Missed Train

Today is a snow day for both kids, and it is Monday. I don’t mind too much. I got to sleep in, so that is always great. Although, I do enjoy my conversation class, especially since Paige and I are in there together, but she had a snow day as well today.

I had a really good weekend, and I didn’t even make it to Nantes. That is a story within itself haha, so I will start with the beginning…

So I took the usual 6:30pm train on Friday night to Paris. It had started snowing as I was driving to the train station with the dad, and was coming on full stream when I arrived in Paris. For some reason, I just didn’t think it snowed in Paris really, but boy it SNOWED in Paris this weekend! Anyway I arrived in Paris and headed straight for Paige’s new house (she just got a new family) near La Défense.

It took a good 45 minutes or so to get there, and then I had to walk in a few inches of snow for like 10 minutes once I got off the tram stop. Luckily Paige gave good directions, so I found the house easily, but it felt like it took forever because it was dark, snowing, and cold. I met her family, and they were all so nice. Two parents, 5 year old boy, 13 year old girl, and 15 year old boy. I stayed for only like 20 minutes unfortunately because I had to be at the Montparnasse train station to take my train to Nantes in time, but the little time I did have, I saw the house and family, and they even let me eat a slice of pizza.

I then left for the 45 minute journey to Montparnasse. I was making good time when Jerome texted me asking if I was at Montparnasse. Turns out, we had a train leaving the same station at similar times (he was going out of town this weekend too), so we got to randomly meet up for twenty minutes or so. I was happy to unexpectedly see him, so we were just chatting and giving him advice because he has recently gone through a difficult thing in his life, so I got carried away with the time.

I left him with four minutes till my train to spare, and I went to the TV screens that tell you which platform you leave off of, and I couldn’t find Nantes. So I asked an SCNF guy, and he said it looks like it already left. So I then called Jerome and found him again, and he left like 5 minutes later for his train. Then I was alone again, and went to an office to see my options. They weren’t helpful as usual, so I was out 100 euros total for my missed train, and I really didn’t want to pay for another ticket.

I called Paige like 5 times because I started to make my way back to her house assuming I could stay with her. She eventually got back to me and said it was fine. It was annoying because I had to wait like 30 minutes for the tram to her place to leave La Défense (the tram times are less late at night). But I made it eventually! Everyone was asleep except Paige when I arrived, so we just chatted a bit, and I told her my story, and then we hit the sack. It is lucky bc she has two twins in her room, so I had my own bed!

The next day, we hung out at the house all day until nigh time. We woke up and ate some cereal and hung out with the two youngest kids. We then played with the 5 year old while the mom cooked lunch. We just played marbles. He’s a cute, little, rambunctious boy—well he is five. Then we had a large lunch. We started with grapefruit, potatoes, green beans, steak (which was extremely rare and chewy), salad, and then pineapple, and of course, bread a cheese. It was a good, classic French meal. The fam then left, so we had the house to ourselves. We just hung out, and then our friend Lindsey came over, and we just hung out some more until the evening. Lindsey and Paige went to the Pompidou for an exhibit, but I made plans with Justine to go out with her, so we parted ways at La Défense.

So I made my way back to Jerome’s apt, having made plans with Vincent to leave his keys for me (he was at dinner with his gf), and I got ready there, and then set off for the pregame. It was at the same apartment as last time when I went out with Justine. There were like 5 people total, all of which I knew except one, but they were all really nice.

We then made our way to Showcase, a club underneath a bridge near Concorde, which is kinda cool. Anyway we got in this long line, and it was freezing and snowing outside! We waited like an hour! And then like another hour for the Vestaire (where you put your coat). The bathroom line was ridic, so I never even went to the bathroom there. Drinks were 12 euro. It was an awesome venue, but the waiting times SUCKED. I was sober by the time we got through everything, so it honestly wasn’t much fun unfortunately.

I kept contemplating taking a taxi and just going home, but eventually we all left together. Luckily Justine’s boyfriend parked his car nearby, so I got a free ride back to the apartment. I was asleep by 5am. I then woke up at 11am and watched a show, ate breakfast, showered etc. I didn’t really know what I’d do with my day, but it all worked out.

Vincent made lunch for us, so I ate with them and talked about our nights. Then Paige had called and invited me to go see her, so I joined her and some girls at Angelina ‘s (a restaurant), and it is known to have the best hot chocolate in Paris, and it was really good! I got white hot chocolate too! Then we walked around in the snow, and eventually made our way to the Louvre food court and “camped out” there. We were just chatting. I got too know a girl from Mexico and Alabama, both equally as nice. Turns out the Alabama girl knows my town, and works very close doing white water rafting tours. Small small world.

Also during this time, I was trying to coordinate seeing Jerome before I went home. I knew there were train problems (either a strike or because of the snow), so I was worried if it would work out, but it did. I met Jerome at the train station got to see him for like two hours before I went home. I was so happy to see him. I wish I could have been stranded in Paris to stay the night, but oh well.

I don’t really know what I will do today because there’s no school or activities, but Mondays are the busiest with driving, so I got lucky to miss this day. I am doing lots of laundry today I know—the kids’, my bed, and my clothes.

Future

So… I feel like I have reached a decision for what I am gonna do next year. I haven’t talked to anyone about the decision except emailing my Mom and to Christy (prev au pair) who advised it, but I think it is my best bet.

I had a dilemma of French public schools because one actually emailed me back saying I need a C1 level of French (almost fluent), and I am in an A2 class, so I don’t think I would advance enough in the time frame. I was telling Christy about this online last night, and she said she was a C1 level by the end of her second year, so she said to au pair another year and then go to school, which I think is brilliant. Why go to a private school and spend 15,000 euros when I can au pair another year, and then go to almost free public school in France?

So I think I will au pair again. I can’t believe I am saying that, but now I know what to look for. A family INSIDE Paris that’s for damn sure as well as my own space. Like my own apartment or “chamber de bonne,” which is your own space within the same apt building as your fam. Just as long as I can come and go as I please to have more freedom. Things I like about my family already are that I get every weekend off and every school holiday off (full 2 weeks) no questions asked (a lot of girls work some on wknds and holidays, and of course the children are pretty much perfect (although you never really know what the kids will be like until you have started). I want a fam to pay for my flight and/or school because some families do indeed do that. I don’t know if this is likely, but to not work mornings. One friend doesn’t have to do anything until the afternoon to pick up the kids from school—that way I could sleep in more! It would be nice to not have to do the kids laundry/ironing, but that isn’t too important, but I am the only au pair I know who has to do that. I wouldn’t want to cook either, but that is not a deal breaker whatsoever.

 I am pretty much asking for the least work possible while getting an apt in Paris haha… I can dream at least. The two main things are live in my own place in Paris and weekends/holidays off. I can deal with everything else, but paying for my flight or school would be great as well bc they’re like $1000 each.

I have started my search, but it really isn’t the “season” to find families yet, so I have time. I need to talk to my friends, family, and Jerome about this though to get their input.

As for today, it was Wednesday, so I was busy. I was in charge of cooking tonight, and I made la soupe poireaux (leek soup with potatoes), and then endives au jambon, which apparently “endive” is chicory in English. I have never heard of that, but it is a weird vegetable lettuce thing that I wrapped in ham (jambon) covered in a Bechemel sauce (butter, flour, egg, cheese configuration). The dad helped with the endive part at least. But yea, I think from here on out, I am in charge of cooking. He told me to buy a notebook to plan out the weekly meals, so I am nervous about all that, but it will be ok.

I also hurt the car today… I was driving the girl to pony club on a straight part of the road maybe going 50 mph when a car coming the opposite direction hit my side mirror. I guess we were both too close to the middle. Idk whose fault it was, but the mirror is cracked now. The roads are so narrow this was bound to happen sometime uhg. But I am bad and lied about it saying I was on the side of the road in town stopped when a car hit me and just kept going. I don’t want them to think I am terrible at driving because I am not (although I don’t blame you if you don’t believe me). But honestly, I don’t know if it was my fault or not, so maybe that makes it better. I don’t know. I am really ashamed. I almost didn’t write it out on here… But they haven’t event fixed the car from the first time, which is such a minor dent/scrape when I was parallel parking and scraped a pole. I paid them 200 euros for the deductible, and idk what they did with the money, certainly not fix it. If they don’t do it by the time I leave, I will ask for my money back that’s for sure.

I didn’t go to school yesterday because it snowed and the girl didn’t have school. I was happy because I got more sleep, but I was bored most of the day, and this is the second French class I have missed in a row. Although these two times haven’t been all my fault, so there’s that at least. I didn’t have a choice about yesterday.

