Peeps

Not much to update. I do have my car back though, so I am actually useful again. Before I was just so bored because I’d stay home while the dad did all the driving. It’s good and bad because now I am busy, but now I am busy, so it is tiring haha.

Last night we ate mussels and fries. It was so good. The fries were homemade, and I have only had mussels twice in my life, and both times it has been here with the French family. Tonight, we had couscous with chicken and all sorts of veggies. This was also really scrumptious too!

I prepared the English lesson for tomorrow, it is all Easter themed! Easter is more or less the same here as it is in the US except that America does it bigger and better obviously. Instead of the Easter Bunny, they have the Easter Bells who hide the eggs, so odd! And the Easter eggs here are just straight up chocolate eggs.

I went to the American mom’s house today, and she had brought back all this Easter stuff from California! I saw Peeps!! And she brought back plastic eggs! It made me so happy to see that stuff. You know, I didn’t even know it was Easter till very recently because France just lets these holidays go by with no notice. It is sad for me. America may make holidays are commercialized, but I like it that way because at least we celebrate!

We had this big discussion how the French don’t really have a sense of community with any group. Schools don’t do fall festivals/spring flings here, no talent shows, plays etc. She told me she was telling her French friend that after dropping off the kids from school, all the moms would meet for coffee, and the French lady was just so surprised at the idea. She has tried throwing themed parties, like Halloween parties, but no one came. And with me, all the French students at my university just loved it because we did so much… sports, volunteering, people just out and about on campus, clubs, etc. I don’t know… this aspect of France is definitely a negative for me. If I decide to live here for a number of years, I will definitely need American friends, so I can have some sense of home and our traditions. I will also try to share these things with my French friends to let them see a new way of living life.

Living here is all about that. Sharing our differences and taking the best from each.

Mexico, Dublin, and London

So I have been SLACKING with my blog. I am sorry. I took a break during my vacation because hey, it is vacation. Mexico was great. Warm weather and sun; I did get a tan, but it doesn’t even matter because no one can see it!! >:( One day my bro and I went to a cenote for an adventure day. A cenote is a cave with beautiful, clear water inside. We took a 20 minute bumpy jungle ride into the adventure park, and we did all sorts of zip lines and things and ended with snorkeling in a cenote. It was beautiful, and I think it was Wyatt’s favorite thing. Mexico was very relaxing. I was so jet lagged and messed up, so I went to bed at 10pm and woke up at 6am every day, usually taking a nap before dinner time. Idk why I was so messed up. It was great seeing my mom and brother, and I just needed that family time. Mexico will forever be a good memory <3

Then to my travels back to Paris…. GAH. Mexico to New York was uneventful. I got a fried rice meal at the airport while waiting for my next flight, and I also called my dad and Amanda to kill time and to use my phone! But Jerome had warned me that it was snowing in Paris, so I may have problems. I was worried, but didn’t think it could affect me that much because I was arriving the next day from the snow, but I was wrong. When I boarded the plane, the pilot said that 40 planes were in front of us to take off, so we had to wait 40 mins inside the plane before we could leave (I wish we could have waited in the airport for this!). Just adding extra time on that 8 hour flight.

The flight was as good as a transatlantic flight can be, and then we finally landed, and Paris was a white wonderland. I was ready to be OUT of the plane, but the next blunder came along. The airport people had to clear out the ice from our walk path to the bus (because we didn’t exit the plane through those tunnel things as usual), and this took like an hour for some unknown reason! I was livid just waiting waiting waiting. I then got through customs easy peasy, but getting my checked bag was an ordeal. There were TV’s saying which number conveyer belt to go to for your flight, but they never put NYC on there, so I waited like 30 minutes until I found someone on my flight and asked what the deal was. He said he thought there weren’t any of our bags left to take, so I had been waiting for no reason, and my bag was available the whole time. I got it easy enough, and then I eventually found the RER to get into Paris.

The RER screen said it would arrive in two minutes, which ended up being like 15. Then we got on the RER, and it finally left 15 minutes later. I was crammed into a corner standing the whole time because it was overcrowded since the line was operating properly. We waited a good 15 mins in the middle of two stops, so it was just effed up!! I finally got to my stop to catch a bus to Jerome’s to discover the bus wasn’t running that day. I was finally in Paris, and snow was everywhere, so it made sense. I was dead at this point and hailed a cab for the rest of the way, but I was close so it was 10 euros.

