Wednesday the 13th of April

hahaha.... this picture was taken as I was listening to my vlog... I was smiling, then... I guess I started pitying myself!! hahaha

Anyway, this is just a small blog to say a few things. 

1. Here is my first vlog:

2. I will be going to Disney World day after tomorrow and I still have to pack all the bags and do heaps of washing and stuff, so I won't have much time to update this, so probably the next time I write will be when I get back from Florida.

Wish me luck!!!

Monday the 11th of April

 

Suuuup?

That's just me with my new water bottle which I think is super cool!! :D 

Guess what I did today? No? No guesses? WELL I.... went to Zumba!! 

Yes, I know! Me! Oh but it was fun!!

For those of you who don't know what Zumba is, it's pretty much dancing for an hour to fast paced music as a way of exercise, and man alive am I going to be sore tomorrow!! They do a bit of Samba, and hip-hop, and Belly dancing and all sorts of dancing!! It's also cool because no one is really watching you, and you don't watch other people, so you don't feel silly doing these dances when you cannot dance!! You're all there for the same reason, it's like an unwritten rule not to judge others when exercising! haha

Definitely try it out [girls] if you haven't already! :D

I went with 'Jay' my Aussie friend who lives around the corner from me. We had a good moment as well. 

Ok so we are like the ONLY 2 Aussies in the country or something, and this particular this morning we were both together in the car listening to this particular radio station - when "We come from a Land down Under" comes on the Radio!!!!

We wound down our windows and tried to sing along at the top of our voices..... but alas neither us really knew the words very well - but we managed to scream the chorus pretty good!! haha

Although I'm still not sure what the women do... I know the men Blunder.... but the women? They do something and then we all hear the thunder and go to take cover. hehehehe

Anyway, I then came home and did a biiiig load of washing and cleaned my room! :D

At the end of the week I am going with my host family to Florida to Disney World!!!! WOOOOOHOOOO!!! And I was talking to my host mum and she was suggesting that I get some really good walking shoes. SO I went today to get some and the lady working there talked me into buying the shoes that are kinda becoming the 'thing' to wear [mostly for like mums and older ladies and stuff - but WHATEVER!!!!]

They're the exercise shoes... with the curved bottoms...

Yeah I know I'm a dork, whatever......

So that's me at the moment!! Will fill you in soon!! :D

Saturday 9th April

So I am sitting here in my room about to go to sleep. [I thought it would be a cool idea to have a picture of where I am when I'm writing my blogs!]

Today was a really fun day. 

It started off with a super good sleep in :D Then I drove and met a friend [who I shall now name 'L'... or 'El'... cos that sounds cooler. :)

We then drive down to the Virginia beach Ocean Front! In the summer it's a really big Tourist attraction. Today was a pretty cold day - and walking along the beach [after having a parking meter eat all our money...], we had a laugh trying to find a bare set of footprints in the sand, because everyone was wearing shoes it was so cold!

We then walked up an El introduced me to "Salt Water Taffy"! It's really good! :D Then we just walked along the shop fronts window shopping and talking. In the Summer there would be whole amusement parks and stuff open, but they were all closed for the Winter and stuff, but maybe my host family will go some time?

We then went and got some frozen Custard. SO. GOOD. MAN. ALIVE! :D

We had some Chick-fil-A for lunch - a fast-food restaurant which I think Australia should adopt.

There were some pretty good statues around:

Including one which was of a young girl, where there [apparently] was a matching one of the other side of the ocean in another country facing it:

... I don't know if you can read this or not, but it says:

I AM THE NORWEGIAN LADY

I STAND HERE 

AS MY SISTER BEFORE ME

TO WISH ALL MEN OF THE SEA

SAFE RETURN HOME

So that was nice. :)

Then we drove home and I took out my Aussie Au-Pair friend [whom shall now be "J" or 'Jay' :)] which lives just around the corner [seriously what are the chances??] to meet up with some of the Crew from my small group to go to the movies. They said it was at the "Greenbrair Cinema"... little did I know there were two...

So we were about 25 minutes late. Apparently we only missed like 5 minutes of the show though - so thank goodness for the ads [thought sometimes they are the best bit...]

So we ended up seeing "Sucker Punch." 

Interesting movie... Full on and Intense!!!