Motivation

So le weekend… let’s see. Well before that. Friday was pretty boring, not much to do, so I watched like 3 or 4 episodes of Breaking Bad. But I wasn’t completely lazy because I did run! Took the train at 6:30pm as usual and started my weekend.

My train station has a lot of stores, so I started my les soldes shopping and used my gift card to buy half off perfume at Yves Rocher, and then I looked at some dirt cheap shoes next door, but they were too small. I am a size 9 (size 40 in France), and apparently to French standards I have HUGE feet. It is hard to find shoes here.

Afterwards, I headed to Jerome’s work to pick up his keys and saw him for a few minutes. I then headed to a Monoprix (grocery store along with clothes, etc. Like a small version of WalMart), and I found tortillas! I have been looking for them for a while, so I instantly bought them along with quesadilla ingredients! Of course, there is no tilapia here, so I bought some kind of fish (all they have is salmon and this other fish basically).

I then headed to Jerome’s apt, and Vincent was there. We hung out, and I made quesadillas, which were good, but not as good since I didn’t have my “American” ingredients. Jerome came home eventually, and we watched Koh-lunta, which is a French tv show spin-off of Survivor (France is so behind the times :p ). Afterwards, I went to bed with Jerome, so a quiet Friday night like most Friday nights.

The next day, I met up with Meghan at Les Halles (a mall in the center of Paris) for les soldes shopping! It was uber crowded as I knew it would be, but well worth it. I bought some black, suede cowboy boots, sparkly black flats, a sweater dress, and 2 cutesy shirts. I never go shopping, so it was nice. We also got lunch at a Mexican burrito place, which was oh-so-American J

Then we saw a movie, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. It has Emma Watson in it, so I wanted to see it. I didn’t know anything about the movie other than the fact it was a book. It was pretty good! It is about a guy about to start high school who went through a lot of emotional things and him making friends and living his first year of high school.

We headed back to Jerome’s apartment afterward and hung out and made dinner until Jerome came home, and eventually we went out to a mutual friend’s birthday party (a French guy I met in Raleigh). It was a lot of fun. The birthday boy rented out the downstairs of a bar, which was cool because it looked like a cave with stone walls and (Jerome said) cheap drinks (like 8 euro for a mixed drink—I guess it is cheap for Paris). Anyway it was a lot of fun having an American friend along! We went home with Vincent and his gf (Jerome wanted to stay out later). I was just so tired, and we got back at 4am. Plenty late but earlier than normal. And Jerome got back who knows when, but I woke up when he climbed into bed, and went straight to sleep after.

Sunday didn’t do too much as usual. Slept in, then Jerome cooked some lunch. He had never seen Finding Nemo, so we watched that. I hadn’t seen it in so long, so that was nice. We also looked at my pictures on fb because I had a few of my house, and then we google imaged my area, and he wants to come visit and meet my fam! So maybe this summer he will come visit, who knows, but I would like that.

I have also been having trouble getting back into the swing of things speaking French with Jerome, so we discussed it, and I thought of an idea to speak one hour in French and then the reward is one hour of English. It is sad, but I need a reward to motivate me to speak English, but I think it will work!

Today was good. I had my conversation class, which I liked. Then I hung out with Paige (in my class) for like 2 hours before going home. I was really looking forward to seeing her bc she just moved in with a new fam, and I wanted updates! She loves them so far, so I am happy for her.

Then I came home, and did my thing. I spoke a lot of French today with the dad, and I could tell he was happy, which makes me happy too. I have been lazy, and I am just motivated now, which is good. At one point I asked him a question, and he told me that was very good French! When I was just asking “Should I use this?” Apparently Should I was complicated and I got it right!

I also just bought my train tickets to Nantes this weekend to see a French friend I met in Raleigh. It looks like a pretty place, so I am excited. The website kept rejecting my card, but I finally got it to work. Pheww!

Overwhelmed

I failed to mention on Wednesday for lunch I tried octopus. That day I was talking to the dad by the pantry, and he whipped out a normal, little cardboard box, and he asked if I had ever tried octopus. I was flabbergasted because that was the last thing I expected to be in a box, but a metal can was inside, so that made more sense. Anyway the kids love it, and I tried a piece. I thought it would be fish texture, but it is like meat texture, and it’s ok, not amazing, but hey, I ate octopus!

Yesterday, I went and saw Jerome, which was nice as always. We even went out for lunch at this nearby sushi place called Sushi Love. As I have said before, sushi is not as great as in America because we offer a lot of special rolls, and it is cheaper. The rolls here are more simple, so boring, but Sushi Love was pretty good for France standards. It was a cute restaurant.

Today I have to take the train with the dad to Paris because we are sharing a car. I probably won’t post this to the afternoon, but I am not sure if I am expected to sit with him or not. I just listen to music, read, and sleep during the trains, so I wouldn’t be much of a conversationalist anyway. Anyway this will be kinda awkward, but I never feel completely at ease here. I am annoyed because I can’t take an earlier train to actually get to class on time, I will be 15 mins late, which is ok, but then I can’t meet anyone before class starts, and I have no friends in my class yet.

I am glad today is Friday. I am kinda exhausted from this week. I hate waking up at 6:30am, it sucks. Why can’t the boy set an alarm and wake himself up? It is not necessary for me to wake him up uhg. Some of my au pair friends aren’t even on duty until the afternoon and don’t have to take the kids to school in the morning, so lucky. I only get like 6-7 hours of sleep every night, which isn’t healthy at all. And the weekends it isn’t much better because I wake up early when Jerome does for work, and sometimes don’t go back to sleep, and then Saturday, we go out, so I don’t sleep then either.

I have been looking into French schools recently, as you know, but I have kinda forgotten the visa part, which requires one to go through CampusFrance.org. A shit site if you ask me. It took me forever to figure out how to begin all the shit I have to do for this site, and when I did figure it out: it’s a lot of shit. Gahhh. A ton of translated stuff needs to be posted on there (official translations=expensive and timely). I am overwhelmed. The only two public schools with Intl Business are apparently really hard to get into Jerome told me, so that doesn’t boost my spirits, and then he told me to look into Nice, and so far, I have only found one public university with that program, and I am pretty sure that’s it. There’s just slim pickings for public schools with business; they’re all private, there’s a ton of those. So I am just concerned about all this, and NO ONE WILL RESPOND TO MY EMAILS. French bastards uhg. I even send them in French…

I am just really worried about all of this. Becoming an au pair was hard, but in retrospect easy because I had someone tell me what I needed to do, but now, it is all up to me, and no one is helping me at all. I don’t have anyone to ask advice too either. I don’t know anyone who has been in a similar situation as me.

Well I am sounding sad right now. I am just OVERWHELMED.

Update:

I am all fancy with my italics.

Anyway its a no go for school today. I read on the train website that there'd be delays for my train, so me and the dad discussed a while about what to do. He said it was up to me to take the train at 9:30 (or whenever it got there), so I eventually said I will just stay here. I feel guilty, but he said it was ok to do every once in a while, and that I don't stay in a lot anyways (I don't know if this fact bothers him? But I did last semester, usually it was like half and half in Mondays whether I stayed in or not). So I am staying home today. Gonna watch some Breaking Bad first things first. Then look more into CampsFrance.org crap and maybe, who knows, I will get my butt up and run. He also said I never jog anymore, which I know is bad, but kinda weird he mentioned it?

Anyway I am happy to relax. I can't believe I didnt really enjoy my week of Paris doing nothing bc I like it now. It is good to have a mix though. Being busy all the time or bored all the time is tiring it their own ways.

Random pics

The girl drew this for me tonight, it is hanging on my wall!

The wallabies I saw while running at Jardin des Plantes over break.

Baboon statue at the Louvre- Egyptian section

Vieux (Old) Nice at night when me and Jerome went out to dinner

Sunrise picture when driving to the girl's school one morning

I Don't Know What to Name This

Well today was Wonderful Wednesday… not. Just a busy busy day all around. I re-woke up at 10:30am and was literally busy with stuff until after dinner at 8pm… that’s a full day for yah. But it feels productive, which is nice. I am just looking forward to seeing my boyfriend tomorrow… I just need some time to myself with him after being Super Au Pair all day.

Last night I made a boulette. I have been in charge of dinners every day this week without the dad physically doing anything… he just tells me what to do, and I do it. So I made a porc roti last night with potatoes and broccoli, and it wasn’t ready until 8:10pm. The mom was like Why aren’t we eating? And I have half explained saying I was waiting for the dad to come back for the garage, and she said we don’t have to wait on him, and that they boy has to go to bed by 8:30pm at night. And she was all pissy at dinner, and I just felt awkward.

