So the last time I’m updated on my blog was….a while ago. About halfway through the semester, I started to slack hardcore on this blog, but I wanted to at least give it a good ending! I’ve had quite the adventure on the other side of the ocean. If I remember correctly, the last time I updated it was just becoming warm and beautiful in Paris. I enjoyed my last days in Paris soo much, and because of that worked throughout the month of April trying to find a job that would allow me to stay in Europe for the summer. Eventually, thanks to the advice of a friend, I stumbled upon Aupair world. It’s an internet site that allows families and aupairs to connect and form a partnership. Ha. Well, I first found a family where I would be living in the South of France for the entire summer. However after some thought, I decided that I didn’t want to stay the entire summer…not to mention the father was text messaging and giving me the creeps. So I apologized and declined their offer. I was about to give up when I was contacted by a family that was located 30 minutes from Geneva, Switzerland. Originally going into the website to create my profile, I had limited my search to families looking for an aupair who lived in Southern France. This family contacted me informing me I would live near Geneva for the month of June, and then move on to multiple parts of Southern France for the month of July. It sounded wonderful! Full room and board, meals, 400 euros a month, and my own car were all included. So I took the job. I spent the month of May taking finals, running around like a chicken with my head cut off, researching graduate school opportunities, making new friends, dancing of course, and tying up things in Paris. I ended up working double the time in the month of May, and made an extra 300euros for the summer! It was a really nice extra bit. However, the last week things took a turn. As I tried to enjoy my last days to the fullest, things quickly became sad, and that is when the goodbyes started. My last night in Paris was rather rough; I was grabbed in the metro by a drunk man. It really was a downer. By the end of the night, I was lying in bed with my best friend, who just happens to be my roommate, sobbing. I’ve never been so upset to leave a place. The next day I worked in the morning to complete my work hours, and visited some favorite places. Emily and I had lunch at a place we shared a meal at the first week we arrived in Paris. It was the strangest feeling in the world to be sitting in the same place, the place we started so many months ago. We then took a walk around Bastille, and made our way back to our apartment…our last day living together. As I was leaving to get on the metro, we sat there in cried holding each other. Fittingly, it started pouring. I don’t care what anyone says, our apartment was a horrible place; budbugs, no heat, no hot water, constant problems with the landlord…however I would go back there to live with Em in a heartbeat. I cried all the way to the airport, that silent cry that you try to hide but every single person notices. I had two wonderful people try to comfort me. The first one being a young guy my age; is all he said was “everything’s going to work out alright (in French). The second was a wonderful woman who walked with me through the station, talking about change and how much it helps us grow. Paris has never been so kind to me.
When I finally made it the airport I was tired, drenched, and puffy eyed. Don’t you know it; my flight was delayed by an hour. I called the family and let them know I would be late. When I finally arrived in Geneva, the mother picked me up. In the ride to their house, she explained some of the upcoming events, and we had small talk. I looked around and loved the mountains. We got to the house and they showed me my room, and quickly allowed me to go to bed. She said I would ride with her to school the next morning with the girls until she had time to give me a quick lesson on…manual. Oh boy. I fell asleep uncomfortable, and woke up thinking I was in Paris. That used to happen to me all of the time when I would wake up in Paris thinking I was home. I guess I had made another home for myself.
The next morning I met the two girls, Keiko and Zoe. Zoe is 7 and Keiko is 5. All went well enough, we dressed them, and I learned quickly that things were not going to be explained. I was going to have to pick things up as I went. The girls went to school, and she dropped me back off at the house. I spent the day alone…took a walk into town, got to know the house a bit, slept. The next day was when things started to go downhill. It all started with our little driving lesson. After the girls were dropped off at school, I got into the driver’s seat. I had taken a few lessons in Paris, and felt pretty confident. That quickly went out the window. Forgot one little thing, I was living in the mountains and had no idea how to get up a hill. The woman was furious, yelled, screamed, and accused me of lying that I had taken lessons in Paris. It was lovely. I returned to the house and she went to work…I spent the day crying. She apologized later, but it was a very distant apology. The next day was the same until she finally realized I just didn’t know how to let the clutch up, I was using my whole leg instead of flexing my foot. So while she was at work, I spent the day practicing. Within two days I had it, and I wasn’t stalling! I felt extremely accomplished, but she was still not impressed. Monday morning I brought the girls to school while she was in the passenger seat. Again, horrible. She yelled at me for going to slow, as apparently you must go the exact speed limit in France to keep circulation going. I thought using caution was a good thing, apparently I was really really wrong. She made comments like something like that is dangerous, etc. Then I stalled at the light. Awesome. The girls saw this and quickly joined in on remarking on my driving. They still continue to do so a month later. The days were really starting to drag, and I still hadn’t met anyone. So that week, I started researching courses. The family had offered to pay for a French course in Geneva. So I signed up, bought a map of Geneva, and I was off. I missed the first class on account of being lost, big surprise, but still intended on signing up. Friday night at about 11pm, they let me know that I had Saturday off! I was so excited, as it was my first day free. I went onto couchsurfers and posted a message that I would be in Geneva all day and wanted to explore! Saturday morning I went to a beautiful market by myself in Sallaches, France. It was gorgeous, and I found many gifts. The Haute Savoie Region, where I’m living is absolutely gorgeous. I will never regret coming here, even though the family was a bit harsh. Later that day, I met up with a ton of different people! I ended up staying out until about 1am, but it was well worth it because I had finally made friends and had a good day. I was still rather lonely however at the house. I was trying to pick up as many things as I could living and working with the family, but I was definitely considered hired help. I started classes, and ended up meeting some other aupairs however. It was really nice to start hearing what other people were going through! Finally I met Kajsa, who has been my best friend here. She is absolutely the sweetest person I have ever met, who will go out of her way to help you when in need. After class every day, I go over to her house and we just hang out. She is from Finland, but speaks English fluently.