It reminded me a lot of "Scott Pilgrim vs The World." But that was mainly from the amazing quality of the video and the surreal-ness of the content. But lot less... happy fun. And not funny. I kept thinking "Wow... this is so anime... this has to have been some sort of Manga or something"

I mean my whole idea of the film may have been a WHOLE lot different if I had have seen those first 5 minutes... because the first half an hour I was really trying to work out what was going on... But I got there. Pretty much it's not the kind of film I will be recommending to people. But it wasn't too bad.

Then me and Jay went and had some dinner at Applebee's. Wasn't bad at all!! I really wasn't hungry though, so I asked Jay to order a soup side with hers [because you can only order it with a meal] and then I would pay her the $2 for it. :) So that was good. Then I came home and cleaned my bag out... haha long time needed. :P

Anyway, so I shall be going to sleep now so I can get up in time for small group tomorrow!

Seeyas!

Friday April 8

 

Hey guys!! So I am right now sitting in Starbucks chilling.

[My 'look' is because I will be going to the gym which = no make-up or fancy hair]

Host kids are either at school or on a spring break camp which, since it is the last day, started at 9 and ends at 12:00. Because its about a 40 minute drive, I decided that it would probably be a smarter idea to just stick around somewhere for a few hours, rather then go all the way home and then leave not too long after.

SO I got my SUPER cool computer and am now sitting using up free internet. 

Speaking of free internet. I love how many places have free internet. The karate place my kids go to has free internet for parents [and au pairs :P] to use while they wait. So on my iphone [which doesn't work as a phone over here] logged into skype, and I had a chat with my family back home. 

I LOVE SKYPE!!

I was sitting down next to other people on their phones, calling Australia - for free. Free. AND I could talk to more then one person at a time. Thankfully the time that the kids are at karate is the perfect [sorta] time to call, because it's just before my family is AUS go to work. :D

YAY

After I finish business over this end of town we are going to go to the YMCA [the gym] and while she's going to be at the kids zone, I am going to try some sort of class. Zumba, kickboxing... maybe even yoga? hahahahahahahaha not yoga. If there aren't any classes on I think I shall just go on the bikes and treadmills in the main room. 

Because I worked on Tuesday [Which is usually my day off] I get tomorrow [Saturday] off!! I was talking with one of my friends over here about it, and she suggested that I go see the Ocean front at Virginia Beach. Rain or Shine, I've been here 4 months already and there is no excuse for me not to have been yet [apparently] so she insists that be our task for tomorrow... but at the moment the weather isn't looking too friendly. We'll see. 

I have TOTALLY been teaching myself Japanese. And rather successfully if I don't say so myself! There was this AMAZING free iPhone app that I found which is the BEST teacher ever!! Totally recommend it to anyone who wants to learn the very basics. It starts with the alphabet. [by the way, this is reading it and writing it... actual words come later]

[For those interested it's called 'Human Japanese Lite' in the itunes store]

Anyway, I could keep writing for ages, but alas you're probably sick of my writing. Leave me a comment and tell me if you think this is a good sized post, or too long or too short etc. 

Anyway, byes. Will fill in soon I am sure. :)

Change of Blog theme. And Gym.

Hey guys,

As you may have noticed, there are quite a few of the posts missing from my blog. That is because this blog will now be more of a diary of an Au Pair, rather then the Job of an Au Pair... so it will consist more about what I do in my free time and the wonders of America land, rather then all the details and specifics of the kids I look after. Hope this is still enjoyable for you!

So recently I joined the Gym!! Proud of me??? I am!!!

I am mostly doing just on the bikes and treadmills and stuff... maybe trying to get swimming in there a few times a month. 

I tried swimming laps once and MAN did it take alllll the energy out of me to the extreme!!!! I thought I was done with just 2 laps of the pool!! I managaed to keep going, but unfortunately [*cough*] there was a lesson coming so I HAD to get out... No, moving to another lane was not an option... shhhh...

My host mum has suggested that I join classes that are on around the times that I go [after dropping kids off at school]  Like Zumba, or Pilates... or there are some kick-boxing things... which isn't fighting, just the moves. Apparently it's a really good workout though, so I'm going to look into it!!

I am LOVING all the letters I'm getting from people, and am working really hard on replying to them all within a week of getting them. 

ALSO when I sent out the BIG group of letters at the start of the year... turns out I forgot some poeple, I am finding out every now and again random people who I forgot to send one to... and I really have forgotten who I have sent letters to and who I have not... so if you have not received a letter, but would like one, leave a message and your address [or email/facebook me your address] and I will try to get one to you pronto!! 

