What is an Au Pair/How to be an Au Pair

Tags

Au pair, How to, Paris

After answering endless questions about my au pair experience, I decided it would be a good idea to write a blog post about what exactly is an au pair and how to become one. This is kind of my lazy way of informing everyone because I can simply give whomever is interested the web link 🙂

 

WHAT IS AN AU PAIR?

An au pair is a nanny that lives with a host family in a foreign country. Their responsibilities are primarily to look after the children and help the family in every day life. This can include light housekeeping, tutoring (homework help), and running errands. Au pairs are not maids. Au pairs should not work more than thirty hours per week. Au pairs ALWAYS have their own bedroom, and often luck out with a private bathroom as well. Au pair contracts can range from one month to two years or more. The average au pair stay is around 6 months to a year. Every family’s needs are different so if you are thinking about being an au pair, you can easily find a family who’s needs meet your needs.

Many girls considering being an au pair have this idea in their head that they will live this extravagant life with a wealthy family where they will be on an endless vacation. Unsurprisingly some au pairs are shocked to learn that their “vacation” abroad is in fact a JOB. The family HIRED you after all. This is a serious commitment, and you must take the time to really think about making such a decision. This decision does not only affect your life, but also that of the host family’s. You will want to make sure you are a good fit for the host family. It is a job you should take pride in and try to excel at. The bond you will form with your host children is the most rewarding experience of all. They really will feel like family by the end of your stay. I can guarantee you will be teary eyed when saying your goodbyes!

PROS

FREE ROOM AND BOARD: The host family is required to provide you with your own bedroom. They are also responsible for your meals. You are always welcome to eat with the family. In the kitchen, what’s theirs is yours. This is great financially because there is no rent to pay and it’s free food. You cannot complain about that!

CULTURAL EXPERIENCE: Do you love traveling and learning about other countries? Do you love discovering new and exciting places? Are you a fan of history? Do you have a passion for adventure? Then being an au pair might just be the opportunity you are looking for. By living with a host family, you are truly able to immerse yourself into their culture. No amount of studying the language, watching documentaries, or reading history books can give you a true understanding of the people in a different country. By living with them you uncover first hand their lifestyle. It can be quite the culture shock!

LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE: Being fluent in more than one language is a great asset to have in this day and age. Not only does it give you an advantage career-wise, but it also enhances your communication skills. You never know when you might need to use that language. I definitely advise potential au pairs to pick a country that speaks a foreign language. My sister was an au pair in Ireland this past summer and she regrets not choosing Spain because her Spanish would have improved tremendously. I was very tempted to be an au pair in England, but I realized the importance of learning another language so I chose to go to France instead. Plus in order to obtain your au pair visa, taking a language course is often required in most countries. This is a great way to meet friends!

NEW FRIENDS: I have made so many friends while being an au pair. Many of them I will stay in touch with for life. The great thing about being an au pair is that you meet other au pairs, students, and travelers from all over the world. Two of my best friends in France were from Austria and China. Not only did I get to learn about the French culture, but I had a little insight into my friends’ cultures as well.

TRAVELING: You are in a different country and now is your chance to explore as much of your surroundings as possible! Au pairs almost always have weekends off so spend that time by going on weekend getaways. Even if you are limited to only one day, that doesn’t mean your options for fun are limited! Do your research and find what appeals to you. I was never bored on weekends, and I doubt you will be either.

LOOKS GREAT ON RESUMES: Being an au pair looks great when applying for jobs. Not everyone knows exactly what an au pair is, or if they have heard of it, they usually are not well informed. This creates curiosity and leads the employer to wanting to get to know more about you. It also shows your independence and leadership qualities.

 

CONS

WAGE: The trade off for free room and board, is the low wage given to au pairs. On average au pairs are only paid 400-500 American dollars a month. With proper budgeting you can get by, however I suggest saving at least an additional $500 a month before departing for every month you plan on staying as an au pair. This way you can see and do more things. Also keep in mind that you are responsible for paying for your flight.

AWKWARDNESS: This pertains to the relationship with the au pair and the host family. The host family wants to treat you as part of the family, but at the end of the day you are not. You are an employee. So it can be difficult to find an even balance between the two.

