Au Pair Adventures

I'm here!

2008-10-02T10:21:00.001-07:00

Sorry, I know it's taken me forever to update this. I appreciate that there are a few people that have been checking though. It makes me feel loved! I've been a bit homesick for the past couple of days, which might also have been an influence in not posting. I didn't want to put a negative spin on something that's been so fantastic.
The flight to Basel felt like it took FOREVER. I didn't sleep on the plane, which was great since I quickly got over jet lag but put me in the worst mood when I arrived in London. I don't remember much about the bus ride from Gatwick to Heathrow other than sheep and cows, which I suppose is really all there is to see anyway from one airport to another. Then I wound up sitting in Heathrow for 5 hours until my next flight. Tons of duty-free shopping though.
When I finally landed I was greeted by Anke and Claudio (my little partner in crime). He was apprehensive and quiet at first, but we're getting along much better now. On leaving the airport, Anke took me around to see the little cities around this area of France and a little bit of Germany and unfortunately what struck me more than anything else was the similarity to the buildings in Epcot. I hope it's not that way everywhere. I suppose it's nice though that Disney got it spot on.
For the first few days, Dorota, the former au pair was there as well. She's Polish, so it was nice to hear a little more about Poland and also what they think of Americans (we're fat and ambitious is the general scheme I'm getting from everyone). She was incredibly cool and I wish she could have stayed longer. We explored the neighboring city of Basel together and also went to see La Boheme at the Basel Theatre (a welcome present for me and a going away present for Dorota from Anke). It was an interesting show. I expected a very realistic representation but it was instead very symbolic in some ways and I'm still trying to decipher some of the director's choices...like setting Act 2 in a ski resort... But the Roderigo was awesome, the Mimi decent enough. One thing that stuck me though was how long the curtain call lasted. It kind of reminded me of when I saw Christine Ebersole on broadway and she was so full of herself that she stood on stage for 15 minutes until everyone kind of relented and gave her a standing ovation. Except in the case of the Swiss they just kept applauding and applauding. I think the final count was 7 curtain calls. Does this happen anywhere in America and I've just been missing out. I don't want to assume anything since I've only encountered it in a one time occurrence but the impression is that they were intensely appreciative.
But now Dorota has gone back to Poland so I am mostly left to adventure alone. Although I think, my neighbor almost went to Basel with me today...through no intentional invitation. My neighbors are all I swear the friendliest people I've ever met. I had coffee and cake with my neighbors upstairs (alexis and albertine) which was an aide in improving my French. My next door neighbor, Christophe always stands outside the door so I'm kind of forced to talk to him. Today I was trying to be nice and asked him his plans for the afternoon and such and so on and before i knew it he thought i was extending the invitation to spend the afternoon with me. And that was my poorly explained social awkwardness of the day. I suppose it's not so bad. I just don't want my 35 year old neighbor thinking I'm asking him out.
Claudio and I are getting along fine. He's a bit clingy to his mother which is kind of annoying but he's getting better. It would be easier if she didn't work at home. I think I'm going to wind up fixing him intricate meals for lunch though which is difficult as cooking and watching a 2 year old and paying enough attention to him so that he doesn't go crying for mother don't really all coincide one another. The meals aren't really that complex, it's just hard to do everything at one time. Other than that it's just a lot of playing with toy cars. I said "Aye yey yey" one time when he dropped something and now it's the new catch phrase in that he says it about 60 times a day. It's actually cute, but I feel bad for having started something.
I'm trying to decide what to do this weekend. I went to Basel again this afternoon... It all depends if my bike is fixed by then (I sprung a gear or something, the chain is loose). I'm also going to be taking two language courses soon hopefully. One in french and another in German. Knowing german will be convenient as I'm 5 minutes away from Germany and German speaking Swiss and I feel like an idiot going "Um, English?"

2008-08-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

My trip is quickly approaching (for about the third time, after being delayed previously) and I'm starting to get a little anxious. It's really starting to hit me that I'll be leaving all of my friends and family for at least three months, if not 9 with a short break in between. Plus the general jitters that arise when moving to a new place that one has never even visited with people that one doesn't know other than a few congenial phone conversations. I'm super excited, don't get me wrong I've been reading all of the guide books again and trying to figure out where exactly I want to visit and so on and so forth but the reality of the adventure on which I'm soon to embark is sinking in...
Moving on I gave my two weeks notice at Peach Valley Cafe. No more waiting tables soon!

Update

2008-06-02T12:47:00.000-07:00

So now I am not leaving until the middle of September since the visa takes so long to go through. Great because I have more time with everyone, not so great because I have 3 more months rent and I already quit my job. Plus I have NOTHING to do, movies and day trips can only take one so far. I feel like I'm retired. Retired people must be bored. I need to join a bridge club or take up canasta or pick up some sort of project, like writing a novel or picking up another language. AHHH boredom! There is only so much Sister, Sister I can watch and stay sane. Stupid immigration laws.

Getting Started

2008-05-25T13:48:00.000-07:00

Already running into snags. The French department of Labor won't let authorize my au pair contract since my host family doesn't speak French. Seems rather silly to me. I speak French, what's the problem? I've heard of the national pride and the overzealous nature with which the French people protect their language so I can't say I'm surprised. The Hsus (my host family) have said that we could just keep it as a private contract and I could enter the country as a tourist, but I would rather have some sort of legal paperwork, like a long stay visa. I need to decide what action I am going to take. Blah, and the travel agency charged me $200 dollars for delaying my flight. Hopefully life will be much easier once I am already there. Although it's not like life is hard now, no more job and no more school. I pretty much do nothing all day except prepare to leave and hang out with people. I can't imagine what people trying to get into America or get citizenship must go through.