Some Updates on My Life as Une Jeune Fille Au Pair

It's hard to believe that I've been back for almost a month already.  To be honest, most of the time it feels like I never left.  And I don't consider that a bad thing, either.  I don't want my time here to end.  If I'm ever having an off day, I can always count on my host family to bring me out of my slump.  In all honesty, they make it pretty hard to be in a slump in the first place.

First I'd like to wish a (belated) birthday to N, my host mum.  She unfortunately wasn't home with us since she's in Davos for the week, yet that didn't stop us from celebrating.  I baked her a birthday cake for everyone but her to eat.  Then we gave her a call on Skype to sing her happy birthday, blow out her candles and eat the cake in front of her.  Aren't we kind?

Now a side note on the cake.  Since P (host father) can't eat gluten, I figured the cake we all ate in front of N had to be gluten free.  Baking without gluten isn't always the easiest thing to do.  Luckily enough, I found a recipe for an easy flour-free chocolate cake!  I was a bit disappointed there was no picture on the recipe page, but I figured I'd take a picture of my finished product and post it.  Then I realized why there was no picture.  The cake doesn't exactly look very...edible...straight out of the oven.  The "crust" turned out rock hard and looked like it has been shaken with earthquakes from the cake falling so much.  Oh, that's why gluten is so important...


In the end, all I needed was some Pillsbury icing (yes, gluten free!) to cover up the mess, and everyone was happy.  E even requested I make it again.  But not before asking if I screwed it up (he knows about my past baking experiences).  I of course answered, yes, I screwed it up.  He then said, "Ok, just make sure you screw it up again."  Gosh, I love that kid.

E has accomplished quite a lot this past week.  He won a tongue twister challenge at school, competed in a ping pong tournament with his best friend (and wasn't too bummed out when they didn't qualify), and has gone on a run every day (ya, a 9 year old that goes running.  You'd think I'd be inspired...).  To think that he's only 9, is so talented and smart, yet so polite and genuine, restores my faith in the future generation.  Maybe we won't all turn out to be useless couch potatoes.

Now as my week comes to an end, I'm very excited to pack my bags, and a borrowed set of skis, because I am off to Chamonix for the weekend to ski with three of my best friends!  We're loading up the "Soccer Mom Van" and heading out Friday night.  And luckily Groupon had a deal on ski passes, so along with our cheap hostel, it looks like it will be a fairly inexpensive weekend.

I'll be sure to fill you all in on Monday with pictures and stories while I'm lying covered in heat packs and complaining about how sore I am.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Day Tripping: Servion Zoo

This weekend, Lu's friend A visited from the UK.  He works as a zookeeper, so Lu planned accordingly. On Saturday we went to the Natural History museum near la Vieille Ville and on Sunday we drove to Servion (just outside of Lausanne) to visit the zoo and tropiquarium.  For a small zoo, it was great.  The exhibits were (for the most part) done well and there was plenty to see.  We spent about two and a half hours there and saw all the exhibits.  I highly recommend visiting.  And here are some pictures from the trip!

After the zoo trip, our GPS decided to take us on the scenic route home.  Luckily, this brought us right past the mountains from the Sound of Music (ok, not really, but pretty close).  So we had a photo shoot.

Mid-spin

Yipee!

And from there we drove home with a great view of the mountains.  Can't wait for our next day trip!

Giving Thanks

I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.  My year has just gotten better as time has progressed and I honestly cannot even believe I am where I am.

So this Thanksgiving, I'd like to let you all know who I am thankful for:

