lots of changes

I decided that since I am in an ever changing stage of life right now that my blog needed some changes as well. I don't think I am finished updating the new look, but I hope you like it. It's a lot more girly but there aren't a whole lot of backgrounds that I found suitable for the type of blog this is. Anyways, pink it is right now.

Today started day three of my working non-stop week and I am exhausted! I can't complain as neither job is really too difficult, just working with kids is never an "easy" job unless of course you were me last year and had the job I had last year. Anyways, I can't wait to have this week over with so I can't focus on one thing, one job, one set of kids and one language. Monday and today are easier days because in the mornings I only have Sophie who is not yet 2 years old and still takes naps which gives me some time to rest or read, but yesterday was so tiring when I had her almost 5 year old sister as well. There are no breaks then! In the mornings I speak English with the kids and in the afternoon I have to speak French and honestly, I wish it were the other way around because by the time 6pm hits, my brain is already aching from too much going on and the language thing is just another hump I have to jump over for a few more hours.

So, let me introduce you to my new family:

There is Mom, Dad, and 4 children starting at almost 14, 11, 7 and 5. I most watch after the 2 younger because the two older are self sufficient and don't need me. There is also a full time nanny, house keeper, cook, who is there while I am there which is great because this is all so overwhelming right now. The good and bad about her: she speaks only French. This is great because my french has already improved as all instructions are given in French and my responses have to be in French, but bad, because all instructions are given in French and my responses have to be in French. I feel as though I should be fluent by one month, haha. I am happy to announce that with all the learning I am having to do with a new job, that I have successfully understood 90 percent of what I have been told to do. Now, understanding the two boys is another story. They speak way too fast and way to quietly so I am struggling to catch even every other word that comes out of their mouths and they like to talk a lot, but I am determined to not let that scare me off. The days are scheduled tight which is nice because there isn't a whole lot of "down time" where we're bored and have nothing to do and the days pass pretty quickly which is nice when you're tired. I am also excited to finally move into my new apartment which I can create into a home because I will be living there for a year. I never would've thought before that you could create a place into your own when you knew you were only going to be there for one year but after this last year, I have learned it is essential to survival. To have a place that you call your own when you are in a foreign land among foreign people is really crucial to not going crazy when everything around you seems to be. I can already see some challenges that will come from this job, but they are challenges that I am ready to embrace and conquer and learn from, not ones that are going to make me want to go running for the hills! The family is nice and relatively calm (As calm as a family with 4 children can be), they have manners (sometimes), and seem to be easy to get along with. They live in a huge house (yes, house, not apartment) in Paris but in a nice area that is close to the Arc de Triumph but far enough away that it feels more like a neighborhood and less like being in the middle of a tourist trap (like where I live now). The house 5 levels, including a basement, and the sheer size of it puts homes in Houston to shame. To find a home like this in Paris is crazy because there aren't "houses" in Paris, muchless apartments this big. The house is brand new, the kids have only been living there this week as they moved during the summer so its an adjustment for all. It is still under construction but its going to be a beautiful home once it is complete. The mom definitely has good taste in designing. Speaking of the Mom, when I accepted this job I had only met the parents, not the children and I made this decision the same day that I met her and interviewed for this job. Some how I decided it would be a good idea to take this job based off my conversations with both parents and I felt peace about it. During the summer, thinking about all I was getting myself into, I was a bit worried I had gotten myself into something I wasn't sure of because I had yet to meet the four kids I would be looking after for an entire year. Yes, I believe that parents are big indication of how the children are, but not always. And a family of four, where the parents work full time, who was to say their kids weren't complete maniacs?? But somehow, with the peace I felt about accepting the job, and my continued interactions with mother, decided that this was going to be a great year and I needed to look onward with this type of attitude. Fast forward to this past weekend and stepping off the train in Le Touquet to meet my new best friends and find out who they were. I was nervous to say the least, but this is nothing new for me, working with kids that is. I have to say though, like i mentioned earlier, I can already see some challenges that will come from this job, but is a job without a few good challenges? For instance, I'm definitely going to have to earn my way into these kids hearts and lives. They liked their last part-time nanny, and while I have no idea why she isn't here anymore, I know that they miss her and are not that excited about me coming in and taking over. As this is not my first time at the rodeo, this is nothing new for me. It's going to be a hard couple of weeks trying to convince these kids that I am fun and I am cool and they do like me, I am sure that once they let their guards down and accept me into their lives, they won't be looking back. Also, the language barrier between myself and the two youngest who do not speak any English is going to be tough. It's already making the bonding process a bit hard as I suspected, but with my daily improving French and their big hearts (that I can see they have), I'm sure a few weeks of patience and understanding and that should not longer be an issue either.

I am hoping that at the end of this experience I will look back and be very happy with my second year of living in Paris and the job I have had and the children I have been with, but who knows. I am excited about all the opportunities to come from this year, all the challenges it will bring, and all the learning left to endure... and thats just with my job, we haven't even gotten to my personal/social life yet! ha.

PS. one MAJOR plus about this job, besides the fact that my soon-to-be apartment will have a view of the Eiffel Tower, is that the full time nanny cooks dinner every night. Did I mention that she cooks well? And healthy? and I love it! Plus, thats one less meal I need to purchase groceries for which is a big deal as food here in rather expensive. So I've only had 2 meals at their house, but they have both been very good and I have been very satisfied. And I am happy to announce that I have yet to see any processed sugar or chocolate in their home. Although I have a weakness occasionally for processed sugar and chocolate, I appreciate families who don't and don't teach their kids to like it either. What is for dessert you may ask? Oh, fruit! And for the afternoon snack? An apple or peach or banana. And the kids are happy and fulfilled with the choices.

Well, I'm off to rest before I start the second part of my day!

salut, Kara