>>8 Well, there's a lot of sexism in the babysitting industry. Don't hold your breath if you are a male. Never heard of an au pair guy. But seems that people are indeed crazy enough for au pair girls to exist.

Ok, this is really a long shot, but you might investigate the possibility of going to Germany by boat. Sometimes freighters accept a couple of passengers. I don't know how much it would cost, and perhaps you can negotiate, or even work in the boat. I know some painters traveled like this, paying their fare with paintings. As long as you're not in a hurry to get there, it could work.

If you are cash strapped, but come here at the right season, you can easily find a farm job. Won't pay much, but at least you get to know people, while considering your next step.