After dinner, I was in my bedroom talking about it with my mom and Paige, and they told me I needed to go apologize, which I agreed to, but I was scared because I hate confrontation. I didn’t do it that night and told myself I would do it in the morning, and so I did. I just it was hard cooking dinner by myself on top of everything else, so I just need to manage time better, and she accepted my apology, so it is all good now.

Tonight, I cooked lentils and sausage, which was really yummy. Also last night, I made little pastries with goat cheese inside. It sounds fancy, but it is easy to make, and it is really good when they are warm and gooey. Anyway, tonight we did Christmas. The boy really liked his shirt, and the kids both liked the English Trivial Pursuit. We played afterwards, and I got like 5 questions in a row right because it is a junior edition, and therefore easy. And then, they got me a French cookbook just liked the one the dad has, but an updated version (his is 15 years old). I really like it! It has all sorts of dishes and sauces etc. and it is all French cooking! And it is in French too, which is cool I think. My French is better now. I am not fluent, but I can read and understand a lot more than even a month ago.

FOOD

I'd just like to say, I ate like crap this past week, and tonight I ate like a queen as per usual. And I made all the food by myself! The dad told me to boil des haricots plats (large, flat green beans), which were yummy-- lots of flavor. Then this baked cauliflower dish that I have made a million times, but it is easy and good. And then I had these little dishes (like the size of your hand- i forget the name), and I coated them with butter, then a piece of ham along one side, then a slice of goat cheese, an egg, and last but not least, creme fraiche. Stick em in the oven like 10 mins (but you must keep watch), and voila-- AWESOME YUMMYNESS, especially dipping bread. It is like oeuf à la coque (semi cooked egg). Sorry I just had to post this :) It is nice eating real food again!

I am Not Dead Take 2

Well I am not dead again for the second time. I just haven’t felt the need to blog. I didn’t do a whole lot my week in Paris, and now I am regretting it because even today I thought of stuff I could have done with so much free time.

Anyway, I just feel weird right now. I am sitting at home right now in my room… it is just weird because it has been 2 weeks since I have been here. I just want to get into my routine again.

I came home early today at like 1:30pm because right now the dad is taken a part his car to fix it, so we have to share for the time being. He took me to the station today and then picked me up, and I had to come home early, so he’d be able to go somewhere, which was fine because I wanted to come home to do my laundry and wash my sheets.

I found a blanket in the closet room and added it to my bed, so hopefully I will be warmer at night. I am not sure if I should have asked, but they’re not using it, so I don’t think they’ll miss it. When it gets warmer again, I’ll put it back where I found it.

I am annoyed because I have my broken chair back in my room again… I am really confused why it is back here? I thought when it was taken the first time, it would be repaired, but apparently no. I don’t know what to do… I can’t swap it for a new one, but I don’t want to deal with this shit chair for another 7 months. 

I am also annoyed with my bedding. French sheets are weird, and I have a duvet cover over the actual comforter, which I have to physically put in, and I am pretty sure the comforter is just too big for the duvets because there’s all the extra material no matter how hard I try. It’s driving me nuts to have lumpy sheets uhhg. And it sucks because when I first moved here, it was fine. I must suck at putting sheets on, but I am a pro at the kid’s beds. Granted they are smaller, but I have even done it to Jerome’s bed, so I just think the blanket magically grew.

I feel dejected right now. I don’t want to sound depressed, but maybe I will feel better once I start the au pair routine this evening, who knows. But it is the end of holidays, and a welcome to another 7 weeks of this until March vaca (yes, I have counted… less than two months!), so it is normal to feel a little sad when holidays end.

My time with Rebecca was really nice over the holidays. I saw her usually every day at least for a little bit. Her family was so nice and welcoming. I went out to dinner and lunch with them a few times, and they always paid even when I tried to pay myself. But they were really nice people regardless of that. One night we went to a restaurant I went to Nico with in August where they serve just one dish—steak and fries, but is really good. It was nice to go there again. Afterwards, we were in the Latin Quarter, so we went to a bar that me and Rebecca went to last summer for our study abroad friend’s bday, so it was nostalgic!

On her last day in Paris, I went to lunch with her family and then me and Rebecca headed to Montparnasse to go up the building, but the line to get in was way too long, so we just walked around until I mentioned an idea. A month or so ago, Paige took me and a few friends to the top of a department store, Printemps, near the Opéra area. We went to the top where there’s a café, and a fantastic view of Paris. And it is completely free to just go up there and not buy food. We went as the sun was setting, and the building had just turned on their lights (Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur, and Arc de Triomphe), so it was beautiful. It was a good last image for Rebecca to see of Paris before she comes back, which hopefully won’t be too long.

Rebecca and her friend Rachel also celebrated New Years with me. We went to a house party in the burbs where Nico and our friend Loupias was going, so I asked if we could join. From what I remember, it was a blast. We met a few native English speakers surprisingly. I just remember dancing with Rebecca then before I knew it, I was being put in a bed, and I got sick on the floor.  Not a bright moment at all. Then at like 5am Nico woke me up by slapping my face and we went home, it took like an hour, and I just crashed when I got back to Jerome’s and subsequently, stayed in all day after that. Rebecca and Rachel left when they found a bed for me, and they got home ok. Paris had the RERs and metros working all night, which was really convenient.

Jerome came back on the 3^rd at like 9pm, so I was looking forward to that. We really missed each other! He worked Friday and Saturday though, but we are just back into the grind now. I saw Clare and Kendall Friday night for drinks, which was great. Hadn’t seen them in two weeks! They then went out with me on Saturday with Jerome, Vincent and his gf, Nico, Rousseau and his gf, and it was a lot of fun! We had an apéro at Nico’s for a while, and it was nice having my English speaking friends, but we really did speak French a lot too. We then went to Chatelet to a bar/club, and it was just ok. My friends made it fun, but I hope I never go back there. People kept pushing into me and spilling on me, and the boys were really aggressive and wouldn’t leave the girls alone, but it was a great night overall.

Then on Sunday, I just stayed in at Jerome’s all day. He set up his drum set and we were fixing his bed and just lying low. It was a nice, last day of holidays. Then I came home last night at like 9:30pm. I got in bed at like 11:30pm, but I don’t think I fell asleep til 1am. My sleep routine is tuned in at like 1 or 2am, so I need to quickly adjust to the waking up at 6:30am and thus going to sleep at 11:30pm again.

I had class today—a conversation themed class. We just got to know each student and talked about whether we spoke English or French to our families. The teacher was vibrant and energetic, somewhat unlike a French person to a certain degree.

I finished season 2 of Breaking Bad this afternoon... it is so good! Ended on a cliffhanger kinda...glad I downloaded half of season 3! I also downloaded some Game of Thrones episodes because I have heard good things about it... I am sure I'll get addicted. 

I'm not Dead

Well I have neglected this for way too long. I don’t even know where to begin. I am on vacation, and au pair life seems so far away. I can’t imagine that I have to go back a week from today. Uhg I don’t want to, but I will worry about it in a week I guess.

Last Saturday, I saw The Hobbit with Meghan. It was such a good movie! I had no idea they were making three either; I thought just one, so I am happy there are two more left. Then that night Rebecca and her friend Rachel came to Jerome’s apt and we hung out a bit drinking wine, and I should them a Parisian apartment. We had an apéro, I wanted to show them the French way, so I bought a baguette and some pate (fois gras is way too expensive) and then some duck meat and green beans. I didn’t really know how to cook the duck, so I just winged it (no pun intended), and the green beans didn’t turn out the way they were supposed to either, but they thought it was good at least.

Then Jerome came back from work, and they finally got to meet! I have been with Jerome almost a year now, so it was important for Rebecca to meet him since we are good friends. It went really well just talking, laughing, and drinking a little. They got along well as I knew they would. They had to catch the RER home, so they left around 10:30pm or so, and I guess Jerome and I enjoyed a quiet night together. I don’t really remember.

The next day was our travel day to Nice, but our flight was not until like 9pm, so we had all day. We slept in quite late, and then cleaned the apartment and packed our bags. We wanted to go to lunch somewhere, so at like 4pm I decided to take him to Breakfast in America because it is just so yummy! We split banana pancakes first, and then each got a scrambled egg medley of peppers, potatoes, cheese, bacon, ham, salsa, etc. Apparently that’s pretty American, I guess it is? It was yummy regardless. Afterwards, Jerome helped me buy a bottle of wine has a house welcoming present to his family.

