Day 72: or The Day The Kid Wouldn't Take No For An Answer

Sunday's are usually slow starting and lazy for me. If the weather is nice I try and go into the city but today was overcast with the possibility of rain and that's just not something I want to take a walk in. Before lunch, the Kid opened my door and asked me to play with him. I went out and saw what he'd been doing but pretty soon we had to set the table for lunch. After lunch, I went to my room but was soon joined again by the Kid asking me to play. I tried to make up excuses but was completely unsuccessful and ended up in the garden running around shooting toy bow and arrows. It was interesting just because it was my day off and usually he is just excited to play with his brother or his mom. But he asked for me and I just felt bad saying no. Otherwise, the day was quiet. A nice beginning to a week. 

Day 71: or The Day of the Never Ending Walk

Last night I stayed at another au pair's apartment because it is easier to get home during the day then at night. My train station is situated in a forest and can be a little freaky at night. When I left at 11:15, it was decently warm and pleasant enough weather for a walk. I had looked at a map to the train station before I left but I was going off of memory so for all I knew I had taken a wrong turn and would be halfway to Spain. The walk was only a mile and a half but the thing the map doesn't tell you is that it is all up hill. I ended up walking on unpaved roads and could have sworn I was lost at least 3 times, but I never had to turn around and I made the train with perfect timing.


When I got off the 4 minute train ride, I had another mile and a half walk, again uphill. Did I mention I was in heels this whole time. Not like 4inch heels or anything, but heels none the less. I stopped by the bakery for a baguette and finished the hour long trek home. Speaking of baguettes, I forgot to mention something I noticed. When walking down a French street, you'll never see a whole baguette. Always, one end has been ripped off and eaten by the owner. I do it myself, not sure why. I'm not sure if it is a testing thing or an irresistible thing, but a baguette never makes it home whole. I would compare it to French fries. When have you ever made it home with fast food without eating at least one fry? Never, thats when.


The rest of the day was spent at home saving money for next weekend. A cute moment happened when the parents were out though. I was in my room and I heard a faint knocking. I wasn't sure if it just someone doing something or if it was my door. I opened the door and the Kid was standing there and he asked in an oh so sweet voice if I could start a movie for him. I said sure and asked where everyone was. the girls were in their rooms and his parents were out. He can be so cute when he wants to be and it's nice to see that every once in a while.

Day 70:or The Day of Karaoke

Don't get too excited, I only went to the Karaoke bar for a little bit and sadly, I did not participate, but we'll get to that later.


Today was just another Friday. I stayed around the house mostly and walked to the bakery for a sandwich. The weather wasn't great but it wasn't cold either so I was able to go out without my overcoat. It feels like a little victory. The kids came home and I started making dinner. The mom had picked out a carrot pancake recipe and the kids got all excited. They were made with carrot puree but they had only a mild carrot taste. They turned out quite good but they just made all of us want real pancakes, so that is next on the list. 


I went out to the Irish Pub which closes around 1:00am. I could have gone home but everyone wanted to go to the only bar that is open at that time, the Karaoke Bar. It was a sight to see, a very diverse crowd. I'm not sure if this is France in general or this particular club, but they don't sing your traditional "sing-a-long" songs. They sing slow, serious, ballads and everyone slows down and listens/watches. Then between singers the DJ will play dance music. It was a very weird scene with many of the singers taking themselves way too seriously. We left before the girls had a chance to sing their pick which was a Spice Girls number. I'm sure the crowd would have thought we were the odd ones. How little they know.

Day 69: or The Day I Was Actually Sick

Forget all that talk about being sick yesterday, today was the really fun one. Little was required of me today, which was nice. I was able to nap and move slow. I'ma  pretty big wimp when it comes to colds so I'm hoping today was the worst of it. Noting worse than being sick on the weekend. The weather wasn't that great today either so I didn't feel like I wasting a day. The mom had made a quiche that all I had to do was bake and the kids were easy. All in all it was a simple day but it was just what I needed. 

Day 68: or The Day I Realized I Don't Get Sick Days

I woke up with a mild sore throat. Nothing too bad but it made me realize that if I was really sick, there's nothing I could do about it. My job is obviously still doable when I'm under the weather, but it does make the little things a little harder.


I came home with the Kid at lunch and found 2 of the kids sitting on the stoop. I realized that lunch just became a lot more complicated. I made fish and pasta which always goes over well and then the kids headed upstairs. I was thankful that the 13 year old had come home because the Kid follows him around and is always asking to play. During the afternoon I did manage to pull the Kid away and take him down to the tennis courts. They are at the end of our street and just for the neighborhood. We played for an hour and he didn't want to leave. He isn't exactly a natural, but he got better the more he tried and I think it will be a good thing for us to do when the weather is nicer. I always liked tennis as a workout because I've always been drawn to games. Any activity that masks the actual exercise is my kinda workout. 


Everyone made it home for dinner and we had meat and potatoes and green beans. I like knowing the kids are going to eat what I make without complaint. Some dishes aren't so fool proof. After dinner I was invited out with the other au pairs and even offered a ride. How could I turn it down? It was nice to get out for a bit during the week and w had a nice time at the local bar. I'm starting to feel like part of the group which is nice and am happy that these people are my cohorts. Being the new kid was a little difficult but I think I got through it unscathed.

Day 67: or The Day I Saw Orion

Another beautiful day, another day spent finding ways to spend more time outside. I walked the Kid to school and we had lunch on the playground. It was still a little chilly when you weren't moving but there wasn't a cloud in the sky. By the time I picked him up at 4:30,  the chill was gone. It was around 60' so I decided to kick him out of the house. Inside he is pulled towards the TV like a magnet. I can distract him with other things, but a lull in the excitement and he asks for a movie. Today, on the trampoline, he could have stayed out there all night. I had to go in and make dinner, but it was nice to know I was able to get him active. He kept getting the giggles which made me get the giggles and so on.


I made pizza for dinner and when we sat down, the 14 year old said it looked and tasted like American pizza. I asked if that was a compliment and she said of course. I was pretty pleased with myself. After dinner I went to close the shutters and saw the stars. It is the same thing every night. Some nights I can't see them through the clouds, but when they're there, I always take a second. Now, Orion is visible and it makes me think of the Ranch. One of the last times I was there, we were sitting around the fire and started talking about constellations. Michael tried to help me see Orion because I can always find the belt but the man can be a little difficult. The problem is you never know when to trust Michael because he has a habit of spouting off guesses as if they are fact. The words "I don't know" are never said. Being one of the smarter people I know, it becomes a guessing game of when to believe him. This time however he was right. Every time I see the belt I think of that and it makes me think that I'm not so far from home. 

Day 66: or The Day The Kid Asked For Me Over The Mom

Another gorgeous day on this side of the pond. I walked a great deal outside today, just running errands. It's amazing how a daunting task one day can be so lovely the next. I also had class today. Today was a day that made me feel like I do in fact know some French. The only problem is I walk out the door and what I just learned walks out of my head. My comprehension has most definitely improved while here but I still can't manage to not freeze up when speaking. Everyone says that will pass and I pray it does but right now I'm a little frustrated. 


We run out of cookies for the after school snack so we decided to make some. I made a sugar cookie dough and divided into 4 portions for food coloring. We then used cookie cutters and I made one for everyone's first initial. The Kid sat with me in the kitchen all night. By the time his Mom got home he requested that I put him to bed. I have a feeling he just knows I'm a bigger pushover than her, but I took it as a good sign. I'm not sure how much she appreciated it, but hopefully she just looked at it as proof that she has a good au pair.