Kat's Adventures as an Au Pair

2011-08-04 0 notes

Tot Morgen

I am leaving for the airport at 7am (in 5 and a half hours). My suitcases are stuffed. I hope stroop waffles can survive being in my check-in bag because I cannot fit them in my carry-on. We had a going-away dinner at the beach because the weather was lovely. I’m so tired and anxious/sad/happy about tomorrow. When I get home I guess I’ll actually have to blog about the cities I visited.

These are the cities I got to visit this summer and the main thing I think of regarding that city.

Amstelveen: rowing
Amsterdam: pot
Antwerpen: shopping
Brugge: beer
Bruxelles: waffles
Delft: pottery
Den Haag: HOME! :)
Gent: castle
Gouda: cheesy
Leiden: university
Leuven: béguinage
London: rain
Rotterdam: cube houses

Goodbye Europe. I’ll come back soon.

2011-08-03 0 notes

Why didn’t I bring bigger suitcases? Is packing ever easy?

2011-08-02 0 notes

One Last Day

I have one more day in the Netherlands! Where did the time go? I have been trying to decide what to do with my last day. Should I go to Haarlem? Utrecht? Hoofddorp? Delft?

Our usual cleaning lady, Fatima, got back from her vacation yesterday. She was in Morocco for the wedding of her nephew (who happens to also be our contractor). Before she left I asked her to take lots of photos. After she finished working today, she told me she would come back tomorrow to show me pictures and slippers that she purchased for me. I wanted to have one last mini-adventure but how can I say no to her? She is biking here on her day off just to show me pictures. I guess I’ll spend the morning in The Hague and make a quick afternoon trip to Delft after she leaves. I have met so many kind people while I’ve been here (and some really rude ones as well).

The dad said he wanted to burn my ticket home. It makes me feel good that they don’t want me to leave. I guess I should start packing soon but that would mean I’m really leaving. Denial works sometimes right? I’m going to put off packing (typical) and go for a walk on the beach.

0 notes

I’m going to miss this.

0 notes

Leaving and Coming Backing Again

I will be home in two days! I was feeling pretty bummed about leaving but now I’m getting excited. When I told my dad that I was sick he asked “What kind of sick are you? If you are homesick, you will be cured soon.” Dad, I love you.

I’m feeling much better but I did cancel my trip to Prague this past weekend. I was upset about not going but my mom said not to worry because “we have to visit lots of other European cities anyway. We will take another trip.” She promptly began to look up flights and cities to visit. I love that I haven’t left yet and she’s already planning the next trip here.

The parents have started to get Frederik ready for me to leave. The mom told him that I have to go back home to my mom. He said he was coming too with the whole family. Mom, we are about to have lots of house guests. I am going to miss these kiddos so much. We have already planned Skype sessions.

The mom was telling me about their next au pair. It blows my mind that people let a complete stranger into their house to take care of their kids for a year. That is such a gamble. What if she is nutso? What if she sucks at everything? What if she just doesn’t mesh well with the family? (Apparently the mom said she will send the au pair home if it just doesn’t work out.)

The au pair before me was a friend of a friend and I got connected to this family through my mom. The next au pair will be the first “random stranger” that they have as an au pair. The girl is from Colombia, lives with her mom, and has never been abroad. The girl said she has no idea what to expect.

I had no idea what to expect either but I figure I can handle pretty much anything for less than three months. This has been the best summer and an amazing experience. I may just have to come back after I graduate (if I don’t find a real person job).

Today is my last day at home with the kids. Tomorrow I have one last day to explore. I really can’t believe it. I know these next few days will just fly by and before I know it I will be melting in the Texas summer sun. See you soon!

2011-07-31 0 notes

Me: Eleonore's onesie is so cute! I've been looking for adult footie pajamas.
The mom: They make these for adults?!
Me: Yes!
The mom: You will have to get me some.
The dad: There goes my sex life.

0 notes

I think the day you get back to The States is the day they will officially declare bankruptcy. You will have to barter with the cab driver to get home. Tell them you have wooden shoes and stroop waffles.

— the dad

2011-07-29 0 notes

I told the dad I wanted to take a nap and he suggested (and practically insisted) that I nap at the beach.

(This is a three minute bike ride from the house.)

2011-07-26 0 notes

One Hundred & One Week

A couple days ago I passed the 100 diaper milestone. Yay? I changed a record four poop diapers that day. I used to see diaper changing as a game of Russian roulette. Will I luck out with a pee pee diaper? Or will I get a big kaka diaper? Now, I’ve gotten used to them and I mostly know when it is a “blank” or “bullet.”

I can’t believe I have a little over a week left in Europe. I’ve been putting off planning a trip for this last weekend because I’ve been sick. Hopefully I’m better by Friday because I impulsively just booked a flight to Prague. Originally I was planning on Paris but I decided to splurge and go someplace new. (I’ve been to Paris before a long time ago.)

I just got on to easyJet’s website to see what destinations they fly to. Amanda, thanks for convincing me to travel this last weekend. I normally wouldn’t spend over 300 USD for travel expenses for a weekend but it is cheaper than flying from the US to Berlin, Barcelona, Geneva, Liverpool, or Rome (the other places I was considering).

Texas bound in nine days. I’m going to make the best of this “week.”

2011-07-21 0 notes

I have a ridiculous number of tabs open on my browser. I’m currently looking up trains to Paris, flights to NY, and what to do in Delft, Rotterdam, Haarlem, and Gouda. I don’t want this summer to end.