So I have been vlogging a lot and I really enjoy it! So, here are recent vlogs! Some are travel vlogs, some are just my Au Pair experience! Enjoy and subscribe to my YouTube Channel for more vlogs!
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Just a few weeks ago, my parents and older brother traveled for their first times to Europe! I am so thankful that they got to come visit me while I am in Germany! It was so good to be with them and travel together. Since Paris is just a short train ride away, we decided to meet in Paris and start our trip there. They flew into Paris and we met in the lobby of out Hostel. We got all checked in and then headed off to The Palace of Versailles! Our first stop of the day and beginning of a day filled with adventure. Versailles was beautiful! There was so much to see and explore! We all bought the Paris City Pass, so all of our museum entrances were free! We still had to pay for traveling, but it was great to have one cost for all the museums! We got to Versailles in the early afternoon and headed straight in for our tour. We probably spent 15 minutes total waiting to get through the security line and walked right in. We got audio guides with the tour, but I found it really dry and boring. My mom and I ended up listening to the Rick Steve's Audioguide! It was much better and gives more interesting information. Unfortunately, since its winter, the gardens were all closed! That was a bummer since they are supposed to be so beautiful. We could see them out the windows, and even in the winter, they looked amazing. The day got really interesting when Ben and I, and our parents got separated! To make a long story short, Ben and I had my parents paged by security, were taken through the chateau on a private tour and finally decided to leave the Palace when it made no sense that they could be there any longer. It was a crazy 2 hour debacle! Ben finally convinced me to head back to our hostel, and hope that they also headed there. Thankfully, they were waiting in our room when we got back and it turns out that we were just all confused. From then on, we determined a meeting point in each place and did a better job of communicating with each other. Unfortunately, it was a rainy evening in Paris so it wasn't super enjoyable, but after a delicious dinner at the recommendation of a worker at the Hostel, we headed to the Arc de Triomphe for a great evening view of Paris! We also stopped at the Paris Opera on the way! Climbing up the Arc was a workout, but it was really cool at the top. In case you didn't know, at the top of the hour, the Eiffel Tower sparkles. So we got to the top and had about 15 minutes to wait! Unfortunately the rain and wind was pretty strong and it wasn't very fun to wait up there. I wish we could have seen the city on a clear night. But, none the less the view was great!! I really recommend it for a great overall view of the city! Again, the Arc was included in the city pass, so it didn't cost anything extra for us to go up! We were supposed to finish the night off at the Eiffel Tower, but with the rain, we decided to skip it. Instead, Mom and I made plans to go there early in the morning together and meet the boys later at Saint Chapelle. I am so glad that we did! Seeing the Eiffel Tower in person was crazy!! I couldn't believe my eyes. Also, I knew it was big, but man, was it BIG! We made it back to Notre Dame/ Saint Chapelle. We got off the subway and my mom realized that she had lost her iPhone! We hopelessly headed down into the subway again to ask for help and were told the chances of it being turned in were very slim. We decided to not worry too much, but would try to come back later and ask again. We headed to meet the boys at Saint Chapelle. I didn't even know what Saint Chapelle was, but it was incredible! I suggest that you go see it if you go to Notre Dame! It about a 5 minute walk and really neat! It holds one of the oldest frescos in Europe! The stained glass windows are also really neat. It was fun to look through the chapel windows and try to figure out each bible story depicted! Next, we headed to Notre Dame. I wasn't wowed by Notre Dame, but it was cool to see. I would have been happy just to see the outside! After Notre Dame, we walked along the Seine and headed to the Louvre! I felt like I was back in the Vatican Museums in Rome! There is so much to see and take in there. But I think the kind of art that continues to impress me are sculptures! They never cease to amaze me! My favorite on this trip was Winged Victory. It was massive and beautiful. We also saw the Mona Lisa, rooms styled like when Napoleon lived in the Palace and other famous works! It was incredible! After the Louvre, we unfortunately didn't have enough time to go anywhere else, and be back in time to catch our train to Stuttgart! So we headed back to our hostel and stopped at a lovely bakery for dinner. Then we picked up our bags at the hostel, and headed for the train station and hopped on our train to Stuttgart. We had a very relaxed morning at my house and then headed for Schlossplatz for lunch and a walk around the old town. We got some German food for lunch and then headed to Rubble Hill, or Birkenkopf, one of my favorite places in Stuttgart! After Rubble Hill, we went to the Schweine Museum. They have over 50,000 pigs on display in the museum. Since my dad collects pigs, we thought it would be fun! Our trip continues in Salzburg. Check back soon for the second part of our trip in Part 2!
