Another favorite activity was taking the children to a beach and that made for a wonderful day for us all! Italy is such a nice Country and the people are very friendly and helpful. I also wanted to add my other experience. I went through Scotia Personnel to do their Au Pair in America Program and it was a lot of fun! I loved spending time with my family and the children I looked after were great! It is always wonderful when you can work and travel as I have been lucky enough to do through these amazing programs that Scotia Personnel offers. I would not hesitate to do another one sometime!!!

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  39. Scotia Personnel came to Algonquin College discussing their different travel and work opportunities, and through them I got to spend 1 year working at a Hotel in London, England after I graduated. The experience was unforgettable and the staff was friendly and super helpful. My friend and I got placed in great hotels close to each other and together we were able to travel around Europe and had an amazing time! Because of Scotia Personnel I got to spend my 20th birthday in Madrid, and was able to meet and live with people from all over Europe. I had a great time, and am looking forward to doing another program through with them!

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  40. I am currently working in a hotel in the Caribbean thanks to the help and guidance of Scotia Personnel and I am absolutely loving it. This is the fourth job I have obtained with the help of the company and I love each more than the last. The first one I did was 3 summers ago, and it was the summer camp program over in the UK. The UK has a very work hard, play hard mentality and that is the best way I can sum up those 2 months. It was a great experience that helped me build my resume, and was a great help to me when I applied to teachers college two years ago. The other staff members at the camp were a mix of Canadian, English as well as a few from Spain, and even South Africa. I speak to a good amount of them still, and 4 of my very best friends to this day I made while working overseas in England. The next job I pursued was the summer camps in Italy, and while those few months were few different than mine time in the UK, they were equally as rewarding and genuinely fun. Italy has a very different culture than England, but I loved every second of it, and got to do so much travelling while moving around to teach English, which allowed me to explore and live in a variety of towns and cities across Italy. I literally ate my way through Italy that summer, and was also able to au pair following my time working at the English Summer Camps. My time in Italy, will in June be 2 years ago, but it still feels like it was just yesterday because I enjoyed it so much. Currently, I am living in the Caribbean working at a hotel and again, loving it. I have been here 9 months, making this the longest of any of the other three jobs, and it also happens to be my favourite. Not to say that the others weren't amazing- they were, but I just love sunshine and the sheer amount of time I have been here has made me so so happy and in love with this island and my job. In a week or so, one of the lovely girls I worked with in Italy will also be coming out here to work in a nearby hotel which is one of the best parts about Scotia Personnel, anytime you work with them there are others close by that you can meet, or in some cases, reconnect with.
    Undoubtedly, the best thing I ever did was call back Scotia and meet with them for an interview. I urge everyone to take the time to read through the different opportunities that they have available, and make sure you choose the one or ones best suited for you and you will undoubtedly love it. And it will help shape not only your resume, but more importantly you as a person! And you will honestly meet lots of wonderful people along the way.

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  41. I thought I would also share my story with everybody since I had such an amazing experience :)
    I worked with Scotia Personnel this past year to go to Mallorca, Spain as an English Tudor. I can honestly say that it was the best experience of my life! The agency was very helpful in finding an amazing host family for me and they guided me every step along the way when getting ready for my trip. While I was a little nervous to go to Europe on my own and meet the family I would be staying with for a few months, I felt very safe and prepared for my journey. My time in Spain was absolutely amazing, I was able to learn some Spanish and I gained a lot of independence. I have formed such an incredible bond with my family over there, I still talk to them all the time! I will definitely be going back to visit them some day. Applying to work with Scotia Personnel was one of the best decisions of my life. I have only been home a couple months and I am already excited to see where I can go next summer!! I would recommend this type of experience to any young person who is up for adventure and is looking for some life defining experiences. I would gladly answer any questions or share my experience with anybody who is interested!!

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  42. I knew since I was 16 that I wanted to do some sort of travel experience before college. When I was 18 I heard of a friend who was an au pair in Holland and knew I wanted to do it as soon as I was done high school before going off to College. I asked a girl in my town that had been to America for a number of years au pairing and she introduced me to Scotia Personnel Ltd.

    Right away I felt all my worries wash away once speaking with the team and experiencing first hand their willingness, helpfulness and knowledge. They knew the answer to all of my questions and had plenty of information for me. I filled out an application and met with Marilyn for an interview.

    After I signed the contract I considered all the great countries the agency partners with and decided with England- it had been a dream of mine!