KIDS CAN BE DIFFICULT: For those who have no experience with children, let me warn you that childcare is a full time job. I give credit to stay at home moms for what they have to put up with. It is hard work. Honestly being a (good) stay at home mom is a harder job than most jobs out there. Kids view au pairs as friends that they can play with 24/7. This is great of course when you are not already physically exhausted with a bad headache. Even if you are in the worst of moods you have to put on that smile and act super excited to play candy land for the 10th time in a row. Never show the kid that you are not having fun. So besides having to pretend to be just as energetic as the kiddies, you also have to stop them from fighting and getting into trouble. This is hard when you want to be their best friend because the last thing you want to do is yell at them. Be prepared to deal with temper tantrums, messes, puke, and poop. Address bad behavior immediately and ALWAYS reward good behavior. I’m surprised how many people are quick to punish, yet they forget how crucial it is to compliment children when they do something right. With children, try to turn everything into a game. If they are laughing and having a good time, then your lack of energy is worth it.

HOMESICKNESS: Personally I have never been one to succumb to homesickness, but I know many, many, MANY au pairs who wanted nothing more than to go home because they missed it so much. This is normal. There are good days and bad days. Some days you think to yourself, “this is amazing! I am having the time of my life”, and then other days you break down and cry and wish you could be sleeping in your own bed. Be prepared to feel depressed for days at a time. Being away from home can be really difficult, especially for people who have never been away from home before. When feeling down, don’t binge on sweets and lie in bed all day (that will lead to more self-loathing). Every morning is a fresh start. Wake up, get out of bed, eat a healthy breakfast, and go for a run. The endorphins will leave you feeling great for the rest of the day 🙂

COMMUNICATION/CULTURAL BARRIER: The biggest problem au pairs will face is communication with their host family. Sometimes the expectations of what you are supposed to do are not clear. Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone messes up. If you get yelled at for something you did or didn’t do, do not take it personally. There have been many occasions where I got yelled at for something I felt was unnecessary. Of course, being extremely sensitive I would go to my room and cry. But then I would realize that it really was not a big deal and that the parent’s might have been having a really stressful day and took out their frustration on me. Also, living in a different country means certain behaviors are acceptable or unacceptable. What might be considered rude in your home country, may be okay in your new country and vice versa.

ESSENTIAL QUALITIES THAT MAKES A GOOD AU PAIR

(If you are considering being an au pair and lack the majority of these, then I suggest finding another option)

– LIKE KIDS. (If you hate kids, why would you want to work with them?)

– BE RESPONSIBLE AND RELIABLE (Do what you are supposed to do when you are supposed to do it. Pretty simple isn’t it?)

– BE MATURE (You are an adult. The family does not want to hire a child to watch a child. Just because you are 18 years old does not always mean that you have the mentality or capability to be in the real world just yet. You can’t run to mommy and daddy for every problem when you are in a foreign country unfortunately)

– BE FINANCIALLY SECURE (Save and budget yourself. TRUST ME the last thing you want, is to be bankrupt thousands of miles away from home)

– BE ACCEPTING/UNDERSTANDING OF CULTURAL VIEWS (Do not judge people who are different from you. Chances are you are going to meet people with conflicting opinions and lifestyles. You may not always agree with them, but at least attempt to understand them…. Oh and try to avoid discussing politics…)

– POSITIVITY (A positive attitude keeps you sane)

HOW TO BE AN AU PAIR

1) If you believe becoming an au pair is right for you, then the first step is to choose the country you would like to live.

2)  After selecting the country, then make sure you can obtain an au pair or basic work visa. Every country has different rules. Depending on your nationality you might or might not be able to get the proper visa. If you are American you cannot be an au pair in the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales). They feel that the main purpose of being an au pair is to learn a foreign language, and because Americans are native English speakers they will not accept au pairs from the US. However, they will accept au pairs from Canada, Australia, and New Zealand because they are under the commonwealth. These nations can be granted two year work visas. Americans can stay in the UK for up to six months with their passport but are not allowed to work. If Americans wish to stay longer than they need to be a student or professional so they can apply for a student or work visa. A mexican friend of mine first wished to au pair in Italy but found out Mexicans could not get the proper visa so she chose to go to France instead where Mexicans were allowed to be au pairs. So before talking to potential host families, make sure you can work in that country legally!

