Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Beaucoup des Boulettes


Today was full of des boulette. Looking back, none of them were a big deal, and I am still on good terms with the family. But I hate doing things wrong… I feel like I let my family down.

First thing this morning the mom told me to wash the boy’s sheets (I think he wet the bed), so I immediately put them in the wash early this morning to get a head start. After taking the boy to school, I took a nap for a few hours (so amazing), and I woke up to a note saying I forgot to take the cover off the comforter, which made me have to do an extra load (and extra dry time—just extra time to my day).

I started an ironing session afterwards and towards the end, the dad asked me if I was cooking the lasagna or not. Um no… you mentioned that last night, but I thought we were doing it together. So I go ahead and pre-heated the oven and put the lasagna in five minutes later, which would give me enough time to go pick up the boy from the bus and come back and it would be done (dad said it’d take and hour). When I got back, the dad told me I should have warmed it, not cooked it, so thus it was slightly burned. Go me. However, it still tasted pretty good, and I liked the slightly burned texture.

Then I took the boy to guitar and sat there for 30 minutes (no boulette here). After, we went home, and I then went to the crèmerie with the girl to buy milk and crème fraiche. I bought the stuff and put it in the car to go say hi to the American family that lives there. We ended up staying for like 1.5 hours. It was nice chatting to the mom and older girl while my girl and the youngest hung out. The mom asked me how I was transitioning, so I got to let everything out to a real American who understands my frustrations (she moved here a year ago). We complained about some of the nuisances of France, which was nice (no dryers, cold winters- frozen pipes, language barriers). It was nice to have someone to relate to.

Anyway I finally convinced the girl we had to go home, and during snack she told the dad I left the milk in the car the whole time, so I got a lecture about that. I didn’t know our visit would last so long. I know it is not particularly good for the milk, but whatever—it’s 1.5 hours. We will not die.

Then the kids had “formation musicale” at 6pm tonight. The dad thought it was at 6:30pm and told me to get the kids to shower before practice. I corrected him saying 6pm, and he said ok, so I assumed the shower thing was out of the question (not really enough time). Assuming makes an ass out of you and (particularly) me. I was wrong yet again. He wanted them showered before 6pm. I explained my thought process, and he understood. But I feel like I failure.

Another minor thing, I cooked pasta tonight, and the mom made a comment about it being al dente. Well wtf tell me how the hell you want it or else, I am going to do it the way I like it and have done it my whole life. She didn’t say it in a negative way, but I just feel like more of a shitty au pair today.

We had the tarte tartin tonight (apple tarte). OMG super yummy. Absolutely fabulous. Yummy in my tummy for sure. For dinner, we had left over ratatouille and the pasta (al dente) with shredded cheese on top. I never thought the fam would eat the latter food; it is just so simple. It was good though.

I asked the mom, and no activities tomorrow yay! And none on Friday, so that is nice and limits my chaufferness. We also had a nice conversation about me learning French (in English sorry to say), and she told me she understood and felt the same way with Spanish (she is learning now). However, I told her in French what I did on Tuesday and who I met, so that counts for something. I also asked her a question about one of my duties (I am proud because asking questions is a weakness… I really don’t know how to do it because it is a different formula in French).

Oh I also ran today. Haven’t done that since the weekend, so go me. Running is always nice.

Tomorrow I am going to La Défense to have lunch with Nico. I have not seen him in a while, so I am looking forward to that. This week has gone by fairly quickly… almost the weekend! It is Jérôme’s birthday Friday, and I have a surprise on Friday for him (no revealing on here yet).

Well story of my life… need to go to bed!

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