Part of my world

This week have gone by so fast. Everyday I have been going with Nicole(the mum) to drop of the kids and then go to her store. Her store is in Maroochydore which is probably the town I will spend most time in. I've gone for walks over to the big Sunshine Plaza everyday which is a big mall 10min away from her store. It is a really pretty mall with water thats running in from the ocean surrounding it.
Ive already done some shopping and bought a pair of work out shoes that is the most expensive shoes I have ever bought. 1400kr. I really hope they are as good for me as they said they would be...



Just next to Nicoles store is the ocean and I took these picture 2 days ago. The air was about 20 degrees and it was wintertime and I was reading a book. It is really pretty.



Otherwise its going good. I am practising driving :O Have done it a couple of times now and its not easy but its getting better. The hardest part is going left in a circle and also knowing where you have the car now that im sitting on the right side by the middleline of the road. I don't want to go in the ditch with the wheels on my left side... And now on top of that Im learning direction to all the different places. OMG. But I know it will work out just fine ^^

Patrik(the dad) is going to fix a lock on my door because the youngest boys are running in. haha. Thats going to feel nice!
And I also think im starting to get over my jetlag. Have been really tired this week! Come home, had dinner and gone to bed right away. Thats why I have been so bad with updating.

In 1 hour Nicole is coming home and we would go somewhere and they would show me around. We where suppose to have a BBQ at the park but the other ones who where going to come got sick kids so we cancelled it.
And tomorrow I will start working for real. Im kinda nervous still unclear everything I need to do. Have to talk with them tonight.

Have a nice sunday!

♥ Rebecka

Sorry for this bad update! Ive been busy to say!
I came tuesday morning and flight went ok just as I had expected. Not good, not bad.
The flight was 20min late.

When I came out Nicole, Reegan(girl 11,5) and Reece(boy 9) where there to meet me up. They had made a sign for me and had flowers which was really cute ^^ 

On the way home we stoped to eat a piece and then we went home. I went over to the passenger side then I quickly realized that, oh, you drive on the other side here. I knew that. My brain was not just working so well craving for sleep.
When we got home the kids made me close my eyes and led me to my room. It was really pretty. A big bed. A big closet. Colors going in brown, turkos and pink. Really me :-)

After that Nicole drove the kids to school and I had a shower, which I really needed. When she came back and around 12 in the morning we went for a ride with the car down to something called Cotton Tree Park. It was pretty. A playground and barbeque place and a smaller beach and some nice shops. And within walking distance was Nicoles new giftstore and minispa place that she moved over there from another location. We walked over and she just showed it quickly before we walked to The Sunshine Plaza. The Sunshine Plaza is a big mall, the biggest one here. We had Sushi for Lunch and Patrik joined and I meet him for the first time *Irl* there. Nicole had me trying different sushi plates and I liked it!

After that we went back to her store and I helped her there until about 4 then we went grocery shopping a quicky and then picked up all 4 kids. It was very loud in the car! :P When we came home we had fish and rice I don't know where I got that they where vegitarian ^^ I must have heard wrong because Nicole apperently said that they enjoy eating alot of things vegitarians eat.. haha. well.. Good for me because I like chicken and fish and those things! :D 

As the evening came I realized how tired I was. It had been a super busy day. With so much new things to take in and new people and not having slept for such a long time. I had dinner. Fixed some in my room. Looked at the internet and went to bed early. Wondering about the morning. When should I go up. What should I do. What should I eat, what do they eat, how's the morning routin. It is all extra weird too when Im not *on duty* but still not off either because I have to be around to learn how its all working and also try to get to know everyone so I will really enjoy it here.

I had a day today too.. which im suppose to write about as well. Will do it tomorrow because its 11pm now and im getting tired. Someday I will have to catch up on my days and not write one day after :P But evantually I will probably forget to write or have nothing to write.. like in the us. And my blog will be updates max ones a week. But we will see about that.

Im hoping to get pictures to post too.

