Slacker Au Pair

I need so good quality blogging right now as I am a little stressed. The mom asked me after dinner tonight what I planned to do for English lessons with the kids. Every week I have to individually spend an hour with them teaching English. I have no idea what I am going to do. I didn’t have an answer for the mom, so I told her I would think and research it tonight. Ah I really don’t know what to do. The old au pair left all her workbooks and sheets she made, but I don’t really know where to go from there. I don’t really know the kids level; I mean they seem to speak English fine. When I speak to them, I usually have to rephrase and say what I said in a simpler way, but they understand. So I don’t really know what to teach. I think the best method I have found so far is to play interesting (key word) games with them. It looks like the old au pair printed a lot of stuff off the internet, so I will do that to I suppose.

I just don’t think I can really teach complicated English to them. It is weird because I have always learned how to learn French… I have never taken an English class to learn the language, so I would be much better off teaching French if you know what I mean. The chapter the last au pair left off on is liking Present Simple 2 tense or something… I don’t even know what that is. Well I will figure it out… I emailed the last au pair and asked for advice. I need it badly.

I did absolutely nothing today. I was useless to the world. Basically was holed up in my room (I hope they don’t think I am antisocial/weird) watching American TV shows and editing 50 page long theses for my French friends (you know who you are). I guess it worked out I had nothing to do since these papers are due tomorrow.

Anyway the dad woke me up at 9:45am so I could meet the American mom whose daughter is the girl’s bff (I talked about this yesterday). She was really nice and from California. We had a nice chat, and it was so nice saying anything to this lady with all the good ole American slang and she understood. So refreshing. She has lived in France for a year, and she said it is still frustrating sometimes because she can’t fully express herself in French…lucky me, but this is what I signed up for. At least my family and friends speak English, so I will never really be alone.

For lunch, we made pork chops in a crème fraiche sauce (I am learning this is a vital ingredient for this family), rice, and mushrooms. As usual, it was scrumptious. More chocolate milk (real!) and baguette for dessert… this is a good tradition :p

Then I watched Real World- St Thomas. I haven’t seen it in so long… all the drama seemed pretty ridiculous, but it was entertaining.

I don’t really know what the dad does all day. I think he works from home I guess. He is always on his laptop, so I assume he is working. As for the boy, he did his own thing and eventually one of his friends came over. It was awkward because we were never introduced, but I guess he figured out during dinner that I am retarded with French, so I guess it’s all ok (I think I can get away with most social situations because I don’t have to act like a normal speaking person here—once I open my mouth people know I am the poor, cute, dumb American girl). Oh and dinner was roasted chicken (so normal), diced cucumbers in of course crème fraiche sauce, and roasted cauliflower. Dessert: nectarine and dark chocolate yogurt. This family eats A LOT of yogurt, and mostly the gross no sugar kind. Bleh. I tried it with cocoa powder today…not a good combo. The powder doesn’t like to mix with yogurt apparently.

The mom reminded me tonight of the kids laundry and changing sheets. I didn’t know I was supposed to be doing that yet… so I feel bad I was Slacker Au Pair today when I could have been getting shiz done. Well I went ahead and changed their sheets tonight, and I guess tomorrow will be all about laundry. This is good though… I want to feel like I am actually earning my allowance every week and contributing.

Less than 24 hours till Paris. WOOOO! Très excited. The mom asked me in French today what time I wanted to leave and all I said was I don’t know. I didn’t know how to ask her when I was allowed to leave. Ok I could have…but I would not have understood her reply. I can’t understand her, it is so frustrating.

Sorry I am just blabbing random things… I don’t like saying and then and then and then (my posts have done just that). That sounds like a kid writing, and I already sound like that when I speak French… probably a 2 year old.

I also didn’t run today. I didn’t do anything. I was lazy. But hey, I am emotionally spent, so I deserve it I guess. Tomorrow will be good. Run. Laundry. Food. PARIS.