I finally made it to Jerome’s and just had a day in his apartment of resting basically. It was great reuniting! Our trip to Dublin was the next morning, and I was in no mood for travel again, but I went and had a BLAST!

Dublin was great. After 36 hours of being awake and getting 5 hours of sleep, I was up bright and early for our travels to Dublin. We took Ryan Air to Dublin, which uses an airport way outside Paris, so we took a 1.5 hour bus there, but it was relaxing just watching the scenery. Nothing exciting at the airport or plane ride; it was like an hour ride, so very quick. But we were finally here in Dublin!!

It was invigorating being in an English speaking country with everything in English. I loved it. Dublin was a spread out city, so it reminded me of an American city because you needed a car to get around. Anyways we took a bus in the city center and got an Irish breakfast, which consisted of baked beans, mushrooms, a potato cake, fried egg, ham, sausage, and black and white pudding. I tried the pudding, but the thought of it was just so weird for me! I couldn’t finish it.

We met Jerome’s cousin and her boyfriend, whose stay was unexpectedly longer, and they were really nice and went to the zoo with us—the largest zoo in Europe. It was great! We then went to Jerome’s brother, Adrien’s, apartment. It was VERY BIG… biggest apt I have ever seen. Adrien eventually came home, and he ended up being the best host. I will overview everything we did, but Adrien drove us everywhere every day. One day, we went to a quaint harbor town and hiked and saw the cliffs. We took a walk along the beach one day in the cold, but it was very pretty.

St. Patties, we went to a parade and then a hurling and Gaelic football game. All cool experiences! We met Adrien’s Irish friends along the way, who were really nice and sometimes hard to understand (especially at the bar that night). That night, we went to one of me and Jerome’s friend’s apts, Romain, who recently moved to Dublin, and I met some French people. We then went out to a bar, and stayed there the whole night because it was so fun! There was enough room to dance and move around, so we were happy.

The next day was our return to Paris, a Monday. We left that evening and got to the airport an hour before as Adrien advised us to. When we got there, we discovered our flight was overbooked, so they offered us a deal to take another flight, but we wanted our flight, but while the guy was finagling getting us on, we debated. We decided what the heck, we will take a free night in a hotel and 250 euros each to take a flight through London the next day. When the guy came back, he had gotten us tickets, which I felt bad about because he probably had to pull a few strings, but he let us take the deal.

So I called my host dad and let him know I would be an extra day late, and we seemed totally fine, so it was all set! Me and Jerome stayed in a hotel, which was so cool because we have never done that together before. We had a king bed, which I found was two twins put together—wth, but whatever. We also got free dinner and breakfast! It was a well-made decision, and I am glad we made it. We flew through London, which added time to our day, but it was worth the price.

So Tuesday night I came back to au pair life. I learned my car still wasn’t ready, so that week was chill. I didn’t do a lot since I couldn’t drive. I got to sleep more too, but I was pretty bored last week. Then on Friday, the dad asked if I could just stay in Paris all day and not come home, which was cool! He was having to drive me back and forth to the train station, which was annoying for him, so I understood totally. More freedom for me! So I just saw Jerome and worked on my school applications with him, and that night I was off to LONDON to see my godmother, Vickie, and her daughter, Lindsey.

London was so great! I know I have been on travels galore, but I like it that way. I needed to have London to have something to look forward too after the vacation crash and beginning au pair life again. So anyway, I took the Eurostar to London and got there at 10pm or so. I took a cab to the hotel and waited in the hotel bar until they got back from a show. They came like 15 minutes after I got back, and we just chatted at the bar until bed time.

The next day, it was snowing, so we went to Harrod’s, which was a crazy shopping experience. It was so crowded! We bought all sorts of souvenirs, food, clothes, and then fro yo! I was wiped out afterwards. We got back to the hotel and watched Men in Black 3, and I napped through most of it. We had a nice dinner that night right near the hotel. The next day was my last day, and I was leaving at 2:30pm, but we squeezed in Madame Tussauds, a wax museum. I never went last time I was in London, so I was all for it. They had everyone from Morgan Freeman, Justin Bieber, to Ghandi. It was really cool! I then was on my train back to Paris. It was a quick trip, but I really enjoyed it especially seeing more of my family!!