♥ Rebecka

Its already Monday. I left yesterday. Erik, mum and dad gave me a ride to the train in Linköping and it departed at 1. Quite boring trip to Arlanda and I started wondering how this trip was going to turn out if I’m already bored! I sat at the top of the train and had some hard stairs to walk down with my suitcase(dad helped me up) But I made it without any bruises! J

 

At Arlanda the checking in went as usual and 3h later I was in the air. Had this nice brittish guy next to me so we talked during the flight so time went faster. When we arrived in London I would have 2h to get to my connecting flight. That’s plenty of time I thought. Haha. If only I knew I had to take a train AND a bus to first of all get to the terminal. It took about one hour due to the big maze that the airport has J but I made it in time for departure. Left London at 22.00 Swedish time and arrived 14h later in Singapore (12 Swedish time, 18.00 in Singapore). Had a few rough bumps before landing and I actually left the seat. Kinda scary. That flight was long. I ate, and then I ate some more. I tried to sleep but had my seat next to the aisle in the middle just where the cabin crew had their stuff. When I finally thought I would fall asleep I heard a crash or some high noise from them that woke me up. Maybe it’s just not kids that can make your trip hard…Somehow I made it through. I played some games on the tv screen I had, I listened to some music, didn’t watch a movie believe it or not. I talked to the guy next to me who was from Brisbane and also where going to connect flight in Singapore. And I stretched out my legs as the seat closes to me was empty. It was a 3 seat row and the guy was by the window and I by the aisle. That was nice!

 

Now I’m at Singapore airport. I hate having to find my way in these big airports. It’s not that easy. I have this girl next to me. She has just been a nanny in the UK. So we have some things in common. And she is going on the same plane as me so that feels great! Now I’m waiting here, the gate opens at 20.25 so I will go through security, again! And then the plane leaves at 21.25.  This trip is *shorter* though, which feels nice, it takes about 7,5-8h. Which still is long, when I left the US I felt that was a really long trip. Now I’ve changed my mind J

 

I will arrive in Brisbane at 7 in the morning, Australian time, and the family is picking me up. I’m going to be so tired. Travel so long all alone. Thank god I’m very social. Normaly I would want to go to bed. But If I want to have as little jetlag as possible I will have to try to stay up all day long and go to bed in the evening, to come into routines right away.

 

Now my battery is soon running empty. And I think it’s soon time to find my gate anyway.

Next time I write I will be In Australia!
But wanted everyone to know I'm still alive!

♥ Rebecka

I can't believe i've been home a week already! Time goes so fast - I havn't met all my friends, while I met a few more than once... I havn't packed yet and i leave early the day after tomorrow. I was going to do so much. But I havn't. Where did time go?

Emelie left earlier today. Linn has just been here. Kajsa is coming soon. All these people that I love. I come back to see them again. Smile with them, spend time with them. Just enough to realize how much I miss them. And to leave them again. But the fact that this year went so fast is keeping me moving forward. This week in Sweden felt like a second. 40 weeks is really not that much. And I know they will be there when i come back. This year made me realize who my real friends are. This year was a challenge for my friendships. But a good one? Because now I know who will stick with me through rain and storm.

---

So I've worked hard this last days. It is so much to get done with. But Im pretty sure I've got it all.

- You need a visa to work in Australia and I got a Work and Travel visa which cost about 1600kr and you get it through the internet and took about 15min.

- I have a new international driver licence because Im going to drive there.

- I have a insurance to cover my entire trip.

- I've got australian dollars to start out with.

- Ive got my fligh back and forth which ended up being 11700:- which is pretty cheap.

Like the Australian family said, all I need now is to bring my sunny smile :-)

---

I have a feeling this 10 months are going to be great. I always try to go into something new with positive thoughts. I know there will be ups and downs. But I also believe you can always work things out. And that things are what you make them. Don't make a problem out of something that never needed to become a problem...

This is going to be so different from my year now. A total different environment. A total different family. Totally different friends and yea new memories and experienses. Im ready! Or well..
as ready as one can be!
Im curious to see what the future holds for me. so curious
Lets start!

♥ Rebecka

I can’t believe I’m sitting here. Crying! The guy next to me just walked over and offered me a napkin and we talked for a bit. I hardly never cry. But it feels like I got more sensitive. It feels easier to cry than it did before. And more like a relief than pain. I don’t care that people look.