3) Search the internet for LEGITIMATE online au pair agencies and websites. Some websites have au pair placement options in numerous countries while others can be exclusively one country, region, or city. I chose an independent website called http://www.aupairworld.net for its great reputation and access to a variety of families.

4) Once registered for whatever agency you choose, you will begin interacting with potential families. PLEASE do your research, and make sure you choose a good host family. ALWAYS request to speak with their current or previous au pair. This is the best way to get an honest idea of the life you could eventually be living. You will usually be communicating with numerous families, exchanging emails and doing Skype interviews.

5) Keep your safety and wellbeing in mind. While I had a great au pair experience, and the majority of au pairs do, I have also heard horror stories of bad families. One girl arrived in Paris to find out she was living in a crime ridden and violent neighborhood. She could hear gunshots in the street and the family was horrible. She ESCAPED days later by running to her home country’s embassy in Paris. Another girl I spoke with left after only one week because her bedroom smelt like urine, and her host family refused to let her eat meals with them. Instead she had to serve them as if she was a waitress. These situations could have been prevented if these two au pairs had learned more about the host families before making any decisions.

6) Finding a great host family is the most important, and the second most important by far is LOCATION. Location is key. I cannot emphasize this enough. The last thing you want is to be stuck in the countryside with nothing to do (unless of course you love the country and rare human interaction). If the public transportation isn’t that great, then you probably do not want to be in a suburb either. Look for host families that live in areas where you can easily meet other people your age, and also where you can have a great time. I lived in the historic center of a city during my stay as an au pair. It was ideal because the action was right outside my door. I didn’t have to rely on transportation to meet up with friends or go to the stores. Everything I needed was right there.

7) The host family chooses you and you have the decision to accept or decline. Always go with your intuition. You might not find the right fit immediately, and that is ok. Take the time to make the best decision for yourself.

8) Once you have a host family, get whatever travel documentation you need (passports, visa, ect…), book your flight, and continuously communicate with your new host family as much as possible before your departure.

9) Do not overpack. Bring the essentials but leave room in your suitcase for all the things you will buy while abroad. Also buy some gifts for your new host family that represent your home town/city/country. They do not have to be expensive. I live in a very touristy area at the Jersey Shore, and I also live near New York City so I bought the girls souvenirs, and I bought the host parents NYC mugs for their morning coffee.

10) If your destination speaks a different language, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE before you depart!

11) Board your flight and start your new adventure!

This experience truly opens your eyes to the world. You will get to see and do things that most people never have the chance to do in their lifetime. I can honestly say that I feel like a new person after returning home two months ago. I have always known what I wanted in life, and going abroad is something I felt was impossible and out of reach. I made this happen and it has lead me to realize that I may be surrounded by doubters, but I no longer doubt myself. The impossible is possible! If you feel unsure about what you want to do in life, or you feel you cannot do what you love, the best thing to do is to escape the negativity that surrounds you and take a risk. Many Europeans take a gap year before starting college so they can travel and discover their passions. Maybe more Americans should take note and do what they love to do instead of doing what society says they should do. Education comes in many forms, and I have learned more from my au pair experience than from years of college. I am not condoning college in the slightest, but simply making a point that sometimes the most valuable education does not come from sitting in a classroom and reading books. Sometimes it comes from the adventures we choose to take.

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Au Pair Day Trip: Rouen

Tags

Au pair, Cathedral, Claude Monet, Joan of Arc, Museum, Rouen

In-between planning overnight trips for au pairs in the Paris area, I decided to plan simple day trips to surrounding cities and attractions. Since I live in Rouen, I thought it would be a great idea to show the girls where I spend most of my time in France!

Rouen is the historic capital of Upper Normandy France and is about an hour and a half away from Paris by train. It is a beautiful medieval city with classic old timber buildings, and also the sight of where Saint Joan of Arc (Jeanne D’Arc) was infamously burned at the stake in 1431. Taking a walk down one of the many cobblestone streets in Rouen will easily make you feel as if you are living in the past. It reminds me of the Disney movie Beauty and the Beast! There are many attractions to see here. Museums, churches, great shopping, and markets can be found around every corner!