1. I am thankful for my family.  If anyone knows me, it's my family.  And if anyone has supported me through the thick and thin, once again, that would be my family.  It's not easy to just pick up and move across the globe, but my parents have done everything within their means to make it that much easier.  For example, this week, my favourite bronzer crumbled into little pieces.  After tirelessly searching Migros, Coop, etc. for it, I gave up.  But then my mum pulled through.  She bought two for me from Shopper's and is sending them to me with P when he is in Canada at the end of the month!  It's the little things.  Thanks fam!
2. I am thankful for my host family.  I've heard and read the horror stories when it comes to host families.  Luckily, I can't say anything bad about mine.  Instead, you get to hear me gush!  The second I arrived in Geneva, I was greeted with hugs and from then on it has been nothing but love. When I came down with a cold this week, Dr. P (seriously, he is a doctor) was quick to 'prescribe' me with a multitude of options to alleviate the symptoms.  As well, I have yet to feel unappreciated.  The family is quick to recognize extra effort and thank me for everything, from cleaning the sheets to making a minestrone that tastes good.  I appreciate their love and support so much, and it has made my time in Geneva feel like nothing less than home.  Thank you famille M!
3. I am thankful for my friends back home.  It isn't easy to keep in contact with someone who is on another continent and no longer sharing experiences with you.  But my friends have proved that it's possible.  As much as I feel that I am missing so much, at the same time I know that everyone is there waiting for me to come home and will greet me with open arms.  I do miss seeing them, but thanks to Skype and Facebook, it's almost like I'm there.  So thank you, mes amis!  
4. I am thankful for my friends in Geneva.  What would I do without you?  Especially Lu and Lo who have been with me from the start (almost), and are always there for me.  We've had some ridiculous adventures and it's only been two months.  I can't wait to see what sort of shenanigans (yes, I used shenanigans) we get into for the next 8 months!  And thank you, mes amies!
5. I am thankful for my extended family.  I literally would not be here and my car safely parked in a garage if it wasn't for all of you.  You all went above and beyond the duties of family, and I cannot thank you all enough.  The best I can do is bring home a suitcase stuffed with chocolate. And I have been sampling some for you guys (that's my excuse).  I definitely have some goodies coming!  Thank you!
6. I am thankful for the internet.  Without it, I would be completely cut off from Canada and everyone I love.  So thank you Tim Berners-Lee!

There are many more I am thankful for, and I hope that I have proven to you that I am.  

There are also some things that I am thankful for:

1. I am thankful that I have a roof over my head, a bed to sleep in, and a warm shower to take in the morning.  I wish everyone could say the same.
2. I am thankful that I have food to eat.  And not just boring everyday food.  I am thankful that I have access to food from across the planet, and have an abundance of foods from different cultures.
3. I am thankful that I live in (and am from) a country not stricken by war, famine, or civil unrest.  
4. I am thankful that I have had the opportunity to be educated and continue my education abroad.  
5. I am thankful that the van no longer stalls after every red light because I've remembered to breathe while driving.
6. I am thankful that I am having such a wonderful experience here in Switzerland, that I get to see all my family and friends again at Christmas, and that I get to return to this spectacular country again in January.
7. I am thankful that my total views has now surpassed 5000.  Thanks to all the readers!  

There is so much more I am thankful for, but I feel like you all don't need to read a novel.  I just want to thank each and every one of you that have helped me to be where I am.  Thank you.

This Thanksgiving, what are you thankful for?

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Rendered Speechless

Today was like any other day.  I got E packed up to go to his football match after lunch and set off for the pitch.

On a side note, I can happily say that I no longer need to force myself to breathe when I get behind the wheel.  I'm feeling much more confident driving standard and more knowledgeable of the area surrounding me.

Back to the story.  So on our way to the game, E brought up a discussion topic I was totally unprepared for.

E: "How do you think you'd want to die?"

B: Silence.  (What do you say to that?)

E: "I want it to be painless."  (Okay, I agree with that...)

B: "I think I want it to be in my sleep.  That way there's no pain."

E: "Same here.  I also don't want to have a heart attack when I'm young.  And it's not because of the pain I'll have.  It's the pain all the people I'm leaving behind will feel."

B: Silence.  Again. "E, that is so..."

E: "But I think when I'm like 90, everyone will still be sad, but ready."

B: "I completely agree, E."

E: "They're making this drug that can make you live even longer than you're supposed to."

B: "Oh really?  What do you think about that?"

E: "It's cool, but I wouldn't want it."

B: "Why not?"

E: "I think we're alive for as long as we need to be.  I don't want to live longer than that."