I just pulled one of my angle cards. Felt that I needed their support. They gave me the heart chakra. Telling me that love is the heart of the matter. Your heart is the center within your physical being attuned most to love. It’s safe for you to love and be loved with an open heart, as we stand by with perfect protection and guidance. The more you open your heart, the more love, joy and peace you’ll feel. I don’t know if that made me feel better.

It felt like I made the decision of going to the United States as an au-pair yesterday. I was answering hostfamily emails and talking to other au-pairs about how it was like. Now I know. Way to well, that being an au-pair is both a pleasure and a pain. Right now, mostly pain.

It is impossible to explain the feeling for someone who hasn’t been in the same situation. Impossible! Maybe some people can compare it to a break up in a relationship. When you say goodbye to someone who been part of your life for a period of time. But you might see each other again. I don’t know if I will ever be able to hug Eva again! To sing along with Alek and to spend time with John and Tara! It kills me.

I came to the United States to a family that I didn’t really know. But I got to know them. Their flaws, their joys, their souls and the life that they where living. I lived it too! For a year. They got to know me as well. Good and bad things, sad and happy moments. I opened my heart. Got vulnerable. I got torn from time to time. And I had good times as well, happy, enjoyable, memorable. It’s crazy how a year can just run by, so quickly, without you really thinking about it. You always look at the time, smile, and think I’m home in 5month. But when the time really comes, are you ready? Are you ever ready? I don’t think so. I don’t think I’m ready.

This year is a part of me forever. I have learned so much. I have grown so much. I have loved and been loved. I’ve got to known people that I will never forget. This is me now. Even though I’m leaving my life here and everyone in it. They are physically taken away from me. But emotionally they will always be there.

When we got in the car about 3 hours ago I was feeling numb. It was all unreal. We drove away. I left my room, my house, saw my car for the last time. Drove by the grocery store and the canal.  I knew it was only one more hour that I would spend with the people in the car. Still I didn’t know what to say. We arrived at the airport and it was a heartbreaking goodbye. I didn’t know how to say goodbye. How to you say goodbye when you know it is really goodbye?

And off they went. And me too. I will most likely never see them in real life again. Never be so close again. I can’t believe it’s over. This chapter of my life is over. Like the book about me and I’m on the last page. Crying about the ending, not knowing how it will turn out. Will it be a continuing between them and me? I know that I will skype them, email them, send postcards. But it will never be the same. But I will remember – always!

I just read the card I got from Tara. It made me cry even more. I hope they read this..

People who know, knew I had a hard time in the end. But in times like this – you forget. You only remember the good things. The love. The happiness. The things that makes it so painful to leave. This pain is unbearable. I hope it eases soon. I love you. Especially Evie. I don’t even know how I will do it without you. This poem is for you. 

You are the light shining bright

Such a beautiful sight

Bright as the sun

And sweet as a bun

You took a piece of me

Now I’m shining too you’ll see

So hold it tight

And dream of me at night

and everything will be alright

with a piece of your heart by my chest

my soul can find rest

with that said

I want you to know

That you’re not one in a row

You’re special

And I love you

I love you

I love you!

Somehow I have to try to be strong. This is life. Life is not easy. I knew that. Life are challenging. I knew that too. So how come I feel like I didn’t know I was going to feel this way?  So empty right now. Hollow. Lonely. Sitting here on a chair at the airport, waiting to turn over that last page.


♥ Rebecka

Jag har velat göra det enda sen jag kom hit!
och nu har jag gjort det!
Jag har haft en redovisning för barn om Sverige!

Det är ett samarbete mellan au-pair in america och APIA som jobbar för kulturutbyte.
Så detta är ett volontärarbete au-pairer kan ägna sig åt om de vill. Jag hade först tänkt att göra det i en skolklass men tiden bara rann iväg. Sommarlovet kom och jag trodde de var kört. Att all tid jag lagt ner på mitt bildspel was all for nothing. Men efter mycket jobb lyckades jag få tag på ett läger som var på en skola som jag kunde komma till. Då kom nästa problem. Deras projektorer var nerpackade för sommaren.
shiit.
men tack för en bra värdpappa så fick jag låna en projektor från hans jobb!
Räddad!