So yeah... Will fill in again soon [and yes I know that I say that a lot and don't... and honestly it will probably happen again...]

Seeya!

Starbucks

Hey guys, this is just a mini post to fill you in with what I have been doing today. I will do a bigger post tomorrow [hopefully].

Today was my first day off of the week - so I had a nice sleep in.

Then I just hung out around the house - had some AMAZING corn casserole for lunch and watched the end of Harry Potter 6 which was on TV. 

Later in the evening I went out to the shops, bought Harry Potter 4 [the book] and went and hung out at Starbucks for an hour and a half [around that...] and then I went and browsed around the normal shops. :)

It was a nice day :)

Happy New Year!!!

So I will be going to Arkansas tomorrow morning with my Host Family, and so I probably won't be able to take my laptop in which case this is the last time I will be posting until the New Year!!! Wow. 2011. Everyone ready?

Happy New Year!!!

Hope it's a good one for everyone out there. 

It's cool though, because forever onwards I will always remember that 2011 is the year that I lived away from home in America! :D

Talk next year buddy!!

[Buddy is my term of endearment for the kids]

Things that are Backwards, and words we don't use so much.

And I shall be adding to this list whenever there is something that needs to be added.

THINGS THAT ARE BACKWARDS:

• The side of the road that you drive on.
• The side of the car that you sit on.
• The side of the steering wheel the flicker [blinker, indicator etc] is on.
• The Light Switches!
• Apparently the way the water in the toilet turns. Disproved by my brother :P
  
• The taps. [Like you turn it the other way to turn the water on... which can get confusing, like when you want to turn the water off quickly, and you turn it so it gets even stronger!!]
• 
  

WORDS THAT US AUSSIES DON'T USE SO MUCH:

• Neat [as in 'cool']
• Dinner [never tea]
• Candy
•  What we call chips - they call fries. So if I go to Maccas, if I ask for chips, they'll give me a bag of crispy chips... not the hot chips [fries].
• Same with combo and meal. 
• They don't [for cars] have Gas, and call Petrol 'Gas'.

To be continued.... 

Temp-home Sweet Temp-home

So yeah. Finally arrived in Virginia last night at 11pm. But I need to fill you in a bit for before then.

As most of you will know when I went on the trip to New York City, somehow I lost my wallet. I don't know whether it was stolen, or if I was just a clutz and dropped it. Very possibly the second. But other then that, and losing my glove, and losing my certificate and workbook from the school... It was a pretty good week!

When I got to the airport though... Me and my friend also going to Virginia [who I shall now call 'E']... missed our flight :( :( :(. We totally underestimated the size of JFK and got to the terminal 3 minutes late! We had to wait almost 6 hours for the next flight and had to pay $50.
When we arrived though, E's host dad was there to pick us up at 10pm and was able to drop me off home as planned. [he knows my host-family through Cultural Care].

More things to come. :)

New York!!

So I finally arrived in NY after about 24 hours of flying. It was a long flight with only about 6 or 7 hours of sleep. I arrived in NY at their time 11:00pm, so I was able to have a bit of food before getting a good night's sleep.
I was woken up in the morning by my new room mate who will be going to the same part of Virginia with me on Friday.

I am going to play a board game with a few of the girls now. So I will fill you in more later!! haha

New Departure Date!!

So it turns out that all this time I am actually leaving on the 5th of December, not the 6th!! 
Just a thanks to my dad for discovering that! That could have been a very awkward phone call!
But it now means that I have 7 days - 1 week before I leave for New York! 

Yesterday I had my going away party [joint with my brother's 21st] which was kinda sad. I saw a lot of people for the last time before I leave!! It's only now really becoming 'real' to me.

I've got my 2 empty suitcases, and... a jacket, and... some money ready to go... And that's about it! :D
I have a very busy week ahead of me!! I think I'll start packing tomorrow. [and that's what I said yesterday :P] 


Getting exciting!!

11 Days to go!!

So I just got back from schoolies, which was nice and relaxing! 

I now have 11 days to go, and in between packing and all the rest I have 2 orthodontist appointments, a dentist appointment, a party to organize and go to :), my graduation and several catchups with friends. I know, I know - sucks to be me, right? :P

I am actually really looking forward to packing - it's weirdly one of the exciting bits of traveling for me. In fact when I am done here I am going to go downstairs to find the biggest bag to start packing. :)

Last week I went to my Visa Interview which was fun!!! I had an appointment for 8:15am, but they told us to get there half an hour early to get ready for it. Me and dad sure enjoyed that bit :D

Turns out that there were about 30 other people with that appointment time, who were also told to get there half an hour early - Even though they weren't even open at that time!! They opened at 8!!! 