Yesterday was insane. I went to Oktoberfest, not to drink my brains out and pass out, but to see what its all about and have a beer. Let me just say now, it was a crazy day. I went with the International Club and our train left at 7am, and we had to meet at the station by 6:30a. I got up at 5:30a and headed to the station with Nina, the Au Pair who lives across the street from me. We arrived at the station and met up with everyone and just before 7, we headed to the train. Thankfully we found seats for the first our trip. In Ulm we had to switch trains. The train was packed!! There were no seats available, so we just sat on the stairs for most of the two hour ride to Munich. By the end some seats became available. There were so many people dressed in Lederhosen and traditional dresses. I even met American's guys on the train from San Diego. We arrived in Munich about 10 and headed for Marienplatz. We had about 4 hours to walk around the city and so I took a few of my friends to a few places that I went to when I was there a few weeks ago. It was fun, but my feet were already getting tired. We met back with the group and headed to meet the Munich Au Pair group. No one showed up, so we just proceeded to Oktoberfest. It was nothing like I imagined. I guess in my head, I just thought it was a bunch of beer halls filled with people. Although thats true, it was also a huge carnival. There were rides and games and food stalls. It was definitely the biggest carnival I have ever been to. And there were SO many people. This is not an exaggeration. The entire time, you were shoulder to shoulder with people. It was loud and there was so much smoke. I started to get a headache after about an hour. My body couldn't take in all the noise, smells and sights. We walked around but found that all the beer halls had hundreds of people waiting to get in, so we couldn't find a place to get a beer, which was annoying. Apparently only in the beer halls can you order beers. But there were plenty of stalls selling hard liquor and mix drinks. We met up with some friends of one the girls I was with and she said if we really wanted a beer, we should go out of the festival and go nearby. So we went to a biergarten and finally, with only about 30 minutes to enjoy a beer, got the Oktoberfest experience. Since we didn't have much time, my friend and I decided to split a beer, which was a wise choice. A mug was about 10 euro, so I was happy to split the cost too.
In the midst of all of that, we saw so many drunk people, so many people literally passed out on the street, or near a sidewalk. It was crazy. We met back up with our group and headed to the train station about 6:00p. We had to run to make our train, which was not fun, and there were no seats on the train. I ended up sitting in the aisle because my feet hurt to bad, I couldn't stand anymore. Somehow, I ended up with a guy from the group sleeping on my lap. About halfway through the ride, we found some seats. We had to run to make our next connecting train, but made it. We finally were back in Stuttgart, exhausted. It was a good trip, I just wish that we could have gone inside a beerhall, just to see it, but I am glad I went. It was something I won't soon forget. This week I started my Intensive German course. And let me say, its been intense and crazy. I have experienced a wide variety of emotions this week, mostly having to do with this course. Every weekday, from 8:45a-12:45p, I have class. We have a few breaks in there, but its basically four hours of German and its tough. Monday was a good day. I already knew most of the vocabulary, I could tell I was going to like my teacher, and my classmates seemed really nice. We were off to a great start. But Tuesday came rushing in with force. It was apparent that since I had been teaching myself, there were gaps in my understanding, mostly in Grammar. I was confused and unsure about the material that we discussed in class. I was able to ask for some help, and seemed to better understand the content and grammar. Wednesday again came rushing in, and I was again knocked down and felt completely defeated with German. Even though I wasn't sure if I should attend Bible Study that night, I went and my group even offered to help me with my German homework and explained to me some of the things I wasn't understanding and helped me complete my homework. Feeling thankful and upbeat again I attended class Thursday and Friday, and there lay a different set of difficulties. Our class has a terrific teacher Monday-Wednesday, and a not so good one Thursday and Friday. To make a long story short, she doesn't really teach us, but rather lead us through the exercises in the book and expects us to simply understand everything. So it makes the class tough to sit through and somewhat enjoy.
In the midst of all this, the Lord revealed to me a sense of pride in me that He is breaking down. I realized that I am afraid to ask for help. It is really hard for me to ask for people to help me learn and practice and speak, because I don't want to seem or look stupid. German and this process makes me feel stupid. It is hard, and I feel like most of the time I just don't get it, and I feel stupid. I think this is also the reason I didn't put more effort into it in America before I left. It was hard for me to get help from my small group this week. I also was able to share this with the Au Pair across the street last night. We went to an Au Pair meeting and I was telling her about my week and she told me that any night I need help, I can come across the street to her house and we can work on it together. The Lord has blessed me so much. But my human flesh is stubborn and my pride takes over. I just don't want people to think I'm stupid. But in light of this realization, I am pointed back to the Cross and my Savior. It doesn't matter what other people think of me. Only His opinion matters. He will still love me if I speak English and German, or just English, or smoother language. I have chosen to follow Him, so His view of me is simply a reflection of himself. Through the words of other people this week, He whispered, "It's ok to ask for help. You won't look stupid. Trust Me." I have been really enjoying my time in Stuttgart over the past few weeks. I have gotten more involved in my church, ICF, and I have made some friends. I also went to the first meeting for the Stuttgart International Club this weekend. It was fun and nice to meet many other internationals and make more friends. I had some great conversations with people from all over the globe. The Netherlands (Holland), France, Spain/Mexico/Canada, Ireland, and Georgia to name a few. I think ti will be a fun group and interesting to get to know people in the group. They also have AuPair nights, for just the Au Pairs in the group. They also offer support and counseling for Au Pairs that need it. It is nice to know that those options are out there if needed. I heard from the counselor that she has had a bunch of girls in her office over the past few weeks, who have come with a specific agency. It is not easy to be an Au Pair, but I am so thankful that I found my family in the states and moved here.