We got back and we were gonna watch the new Batman movie, but I had downloaded the wrong one. So I think we watched some Breaking Bad, and then we left the apt at 8pm to go catch our flight. The trip to the airport was pretty uneventful as well as the flight. Nothing abnormal, but security at Orly took like 5 minutes, which is always nice.

When we arrived in Nice, Vincent picked us up along with this new girl he is seeing, and we went straight to Vieux Nice (Old Nice) to get a drink at a bar. I had a Monaco, which is beer, lemonade, and grenadine.  Vincent took us to Jerome’s house after, and I think we just went straight to bed because it was like 1am, so no one was awake.

The next morning I was nervous to see the family again! I took a shower first, and Jerome was already downstairs, and I could hear him talking to his 100 year old grandmother. I ran into his mom and dad upstairs and just said hi and a few words in French. Then I went downstairs and met the grandma, and it was hard for both of us to understand each other haha. She was doing a crossword with Jerome, so I joined in. It was in French obviously, but I answered some of the questions! I think afterwards, we had lunch with the fam, and that was the first true test of French speaking. I just answered questions when asked, and they had to repeat most things twice for me to understand. I can’t remember what we ate, but I ate really good food while I was there.

After lunch, some of his friends came over, and I just sat there as usual, but eventually they left because Jerome and I had to go to the mall to get presents for himself and one for me from him. His family did Xmas differently. They each bought a present for themselves, and then when they open it later on, the family finds out what that articular family member wanted. This isn’t a French thing; it’s just their thing, but I think it is a cool idea. Anyway, Jerome bought a new watch because his broke a few days before and then an alarm clock that helps you wake up easier. He really needed that. And then I let my present be a surprise.

So that night we dressed up and had Xmas that night for Xmas eve with the presents and everything. We had the apéro first with champagne and little appetizers, and we drew names to see who opened presents first. My name was first, so I went. I had three presents. I got this really nice scarf from the grandma, which I like A LOT! Then a 50 euro gift certificate to a store in the mall (so generous), and then Jerome gave me a weekly calendar with landscapes of France on it, which I like a lot. Then I everyone else opened presents one by one. I got Jerome a picture frame (he said to spend under 5 euro), and it is for a picture I gave him of us back in August. He really liked it! I was kinda nervous bc it was a cheap present, but I had no reason to be. The mom got perfume, Adrien, the brother, got a nice winter coat (he lives in Dublin), and then the Dad got a belt.

After we had a grand three course dinner. First some type of mushroom broth soup we put crispy bread in, then oysters (my first time—very good), then duck I think—some kind of meat, and for dessert crème brûlée. They made me use the blow torch to light up mine, and I was so nervous, but I did it. It was a very nice meal foodwise, and I felt very comfortable with them in general.

The next day on Christmas, we had another nice lunch. I don’t remember what we ate. I think pumpkin soup, and I don’t know what else. But it was all very French with a few courses, then bread and cheese/dessert, followed by a coffee (in my case, hot chocolate). Then we played a dice game, that I was crap at, so I was first out. Then me and Jerome watched the new Batman movie because I had never seen it before, but we didn’t finish it because dinner was ready before we could. As you can see our days were based around meals. I was French and only ate two big meals a day instead of little meals throughout the day! I know I am mixing up my days too, but we will just have to go with it bc I can’t remember the exact order of stuff.

For dinner, we had homemade fois gras, which was very good. I am so glad I like this stuff now. I used to hate it, although it isn’t very good for you, but oh well, I am becoming more French! Then we had pigeon, which was weird to me at first, but I want to try new things, and it was a good, dark meat. It’s not the pigeons you find in the street either btw. For dessert, we had mango and passion fruit ice-cream! It was weird though because it was in log form, and you slice it instead of in a carton and scooping it. Then the boys went to a friend’s house, but I didn’t want to go because I wanted to skype my mom and Amanda. Amanda and I have the Xmas tradition of calling each other, so I def didn’t want to miss out on that. When Jerome got back, we finished Batman, which was really good! I am excited that there’s gonna be a new movie because it leads to know there will be.

I really think I am mixing this stuff up… oops oh well. I know this timeline just isn’t perfectly right.

Anyway the next day, the 26^th, we had a simple lunch of thinly sliced raw salmon we made sandwiches out of on toasted bread and butter (YUMMY!), and we went on a family hike afterwards on top of some mountain. We drove like 30 minutes, but the drive was very beautiful. The hike was nice seeing mountains in the distance, and it was very beautiful with blue skies and sun. I wore shorts! Although it was kinda chilly, but I still wore shorts!

We got back and Jerome said he wanted to go out to dinner just him and me, so we hung out in his room for a bit and got ready, and went to have an apéro at his friend’s place before. We went to a couple’s apartment, and I met them in August. They have lived in Ireland for like two years, so they speak English, so the girl, Manon, and I got along very well. Her boyfriend is in Jerome’s band, and another guy in the band came over too. It was nice, but I was quiet most of the time like usual, but I did speak French a bit. I hope they thought I was better than before in August.

Then me and Jerome went to Vieux Nice for dinner. We decided to go to the same restaurant we went to in August because we knew it would be a good choice. And then we decided we would get the same dish I got in August (ravioli in a creamy pesto sauce with pine nuts) because it is so good, and then another dish. So now we have decided that we will go to this particular restaurant each time we go to Nice together, and get the ravioli dish and another dish to try, which we each split halfway. It will be a good tradition! I wonder when the next time I will go back to Nice will be?

We had a very enjoyable dinner, and a good conversation. I just think me and Jerome needed a little vacation together. Just to have time to spend together, since it is so limited in our real lives. When we got back, we watched How to Train your Dragon. It is such a cute movie, and I knew Jerome would enjoy it, which he did. Although, I fell asleep at the end unfortunately, but he really liked it!

The next day we got up early (well 10am) because my flight was that afternoon. We went to Parc Phoenix, which is like a mini xoo with fish and a botanical garden. They had birds just roaming the grounds (chickens, turkeys, I know there was a peacock, but we didn’t see it), and they had otters, gerbils, and wallabies! Wallabies are just SO CUTE. I LOVE THEM. They are like baby kangaroos!

We headed back for lunch at the house after, and I had a rice/pork dish. We just ate leftovers, but it was yummy as usual. Then I had to finish packing up and leave. I said bye to the parents and Adrien, and I felt pretty sad. I didn’t want to leave at all.

Jerome drove me to the airport, but we stopped to get ice cream along the way because he told me this place had tomato ice cream that we wanted to try. Unfortunately, they didn’t have the tomato ice cream that day, so we just got plain yogurt flavor and something else. Then we went to the airport, and checked myself in, and Jerome hung out a bit before I went through security. I didn’t want to say bye because my trip in Nice was really nice, and I wish I had stayed longer, but all good things must come to an end. So we said our final goodbyes and went our separate ways.

I boarded my plane with 15 minutes to spare before take-off. When the plane was backing up to get on the run way, it just completely shut down. I had never had that happen before. Luckily they announce in French and English, so I knew there were mechanical problems (well duh), and people were coming to fix it. At the most, 30 minutes later, it was fixed, and we took off, but I was worried because if the plane broke on the ground, why would we still fly it?! But it was all ok obviously. I landed in Paris, and it took like an hour to get back to Jerome’s apartment. I got back at like 8pm, and just stayed in that night.

 The next day, I met up with Rebecca and Rachel, and we toured a school Rachel is interested in. Then we went to the Luxembourg Gardens and found a little brasserie and got lunch. After I went home, and Nico and his girlfriend, Marylis, were there. She doesn’t speak English, so we chatted in French, and she is a very nice girl, and I like her a lot. She is very friendly!

I didn’t do anything that night except skype two friends, and Jerome and I talked on the phone for a bit. The next day, I went running at Jardin des Plantes. It was a good run, I haven’t done it in so long. I am sore today from it. But there is a zoo there, and they had the wallabies out in a big area outside the zoo, so I got to see the wallabies!! Later on, I went to the Louvre by myself because I had nothing to do, and it is about time I went there. Jerome told me to go the Egyptian part, so that’s what I did, which was very cool. I then went home, and got ready to go to dinner with Rebecca and her family.

We went to this restaurant that I went to with Nico back in August, where they only serve steak and fries. It is really good though, and they know how to make it well since they have perfected this one dish. Dinner with her family was really nice. They are really good people and very easy to talk to. It is nice to meet English speakers because it takes away all my fears of my lack of confidence in French, which Jerome told me a few days ago I need to work on, and I completely agree. Anyway, me and the girls went to the Latin Quarter after dinner and got drinks. We went to the same bar we went to last summer for one of our study abroad friend’s bdays. Brought back memories! Then we went our separate ways home, and I watched a show and went to bed.

