Adventures in Babysitting

Apparently, the picture link didn't work. Try this one...
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/album?c=lauren.gross&aid=576460762388442820&pid=&wtok=hClHu5i56iRJAVNMD4F4Yw--&ts=1170799925&.src=ph

La Petit Explorer

Ok, a lot has happened since I last wrote in this here blog. I continue to swing from good feelings to bad to good to bad, etc.. I have only a bit of time to write as I have some homework to do before bed and before my brain starts to seize up entirely. I will write a bit about my exploration adventures, my visa and school bureaucracy and learning adventures, the kids, and bitching about being sick.

And, if you don't want to read this long story, here is a link to some pictures:
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/lauren.gross/album/576460762388442820

First, my exploration adventures:
Some time last week, after dropping the kids off at school, I didn't have class so I decided to just walk around. You really can't get too lost in Paris. Even without a map, all you have to do is find a metro station and you can find your way from there. So from their school, I took a bridge across La Seine and just walked through the little alleys. I turn a corner and voila! Notre-Dame. It was great being there at 9am because no one else was around and they were having a church service. Listening to the chanting and singing in that great big church was absolutely amazing! I didn't stay long, but really enjoyed myself.
Last Saturday I was still a bit sick, but it was such a nice day that I had to get out in the sunshine and fresh air. I went up to Sacre-Coeur, which is another famous church on to of the highest hill (?) in Paris. It was beautiful and you have a view of the whole city from there. That minor excursion took so much energy, I went home and slept until pretty much the next morning. (sorry, not to the bitching part yet).
Sunday, Anne-Marie, Pablo and I went to the local open air market to get groceries for the week. There are markets like this all over Paris, all selling cheese and meat and bread and fruit, and vegetables and fish and ahhh...

On to the Visa and School:
Briefly on the visa: went to get my card. Did all the paper work, talked to the people, got everything in order, waited in line...then they tell me, "well, we have to wait 6 weeks to "make a decision about your visa" then at the end of the 6 weeks you have to take a medical examination. What?! Fine, I know, it's not the worst thing, but hey, it's a pain in the ass and I can bitch about it because it's my blog.
Briefly on the School: I have to say it is a really strange experience sitting in class not knowing what the hell is going on. Yeah, I can pick up on some things and try to answer the way the teacher wants me to when it's my turn to answer, but I usually pronounce it wrong or have no idea what the exercise is about. It sounds funny now, but it really sucks and it's frustrating. Yes, it was only my second day of class, but patience was never a virtue of mine when it comes to things like this. And with the kids and class it's a bit difficult to find time for homework. Ok, in addition to walking more, and saying what's in my head (eloquently if possible), my other new year's resolution is to plan and prioritize my time.

Ah, the kids:
I don't think I have enough time now to give this topic justice (really not the other topics either). The kids are both great and aggravating. Which, I have to say, I prefer. At least they are being themselves. There is a lot going on in this family now with the whole family moving back to Paris and with the parents splitting up and of course a new person taking care of them. It was my first time giving the two boys a bath the other night and I might as well have gotten in the shower with them because I was pretty wet by the end as well. And, tonight I was very proud of myself for getting them to eat all of their lettuce by pretending that they were sharks and the lettuce was little fish that they were gobbling up. Hey, if it works, I'm gonna ride it out as long as possible. The mom works pretty late some nights and I can tell the kids really don't like it. It's good for them to cry and let it out, but it's hard to see them sad. Anyway, that's the jist, I'll write more next time.

Last, being sick:
This probably won't be a very interesting bit, but it feels good to bitch into the internet void so here it goes...
I have been sick now for going on three weeks! First, it started as a cough then moved into my sinuses and last week/weekend I had a headache for 3 days!!!! It is amazing how much we take being healthy for granted! I have never ever experienced that! Holy shit it sucked. From Friday night until just this morning I had to turn my head very slowly for fear of what felt like a sharp whap to the back of the head feeling. I'm pretty sure it had to do with pressure from my sinuses, a bit of dehydration, and a bit of jet lag still. Thank the lord for making me put 3 little Advils in my toiletry bag before I left the states! Saturday I woke up around 9, had breakfast, went back to sleep, woke up around noon and went out to explore. I came home around 3:30 and slept pretty much until 8:30 the next morning. Luckily, Anne-Marie and the kids were at a birthday party all afternoon and evening, so I didn't feel bad about not being around. I do feel better today, but definitely not all better. Speaking of sleep it's now 10:30 and time to go to bed. I will do my homework before class tomorrow since I drop the kids off at 9 and my class is not until 11. Ah, this will be interesting...