Something interesting that I learned though was there are not many American Au Pairs here. Most are from other EU (European Union) countries. And I found out why. People outside of the EU have to get a Visa, meaning they have to pass a language test. Anyone in the EU, doesn't need a Visa, and doesn't have to pass a language test to stay. Thus, not many Americans come because of the Visa and test. Also, I think that people can make more money as a Nanny in the US, so it makes more sense to stay in America. As you know, I haven't secured my visa yet. The past month has been good, but I fear that it is the calm before the storm. Starting tomorrow, I will be taking a four week, intensive German course, to catch-up so I can get my visa. I am excited and very nervous. I am excited because I feel like it is finally a chance to learn German and be able to speak it more and understand more, but I am nervous too. It will be exhausting, and a lot of work. I have class 8:45a-12:30p, M-F. Then I have to come home and do housework and then get the kids and be with them until their parents get home and then we have dinner and then I study. It will be a CRAZY four weeks, but I am sure that the time will fly and one its over, I won't have to do it again. Please pray for me as I begin this next week. I know that the Lord has brought me here for a reason, and I just need to trust in His timing and Process. Ultimately, I can see that this is probably better for me to learn the language, its just not fun or easy. Pray that I will receive rest as I need it and that I will be able to be diligent in my studies. I just keep reminding myself that my trip to Italy in November will be my treat for finishing and getting my Visa. The next four weeks will be a storm, but I am looking for the rainbow at the end. Here is a video Tour of my house in Germany! I hope you enjoy! Check out more of my video's on the Videos Page! Since I have been in Germany for a month now, I thought I would share a little bit about some things that I wish I had known coming to Germany, in the hopes that future Au Pairs can learn from me and the experience I've had so far. I hope this will help you prepare for your experience and stay here in Germany. I don't think that some of these apply to everyone, but I want to share my personal experience. 1. Separating Work Time and Personal Time is hard When you live in the same place you work, it can be hard to separate work time and personal time. There are times when my host parents are home, but I am playing with the kids or watching a movie with them. Those times, are my personal time that I am choosing to be with them. But there is also an element of being a second parent. One Saturday, my day off, I was eating breakfast with the kids, while the mom was in the kitchen, and one of them was putting so much Nutella on their bread. I made a comment, but didn't stop him from putting it on, and later was told that I could and should step in in that situation. Sometimes you just don't know. For my family, they think of me as a second mom, so in those situations I should step in. So, now I know. Basically, if you want to have a clear separation, when you're not "on the clock", go out or go to your room, so you don't have to deal with sticky situations. 2. Don't mess with Visa Stuff You can take some time and read one of my previous posts about getting a Visa, but basically, don't mess around and do what they say to a T. German's tend to be a little more type A, so if they say have an A1 level of German, have it! Check out my post about Visa's here. 3. I'm More of a Maid and Housekeeper than a Nanny. The first month I was here, I spent almost everyday with the kids, because they were on summer vacation. Now they are back in school, and I am home alone, doing ungodly amounts of laundry and keeping up with the house. Everyone's family needs are different, but since both kids are in school, I help more around the house than some Au Pair's do. I am responsible to help cook dinner in the evenings, clean up after meals, start and unload the dishwasher, do laundry, keep the house picked up and go grocery shopping. Thankfully, I don't have heavy cleaning, since there is a cleaning lady who comes once a week, but I am still doing a lot. And, I also have to take and pick up the kids from school, and be with them when they get home. So I am looking at this year as an opportunity to see what it is like to be a housewife. Here is a list of a few things that I forgot, or didn't think of brining that I wish I had:
Those are some of my tips and things that I have learned so far. Thanks for reading. Check back soon for more posts and a video tour of my house! |
AuthorMy name is Lindsey. I graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in Early Childhood Education in 2015 and moved to Germany as an Au Pair for a year! I love my Savior and my relationship with Him is most important. I also love traveling. I have been to the UK and Ireland, South Korea, China, Bosnia, Montenegro, and now Germany, Italy, Austria and France. I started this blog to chronicle my life as an Au Pair in Germany and my European Travels. My hope is that future Au Pairs would find my blog helpful and informative as they decide if they would like to be an Au Pair. Lindsey's Instagram:
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