Today, I went running again. I ran to near Jerome’s work and checked out a park around there, and then ran back home. It was nice today (sunny and blue skies, but very windy). I have just stayed in since. This blog has taken forever to write. Nico is cooking dinner tonight and asked if I wanted to join! So I have something to look forward too. I am so bored here since coming back. None of my friends are here except Rebecca, so I just feel so lonely! I guess it’s ok though. I have been watching a lot of TV shows.

Wednesdayyy

It is Wednesday today. Just the usual Wednesday. I took the boy to the bus at 7:15am, and went to bed when I got home watching a show first. I slept until 11am and did my laundry while I played a game with the girl. You have a card of a thing on your head and the other person does too, and you ask questions until you can guess what you have. Then I showered, picked up the boy/bought bread. We then had lunch, which was leftovers from last night—Blanquette de veau, which is actually cool because my first experience with a French restaurant was this past April.

Jerome and I took a wknd trip to Charleston, SC and couch surfed. I have been there plenty of times before, but he wanted to do a wknd trip somewhere relatively close, so I chose Charleston. It was a great trip. Our host was great. Charleston was great of course, and we had a lovely time. One evening we were walking around to find a restaurant and we stumbled upon La Forchette (The Fork), a French restaurant and decided to go there. I had Blanquette de veau, which is a veal dish with a sauce. It reminded me of stroganoff somewhat, but it was SO good. It was a good first experience with French food!

Anyway we had that last night with a Bechamel sauce, which is a classic French sauce where you melt butter then add flour and let it cook over a stove for a bit. Then you add milk to it, and eventually it turns into this creamy heaven-like sauce! So veal, béchamel sauce, and then rice. A pretty good combination. So we ate that for lunch today as left-overs. Then I took the boy to guitar, but the teacher was a no show. Came back for a bit, and then took the girl to pony club, came back and watched a show, then went to the cremerie to buy milk. I chatted with the owner in French (American Mom’s husband), and then I saw and chatted to American Mom, went to pick up the girl, then came back and have some time to kill until they have music, but I have to get them to take showers beforehand, which the boy is doing now.

I just showed them their Xmas present (the board game arrived today), and the boy’s birthday present, and they seemed happy. Too bad I won’t be here when they open them, but then again I’m not sad, I’ll be on vaca!

Tuesday I had class as usual, which was a huge bore as usual. After class, I went to Starbucks with Kendall and Clare, and then I met up with Paige to exchange gifts! I got her some Speculoos spread and then this amazing cat bracelet (we have a cat joke going on, always posting cat things on each other’s walls and such, we love cats!). She gave me some cat napkins! And then a pretty necklace. It was a good gift exchange. That was the last time I will see her until after the break. She is going home for a week and then the next week in FL with her host family.

Last night the girl was sick and threw-up. She had a piano concert too, I felt bad bc her parents made her go anyway. She literally threw-up and then we left five minutes later for the concert. French parents are harsh. I mean she felt better but still. When she got back she wasn’t feeling well and went to bed early, but today she was fine.

So I have started a new show: Breaking Bad. I have heard of it before, and everyone loves it, so I thought I’d give it a try. After the first episode, I was hooked! It is about a high-school Chemistry teacher who gets in the meth business to make money for his family. It is really good, and I have watched three episodes within 24 hours.

Two days until vacation! So ready. I need to pack!

Weekend

So I went in to Paris for a bit today to do some errands. I received the board game from the UK, that whole big mess up, so I mailed it back today for 17 euros. Don’t want to think about it. I hope the other one arrives before this week ends because break starts this Friday. I also bought the boy a shirt from Quicksilver Saturday, and I got a size too small, so I went an exchanged that also.

Sunday didn’t do anything worth mentioning until the afternoon when Jerome, the roommates, and I went to the l’Aquarium de Paris. It was at the metro stop Trocadero, which has a good close-up view of the Eiffel Tower, so we took pictures with that in the background walked in the Christmas markets they had. Then we went to the aquarium, which was really cool, but it only took 30 mins to go through. It was 15 euros too, but I am glad I went. They had a lot of pretty fish, no dolphins though.

On Saturday, I went Christmas shopping at a mall for Jerome, Eliott (bday soon- the shirt), and Paige. I managed to buy each one a gift, so I was happy with myself. I won’t post what I bought in case those two happen to read this, which I doubt, but I don’t want to spoil the surprise. Jerome told me to get something under 5 euros, which I managed to do too. Meghan and her friend Lindsey met up with me at the mall too, and we wandered around trying to find Xmas presents for Lindsey’s fam. I then took a bus to go have lunch with Jerome because we weren’t going to see each other that night, and it was nice. We just got some kabobs, which kabobs are different here. It is basically like a gyro, so it is always tasty.

I headed back home after and saw Nico for a bit, and then we both left around the same time to go see friends. I went to go meet up with Rebecca! Finally after one year! We met up near the Louvre and went to a brasserie and just chatted for a while. Her friend came with her to Paris as well, and she was really nice. I was just telling them about the good and bad of au pair life and everything else in between. We then went to le Marais to meet up with her parents for dinner. They were really nice, and we went to some Italian place, and I got carbonera.  After dinner, they all went home, so I headed home too.

I didn’t really know what I was doing that night, but it really worked out because Nico and Vincent had no plans either, so we just stayed in and drank and played drinking games. I taught them Up the River, Down the River and Circle of Death, which they liked. It was so fun playing those games again! Because here in France, they don’t play drinking games—no pong, card games, flip cup, anything, and it is a shame because they are so fun. I went to bed at 3am, but the boys stayed up, and I heard them singing Titanic at one point. Silly boys. Jerome then called me at 5:30am to be let in even though I texted him telling him I left they keys under the mat, oh well. I went right back to sleep.

On Friday, I had French as usual and was right back in Paris at 7:15pm. Jerome hadn’t gotten back to me, but I just went to his apt anyway because I had been in contact with Nico. I was chatting in French with Nico and Vincent, and eventually Jerome came home, and we watched the show that’s like Survivor, but it is all in French, so I enjoy it as much as I can. Fortunately I can see what’s going on obviously, so I can still enjoy it. You may think it is weird that I can’t understand TV when it’s in French after so many months, but even Jerome, who is fluent in English, cannot watch an English movie without subtitles easily. Subtitles help so much! But we can’t add them to the TV shows normally.

I have an apt today at 3pm my time with an adviser in Raleigh about my resume and cover letter. I have to use skype to call her, so I hope there isn’t connection or hearing issues. I just want my resume and cover letter to all be in order! I asked my host mom last night to write me a recommendation for the SKEMA aplication, and she agreed thankfully! I am happy to get the ball rolling! Also my birth certificates finally arrived to my mom’s, so those will be on their way! Getting stuff done!

Nemos!

This is somewhat of an inside joke. On Friday, Vincent went to the Disney Store and bought a giant Nemo for a friend's baby, but I am its surrogate mother when I am at the apt until he actually gives it to his friend. He is a great cuddle buddy! Nice and big and cushy to hug!

Random News

I just did Word of the Week with the kids, and then we played Scattegories. It is so hard because I use French words, and they use English. The girl was struggling, but the dad was helping the kids the whole time. It was fun though, and I am in a good mood because I feel like a productive and useful au pair.

Yesterday was Wednesday and therefore long. American Mom was sick, so I helped her out and took her girls to pony club along with the girl. I definitely owed her one for helping me when I was sick, so I was happy to help. The girl and I just randomly showed up at American Mom’s house, and we were knocking for like five minutes not sure if we should just walk in bc we knew American Mom was sick, but eventually they heard us.

I am just listing random things as you can see…

My study abroad friend, Rebecca, arrives in Paris tomorrow! I am happy. We are trying to plan when we will meet, but it is becoming complicated. She arrives tomorrow morning, and I want to see her tom night, but she will be jet-lagged, so hopefully Saturday.

I don’t really know what I am doing this weekend, but I know I need to do Christmas shopping that’s for sure.

I am sorry this is a pretty bad post. I guess I don’t have a lot to say.

I think yesterday I ate some Nutella and peanut butter on bread, and I took almost the rest of the Nutella (but if you used a spoon, you could still get a lot out and scrape the sides). Then when the kids were home, the dad wanted to give them some Nutella and he was like “C’est fini” (it’s finished), and then told me he wanted to give some to the kids, which implied he couldn’t because I “ate it all.” Making me feel guilty...trying to at least. I didn’t. Because I am entitled to the food here! Tell me if you didn’t want me to eat the Nutella then!