B: "That's very true."

E: "I just wish I could see what happens after I die."

B: "Like look down from Heaven and watch everyone go on with their lives?"

E: "Exactly.  And the clouds will be trampolines that you can watch from."

B: "What do you think heaven's like?"

E: "I think it's like a dream.  But you actually get to choose what happens."

B: "I like the sound of that.  How old do you think your Heaven age will be?  Do you think it'll be the age you die at, or one you choose?"

E: "I think you get to choose."

B: "And how old would you be?  9 years old like now?  Or a bit older?  Or a bit younger?"

E: "A bit younger.  I think 4.  Right when your memory starts working and you can talk.  I think I'd be 4."

Then we arrive at the football pitch.

Not the conversation I expected to have on a Wednesday afternoon on the way to a game, but definitely an enlightening one.  I can't believe this incredible boy has such a perceptive view of the world and can verbalize it like he can.  Is it strange to say that I am inspired by a nine year old?  Well I hope not, because I am.

An Update on Driving in Geneva

Driving has become a lot better these days.  I am by no means a professional standard driver, but I get by.  I do get the few honking drivers, and today I had an angry French man swerve into traffic to get around me, but other than that, it’s going great!

I think my progress has a lot to do with me feeling more relaxed driving on such narrow roads.  The more I drive, the more comfortable I get with my surroundings.  And of course, there's the wonderful E who is always there with words of encouragement.

But just when I thought that I was doing well, fate decided to mix things up.

This past Friday, I drove E to football practice, as per usual.  We made good time, I believe I only stalled once (have I mentioned how much I hate red lights at the top of hills?), and I had everything I needed to go run errands during his practice.  After practice, with a smile on my face, E and I headed to the van.  I had had a great week, was feeling in my stride, and I was ready for the drive home.

Only problem was, the van wasn’t.

Now, I’m always a teensy bit nervous starting the van each time.  The whole having to have the clutch pressed while turning the key in the ignition worries me.  What if my foot slips off?  What if I forget and the van starts to go into a seizure?!  Well neither of those things happened.  In fact, nothing happened.  

You see, the battery was dead.

Dun, dun, duuuuuuuuuuun.

Now all you car savvy people out there are thinking to yourself: What’s her problem?  That’s an easy fix.  She just needs to find another car to get a boost from and she’ll be out of there.

I was thinking the same thing until I realized...everyone speaks a different language.

Thank god for E’s mum.  I phoned N to let her know the situation and she was very helpful.  She explained where the cables were in the van and what to say to the people I would be begging for a boost.  She also assured me that if no one could give me a boost, she’d come by.

After hanging up with N, I went to the trunk of the van, found the cables, and started going up to people in the parking lot.  Now picture this.  A panicked looking foreigner walking around with jumper cables thrust out in front of her, going up to strangers exclaiming, “la pile est morte!”  It’s no wonder everyone went running in the other direction.  

After a man in a BMW tried to explain that it would be too complicated with his motor, I turned to E for some assistance.  Thank god for E.  I had him ask one of his teammates if one of their parents could help.  Luckily, one of the fathers came to the rescue, and even switched to English after I failed at asking a question about the boosting process (you try asking a question about the mechanics of a car when you don’t even know how to say steering wheel in French).  

And finally, thank god for the father who knew where to put the clamps on the battery (I did know what was the battery thank you very much.  I just didn’t know what to do with it).  After a few revs I managed to get the engine to turn, I thanked the father profusely, and we were all set to go.

Only one problem: if I stalled, would the engine start again?

Both E and I gulped and then held our breath the entire way home.

And guess what?

We made it!  I almost kissed the ground when we did.  It was another successful trip in the van, and we definitely cheered when we made it home.

Un Jour Dans La Vie d'Une Jeune Fille Au Pair

E and his friend playing with the quicksand we made.

Since I am writing this blog while I am abroad working as an au pair, I feel it's only right to fill you in on what my day-to-day life is like.