So what was mean to take "about half an hour", ended up taking over 3 hours!!! 

I felt more sorry for my lovely dad who had to wait outside for me. I wasn't allowed to take my phone in so 

1. I couldn't tell him that I was going to be late, and 

2. I couldn't play Cooking Academy on my iPhone :(

Today I went to the shops and bought my twin boys a 'welcome' present!! I got them both remote control cars - but wait theres more. They are cars that can DRIVE ON WALLS OR ON THE ROOF!!! [and the floor - just not carpet] BUT THE WALLS AND THE ROOF!!!!!

I was very excited - I hope they are too. Now for something for the girl. I got her a really cute apron, but when you're 8, that doesn't match well with remote control cars.... any ideas?? Please??

Also for the parents.

It still hasn't sunk in that I am leaving in 11 days.

11 days. 

Not even 2 weeks. 

Wow... talk soon!!

Letters to myself.

Last night... as a last attempt to procrastinate studying, I wrote myself some letters for the US. [They're all also written on A5 paper and folded like they do in the pride and prejudice days :) hahah sooo good!!!]

The first one is for when I get really homesick for me to open. It's pretty much filled with all the good things about me being there... the people I meet, the adventures I'll have... and the other bit of the letter is telling me how much of a sissy girl I'm being and to man up.

2 of them are about if I get there and the family is actually not as good as I thought. I'm hoping that I don't have to use those letters. The first one is giving me questions to answer about why I am not enjoying my time there. And makes me write 3-5 ways that I can fix it. Not reasons to leave. I force myself to try and fix it first for at least 3 days.
The second letter is after 3 days if it is still not better after me trying to fix it or something. In which it gives me ideas of who to talk to and how to handle it. I also have to write a list of what to look out for when looking for a new family.
Like I said... I really hope I don't need to use those letters.

So yeah, then there are just a few other letters for other random events. And I'm hoping to write more.

If you have any good ideas about themes for me to write letters to me... [weird sentence to say]... comment and give some ideas.

Also if there are any of you that for fun [and procrastination as well :P] want to write me letters to take that I have to open at certain times or something. Feel free to send them to me also. :)

So yep.... back to study....

Progress

So it's now exactly 5 weeks before I leave for the USA!! It's getting exciting.

In fact I just then booked my Visa Interview at the US Consulate for the 16th of Nov... the first day of real freedom after exams. No breathing time before coming a proper adult! haha

I found the Blog of the Au Pair before me which was/is cool to read, but it's in Swedish, so I have to translate it through Google, which means that some sentences make no sense at all. But it's been good to see what sort of things she's done. It's made me even more excited about going - which is good :)

So that's me at the moment.
Still trying to study with thoughts of all these MUCH more exciting things :)

Finalized!!

So. About 2 days ago I was finalized with my future host family!!!

For privacy's sake I will call them the Smith family living in Virginia.

There was a bit of confusion over the past 2 weeks about host families so I'll try to quickly fill you in:

Like you have already read, I was matched with a family that was wrong so they re-matched me with this family - The Smith's.
Everything was going great and well on the way to being finalized with them, when one morning I logged onto my account and I had been matched with another family! I didn't really know what was happening - but then I got a phone call from the Cultural Care Au Pair office.

They let me know that the current Au Pair had to leave unexpectedly [for privacy reasons I will say she got homesick] and so they couldn't have me as an Au Pair because they needed one immediately.

As sad as I was I eventually got over it and got used to the idea of being matched again. THOUGH about 3-4 days later I logged into my account again and saw that I had been matched with the Smith family again!
I was confused but then got a phone call explaining that the Smith family really liked me and wanted me to be their Au Pair anyway - and "How soon before you can come?"

At first they said, "rather then your January departure, what about Nov 26th? You have your graduation? Ok then... Dec 6th - and that's the latest you can come for 2010. So either you come then, or you get matched with another family."

So... I am going on Dec 6th now. A whole 7 weeks earlier than I was planning!

So that's me at the moment. Trying to study for exams with the idea that in 6 weeks I will be leaving my family and friends in Australia for 12 months.

I'm going to be able to concentrate for sure.
:D