I worked on me resume and cover letter yesterday and emailed an academic adviser from NCSU. I learned I could still use the services a year after I graduate! So I have an apt on Monday, and I will call her with skype, so we can go over her corrections. I will then use this to apply to SKEMA and other graduate schools. I am happy I got the ball rolling on that.  It feels good to have finally started.

I need two references too. One will be my study abroad adviser, and the other I want to be the parents of my family since it is my most recent job. But I feel weird asking! The mom would be the one to do it, but the dad and I are closer, but I feel awkward asking either one! I don’t know if I should do it before break, so she can do it while she’s off work, but then again it’s her vaca, so I want to give her a break. But she works a lot, so I just don’t know if asking when she is working is good to because when she comes home, she wants to rest and be with her family obviously.

The other day, the girl was shining her shoes and she asked if I had some that I would like shined. So we shined my brown leather boots, they look brand new! That stuff did wonders.

Sorry this was so lame, but I wanted to update y’all. Next week is my last week until Xmas vaca. I could use a break!

Money Down the Drain

I woke up Friday morning to SNOW everywhere… a good couple of inches. The boy ended up not having school, which made my life easier for the morning even though I still woke up and showered at 6:30am. I then accompanied the dad who to take the girl to school. The roads weren’t in amazing condition, so I am glad he drove. He explained the differences with driving in snow with a manual, so that was good advice. I had to stay home since the boy didn’t have school, and therefore skip my classes, but I am unsure why because the dad stayed home all day, so I technically didn’t need to? Whatever.

I just stayed in my room most of the time streaming some shows. Thank God Mary Kate told me that morning about an awesome website to stream, and it totally works and isn’t too sketchy, so that solves the problem of not being able to download here anymore.

I also went sledding with the boy, and the dad took pictures. It was fun, but there’s a lot of trees in the yard, so I was scared of running into a tree, so I didn’t go too fast. But then we went to the neighbor’s yard that didn’t have trees, and I went full speed. The sleds were cool because they had breaks and little steering handles on the side.

That afternoon I got to take an earlier train to Paris since I didn’t have to pick up the boy from the bus, so I got to Paris at like 6:15pm. That night, Jerome and I went on a date to a restaurant at the top of the Pompidou, an art museum near the center of the city, and it has amazing views at the top. The restaurant was really nice and modern, and it was nice seeing the Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur, Montparnasse, etc. on the way up the escalators all lit up. We then got seated, and I was not happy with the seating arrangements at all. They crammed all the tables like inches apart, and I just felt like I didn’t have any person space. So we asked if we could move, and eventually we did. Jerome was surprised about that. Once we had moved we ordered wine, then some appetizers. I got escargots! Which was yummy with all the garlic and butter, and Jerome got chicken spring rolls basically, which were good too. Then for the main plates, I got jumbo shrimp with risotto and Jerome got “Le tigre que pleure,” the tiger that cries, which was a beef and rice dish. Mine ended up being better though :p

It was a very enjoyable meal until we had to pay. Jerome offered to pay, and I had actually intended paying for myself, but it was nice of him. However, the machine wouldn’t accept his cards. So he asked if we could use mine, and I had completely forgotten to bring them! I brought a different bag; it was an honest mistake. So we debated our options. My cards were at his apartment, so we thought maybe I can put my passport as collateral and come back the next day and pay, or I thought can we just type my card number in the machine and do it that way? (this is possible in the US, but not in France unfortunately).  We asked the manager what they do in these situations, but he said he had never dealt with that before (embarrassing!), so he then said he would accompany us to an ATM to withdraw cash.

So we had to take an elevator to get to the level of the street and walk in the rain to an ATM. We weren’t sure if the ATM would work because the card wouldn’t work before, but it did! So it all ended well at least. It is lucky the management was so nice about it because when in France don’t hold your breath about that kind of stuff, but we really lucked out on that one!

After dinner, we stopped by at a SKEMA student’s bday party. I saw some friends and chatted in English and French. One girl I chatted in French the whole time, and she told me I spoke French better than she spoke English! So not true, but it really made me happy to hear. So I felt like Friday was a good day overall. Snow, restaurant, and French speaking!

Next day

Wtf I am so mad right now. I was on Amazon UK today looking at presents for the kids, and I found a Trivial Pursuit game in English. I thought an English version would be nice since they have the French version. So I was researching, and I found one for 35 pounds, and when I finally figured out shipping costs it would have been $96 total, and I was like No Thank You. So I continued researching other options. Then I receive an email saying Thank You for you Order????!! Ahh why?? So I have now spent $96 on that stupid game. I had to chat Amazon bc my French phone can’t call the UK, and the person was like there is nothing we can do bc you have to contact the seller. So I have contacted them, and I hope they are nice and let me cancel the order/get my money back. This is so dumb!

Sometime later

So I received an email from Amazon telling me how to file a return claim, so I am hoping this whole fiasco will work out soon. I just don’t know if I should go ahead and buy the game on ebay for 40 US dollars because I want the present to get here on time, but if I end up having to pay for the $100 one, I don’t want to be stuck with the other one either. Decisions…

On Saturday, I saw the movie Argo with Meghan. It was a really good movie, but I kept falling asleep. I must not have gotten enough sleep the night before. Anyway I would recommend it! It was Vincent’s birthday that night, so two friends came to Paris to surprise him, so I hung out with them and Nico until Vincent got home. And then we were just eating a drinking till more people started showing up.

The apéro in France is just great. Basically a pre-game, but here you eat food along with drinking. I feel like Americans need to pick this up. We snacked on paté and bread, which I have grown to like. At first, I didn’t like it, but now I do! We also had bread with goat cheese and jelly… a weird, but good combination.  It was just so fancy compared to the American way, which usually doesn’t involve food, and if it does, it is chips or something. We did have Pringles along with this light and creamy cheese, kiri, SO GOOD AND YUMMY! Then they kept popping pizzas in the microwave oven for people to snack on.

After the apéro, we went to Memphis, which we have been to like 3 weeks in a row. I don’t mind bc it is always a good time, but I would like to explore other clubs and bars! I live in Paris, and I don’t know a lot about the night life. Anyway it was a lot of fun. The downstairs has oldy French music, which I don’t really know. But upstairs has electronic/rap music, so I asked if we could go up there at one point too, and we had a lot of fun up there dancing!

Well I just received a message from the seller from Amazon. I can get a refund, but not for the shipping, which was 22 pounds, like $40. But now I will have to ship it back to them, so I guess that will be another $40. So I am not really saving money. But I already bought a game from ebay, so I just dug myself a whole. Oh well L

On Sunday didn’t do a whole lot as usual. We went to the reptile store that I went to months ago with Vincent and Jerome, but we wanted to show the others. It was cool though seeing animals. We also then saw The Impossible, a movie about the tsunami in Thailand a few years back during Christmas. It was a very intense movie and very good as well. It was funny because Nico was crying the whole time; I got teary eyed once, but French men are much more emotional than Americans haha!

Today I stayed home. After taking the kids, I slept until noon and then did laundry all day, made grilled cheese, watched Teen Mom, wrote a French paper that I didn’t know was not due tomorrow but Friday, and then had the whole Amazon fiasco. Monday was hectic driving the kids, but it is all done now.

I asked the mom about my end date using the excuse of booking flights home, but it is a plausible question anyway. She said the latest would be July 26, but the grandma takes them for a week during July, so I could be done July 19. But I am wondering, if she takes them for another week in July, do I get a week of vaca? Bc I would totes be fine with that too!

Woe is Me-- Not Really... Maybe a a Little ;)

Bah I get annoyed telling myself I must write on here… I just feel like I have nothing interesting to say anymore. I am so pissed bc I can’t download anything! I have watched all my TV shows, so I am effing bored right now. I don’t know what is wrong like if the dad made it to where I can’t download. He is a computer whiz, so he would know how to do it. I am just so confused. I should be working on grad school applications, but I haven’t started, and I don’t feel like it. What graduating does to you…

Yesterday was cool because I got the whole afternoon off. The fam left at 1pm for the circus, and I took the 1:30 train to Paris and met up with the new Nico. The weather was pretty cold and rainy, but we went to the Champs for the Christmas markets. We drank vin chaud, and went to the Disney store, and later on took shelter at a brasserie for some really good hot chocolate, and then headed home for a bit before I went to take my train. It was fun! And a good way to get to know each other, some one on one time.

Today, I met up with Clare and Kendall and we went to the other campus of our language school to inquire about classes there. I really wanted to go there bc it is a lot closer to my train station, but the openings for the classes I need just don’t fit with my schedule. Very unfortunate. I think Clare and Kendall are gonna go there next sem, which makes me sad, but I will make new friends I know, and still be able to seem them.