Så en måndag åkte jag dit. Höll nästan på att komma försent för jag missade avfarten!
Väl där satte jag upp allt och alla kablar. Var ca 25 barn 7-10år och 7 lägerledare söt söta killar som gjorde mig ännu mer nervös..

Jag pratade i ca 1h och med frågor och förberedelser var jag där i hela 2h :D Min counselor var där med och filmade mig med min kamera jag hade bett henne för jag ville granska mig själv efteråt. tyvärr hade jag bara 20min kvar på bandet men det räckte endå för att se vad jag gjorde bra och dåligt. Hon tog också ett par bilder med min kamera.. inte alls många men lägger upp någon här.

Det var i alla fall jättekul och barnen lyssnade kanonbra :) Jag gjorde det här lite som ett test igen om läraryrket skulle kunna vara något för mig. Min counselor säger Go for it. Jag är fortfarande osäker.. fast tycker om det!

I vilket fall som helst så är jag nu en erfarenhet rikare och kommer hem med ett intyg på volontärarbeter i USA..
Vilket alltid är bra :P






♥ Rebecka

*Wake up upper east siders!*

Nu har jag klarat mig 2 veckor utan mina tyskar... Vanessa lämnade hela 4 veckor sedan för att åka på en roadtrip i Californien.. *inte avundsjuk alls*
Så jag och Nina umgicks. Hon blev min försöktkanin på gymmet och jag klarade min praktik :) jej jag som haft sånna problem med det och så är det äntligen över ÖVER över!! 
 
Min sista helg med Nina skulle firas. Vi vet ju att vi kommer ses alla igen för Tyskland och Sverige är inte så långt ifrån varandra. Men eftersom jag ska till Australien så lär det ju ta ett tag. Nina bodde de sista dagarna på hostel i NYC så jag åkte in själv för att träffa henne tidigt på lördagmorgonen. Tanken var att vi skulle ha brunch I central park innan vi skulle vidare på Gossip Girl tour. Men på subwayen upp till hennes hostel för att droppa av en resväska som jag släppat in åt Vanessa. Hon skulle möta upp Nina efter sin roadtrip och så skulle de flyga hem tillsammans. I alla fall. Subwayen strulade massa och vi hade inte tid att ha någon brunch i parken så det slutade med att vi hade den på bussen under touren. Inte lika mysigt och inte som vi planerat men funkade det med ^^

För alla er Gossip Girls fan, Ni skulle älska den här touren, det var en 3,5h bussresa runt i Nyc till olika platser där de spelat in. Före varje plats visa de på tvn klipp från avsnitten. Och guiden var jätterolig(kanske lite väl besatt av Gossip Girl, men det är ju hennes jobb med såå) Ninas flip flop gick sönder och asfalten var stekhet. Så när vi gick av bussen blev första stoppet HM för inköp av nya skor!

Vi gick tillbaka till hennes Hostel och fixade oss iordning. Pratade lite med hennes rumskamrat(som var från Australien) och jag blev bara ännu mer sugen på att åka dit) Yttligare 2 från Australien stötte vi på i cafeterian. Faktiskt, så var nog Australienare allt vi stötte på på hosteln konstigt nog... ska jag se det som ett tecken?

Efter det gick vi ut och började vandringen ner till nattklubben. Genom Time Square ner mot Greenwich Village och East Village. På vägen stannade vi för att äta och gick därifrån vid stängning kl 10. Nina som hade skaffat falskleg funderade på att testa det på klubben för det hade funkat dagen innan på en bar. Men när vi väl var där och såg allt folk så tyckte vi inte det var värt risken. Så vi båda gick in med X på händerna.. som försvann efter 5 sek för det var så varmt.. Väl hemma på söndagmorgonen så hittade jag ett kort och en hejdå present som Nina smugglat ner i min väska - så gulligt! Känner mig ju själv som en idiot som inte tänkt på att ge något :/ Får skicka något från Australien!

En härlig avslutning på vårat år tillsammans.
Och för er som inte vet så var Nina den allra första au-pairen jag träffade när jag kom hit!! <3

♥ Rebecka