Hallo!
This is officially my first blog entry so pardon the sporadic thoughts and stories until I get a handle on this thing. I want to start off by saying, I'm pretty sleep deprived/jet lag at this moment but I wanted to make sure I wrote down the happenings of the last 24 hours or so while they are fresh in my mind!
Feels like literally a few hours ago I was waking up to go to DIA and start on this whole adventure. This whole trip seemed to come on like a whirl wind, but I am so grateful for this opportunity! After flying from Denver to Washington I started on my over seas trek to the land of Austria. I actually didn't think the 13 hour flight from Washington to Munich was that bad. Perhaps that was due to my near hibernation for about 10 of those hours under a clever disguise of an eye mask, scarf, blanket and hoodie. Somehow you sleep better when you know your mouth isn't catching flies while the stranger next to you watches you twitch in and out of sleep.
Upon arrival in Munich I had a mad dash to my connecting flight which was rather stressful do to a lack of time as well as a lack of direction. I'd follow signs as far as they would take me, but when they would fail, I was caught off guard by the added confusion caused by asking for help. I've never been too prideful to admit I'm lost, but when my attempts at seeking that help ended in me gesturing like an idiot, I was quickly reminded how big my world had just become. This has been my first experience traveling somewhere that I could not at least muster basic language to get where I needed to go. I ended up getting help from a group of men from L.A heading to Octoberfest.
So after much confusion, customs, security (again) and a mad dash to a gate about to close, I made it onto the final leg of my journey. Only 45 minutes later I was so relieved to arrive to my two green bags and an adorable new family to join. Mary (my family's mom) and Sebastian (the one year old), greeted me on the other side of customs and we quickly hopped into the car and headed for home. As we drove through Vienna I got to know Mary better as well as hear horror stories of past au-pairs the family had had in the past.
Once at home, we put Sebastian down for a nap while Mary gave me a grand tour of both the flats that they own. Some fun perks of their flat: trampoline and hot tub outside, sauna, massage area and "thinning machine" inside (apparently you go in this machine for 10 min and melt off 480 calories), amazing coffee machine and modern technology throughout the house, but best of all is the au-pair suite. Two floors above their own flat is a beautiful apartment fully furnished for my use. Did I mention their is a huge built in closet? That officially made it home haha.
After the tour Mary, Sebastian and I ate some lunch: mincemeat and mashed potatoes and then went to pick up Raphael (the 3 year old) at his near by Kindergarten. Now this isn't your normal kindergarten...I mean I don't recall my free time being spent in a forest playing with llamas, bunnies and goats, do you? Also did I mention that these 3 year olds are geniuses? It is actually quite scary how smart and bilingual they are. I can't tell you how many times Raphael has gone off in German and then turned to me like I'm the 3 year old and said, " Amie, what I said was....." I think he will be the best teacher I could ask for. Note to self: enroll my own kids in bilingual classes as soon as they start talking.
Once we returned I went up to my flat to unpack a bit and take a shower in the disco shower- yup, my shower lights up like a disco. So Euro. While getting ready I heard a small knock at my door followed by the booming voice of Raphael, " Amie, its time you ate something-come down bitte". I can down to a meal consisting of nectarines wrapped in a dough and sprinkled with sugar. I thought surely this was for dessert but no...that was dinner. I think I could get used to Austrian food. After dinner I got a chance to talk with the other au-pair which was an eye opening experience in itself. I had to keep reminding myself I was once 19 too...but I'm pretty sure I was nothing like that. More to come on that topic-I'm praying that will improve with time.
Here I am nearly falling asleep but wanting to pour out all I can before the memories escape me or are confused with other days and experiences. I promise to put a little more pizzaz in the following blogs so that they are more entertaining but more than anything, this is a personal record of an adventure I am but so blessed to take. More to come....
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