Clare and I had a sushi lunch date nearby too, so yummy! I love sushi. It is different here though. They don’t really have special rolls, no buy on get one either. They have meat on a stick here too, like mini-kabobs, so weird. I want Sushi Nine!! Ahh omg a delicious sushi place 5 mins from my house in Raleigh.

My mom’s care package arrived today. Full of kettle corn, normal popcorn, mascara, floss, Bert’s Bees, peanut butter, and Velveeta. Good stuff!! Thank you, Mom!! The popcorn here just sucks, so this American stuff is much needed. No flavor here at all bleh!

Today was a good au pair day too. I did a real full-out English lesson, I have been slacking lately, and just played an English game with the kids, but it really is fun. And the boy actually talks to me when we play games, which is nice. Then the kids and I watched funny animal youtube videos for a bit, so I am satisfied with me being an au pair right now, but in all honesty, I am burned out.

I can’t imagine another 7 months of this. Maybe I just need that Xmas break, but I feel like I need more. I am just always having to think about my trains, getting there on time, tip-toing around the family to be a good au pair, and it is a little exhausting. I can’t be me per say…just a weird, wound up version of me. I am just glad I can vent to my au pair friends all about this because they actually understand. No one reading this does really because you can’t until you’re in my shoes, just like with everyone else. But I know people out there have a false perception of this au pair business because I had it too. Anyways, I don’t know. I just have to deal with a lot, just like everyone else, I am not crying for attention and oh boo-hoo to me, it is just a lot of different things to worry about than I have ever had to previously, and all I have to compare it to is what I had before. I am rambling… and I say I have nothing to write about. This blog is really therapy, for my sake, and y’all get to sift through it… my apologies. I am talking as if a lot of people read this too haha.

Magic

So my chair is magically fixed. When I got home Sunday, I sat on it to avoid the one broken side and discovered it wasn’t broken anymore. I am most curious how this came to be, but I have not asked about it because I don’t want to admit I broke it. Here’s to not sitting awkwardly for eight months!

I had class today… not too exciting. At one point, I had really dazed off into my thoughts and realized everyone was drawing something on their paper and had to ask what the heck was going on to Clare. It is easy to daydream because I have to consciously make an effort to hear and comprehend the French whereas with English, I can multitask, and it isn’t hard to understand without physically trying.  This whole language thing has really opened my eyes to languages; it is hard to explain, but I just feel like I understand life so much more by half knowing this new language.

For instance, one day I told Jerome that Welcome and Bienvenue are the same exact word, and his mind was totally blown, but I was right. “Bien” means “well” and “venue” is the past participle of “Venir” (to come), so in other words “venu” means “came.” I just think that is so cool. Also the word “right” means “right as opposed to left” and someone’s actual “rights,” and the word “droite” in French has the same exact meanings! Ok I am done being a nerd…these examples are hard to think of, but I am so excited when I think of a new one because English and French have a lot of similar words. Even if you don’t speak French at all, you could catch a lot of words because they are essentially the same.

On Monday, I went to la Défense and had lunch with Nico because I didn’t see him during the weekend. I also went back to the Christmas markets to get a present for my host parents, but of all the booths that were open, the one I needed was closed. Go figure. I will go back again soon.

Sunday I slept in as usual, and I don’t think we made it out of the house until like 4pm when went to a nearby zoo! Oh fyi, I met the new roommate, Nico, who is super cool, funny, and nice! From what I heard, I knew he would be, but I am happy all the same. So Nico was along with me, Jerome, and Vincent. The zoo had a lot of owls for some reason, but they were pretty. They had a lot of panthers, and we watched them eat dead rabbits; a little morbid. My favorite was the wallabies because they were so cute! Then we headed towards a cinema for a movie, but it was way too crowded. That seems to be an issue here. I feel like we have an abundant number of cinemas, so over-crowding is never an issue. If you really want to see a movie here, you have to arrive like 30-45 mins early and wait in line. In America you only do that for like a midnight premiere pretty much. So then we went to KFC for dinner.

KFC here was a disappointment! No biscuits OR mashed potatoes ahh! KFC without those??  Doesn’t make sense. The food was good regardless of this monstrosity. Then we went back to the apartment, and I packed my bags to make the 7:45pm train, but when I arrived at my train station, the 8:45pm was the next available one. Damn strikes! My phone was dead so I was freaking out for a bit wondering how to contact my host fam, but eventually I found a pay phone that took change, and it all worked out. When I got home, the dad showed me the site where you can check the strike train sched, so on Monday and Tuesday, I have used this site to not get screwed over!

Tomorrow the kids are going to the circus, so that means I am off around 1pm. The whole fam is going, and I asked the dad when they would come back, and he said around 7pm, so I get the day off! I hope to go to Paris and hang out with the new roommate Nico because he doesn’t have a job yet. Idk how familiar he is with Paris, so maybe we can just be touristy and go to the Eiffel Tower etc. I am excited for a day off essentially. Although earlier tonight, the dad said he was gonna take my car to take the kids to meet the mom at work and leave from there (his car is old, so it couldn’t go such a long distance), but the mom told me this morning that she was coming back to the house to get the kids, so I really hope that is the plan bc that’d be shitty to just leave me here all day without a car. The mom is the boss though, so I think what she said will be right. Her words this morning were blah blah and “then you can go,” so I interpret this as yes, you can go to Paris!

Strike

It is Saturday evening, and I have had a nice day so far. I met up with Meghan at the Gallery Lafayette to start off the day. I forgot y charger, and my phone was dying and she has run out of credit with her phone, so finding each other was a little bit difficult. I called her twice when I got there, and she answered the second time thank god. So we messed around in the nearby H&M, and I was bad and bought clothes. Just a black dress and some sparkly blue tights. I never buy clothes, so I deserve it. Paige met up with her friend Lisa at H&M, and then we went into the Gallery Lafayette, which is basically a mall type store with really nice/expensive brands. It was built inside an opera house, so it is really pretty at the center with this dome. There was also a Christmas tree in the dome, and I wanted to see that. They also had displays on the outside sponsored by Dior, Louis Viton, etc., and they were crazy! France is all about mechanical displays; there were animals doing all sorts of things. Penguins wearing sunglasses, upside down pandas, lemurs, and all of these were fake of course.

We then ventured to Printemps, similar to Gallery Lafayette, because Paige mentioned you could go to the top for a view of Paris, and there was a café up there. So we got some lunch and enjoyed the gorgeous views along with nice weather (sunny, no clouds, but cold). It was beautiful.

After we headed to La Défense for the Xmas markets, but Paige and Lisa continued home. Me and Meghan wandered around, and I showed her La Défense for the first time. I am there all the time, so I was surprised it was her first time. Anyways the markets were little cottages built in a square type deal with all sorts of venders. We got some vin chaud, hot wine, and wandered around looking at everything. Towards the end, we found a Xmas themed shop, and I found a little mini Xmas tree for eight euros, which I bought to put in Jérome’s apt. I also bought little, gold ball ornaments to go with it. We then went our separate ways.

I am back at Jerome’s now. I decorated the tree and wrote all of our names on the ornaments. Maybe a little cheesy, but I think it turned out pretty cute if I do say so myself. Vincent just came home, and I showed it to him, and he liked it, so that is good.

Tonight their good friend, Nico, is moving in for a few months. I look forward to meeting Nico tonight, and we will go out together afterwards. They say he is really nice and positive, so it should be nice!

Yesterday was somewhat of a fiasco. I was dropped off at the station for the 6:30pm train, which never showed up. I was so mad because I was like, this is REALLY happening again? Like last week. So I waited for the 7:30pm train, which didn’t show up either! It was literally 32 degrees, probably colder outside, and I was getting so upset. Meanwhile Jerome called me, and I told him my situation, and he wasn’t sympathetic, which made things worse. I then called my host dad to see my options, and he checked the trains saying there was a strike, but the 8:30pm would be there. He mentioned a bar across the street, so I headed there because I was so cold.

During all this, this crazy black man was motioning for me to follow him, and he just kept ranting in French when I told him French was my 2^nd language, so I asked some Indian guys for help and if they spoke English. They spoke a little, and told me the guy was mental. So I went back to sit down to continue waiting, and eventually one of the Indian guys came and asked if he could practice English, which I said yes, but he turned out creepy saying my friendship with him was very dear to him and asking if I was married.

Anyway fast forward to when I went to the bar, which was actually a pizza joint. I just bought a Fanta and sat myself down to enjoy not being in the cold. I luckily connected my phone to wifi and was texting Elizabeth complaining about my situation, but it made the time go by fast. Eventually it was 8:30pm, and the train came, and I arrived to Paris.