I made an event page on Facebook and sixteen au pairs came to Rouen this past Saturday. I was excited and relieved that there was such a great turn out because it had been snowing the day before and it was FREEZING! It was a great group of girls from all different nationalities. American, Canadian, British, Chinese, Spanish, Norwegian, Austrian, German, Brazilian, and Estonian are the ones that I can remember. I know I am forgetting one or two.

We met at the train station in Rouen at noon, and then ventured off into the cold to begin our tour.

Outside the Joan of Arc Tower

 The picture above is the exact location where Joan of arc was burned to death in 1431 because she refused to say her visions from god  were a lie. She is considered a true heroin in France for her devotion to the fight against the English who were trying to maintain control of Rouen and the rest of Normandy. She died at only 19 years old. Years later she was canonized as a Saint.

The famous Rue du Gros Horloge

In front of Rouen Cathedral

We found a church that was converted into an iron museum! It was very cool inside!

Felt like a queen sitting on this medieval chair haha 🙂

Jewelry and hairpieces dating back hundreds of years! I wish I could have tried them on!

These METAL corsets were so tiny, they looked like it would fit a five year old, but it was meant for grown adults. Doesn’t look very comfortable now does it…

Everything is Iron!

Au Pairs learning about the museum 🙂

More sightseeing in the snow 🙂

Took a picture in front of a cafe, and a man behind us is waving to the camera haha!

Stopped at a cafe for lunch 🙂

This au pair is hesitant to try escargot (snails) for the first time

Unlike everyone that ordered normal meals, I had ice cream for lunch like always 🙂

Our final stop was at an art museum in Rouen

Impressionist paintings of Rouen

^ Claude Monet paintings. Claude Monet frequented Rouen and painted many of its famous landmarks including Rouen Cathedral, which he painted five or six times!

I was tempted to play the piano lol

… and the harp 🙂

All in all, it was a great day! I hope the au pairs enjoyed themselves as much as I did showing them around 🙂

Take a Chance

Tags

Ambition, Dreams, Inspiration, Life

 

Over three months ago, I boarded a plane to Paris. I cannot believe how much my life has changed, and also how much I have changed. My whole perspective on how I see the world is different. There are so many opportunities out there, and I must take every chance I can to pursue the life I have always wanted. I still have many struggles to overcome, but for once the positives are starting to outweigh the negatives in my life. Everyone take a chance to see the world. Be independent, explore, and go on adventures! Who cares how outrageous it might sound. It is possible! Without ambition you have nothing in life. I took a risk and it changed my life. So what are you waiting for?

I thought I should add a picture to this boring post. So here is a picture taken this past weekend in Paris 🙂

Au Pair Weekend Trip: Brussels (and my birthday)

Tags

Au pair, Beer, Belgium, Birthday, Brussels, Chocolate, Europe, Grand Place, Waffles

Less than two months ago I decided it would be a great idea to plan a weekend trip somewhere for the au pairs in the Paris area. My friends and I chose Brussels because of its location and affordable bus transportation. I soon made a Facebook event and any au pair interested in going could join. I assumed only a few girls would end up coming, but I was so surprised that 17 au pairs booked the trip! I was nervous at first because I was responsible for this trip, and if it went wrong then it would be all my fault!

I am SO BEYOND relieved that the trip turned out to be a success and was one of the most fun weekends I have ever had! The fact that it was my birthday this past Saturday, made it even better! It was by far the best birthday ever 🙂

^ All the au pairs and some friends before going out in Brussels for my birthday

The mega bus had two possible times to arrive in Brussels from Paris. The first bus was scheduled to arrive at 4:30 am on Saturday. The second bus was scheduled to arrive at 3 pm (15 h) Saturday afternoon. We all had hoped to take the first bus so we would have more time to spend in Brussels, but it quickly sold out so half the girls were booked on the first bus, and the other half on the second.