Yesterday was the boys' first day back to school.  It was also E's first day of soccer...sorry football practice with a new team, at a pitch far far away (ok, only about a 20 minute drive).  But let's start from the beginning:

Monday morning I was up at 9am (since I don't have to get E off to school in the morning, I'm allowed to sleep in).  I probably should've been up earlier since the cleaning lady was vacuuming right outside my door at about 8am, but I kind of just chilled out in bed for a bit, and read a few chapters of The Help.  At 9am, I started a load of laundry.

Side Note: to those of you in North America, doing a load of laundry in Switzerland is nowhere near as fast as back home.  Just to wash a dark load (the shortest length of time) takes over 75 minutes.  Then comes the dryer.  To put a load on once through the dryer does not guarantee it will come out dry.  It is usually a warm damp.  I try to hang as much as possible since it's more energy efficient, and sometimes more time efficient.  


Just before 9:30am, I took the dogs (we were watching a neighbour's dog, Buddy) out for a walk in the vines, to avoid getting in the cleaning lady's way.  Getting back around 10:15am, I took some time for myself to shower and get set for the day.  At 11am, I started to prep lunch.  As I've mentioned before, lunch is the biggest meal of the day, so there's some pressure.  I made a shrimp pasta with zucchini, celery and peppers.  It was relatively easy to make and seemed to go over well with everyone.

Since it was the first day of school, E came home with a bunch of paperwork to be signed by his parents and a list of things he needed for school (pens, erasers, rulers, gym clothes, a cup, school shoes, etc).  Luckily his dad, P, was also home for lunch, so he took over finding everything to send back with E.

Once everyone left to go back to school and work around 1:15pm, I continued with the laundry and other tasks left for me to do.  This can be sweeping, ironing, wrapping presents, etc. I also use this time to pick a place to organize.  N (the host mother), suggested cleaning out cabinets of old items and reorganizing if I found I had some down time.  It's an easy task, and the results are always worth it.

At 3:30pm I headed out to the recycling centre down the street.  The Swiss are very big on recycling, and you need to separate all your different recyclables into different containers.  There's even a container for Nespresso cannisters, since that seems to be the only Tassimo/Keurig-like coffeemaker in Geneva.  Probably because it's made by Nestlé in Lausanne, Switzerland.

From the recycling centre, I was off to pick up E from school for 4pm to take him to football practice.  Have I mentioned before that his school kind of looks like a mini Hogwarts?  I'll have to take a picture tomorrow.  It's really unfair.  I want to go to Hogwarts!

E was great about getting out of school and not chatting too much with his friends because I think we were both a little nervous about getting to practice (for him: first practice with a new team, for me: it was far!  And the van's manual!  And it's far!  And did I mention the van's manual???).  So just after 4pm, we loaded up his bike into the van, got him settled with his gouter (snack) and slowly began our adventure to the football pitch.

Now I love to know where I am going.  My mum brought me up to be a girl who can read a map and know exactly where she's going.  It's been ingrained in me to research everywhere I'm going, and know different routes (in case of construction, parades, etc.), and to have said different routes printed out on a variety of differently scaled maps.  Case in point: yesterday, during my down time, I Google Mapped the football pitch and checked the different routes to take.  I also checked out the traffic level around 3pm.  I checked out websites warning about construction in the city, and I double checked that the preloaded location of the pitch was correct in the GPS.  Oh, the GPS*.

Finally I was off.  About 5 minutes in, I missed the turn to get to the highway, and my troubles started.  A little flustered that I missed the turn, I explained it to E.  He answered nonchalantly in between sips of juice, "Don't worry.  We have time!"  That put a smile on my face.  It's amazing what reassurance from a nine-year-old can do for your confidence.  But then I stalled.  And then I stalled again.  And a third time, just for good (?) luck.  My patience was wearing thin.  And then that angelic voice from the back seat: "Oh don't worry.  It happens all the time.  The last few au pairs stalled ALL the time.  My dad even stalls."

What a lifesaver.