So as for the family, it’s like this. I am hired help, which is not overly surprising. I cook, clean, iron, take care of the girls in the mornings and the evening. There is no attempt made to get to know each other, it is more as if I am just a ghost who lives in the basement. The girls are horribly misbehaved, and it is a constant battle to get them to do anything as they don’t respect me (as they can see their mother doesn’t either). Constant crying is rewarded with what they want from the parents, so I don’t have much leeway. However they are kids, and they certainly have their moments when they can be slightly charming. Slightly. I was certainly sad, however thankfully I was able to talk to my friends and parents about it every day, not to mention seeing Kajsa. I was bike riding every day, exploring the region, and just admiring how amazing it is. I’ve never seen snowcaps like these, in the summer no less!
One evening however, the mother came home in a bad mood. She definitely rules the family, and the father never has too much to say or argue about. Everyone was walking on eggshells, and suddenly she turned on me. Keiko’s ballet outfit was missing, and no one could find it. Better yet, her dance recital was the next day. Great. She screamed at me, telling me I was irresponsible, and that I needed to find it. At 10pm, I went out into town to search for the missing ballet outfit as the mother was flying out to Paris the next morning for the day. Nothing. I had no idea where this outfit had gone, or how it had anything to do with me. I went to bed that night sobbing, and made the decision. I sent an email to my travel agent and asked for a flight that would take me home the beginning of June. I would stay until the girls finished school, and then I would leave. I called my parents, and they were very happy as they could tell things weren’t going well there for me. The next morning, I dropped off the girls and went on “Find the stupid ass tutu” mission. I first went to the auditorium where practice had taken place…nothing. Then, I went to the dance studio. I waited for an hour until it opened, and finally a woman walked in. I explained that I was “la fille aupair” of Keiko and Zoe, and what had occurred. I think she could tell either by my swollen eyes and my choked voice that I was on the edge. That second the mother called the studio…basically checking that I was there searching. The woman gave me a smile, and quickly went to work. She pulled out shoes and a tutu that would be a little big on Keiko but was the same color. She said she would call around, but not to worry as things would work out. She complimented my French, and seemed understanding of the family that I was dealing with. Haha, what I figured out about 2 weeks into living with them was that they were one of the richest families in town. He. So I headed back to the house still feeling rather defeated. If you’ve ever seen the Devil Wears Prada, I am the girl working hard to please the unappeasable. However, as I was driving home I received a phone call. I friend of Keiko’s had stolen her stuff and hid it in this woman’s van. Lovely, it hadn’t had anything to do with me. So the woman dropped off Keiko’s things, and I made plans to meet up with Kajsa right after the dance performance to I didn’t have to see the family. I finally received an email from my travel agent, and decided to fly out July 5, the earliest date in July I can leave. I didn’t care about a flight change fee, I just wanted to get home. It turned out only to be $85! I was expecting $250… The weekend with Kajsa was wonderful. We were going to drive to Italy, but at the last minute decided a day trip to Annecy, France would be just as beautiful and cheaper. We spent the day walking around the small winding streets, taking pictures, eating a fantastic French “raclette” dinner, and finally some ice cream. I dropped her off and prepared myself to speak with the parents about my early departure. I explained to them that I need to be home for family matters. They were fine with it, they weren’t going to pry me for answers. Over the next week I acquired my first parking ticket ever…in Geneva, Switzerland. Who would have thought. I quickly paid that off, and tried to tie up any loose ends there.
So as to where I am at now. Currently I am sitting in Geneva airport (a week after all of this went down). I’m going to PRAGUE!!! I’m meeting with multiple friends I’ve made from across the world and meeting with them for my birthday in Prague. I am so excited and counting down the days until my return to the states. I will be in Prague Friday to Monday, and then I will only have 10 full days left with the family followed by four days in Paris. It will be fantastic. However, today was rather stressful. I was running a bit late to the airport today. I drove myself as the family didn’t offer and it just so happened that Kajsa lives only 10 minutes away! However, I ended up lost (huge surprise) and had to go straight to the airport! The plan was to pick Kajsa up and that she would drive my car to her house. I was worried on the phone and she could tell. So she had her wonderful family that she is an aupair for quickly race her to the airport to meet me with the keys. I’ve never met such wonderful giving people in my life. I will most definitely be getting them something wonderful in Prague….I’m just not yet sure what. It was so stressful, and ofcourse I get to the airport and my flight is delayed! Haha ah well, at least I didn’t miss it. I will probably arrive in Paris about midnight, stay with a friend for 4 hours, and then catch the bus to Paris Beauvais airport at 5am. My flight leaves at 8, and I will be in Prague by 9! I am so excited to see everyone, it is going to be amazing. I will see Emily (my Paris roommate), her friend Katelin who is backpacking with her, Kallie (a girl I have not seen in 2 years who I graduated high school with!), Kristi (an American girl I met snowboarding in Geneva), and Andy (a friend from Paris)! I will also be meeting two other guys from the states for the first time, and we will all by sharing an 8 person suite at a hostel in Prague. It’s going to be amazing. I will certainly write an ending to this story once I get back to the states, but until then it’s my birthday in Prague!!! Home on July 5! (Thank you to all my wonderful friends)
No comments:
Post a Comment