^ The first group of au pairs in the historic Grand Place in Brussels

I was on the first bus with seven other au pairs. We left Paris Friday night at 11:30 pm (23:30 h). We all attempted to sleep on the bus. Some of us managed to fall asleep, however I can never seem to fall asleep when traveling anywhere, whether its in a plane, car, or bus. So I ended up not sleeping at all! We arrived in Brussels at 3:30 in the morning (an hour earlier than planned). The hostel we booked did not open till 7:30 am, so we ended up doing some early sightseeing and wondering around the streets. Surprisingly a lot of people were still out and about enjoying the nightlife. We joked that we should just go into a bar and join them! Realistically we knew that would be a bad idea so we went to a Mcdonalds instead and stayed there till 5 am. Since it was impossible to fall asleep at that rate me and most of the girls decided to get coffees there. It was also good because Mcdonalds had free wifi and everyone who knows me, knows I am addicted to the internet and social media 🙂

The hostel we stayed at was Auberge de Jeunesse “Jacques Brel”. I chose this hostel for everyone to stay at because of its great reviews, good prices, and good location (having a bar was a major plus!). It was also one of the few hostels in Belgium that accepted groups and did not require a minimum stay of two nights!

^ This hostel was very nice. I would recommend it to anyone, and if I ever go to Brussels again I would definitely stay here!

^ In front of the Atonium. It is a famous monument in Brussels that was built for the World Fair in 1958. It is not really my cup of tea, but many people think it is one of the top sights worth visiting in this city!

Brussels is known for chocolate, waffles, fries, and beer. This was obviously at the top of our to do list! Once it was time for lunch, we unanimously decided on finding some waffles! We found a restaurant that served them and they were definitely the best waffles I have ever had!

^ Valerie (an au pair from Mexico) is posing for the camera with her Belgium waffle and hot chocolate.

At this point, the second group of au pairs were about to arrive and meet us back at the hostel. Before we headed back, the first group and I stopped at a bar to try some authentic Belgium Beer!

Belgium Beer!

Apple, raspberry, and peach Belgium beer! We are such typical girls and got the fruit flavors 🙂

I actually hate beer with a passion, but these were so delicious! I could definitely have another one right now 🙂

I headed back to the hostel with the first group of au pairs so we could meet up with the second group. We were so tired! the fact that we didn’t sleep, made it really difficult for us to stay awake. Once the second group arrived, I helped them check in and I assigned them to their rooms. I gathered everyone together and we decided that the first group was going to go back to our rooms to rest for a few hours while the second group explored Brussels. Then we would all meet up at 9 pm to go out at night for my birthday!

I shared a room with my good friends from Rouen, Anita and Viki. They were so sweet and gave me presents! It was so thoughtful of them!

^ Opening presents… so exciting 🙂

After everyone settled in and the second group went off to go sightseeing, I was finally able to catch a few hours of MUCH NEEDED sleep!

^ Some of the girls from the second group exploring Brussels in the early evening

Before I knew it, it was time to get ready and go out on the town! We decided to go to one area near the Grand Place in Brussels where there is a series of bars all within walking distance. We met up in the hostel lobby and then headed out!

^ Some of the au pairs and I in the hostel before leaving for the bars

We started out at this one bar that was not that crowded. It was really cool because the bar was downstairs, and then there was an upstairs with some seating and a small dance area. There were only a few people upstairs at the time, so when our group of over 20 friends walked in, we quickly filled up the room and it was like our very own private party! Everyone ordered drinks and it was ridiculously fun!

After a couple hours there we decided to go to a club nearby. It was packed with such a good crowd! We met so many nice and interesting people!

^ We had a lot of tequila shots… lol

We were out all night. It was insane! Once again most of us had very little sleep. The next day we woke up, got free breakfast at the hostel, packed our things, and then explored Brussels for the last few hours we had left there. We were all EXTREMELY hungover, and were on a mission to find chocolate, and french fries!

^ some of us in the morning before we left

^ This isn’t the best picture of us, but we found a “friterie” (a place that specializes in making fries). They were hands down the best french fries I have ever had! It was also exactly what we needed for our hangovers!