    Weeks later at 18 from a small town and fresh out of high school I packed up my things and took my first flight ever and flew across the pond.

    I’ll admit I wasn’t scared or nervous at all before leaving but that first night after moving in with my family I thought, oh gosh what did I get myself into? I slept off the doubt that night and didn’t look back the 6 months I was there.
    I lived in Margate, a sea side town on the south east of the UK. I lived right on the ocean with beautiful stunning views and salty air. If that wasn’t awesome enough they also had a flat in a super trendy part of London.
    The flat was amazing. All around us were gorgeous shops, delicious and authentic international cuisines, and beautiful, unique art wherever you went. Thanks to this flat and generous family I was able to spend the weekend in London for Prince William and Kate’s Royal Wedding! That is something I’ll never forget, and yes I did take a picture of them kissing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace
    I met some au pairs with help from the agency and we went and travelled all around the UK and Amsterdam. I took care of a 2 year old that had daycare some days during the week so I had plenty of time to meet fellow au pairs from all over the world and travel.
    After settling in and feeling like family I went on my first trip...all alone...to Paris. It was amazing! I did my research so I knew where to go and where to get help if I needed it. I may have travelled by myself but I met so many like minded people on that trip that they felt like friends right away. That’s the beauty of travelling, staying in safe hostels allows you to meet people looking to travel and meet others along the way.
    With my host family and as much as we enjoyed each other’s company we also respected each other’s privacy and space which was comforting.
    After a sad goodbye and jet lag, 1 month after being home I went to college and became a nurse. Since coming home and having my family hear about my experiences, they too went through Scotia Personnel. My cousin went to Australia and my sister is currently in Holland for 1 year with Scotia Personnel. They knew how much I loved my experience, and the good times I had with great help from the agency, that they tried it out for themselves. My younger cousin also can’t wait until she is done high school and au pair as well.
    I'm genuinely so pleased with my experience as well as my families', I'm able to speak on behalf of 3 different countries, families, lengths of stays and experiences. 
    I can’t say enough about Scotia Personnel or my experiences. I love the program and the way it changed me. Looking back I’ve grown so much as a person. I became more independent, social, outgoing, adventurous and open minded. I gained incredible life experiences, saw some of the world, and made lifelong friends. I recommend this to everyone.

    If you are seeking new opportunities, want to travel, meet new people, or find yourself along the way then I want you to click this link and let it change your life for the better like it did mine. https://www.scotia-personnel-ltd.com/

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  43. I knew since I was 16 that I wanted to do some sort of travel experience before college. When I was 18 I heard of a friend who was an au pair in Holland and knew I wanted to do it as soon as I was done high school before going off to College. I asked a girl in my town that had been to America for a number of years au pairing and she introduced me to Scotia Personnel Ltd.

    Right away I felt all my worries wash away once speaking with the team and experiencing first hand their willingness, helpfulness and knowledge. They knew the answer to all of my questions and had plenty of information for me. I filled out an application and met with Marilyn for an interview.

    After I signed the contract I considered all the great countries the agency partners with and decided with England- it had been a dream of mine!

    Weeks later at 18 from a small town and fresh out of high school I packed up my things and took my first flight ever and flew across the pond.

    I’ll admit I wasn’t scared or nervous at all before leaving but that first night after moving in with my family I thought, oh gosh what did I get myself into? I slept off the doubt that night and didn’t look back the 6 months I was there.
    I lived in Margate, a sea side town on the south east of the UK. I lived right on the ocean with beautiful stunning views and salty air. If that wasn’t awesome enough they also had a flat in a super trendy part of London.
    The flat was amazing. All around us were gorgeous shops, delicious and authentic international cuisines, and beautiful, unique art wherever you went. Thanks to this flat and generous family I was able to spend the weekend in London for Prince William and Kate’s Royal Wedding! That is something I’ll never forget, and yes I did take a picture of them kissing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace
    I met some au pairs with help from the agency and we went and travelled all around the UK and Amsterdam. I took care of a 2 year old that had daycare some days during the week so I had plenty of time to meet fellow au pairs from all over the world and travel.
    After settling in and feeling like family I went on my first trip...all alone...to Paris. It was amazing! I did my research so I knew where to go and where to get help if I needed it. I may have travelled by myself but I met so many like minded people on that trip that they felt like friends right away. That’s the beauty of travelling, staying in safe hostels allows you to meet people looking to travel and meet others along the way.
    With my host family and as much as we enjoyed each other’s company we also respected each other’s privacy and space which was comforting.
    After a sad goodbye and jet lag, 1 month after being home I went to college and became a nurse. Since coming home and having my family hear about my experiences, they too went through Scotia Personnel. My cousin went to Australia and my sister is currently in Holland for 1 year with Scotia Personnel. They knew how much I loved my experience, and the good times I had with great help from the agency, that they tried it out for themselves. My younger cousin also can’t wait until she is done high school and au pair as well.
    I'm genuinely so pleased with my experience as well as my families', I'm able to speak on behalf of 3 different countries, families, lengths of stays and experiences. 
    I can’t say enough about Scotia Personnel or my experiences. I love the program and the way it changed me. Looking back I’ve grown so much as a person. I became more independent, social, outgoing, adventurous and open minded. I gained incredible life experiences, saw some of the world, and made lifelong friends. I recommend this to everyone.