Thanks for reading, Bon Nuit.

But I am le tired

It is only my 4th day on the job and I am exhausted! I am still sick and I am expending a lot more energy than I thought. The kids don't have school on Wednesdays so we (the grandparents and I) took them to the science museum in the afternoon. It seemed like it would have been a really interesting exposition on space if only I could have understood what was being said. We got home and had crepes for dinner with a variety of toppings (creme fresh, jam and nutella) for the second night in a row and soup. Tonight we ate waffles. I asked Chloe if this was normal and she said yes. Seriously, what a great country.

I had a good and bad day today. First the bad: I had my first day of French today and had to deal with the school bureaucracy. Apparently I need a paper saying that I need 10hours of French per week to qualify for my temporary visa. The paper the school gave me previously said that I only have 6hours. They were supposed to put 6hours of class and 4 of homework. Because they didn't do this (and after arguing with them for about 40minutes), I had to cough up another 100 euros and register for the 10hour class. This means that I will have 10 hours of class plus homework. That doesn't sound too bad initially, but I am extremely pissed as this. There is a huge difference between 6 and 10 hours and the normal hours for au pair is the 6 hour class. The good thing is that I will have more practice than the other au pairs, the bad is that it is coming after the term is already 3 weeks in.

The good: I asked some people where the post office was in French and understood enough of the answer to actually find it all on my lonesome. I also managed to maneuver my way to my school and back home using two different metro lines. Did I mention that my language school is about 5 blocks from the Arc d' Triumph?

Well, tomorrow I don't have class, but I do have to deal with more bureaucracy when applying for my temporary visa. Arrg, I don't want to think about it...

Getting On

I met Denis, the children's father this morning. We all took the kids to school and I met their teachers. I am about to go with the grandparents to pick them up. After dropping them off, Anne-Marie and I went to take care of my school registration and my temporary visa stuff. What a bureaucratic mess! So, the school that I was originally supposed to be going to won't actually let me start until April because all the beginner classes have been going since September and I would not be able to catch up. The agency sent me to another school who's classes have started three weeks ago. It will also be hard to catch up, but that was the only option. I start Thursday, so tomorrow I will relish my last day of having no homework! I really like Anne-Marie and think that this placement is going to be a very good one.

Connexion

After a very long couple of days I finally arrived in Paris yesterday. I received the documents from the French Department of Labor, then made my way to San Fran to get my visa. After staying the night in SF, I flew back to Portland, then left that night to fly to New York. I got to NY at 8am and hung out with my aunt and uncle and kate for the day already starting to feel a bit jet lagged. I took the red eye to Paris that night and arrived in Paris yesterday (Sunday) afternoon. It is amazingly easy to go through customes here. All you do is give them your entry ticket and they tell you to go ahead in. Perhaps it's harder to leave. I am already starting to get over my jet lag I think. It really sucks being sick and feeling like you have constant car sickness.

Pablo is helping me type this part. In his perfect Australian accent, he is telling me to write about the wasp eating the spider. Referring to the picture I showed him from Peru yesterday. The wasp was smaller, but was still eating the spider anyway.

My goal for this blog is to write what is going on with me as I am experiencing living and working in another culture. It is already pretty confronting and I find myself feeling very awkward and not confident. Anne-Marie seems very willing to help get things set up for me, but she is working and I am working for her. I feel like I should be able to do things for myself, unfortunatley though I don't speak French.

On that note, apparently the school I am supposed to attend does not have a spot available for me until April. I'm being called away to play, so more later...

Game On!!

Here we go kids. I got my papers in the mail last Monday and am set to fly down to San Fran on Thursday to get my visa. I fly to New York on Friday and on to Paris Saturday night! Holy crap, I am really going! I know this is a bit cliche', but one of my dreams (to live in Europe) is coming true. I've been working on this project for at 6 months easy and changed my plans several times. I mean, I started out thinking I was going to go be a ski instructor in the Alps and ended up in Paris. Anyway, I am filled with both excitement and anxiety. Right now I'll just focus on moving all my stuff out of my apartment by tomorrow afternoon cause it still hasn't sunk in all the way yet.

Holding Pattern

So, I'm still waiting to hear back from the French authorities about my visa status. Man, they know how to take vacations over there. I know that nothing really gets done over the holiday season, but that still does not keep me from my impatience. I guess I'll just have to find some way to keep myself occupied in the mean time. Somehow, I don't think this will be a problem. Any ideas?