 ^ Friterie ❤

^ Just me in front of a pretty cobblestone street in Brussels

Everyone had such an amazing time! I wish we could have stayed longer. I love Brussels and would love to go back again. Because this trip was so successful, I definitely am going to plan many more in the future 🙂

Friends and Social Life in France

Tags

Au pair, Birthday, Friends, Paris, Rouen

I arrived in France exactly two months from today. I cannot believe I have already been here this long! I have been VERY busy between work and school. I am so happy to have made many friends already 🙂 In Rouen I met two girls from the university. One is a Chinese student named Viki, and the other is an au pair and student like me. Her name is Anita and she is from Austria. We already share a close bond because we are all each other has in France! We have so much in common, and love to socialize and go out on the town on weekends. It is SO much fun. Everyone in Rouen is very welcoming. Even with the language barrier, it is easy to make friends here.

Viki, me, and Anita in Paris

Besides my friends in Rouen, I also have connected with many au pairs in the Paris area. I love meeting other au pairs because like myself, we are all so excited to meet new people and explore new places! We even have a trip to Brussels Belgium planned for my birthday weekend. It is already booked, and as of right now there are at least 14 of us going! We are staying in a really fun hostel in a great location. We are going to see all the main tourist attractions, eat Belgium waffles and chocolate of course, and then check out the night life 🙂

 International au pairs! Nationalities: Mexican, Chinese, American, Austrian, British, Mexican

This photo was taken of about half of the girls that went to the meet up I scheduled in Paris. I arranged the meet up to give everyone information on the trip to Brussels, and to plan and book it. We met at a Starbucks. Once the meeting was over we decided to walk around Paris. It was a beautiful day and actually very warm!

 We saw a fashion shoot taking place! The models and outfits were beautiful. It was so cool to see!

 I would love to work on these type of fashion shoots!

Le Pont (bridge) de l’Archevêché

This bridge is typically referred to as “The Love Bridge” because of the tradition for couples in love to take a lock, write their names on it, attach it to the chain links, and then throw the key into the seine. This is supposed to symbolize their everlasting love. This is just another reason why Paris is known as the city of love! The au pairs and I all laughed about how we are going to come back here before the end of the year with our future French boyfriends 😉

You can never have too many pictures of the Eiffel Tower!

Me and Anita taking another cliche picture. We are such tourists 🙂

In front of the Arc De Triomphe

^ Café Gourmand… it is a very popular item served at most cafes. it includes a coffee and three mini desserts. It is just the right amount to satisfy your sweet tooth 🙂

It was Viki’s birthday this past week and we celebrated back in Rouen

Anita and I bought her the most delicious chocolate mouse cake from one of the best chocolate shops 🙂

It looked so beautiful, we did not even want to cut it because it was like ruining art… but OH MY GOD it was heaven ❤

The birthday girl cutting her cake 🙂

Au pairs Irene (Italian) and Anita (Austrian) enjoying the party food!

Viki and I on the beautiful Rue de Gros Horloge. We are walking to a local pub. we had an awesome time once again!

Well this is all I have time to write for now. It is kind of an unorganized post, but it is a much requested update! I plan on posting about Rouen and its culture and history soon 🙂

A little insight into my new life

Tags

Au pair, France, Paris, Rouen

 (^ Monmarte, Paris)

I love the European way of life. It is so different from the United States. As an au pair, I lucked out with a great host family. They are so nice and try to make me happy. The girls are adorable and well behaved for the most part. They can be balls of energy at times which can be exhausting, but I always take them to parks and have them do sprinting games. They love it and think it’s so fun!

(On the way to the park 🙂 )

I really do love Rouen. It is such a beautiful city, and there is so much to do here! There is great shopping, great night life, and great attractions. I go running along the seine 4-5 days a week. That is the river that leads into Paris. it is very pretty.

Communicating is quite challenging. I only have a beginner level of French, but I am getting better. Paris is practically a bilingual city so I have no problem there. Rouen is purely French! If I am going somewhere specific I will write down what I have to say and try to memorize it. Some people know English, but I rarely find someone who is fluent in Rouen. However, at some bars in town I was surprised how many people could get by in English. So that was nice. and I can do the common greetings and understand the basics.

 

( I attempted to read this on the train ride back from Paris… Let’s just say I did not get very far! )

I start french classes next week. I am really excited because i will meet other au pairs and students. I know a lot of au pairs in the Paris area and have already met up with some. I have yet to find any au pairs in Rouen though. The classes will definitely make it easier to have local friends because right now all my friends are about an hour away.