And then I asked if I could stay in Paris Sunday night since I still don’t have my car, and the dad said yes, so I got like a 4 day weekend. I could get used to this! Me, Jerome, Vincent, and his gf had a picnic at Parc de Belleville this afternoon because it was very nice and sunny.

So that’s been my life for the last few weeks. I have no travels plans for two weeks, then I go to Lyon, then another two weeks, and it is the next VACA (and last).

I am not proof reading this, so I am sorry for the typos! 

Jetlag

So I am finally in Mexico, not Cancun, but the final destination of a little town one hour south of Cancun. It has built up a lot since I was here 6 or so years ago, but it fits my vague memories. We are staying in a rental house that my mom’s friend, Linda, owns. Linda has lived here 7 years and built the house to be a rental home, so it is nice having her bc she knows the area and speaks Spanish.

As expected, everything is Spanish here, but I find myself missing French. Here I read something, and can’t read it at all, and that is hard when I am used to reading French and basically understanding it. There are similarities, but I still miss my French! Whenever a Spanish person talks to me, I have to hold back my French hellos and thank yous, and it is just so weird!

I am also still jetlagged, and I have been here for two nights now (about to make three). Jetlag has never hit me so hard before, but I just can’t get over it. I went to bed at 10pm both nights and woke up at 3am and then 6am each night respectively. But now, I am so freaking tired! I did wake up at 6am, but I am used to that, so idk my problem. It is just the time difference I suppose.

Today, I woke up at 6am and went for a run, which was good bc the weather was cool for running. My brother then woke up at 8am, and I was just laying out and reading by the pool at the house. Linda came over at some point, and we waited for my mom to wake up. After she woke up and we hung out a bit, we went to a big grocery store for a big shop. Mexican stores have a lot more American brands, which is cool. I bought peanut butter and popcorn to bring back. And that reminds me, Wyatt (my brother), gave me Thin Mints!!! I seriously have thought about Girl Scout cookies while in France and just laughed it off knowing I just wouldn’t see them this year, but now I can!

While at the store, we were in the bakery section, and in Mexico they make a lot of pastries and such, which is just different from France and even America bc I had never seen these pastries before. I bought a baguette (or something similar)… I am turning so French! I need a fresh baguette now! And then we found this pizza looking thing in the shape of a slice of pizza with cheese and pepperoni, and then there was a top crust layer that looked suspiciously like there was sugar on there. When we got home, we discovered we were right… it was good, sweet and salty, but kinda weird.

Later on, Wyatt and I rented snorkeling gear and went snorkeling. We got split up at one point, but I ended up finding a sea turtle and two cuddle fish! Wyatt found sting rays too; I wish I had seen those.

I then skyped Jerome for a bit afterwards, which was nice. Reminds me of this past summer when our relationship was Skype for three months; luckily it is only 9 days of skype this time.

Mom and Linda made chicken, rice, and salad tonight for dinner. I was sitting outside napping for like 30 minutes waiting for dinner because I was just so tired. I am not used to being like this. I hope tomorrow I finally get over it!

Yesterday, we rented the car in Cancun and drove to Akumal. I am the sole driver here, so it is a lot of pressure. We have an SUV, which is huge compared to my Panda in France and it is automatic, so it is just weird, and then the different style of driving here. Driving the automatic, I realize how stupid and simple it is… like really it is crazy. You don’t do anything. As for the different driving styles. The speed limits on highways are slower than in France—annoying. There’s a weird right hand half lane that slow cars use and cars turning off use when on highways, but you’re still sticking on the other lane, so it is just awkward. The stop signs say Alto, which is just cool. Funny how France has actual Stop signs. Oh and the car is a push start car, so I had to read in Spanish how to turn it on bc you have to press the brake pedal and press the button at the same time. I figured this out because I recently learned pedal is an English and French word, and now apparently a Spanish word. Good to know.

Oh and I have been brainwashed living in France bc the toilet seat flush buttons are on top of the toilet, and here in Mexico they are on the side like America, but EVERY TIME I reach to press it on top!

Wake up in Paris, Go to Bed in Mexico

So I am on my flight to Chicago right now, and last time I looked at the map, we were over American soil. I am actually in America, WOW. AND I looked at my iphone, and it says roaming!!! So that means I can use my phone/3G for a good solid 2 hours or so before I go to Cancun. Kind of exciting haha. Haven’t a proper phone in 7 months.