I went to Jerome’s, but the boys were gone seeing a friend, so I hung out until Clare was ready to meet up with me with her friends. I met them at le Marais, and had a drink at a bar, and then went home because Jerome was back, and I didn’t want to get back while he was sleeping. It was somewhat late, so we went to sleep soon after.

On Thursday when I saw him, he told me we will speak in French from now on with each other, and that is what we have been doing. It is frustrating sometimes, but I know it is good, and I do like it. And we have talked 95% French and 5% English since Thursday. So hopefully I will progress a little faster than I have been.

Well… that is everything for now!

Speculoos

Well today was busy. I woke up abruptly to the mom calling my name and knocking on my door. I looked at my phone, and it said 7am, and I was like shit! My iphone died in the middle of the night (my alarm), so my alarm for 6:30am didn’t wake me up. It is so weird my iphone will have like 15% battery, and then just die. It started doing that in France, and I have no idea why, and that is what happened. I just googled it and no luck figuring out the issue, oh well.

So anyway I scrambled to get ready, and I said I am sorry blah blah a few times to the mom. Whenever I mess up and apologize, she never says it’s alright/it’s ok, she just listens to what I say and then nothing really. She does a good job at making me feel bad. When people apologize to me, I accept it and say it is ok, so whatever. We still had time to make it to the bus stop, so I convinced the boy to let me take him because I said either you wait here for like 20 minutes doing nothing (he was just sitting at the table), or I can take you to the bus like normal, and I convinced him, which meant more sleep for me yes! So I went straight to sleep when I got back.

I woke up at 10:15am and did some laundry and made some banana bread, and then me and the girl set up the Christmas tree. They have a fake one, and it is pretty small. I am like 2 feet taller than it, and they don’t have lights for it, but otherwise, I am happy because there is Christmas spirit in the house at least! I turned a Christmas radio station on my iphone during the set-up, which was nice, but it didn’t play very good songs.

I then cooked the equivalent of Ramen, and then went for a 30 minute run, which felt very exhilarating. I felt very good afterwards. Then I took the girl to pony club, came back and showered, watched some Dexter, then the dad picked up the girl while I picked up the boy all the way at his school, and then took the two kids to music, and now I am waiting for dinner.

After dinner

Well I had to sit through like 20 minutes of the girl practicing piano after dinner, which was annoying, but I just played games on my phone and hid it whenever the mom checked on her haha.

So today I was standing on my chair to get something out of the top shelf of my wardrobe. I have done this a few times, so didn’t think anything of it. But today I broke the chair! It has a cushion, and then underneath, supporting bars, and one of them broke. So now I can’t sit on one of the far ends of the chair, which is annoying. I will have to deal with this until July. I am afraid to tell the family because I feel bad. I have considered switching it with a chair in the living area, but I doubt I seriously have the balls for that haha. Uhg I don’t know what to do.

Yesterday I just had class. Nothing exciting happened. Although me and Kendall went to a super marché, and I found this speculoos spread stuff I have encountered once before, and I remembered it was yummy, so I bought a jar and told Kendall to do the same. That shit is yum! Better than nutella I think, but maybe I am just too used to nutella now…

Anyway when I went to pick up the boy from school, I surprised him with goûter (after school snack, goûter means “to taste”) with speculoos sandwiches and thought they’d be hit, but I wasn’t sure. Anyway, he took one bite of these scrumptious little sandwiches and actually grimaced saying “I don’t like.” Well whatever little boy, this is good stuff. Therefore, I will be eating them tomorrow for my goûter! You don’t know what you are missing! His dad has made a baguette sandwich for him before with butter and then chocolate powder (you use to make chocolate milk—actually in the US we use syrup, but here they use powder, like Ovaltine), which I find pretty nasty. So so be it, we have different tastes—Americans and le French. But I think it is funny. The girl tells me all the time how I am “strange” and eat too much. Well all French say I eat too much, but I just like eating little things throughout the day, not a few big meals. It is healthier people! But the French don’t believe me. Go figure.

Well toodles!! Tomorrow is Thursday, which means Friday is looming, along with the weekend, and then December 1^st, which just marks the holidays coming. Lots to look forward too!

Decisions

The weekend has come and gone. Saturday I saw Kendall and Claire, and we went to the American restaurant, Breakfast in America. I got pancakes, scrambled eggs with cheese, and bacon, and then an oreo milkshake. It was so amazing and tasted like the real deal! I was so full afterward though, but it was definitely worth it. Then we walked around le Marais and window shopped a bit, and then sat ourselves down at a bar and got a carafe of wine. Then the girls went home, and I went back to Jerome’s, who had just finished moving into his new room. He bought all the furniture this past week, and finally unloaded everything, so that’s nice. We then got ready and got some sandwiches to go and headed to our friend’s apt. We pre-gamed and hung out a bit, and finally went out to Memphis (a club) at like 1-2am. Then we had a blast dancing until like 5:30am when me and Jerome took a cab back home. Btw it takes so long to find a cab in Paris at night… very annoying walking in the cold being drunk and tired. In Raleigh, you practically had 5 cabs waiting on you, so it is just different!

The next day we slept in, and around mid-afternoon we went to the same area the Chocolate Festival was at for a Wine Festival. It was 3 euros for students, and they gave you a wine glass, and then you were in this very large space with countless wine stands. It was very crowded, and you had to wait a good 5 mins to taste a wine, so we just left because the boys said it just wasn’t the same as the one they went to in the South. It was very industrial and non-friendly. There was also a pet adoption thing, so we stopped by to see some animals, but they were all in cages, so it looked kind of sad, so we left that too.

We got home and stayed there for a bit until the boys went to a movie, and then I just took a train home. I got home at 8:30pm and just stayed in my room all night because I was skyping my mom and then Hannah (!) and chatting Mary Kate on fb. God I miss my friends a lot. It is hard to be so far removed and not updated on their day-to-day life. That is why I am so excited for Rebecca to come to Paris for Xmas break because it will be nice having a piece of home here for a bit and a really good friend as well.

I FaceTimed Hannah with my iphone, which I had no idea I could do! I assumed I needed 3G for that, but nope just wifi, so that is really exciting and good news, so hopefully I can keep in touch better with my friends who have iphones, which is most of everyone luckily.

Today I have done laundry and slept. Not much. No one could hang out today in Paris, but oh well. I have just slept, watched tv shows. I also ran for like 20 minutes, go me. So today has been nice. I have been having trouble finding food here. There aren’t snacks, so I can’t easily just grab something out of the pantry. I had to make a peanut butter banana sandwich and then a grilled cheese. I just like my snacks to be easy… I know I am lazy bc those two things don’t take much time, but it is still annoying. I am hungry and need a snack now. The only easy thing to get is fruit or nasty ass non-sugar yogurt. I do have goldfish, but I am not in the mood for that haha.

Well it is a good sign that that is the biggest problem in life right now; although, figuring out after au pair life plans looms in the back of my mind. I think I have decided grad school. I think regardless of which country I’d be in next year, I’d do grad school. Because I feel like it will be easier to get an internship while in school as opposed to just being graduated. I know grad school doesn’t automatically mean an internship, but I do think I am right when I say it will be easier to find one. If I stay in France, I feel like au pairing for a year won’t look as great as if I go back to America if that makes sense. So I think grad school is the best option.

Kendall, Clare, and I discussed au pairing this weekend, and we realized au pairing does strip you of a lot of independence you gained while in college. I mean I can’t drive where I want when I want, I can’t see my friends as I please. I am bound to a schedule every day to take care of kids and the train schedule. It is just my freedom has been taken away, and that is a hard thing! So excuse me for not being 100% ok with my new life, but that is why—I have less freedom, and that is an adjustment, and who knows if I will get over it because freedom is a big thing in one’s life. Especially when I got a nice taste of it for 4 years, and now it is taken away.

So there is my little rant. But I do like life now. I just want more friends. That is all, and it will come. I will meet more girls next semester with new classes and all. Anyway back to grad school, I feel like I can give France another shot next year because I will be living in the city as an independent student (most likely), and that independence will be all the difference! I really do think so. I will have a flat and can come and go as I please, and just have to worry about class and homework, which is no biggie because I am used to that lifestyle. It will be more work though, but I am aware of that.

Well now that I have almost decided or at least thought of all this, money and planning comes into the equation. FAFSA only pays for so many schools in France, like 5, and 2 of those are business schools I think, so I need to decide if I want FAFSA loans or real ones, and I am pretty sure FAFSA loans will be cheaper in the long run.

Oh life… and growing up…