The Au Pair Diaries: The Experience

I've been getting a lot of emails lately from girls who want to be au pairs so I decided to dedicate a blog to them answering their questions.

So what is it really like being an au pair? Do you want me to be honest or do you want me to tell you what you want to hear? I prefer the truth.

This has been the best experience of my life. Yes there has been days where all I wanted to do was sit in a corner and cry, but then I think to myself  "You are in A-FREAKING-MERICA". The first three months were the best. Let's call it the "Honeymoon phase" because this is the phase where everyone (you included) put your best foot forward and everything is just so exciting and new and so much better than where you came from. But then you start getting used to everything and you find a friend from the same country as you and suddenly the country you came from is the best place on earth and America is lame and dumb because they don't have Milo and Biltong.

There have been days when I just curled up and cried until it felt like my eyes where going to pop out. There have been days when I've yelled unnecessary and cried some more and got mad. I've called my mom at 01:30am CAT and cried telling her I want to come home because I don't think my family likes me because I was being over sensitive that day.  Your time in America will be determined by YOUR attitude. That was probably the most important thing an au pair friend of mine told me.

I have traveled more in the past 18months than I ever traveled in South Africa. I've been to NYC a couple of times, I've been to New Jersey, Ohio, California, Florida and I am currently planning a road trip on the west coast. If you don't like traveling then come anyway to experience freedom. Americans are so comfortable and  in some areas they are so safe. I don't lock my car, in fact you can go outside to the car right now and find the keys inside. Guess what?? It will still be there tomorrow.

As a person I've grown so much. I used to rely on other people. I needed other people's approval. Now I am an independent strong woman. I promise you the person you are today will not return to South Africa or where ever you are from. Do I still love to head bang and be silly? Of course I do, but I am so much more in control of my life I'm so much more responsible. I trust my own judgement and other people do to. They kind of have to since I have their kids most of the day ;)

I got really lucky when I chose my host family. I love them like my family and I know they love me too. The most important thing I've learned is to not keep everything inside. Talk. I think that is why our relationship is so good. If my family makes me mad I tell them, or if I'm worried or I feel sad we talk about it. If I make them upset about something they come and tell me. Communication is key people!!! lol

So there you go. That is the experience. I can't guarantee you that you will have an awesome family like mine, but if you don't you can always rematch. Don't give up just because one family let you down!

My City

"This City is my city and I love it, yeah I love it, I was born and raised here, I have it made here and if I have my way I'm gonna stay here for life" - Patrick Stump

This song takes me to the city that never sleeps, the city where dreams are made and shattered, the big apple.

New York City is a city loved by many and I am no exception to the rule. My first trip to the city was in the summer of 2011. I arrived in Times Square to be blown away by the magic of billboards and lights. In my head I have always had a picture of what it would look like but never did I imagine it to be this breathtaking. So when daylight finally broke I headed into the city with a couple of friends and we did everything tourists do. It was on my next trip that I would really start to love NYC.

The purpose of this trip was to go to the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade. We got there nice and early and got a spot on 58th and 7th and had the greatest time. After the parade we walked in Central Park and baked in the sun like some cold blooded creatures. We then strolled down Madison Ave just to find out that Barneys was closed for the day. New York during the festive season is so amazing. All the shops are decorated and Tiffany's blew my mind. I saw Audrey Hepburn peeking through the window looking at the jewels inside.

When I took the ferry out later that afternoon I was even more awestruck. Seeing the Statue of Liberty, while the sun is going down and the sky is purple and orange, and the city growing smaller and smaller. It was like a painting. A painting that showed of what God can do and what man has created in perfect harmony. Does that even make sense??

As I was standing at the top of the Empire State building, waiting for Sleepless in Seattle, I realized that all the crazy down there is what I have wanted for such a long time. I want that rushed life with no time to chat. The penthouse on the upper East side.

This city is my city and if I could stay here I would! Maybe one day I'll call the subway my car and the city my home. I'll hail a cab, starbucks cup in my hand and head to my corporate job in a 50 story building, and life will be perfect!