Anyways, I can’t believe my trip is actually happening. I have been dreaming about it since November, so it has been so long just anticipating it. This flight sucks though. GAH 8.5 hrs on this damn plane. There is a baby crying off and on 2 rows ahead of me. I have an isle seat, which is good, but the guy next to me has asked to go to the bathroom twice, once when I was watching a movie on my laptop—annoying. This plane doesn’t have personal TV’s for you to choose your own entertainment. It has shit TV’s in the middle every few rows, but from my vantage point, I can’t properly see it clear enough, but they have played crap movies anyway. Usually they show new movies, but these two have been old.

As for an update on my past few days. My last au pair days were made easier because we took my car to the shop on Wednesday, and thus I haven’t had to do half of my au pair job since, which is driving. The dad had to do it all because I can’t drive his car, so that was cool. I got to sleep in Thurs and Fri while he took the kids to school, and I took a later train each day to come home to coordinate with when the girl got out of school.

This weekend… on Friday, I arrived at Jerome’s with my big suitcase, and one his Bordeaux friends was there visiting for the wknd on a business trip. I met him before when I went to Bordeaux. We all hung out for a bit, and then Jerome, his friend (I cant spell my name for the life of me or even pronounce it correctly—Orelie… something like that), and I went out to eat nearby the apt at this African restaurant, which was AMAZING. The food here is just amazing in general as you all know. I had slow-cooked lamb with prunes and almonds, sounds weird, but it was great. The boys then went to a studio to play music somewhere in the burbs, but I was tired, so I went home.

Jerome got back at like 8am the next morning… that’s how the French do, so I just lazed around for a bit until they all woke up, and we hung out at the apt. I then went on a search to get a pedicure for Mexico. There was a place literally 5 feet from Jerome’s, but they couldn’t fit me in, so I just wandered till I found another place, which wasn’t too hard to find. But man oh man, it was a strange pedicure experience.

They put me in this private message room, and I was sitting on a massage table type deal, and I was so confused (where was the pedicure chair with the tub of water for your feet?). Basically I sat on this table the whole time and she worked on my feet on the other end, and she had a portable tub she would pick up and down each time I needed to soak. It just seemed really inconvenient for her, but that’s how France is sometimes, not the most logical about things. But in the end, I got my nails painted, feet buffed, and all that, so it was good. I had to walk home in the 30 degree weather in flip flops, so ppl thought I was a CRAZY person, but whatever haha.

That evening, I brought Jerome with me to the store to buy some food gifts for my fam. Cheese, sausage, and wine, so they should like that when I arrive. Then we cooked dinner, and I finished sorting out my suitcase, and we all went to a friend’s apartment for a “party,” which was just a few people drinking. Me and Jerome left at like 11:30pm though because I wanted sleep for my big day today.

I woke up at 6:30am, and left by 7:15am. For whatever reason the RER B to the airport was closed part of the way today (of all freaking days), so I took the Roissy Bus to the airport. Jerome went with me thankfully, and he helped me with my big suitcase, so it wasn’t so bad. Just annoying since we took a bus to an Rer, to the Roissy Bus, so there was a lot of connections.

When we got to the airport, it was so crowded. I was overwhelmed. And I stupid because I didn’t write down my reservation number, flight number, or the airline I was using. So we were wandering a bit before Jerome’s Iphone would let us log onto Gmail, but once we did it was ok. Turns out I was there too early to even get in line, so we ate at McDonald’s, which took a while bc it was uber crowded. By the time, we got in line again, it had doubled, and we probably waited an hour or so to check my bag. After I said my goodbyes to Jerome, and security took like 15 mins, and then I arrived at my terminal, which was boarding. I had to scramble to go buy a bottle of water and two bottles of champagne for my mom before before it was too late, but I all worked out.

So now I am here. I have like 1.5 hrs of this flight. I cant to be in America! So cool, but it will be for like two hours, and then off to Mexico. I hope everything goes smoothly today. So far it has, but I have no idea about my mom’s end of things. She is gonna meet me at the airport tonight (she gets in 5 hrs earlier), so I hope I can find her there easily. It’ll be so weird seeing my mom and brother after 7 months! Looking forward to it though!