We eventually found a parking lot to turn around in, after that magical box (the GPS, if you haven't followed the star (*)yet) recommended I pull a u-turn right in front of some trams (I think NOT!).  We never found the highway again, but did make it to the football pitch, a good 15 minutes early.  E was able to finish his entire gouter before we got there (we did drive around for quite a while), so he was able to quickly change and join his team for practice.  I, on the other hand, got to collapse in a chair and finally take a breath.  It had been a long 20 minutes.

P met us there and took me over to the mall that was across the street.  Since E's practices are an hour and a half long, and run all year long, the mall might be a good option for me.  At the mall, I looked into the train pass I want to get to go to Interlaken on Saturday.  Tomorrow, when I return to the football pitch for another practice (eeks!), I'll go back to the mall and purchase the pass.   This pass gets me all fares for half price, as well as free travel between 7pm and 5am.  I think it's well worth the price, since it will save me a lot of money over the year.

After practice, I navigated us back home, this time finding the highway and gliding safely into the parking spot.  Gosh it felt good to be home!

I then helped to prepare dinner, and I helped P cover E's books for school.  The rest of the evening I spent catching up on emails and making hamburger patties for the next day (which turned out great.  I even hid mushrooms and spinach in them.  Shhh, don't tell E.  He HATES mushrooms).

Overall, I love my job.  There can be some stressful times, and some amazing times.  I still can't believe I'm here!  Next post, I'll let you know about my epic, and I mean epic, weekend.

Until then, thanks for checking in.  And welcome to the life of une jeune fille au pair!


*When I arrived in Geneva on the 13th, the first stop the family made was to the local electronics store to buy a GPS for the van.  At first, I thought they had taken one look at me and assumed I couldn't read a map (which I would have taken offence to, in light of my upbringing and all).  But it has turned out to be a godsend.  For some strange reason, possibly relating to how old the city is in comparison to the invention of the automobile, roads here are very difficult to maneuver, and are not on a grid system (geez!).  So unless you know Geneva like the back of your hand (my goal before I leave), a GPS is mandatory for a newcomer to navigate the city.  

More Things I've Noticed About La Suisse

And now to continue my list of things that are different (and as I've realized, not necessarily strange) about Switzerland.  You can check out the first 5 here.

6.  Roosters sleep in here.  There’s one that cock-a-doodle-doos at 10am every morning.  

7.  In most of the villages around me, it’s much faster to bicycle through than to drive.  And drivers here are patient with cyclists.  There’s not honking, there’s no bird flipping, and most importantly, they rarely hit the bikes.  How thoughtful.

8.  I never realized how much Canada has copied Switzerland and the rest of Europe.  Paying for shopping carts? Coop.  Store brand products? Migros.  Really cool walk all the way through tram cars? TPG.

9.  Stop signs are pretty much non-existent.  I guess this is handy when everyone drives stick.  If an intersection doesn’t have traffic lights then its usually a yield and/or a round-about.  Since I hate starting from stop and am more prone to stalling, I like the idea of no stop signs.

10. There is this wonderful yellow light before the traffic light turns from red to green.  Amazing.  Gives you the warning to get in gear and start moving.  The Swiss are so smart.

11.  Murses, as in men’s purses, are everywhere.  I know they are all the rage in Europe, but when I see one I’m still thrown off.  No matter how “manly” the guy is, I can guarantee there will be a purse on to his shoulder.

12.  Fountains.  They are everywhere.  It’s amazing.  Parched from a long walk through the Old City?  Take a drink from a fountain.  Is your dog hot after taking it for a walk in 35 degree weather?  Let it jump in the fountain.  And they are all so beautiful.  Some have intricate designs, some a basic, but all amazing.  I’m going to try to find as many as I can in Geneva.  I’ll post pictures as I find them.