Hmm…. some peculiar things I noticed about the french (strictly my own observations and experiences. this is not generalizing all of France)…

They don’t work as many hours, and they take long lunch breaks. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner have multiple courses. Salad is served AFTER the main course, which I find really weird. I go to the boulangerie (bakery) every day to buy fresh baguettes. When my host family wants meat they go to the boucherie (butcher shop). Everything is walking distance where I live. Everything is cobblestone. Dogs are allowed EVERYWHERE, even in some restaurants. I was in a shoe store and a huge boxer was hanging out next to me. I have to bring my dog here because she would flourish!

( Macarons are everywhere in France… Heaven in a box<3 )

Barely anything is open on sundays. There are a few restaurants, but they are typically open for shorter hours.  Some morning markets can be found open as well. In general places open later and close earlier around here (Rouen). Shops typically open around 9 or 10 in the morning and close around 6 or 7 in the evening.

Kids go to school 4 days a week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday) Wednesdays they have off. I wish it was like that in America. There are no screens on windows at all. Even in the newer apartment buildings there are no screens. They do not use napkins. I ate rabbit last week. That was interesting. I felt like I was eating someones pet. From what I have seen so far, the French pretty much do not have MILK here. they drink some sort of cream similar to milk. i cannot describe it. It is not even refrigerated when you buy it. Once you open it you put it in the fridge. My host family has it with their cereal. I do not like it so I pour the smallest amount in and then dilute it with water. It tastes more like a skim milk that way. The girls think i am weird for doing that. They don’t have peanut butter. The butter is very rich and also saltier. Supermarkets are weird. The French go there for things like pasta, cereal, cookies, eggs, milk, and like toiletries and soap. i even have a hard time finding pasta sauce. but if you want meat, fish, bread they go to the specialty shops. these things are sold at supermarkets, but it’s to a minimum. The French prefer quality over quantity.

I rarely hear french music. It is always American music playing in stores and bars. I find this strange but not surprising. I guess this might explain why so many people around the world know English. America really is huge when it comes to media and commercialism, especially in the entertainment industry. All our movies are advertised over here  (in french of course), but i have yet to find many French movies or songs.

(A friendly French guy. Free Hugs? Yes!)

The French are not rude. From my experience, they seem to love Americans. They are very very helpful to strangers. They are also more stylish than Americans. You don’t see anyone walking around looking like they are on their way to Walmart.

Overall, I have to say my experience in France has been amazing so far, and hopefully it will continue to get better. This opportunity is such an eye opening experience into another culture. Every day I learn something new. I am fascinated by the French way of life, and I cannot wait to explore as much of it as I can this year 🙂

Goodbye America, Bonjour France :)

Tags

Adventure, Au pair, France, New Jersey, New York City, Paris, Travel

I am flying to France today! I honestly cannot believe I am leaving. The feeling is surreal. It seems like just yesterday it was February when I found out I got the job as an au pair. For those new to my blog (and my life), if you haven’t found out already, I am going to be an au pair in Rouen starting tomorrow when I arrive, and until the end of July 2013. I will be in France for almost a year. I will be looking after three little girls ages 7, 5, and 2. I am also going to be taking french classes at the Universite De Rouen. I have weekends off, and will spend most of my free time in Paris!

It is pretty crazy to think that I have never been on a vacation or traveled much at all in my life, and now here I am packing my bags and moving to a foreign country. I love spontaneity. I can’t deal with the same routine day-to-day life. I need change. Traveling is a true passion of mine and I must make every effort to see as much of the world as I can!

This past year I have been planning and saving for this adventure in my life. Though there were more than a few bumps in the road along the way, nothing is going to stop me from setting out on what I want to do. My whole life I have been so afraid of people’s judgements and expectations. The fear of failing has stopped me from attempting to pursue many of my ambitions. I have come to the realization that just because negativity surrounds myself where I am now (New Jersey), that doesn’t mean that I have to be trapped by it forever. France is my escape. It’s a positive start to a new life full of new places and new people.