    If you are seeking new opportunities, want to travel, meet new people, or find yourself along the way then I want you to click this link and let it change your life for the better like it did mine. https://www.scotia-personnel-ltd.com/

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  44. I just want to say, once again, THANK YOU to the Scotia Personnel team for helping me get a work placement and in turn creating one of the best experiences of my young life. The travelling, work experience and the life-long friends that I made while abroad have shaped me into a more well rounded individual with memories that I can fondly think of in the days to come.

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  45. I just want to say, once again, THANK YOU to the Scotia Personnel team for helping me get a work placement and in turn creating one of the best experiences of my young life. The travelling, work experience and the life-long friends that I made while abroad have shaped me into a more well rounded individual with memories that I can fondly think of in the days to come.

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  46. hey man! I duno how it worked for you but I got a free trip there and back I live in Ontario Canada and didnt have anything better to do hah plus knowing mandarin is huge for getting jobs out west in BC and stuff for tourism. anyway ask me anything! the citys the place to go if you dont wana be alone (not that anyone does) and meet lots of people from around the world but! the plus about the country is your constantly in a new environment and you will get a nice culture shock while in a city its just a city and you gota travel outside of it to notice where your truely are, but yea! tell me what you wana know bro and ill tell you what i know other then its all real and there nothign to fear.

    no matter what your age you will grow immensely (a lot) because chances are you are exactly like everyone else in the Lo Pair program. I had a great experience with Scotia Personnel and Lo Pair!

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  47. I had the pleasure of working with Scotia personnel through my experience as an au pair one year in the states and following with six months in China. I've always dreamed about traveling and experience another culture but never knew how or where to start. I heard from college school mates and family and friends about this angency so naturally this was the way to go. And I can't tell you enough how an amazing feeling it is to put ideas and dreams into reality.

    The Scotia personnel staff is very friendly, patient and incouraging when it comes to the process of getting ready to work and experience abroad. Any questions I had they reassured me and helped me through my process so I was one step closer to being abroad. The best thing was they share the excitement of your adventures and incourages to keep pursing them. I was blessed with two amazing host families and friendships with people despite having to part ways to our own countries once we where done, When the contract ends, we knew we would be life long friends despite the distance and time, cause sharing these kinds of experiences a hard to forget,

    I highly recommend jumping in and starting the processes right away, they will help you through the applications, interviews, questions and of provided reassurance when you feel uncertainty when leaving your comfort space (your country and home).

    I am still processing my Life changing experiences in just a short time period and i think I will be reflecting for the rest of my life , if it wasn't for this well established angency I may not have gotten to do all the experiences I got to do and for that I am very grateful.

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  48. Reflecting on this past year, I am grateful to Scotia Personal because they gave me the nudge and the confidence to finally fulfill my dream of living in a new country.
    Through the working abroad program I became a receptionist working and travelling on my off days. My coworkers became more like family and beyond that I have made life long friends through my travels. In just over a year I have already visited Italy France Germany Iceland. Each place I've visited has made me fall more in love with traveling. scotia personnel has opened opportunities for me and let me experience all that I have in such a short time.

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    Replies
    1. hey i just read kind of bad reviews on the company and it scared me off...Im going to italy to tutor and i would like to make some money...how can i be nice and ask them that 100 euros per week is not enough for me to save money?