Let's Make a List

It’s officially been a week since I stepped on Swiss soil, so I felt it was appropriate for me to re-cap everything I have learned since I arrived.  Some are just cultural differences, the rest are just general observations of Switzerland:

1. As lesson I learned last night: there are mosquitos in Switzerland.  Despite what I had heard before leaving, they do exist.  There aren’t nearly as many as there are in Canada, but just like at home, they always seem to find me.  
2. Cold beverages (other than beer) are very rare.  You have the option of room temperature tap water or room temperature carbonated water.  I quickly learned that carbonated water tastes colder (how weird that sounds) than tap water, so that tends to be my go-to after spending time outside.
3. Switzerland is hot.  I thankfully came prepared for hot weather, but I didn’t expect a week of 30°c or hotter.  It’s been amazing, don’t get me wrong, just surprising.
4. People here can drive really well.  I think everyone should learn how to drive in Europe.  I’ve never seen so many people be able to juggle steering, shifting, smoking, and talking on their cell phone all at the same so well.  And don’t even get me started on their parking.  Blows.  My.  Mind.
5. Despite ripping up their streetcar system 50 years ago, then re-integrating it more recently, Geneva still has a far better transit system than Toronto.  Maybe T-dot should follow suit?

I’ll continue to add to this list as time goes on.  I’m sure more things will pop-up and catch me by surprise.

And as for the jell-o dessert on Thursday, everyone seemed to enjoy it (well except for E - he detests oranges, so I don’t blame him).  It went a little too fast to take a picture, but I’ve gotten permission to post the recipe.  I made mine with orange jell-o and mandarin orange pieces, but my favourite is still a pink jell-o dessert (using raspberry jell-o and applesauce).  If you end up making it, let me know what you mix.  I’m always looking for new flavour combinations.

Pink Jell-O Dessert 

2 boxes of Red Jell-O  (or other colour Jell-O)

2 Cups Boiling Water

14 oz (~2 Cups) Apple Sauce  (or other fruit to go with colour of Jell-O)

1 package Dream Whip

Add boiling water to Jell-O powder.  Stir very, very well.

Put in Freezer or Fridge until Jell-O starts to gel*.

Meanwhile, make up Dream Whip per package directions – no vanilla required.

Once Jell-O has slightly gelled*, add fruit & blend.

Add Dream Whip & blend (if applesauce, otherwise add Dream Whip BEFORE fruit & stir in fruit).

Put in a pretty serving bowl (or not) and refrigerate until set.

*if Jell-O gels too much, run bowl in warm water for a few seconds – not too long!

Enjoy!!!

Now I Can Go on The Amazing Race!

I can gladly say that today was a successful today.  At 1pm today I arrived at A Formula 1 Driving School in Vaughan, Ontario for my first manual transmission driving lesson.

I must start out by saying that I am not the most coordinated person.  There's a reason my mum didn't sign me up for dance or gymnastics.  Hence my hesitation to trust my two left feet to make a car move.

This is not to say that I can't drive.  I've been driving for roughly seven years now and I'd like to think I'm a fairly good driver.  But driving and changing the gears at the same time is a completely different story.  I was having a panic attack just looking at the stick shift.  There was no way I was going to be able to do this.

And then came Jeff, the owner and instructor of AF1.  His calm demeanour and straight-forward explanations put me at ease.  He sat me in the passenger seat and went through everything about the car and drove around a bit so I could see it all in action.  After he taught me a little trick or quip to remember something, he'd quiz me, which began to build my confidence as I got question after question right.  I started to feel good, and believe that I could do it.

And then he said, "Okay, I think you're ready.  Your turn."

All that confidence went down the drain, and every quip he had just said had suddenly escaped my mind.  All I thought to myself was I can't do this!


But Jeff talked me through it and as I slowly moved through the gears, my confidence returned.  He managed to remain calm, even after the eighth time I didn't push the clutch far enough down.  He remained positive and praised me when my shifts were good, and my starts were smooth.  After only an hour, I was on highway 400, something I didn't expect to do so soon.  And just after that, learning how to start on a hill.

I'm proud to say that I didn't stall once.  But I can't say that was because I knew what I was doing, but because I had an excellent teacher.

I have my second (and last) two hour lesson tomorrow.  I'm really excited to go, and even more excited to drive in Geneva.  And as I told Jeff, "Now I can go on the Amazing Race!"...well, once I become an American, that is.

If you live in the Greater Toronto Area, and you're looking for lessons, I highly recommend Jeff.  He's a great instructor, and is far less expensive than CAA.