I will be working most of the time and I know it’s not all fun and games. Being an au pair is not a glamorous job. I am sure I am going to break down and cry the first week! The language barrier is going to be my biggest challenge. I hope I catch on very quickly!

I tried packing as little as possible, but I somehow managed to pack four suitcases. I am moving after all!

My friends were at the beach so I decided to walk up and take one last picture in my hometown. It is so windy today! I have lived here my whole life, and it is going to be such a culture shock living abroad. I am so excited though!

I am flying out of New York City and I have a layover in Iceland. I should arrive in Paris around 1 pm 🙂

NYC day trip to apply for my au pair visa!

Tags

French Consulate, New York City, Souvenirs, Sushi, Visa, Wine

I had an appointment at the French Consulate yesterday in New York City. My best friend Jess and I took the bus from New Jersey and arrived in the city around 10 am. The consulate is conveniently located in the beautiful Upper East Side on 5th Avenue. It was directly across the street from Central Park!

Since my appointment was at 11:30, Jess and I decided to hang around Central Park to kill some time. It was beyond beautiful! I forgot how huge the park actually is. When I was walking through it, I felt like I wasn’t even in NYC because it was so peaceful. It’s crazy to have such contrasting opposites so close to one another. It really is like being in two different worlds!

After spending almost an hour in Central Park, we made our way back to the French Consulate for my appointment. Jess unfortunately wasn’t allowed to enter the building with me, and she had to wait for me to be done. I WAS SO MAD! The security guard warned us that on average it takes about an hour and a half! I felt so bad for her. If I had known it was going to take so much time and she wouldn’t be allowed to be with me, I would have had her just meet me in the city later. Luckily Jess preoccupied herself by walking about 20 blocks and going shopping. So typical of her!

Everything went smoothly at the French Consulate thank god! I totally thought I was going to forget something. I was kind of nervous talking to the workers there. They were obviously all French. The one french guy was pretty rude to everyone. One girl almost cried because she didn’t have the right paper work and he yelled at her. The other french guy was my age and really nice, but he definitely thought I was the dumbest person ever. He asked me if I could speak french and I said barely. Then he started speaking french to me and I was like uhm I got like two words out of that sentence. And they kept speaking French to each other and then English to me. They were probably calling me a stupid American girl! Oh well… at least it is over and done with!

Once the appointment was over, I walked from 5th Avenue and 74th Street to 3rd Avenue and 54th Street where Jess was shopping. Along the way I was walking down Park Avenue and then turned down this street in the picture above. The houses are so beautiful! It is my dream to live in something like this one day. I am definitely going to move to New York once I return from my au pair adventure in France!

Jess and I were starving by the time we met up so we found a sushi restaurant nearby called Haru. We each had a glass of Riesling and of course sushi. It was really good but the service was awful!

Jess is also going to be an au pair, but in London. Before we left New York we both made sure to buy souvenirs for our host families! I bought my family four mugs, three mini snow globes, three I ❤ NY bears, two magnets, two t-shirts for the eldest girls, and five postcards! I am also going to get plenty of souvenirs from my hometown. I can’t wait to give them their gifts. I hope they like it all 🙂

Less than three months till my new life begins!

Tags

Au pair, Inspiration, Travel

Everyone should live a life of adventure. Find your passion, make a plan, and then just get up and go. The worst thing you can do is sit back and wonder what could have been. Stop dreaming and start living 🙂

It’s ridiculous how soon I leave. I booked my flight with Iceland Air last week. I will be leaving from New York City on August 26th. I have a layover in Iceland and then I will be arriving in Paris on the 27th. I am so excited to meet my host family. I really hope they like me, and I do a great job! Sometimes I feel like my friends and family think I am just going on a permanent vacation, when really I am going there to work. I am not all about fashion (I just seem to have nothing to post on my blog before I leave besides the clothes I am buying lol). I really am a down to earth and outdoorsy girl who loves nature and exploring other cultures. I am an adventurer at heart. I also tend to be a perfectionist. The last thing I want to do is disappoint the family I am working for. I have this fear of never being good enough so I tend to overcompensate and be overly generous. Hopefully my eagerness to please will drive me to be the best au pair I can be!

Video guide about the city I will be living in for a year!

Tags

Au pair, France, Rouen, Travel