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  49. Scotia personnel is an incredible company! The vast opportunities they offer has something for everyone. They treat everyone like family from the moment you walk in their door. Creating opportunities all around the world with your safety being their number one priority. I could not say enough good things about this company.



    I just recently came back from tutoring in Italy and I wanted to share how amazing my experience was! It was honestly the best summer of my life and I am so grateful for every thing that Scotia personnel did for me; Thank you so much. I made so many friends while travelling who I am already planning on going to go see. The food was so good In Italy. I have done a fair amount of travelling but have never had an experience as authentic as this one. Living and working with a host family I picked up Italian so easily being completely immersed in it. Obviously the locals no all of the best spots and my host family was so excited for me to fall In love with their country that they took me everywhere. Paying for everything. They also took me to Switzerland and Germany so not only did I get to go to one country I got to experience 3. The two little girls will forever be like little sisters to me. I encourage everyone to participate one of the many programs offered the hardest part was choosing what country to go to. The experience was extremely safe and organized and I am very happy to have worked with Scotia personnel.

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  50. Scotia personnel is such a great company that gave me a great opportunity. I have always enjoyed traveling, expanding my comfort zone, learning new cultures, tasting new foods and making new friends. Thanks to Scotia Personnel I got to experience all of this ! Summer 2017 was one of the best time of my life, I got to work as an English tutor in Turin, Italy where I taught English and planned after-school activities for kids during the week. On the weekends I would travel around, I got to see different cities of Italy like Milan and Noli. I also got to see Champs Elysees and the Eifel tower in Paris, and the beautiful city of Lyon in France. I visited Zurich and Sion in Switzerland and also Brussels in Belgium. Eleanor Roosevelt could not have said it better “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” Thank you Scotia Personnel for everything, I made memories that I will always cherish.

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  51. Hi Sarah, I also went abroad with this company. I worked as an English Tutor in Italy for the summer. It was an experience I won’t ever forget. Having the opportunity to live in Italy for three months was amazing. My host family was great, they were very accommodating, generous and welcoming, and the kids I looked after and tutored became like younger siblings to me, and made me feel like part of the family. They even invited me to stay with them again.
    When I wasn’t working, I would travel to amazing places around northern Italy, or hang out with my host family, and we would go on their boat around Lake Como, where we would swim, wakeboard, and occasionally watch fireworks. I also got to eat so many delicious foods as well as have ice cream or gelato almost every day, something I don’t get to do in Canada.
    My experience working in Italy gave me the confidence to solo travel and I was able to meet new and interesting people, as well as get to experience a different culture, cuisine, and environment that I hadn’t before. I would definitely recommend this wonderful opportunity and experience. Overall my time in Italy, and working as a tutor was great, and I would love to get the opportunity to go back again.

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  52. I have worked with Scotia Personnel twice and have had a phenomenal experience both times. In 2016, I went to Palma Mallorca Spain as an Au Pair. They set me up with a wonderful family. My days would consist of waking up the 3 boys in the family, making them breakfast, taking them to the beach and then coming back to the house for lunch. During my weekends off, I would stay with the family because they would show me around the island. I still keep in contact with the family. In 2018, I went to England to work at a camp. The process of being able to work at the camp as a Canadian citizen would seem difficult but Scotia Personnel knew what needed to be done, how to do it , and when. They guided me throughout the entire process. I had the time of my life at the camp. On a day to day basis, my roommates and I would wake up and get breakfast. Each week we were given a group of kids. We would take them to activities throughout the day, eat lunch with them, and supervise them during evening activities. On off weekends I would go to London or just hangout with friends. At the begging of the camp I requested a week off in August. During that week I visited the family that I Au Paired for in Spain. I still keep in contact with the girls that I met at the camp. We always talk about how it was the best summer ever.

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  53. Scotia Personnel helped me move to the UK back in 2017, and they were amazing! It was a huge decision, and they held my hand throughout the whole process. They found me a place to work and live, set up my interview with the hotel, helped me with my visa application, and answered my hundreds of questions quickly and professionally. Very soon after my application was submitted, they presented me with two hotel options, and even sooner I find myself working at a beautiful historic hotel just outside Oxford!
    Even after the initial move, the team stayed in touch ensuring I was comfortable and happy. I even met my European partner!! We have been together over 3 years and now live in central London. I have travelled to AMAZING places in Europe, Africa and the Middle East since moving here- London is a great base to travel from. I am forever grateful for Scotia Personnel, giving me guidance and support during the whole process.

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