Category: Au pair in Paris

The good, the bad and the things in between

Hello darlings!

First of all, I’m sorry it’s been so long since my last post! As many of you might have seen on my instagram, I’ve been on holiday in the lovely South of France for the last 2 weeks, with such a bad connection, it was impossible for me to post a new post. Forgive me xx
But now I’m back in my old bedroom. The house I’ve lived in for 19 years, where I know every single inch and sound. My family still lives here, with their same jobs and school, and it’s like nothing has changed at all. Except for me.
Everything looks the same, but it doesn’t feel the same. As I’ve written in many of my posts, this year abroad has made me very different. I’ve grown a lot, and I came back as a different person. I guess that’s why it’s so weird and abnormal to be back again, because it’s as if nothing has changed. When really, everything has changed.

Leaving Paris was so hard. Saying goodbye to my host family (especially the kids!), saying goodbye to my friends and Paris. Coming home to the quiet life I lived before can be very difficult. However, I’m so grateful I’ll start my new adventure soon, when I’ll be going to Scotland for university. I think it’s very important to have something to look forward to, or a goal you’d like to receive , when you have lived such a different lifestyle for so long. I have many friends who have also had a year off this year, traveling and leaving their comfort zone – all of them have had a difficult time readjusting to their lives in Denmark. And what we all agree on, what really helps, is to have something more than just going back your old life.  You have to find a new way in the life you used to live, but you’re not the person who lived that life anymore.

I believe it’s very important to remember all the good times, the memories and all the experiences you now have with you. Everything you learned. I think the most important thing I learned, was the fact that life never turns out as you planned it. You can prepare yourself as much as you want, you can even have the “big plan” for how you want everything to go. But no matter how hard you try, surprises are gonna come, things are gonna go right and wrong, and in the end it doesn’t matter anyway. Be cause isn’t it all the unplanned events and surprises that make it worthwhile in the end? Sometimes you just gotta let go of yourself, and that’s when the magic really happens.

Okay, I know I’ve been going a lot on the clichés lately, but stay with me. I cannot start to let you know how true this is. I don’t know if you’re like me, but I like to stay in control. I like to organize and plan, and prepare myself for everything. And that’s exactly why this year was so amazing for me, and why I come home as a different person. I put myself out there, and I lost control over and over again – and I’d do it all over again.

So I guess what I’m saying is, it’s not gonna be easy. Coming back home, trying to find a new way to live in your old life. And you’re going to be sad, probably cry a couple of nights. But when you get settled in again and you get to reflect and realize how amazing this year was, you’re going to end up more happier than you were before. You did it. And nothing can ever take that from you.

That’s all for now! Bisous xx

When there’s 24 hours left and the 10 best Paris quotes

Hello darlings!

I can’t believe I’m leaving Paris in just about 24 hours. I remember 10 months ago when I was writing a post about my last 24 hours in Denmark. And what a year it’s been!
Paris is one of the most romantic, cultural and historical cities in the world. Whenever you leave your apartment (or hotel), there’s always something to do. And even though I could go out and do so many crazy things in my last day here, that’s not what I have done so far. Instead, I went to my favorite bakery to buy the best macaroons in Paris. I went to one of the places where they make really good crêpes. I went for a walk along the Scene and bought a final souvenir. I bought a bottle of rose wine and enjoyed it with my friends. Because tbh, as great as Paris is, those things and all the memories I’ve made this year, is what I cherish the most. It’s things like that I’ll look back at in the future and miss. I’m gonna miss this city more than anything, and a thing I’ve realized is that Paris is without a doubt my favorite city. All the songs, movies and quoes haven’t been made out of nothing.

So as I’m writing my last post in my last hours in the city og lights, I’ll give you the 10 best quotes I’ve learned about Paris this year:

  1. “If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.” – Ernest Hemingway
  2. “An artist has no home in Europe except in Paris.” -Friedrich Nietzsche
  3. “A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of Life.” -Thomas Jefferson
  4. Paris… is a world meant for the walker alone, for only the pace of strolling can take in all the rich (if muted) detail. -Edmund White
  5. “He who contemplates the depths of Paris is seized with vertigo.
    Nothing is more fantastic. Nothing is more tragic.
    Nothing is more sublime.” – Victor Hugo
  6. “I guess it goes to show that you just never know where life will take you. You search for answers. You wonder what it all means. You stumble, and you soar. And, if you’re lucky, you make it to Paris for a while.” – Amy Thomas
  7. “… you’ll have to fall in love at least once in your life, or Paris has failed to rub off on you.” – E.A. Bucvhianeri
  8. “Paris is a hard place to leave, even when it rains incessantly and one coughs continually from the dampness.” – Willa Cather
  9. “I cannot tell you what an immense impression Paris made upon me. It is the most extraordinary place in the world!” – Charles Dickens
  10. And at least, but not last, as I’ll keep saying from now on: “We’ll always have Paris.” – Casablanca 

That’s all for now – bisous xx

What au paring has taught me or Final thoughts a year later

Hello darlings!

The weather in Paris is craazy hot at the moment! I’m currently writing in 35 degrees with no AC. So I gotta admit I’m kind of looking forward to coming back home to a bit colder Denmark. I cannot believe I’m leaving in exactly 3 weeks. I guess you always know the fact that time is flying, but it always comes as a shock when you’re so close to the end. However, it also gives you a lot of reflective thoughts.

Exactly one year ago today I graduated. Many of my friends from Denmark are currently graduating or studying for their last exam. I’ve talked with them a lot in between their studying etc, and a lot of my memories from when I was in their situation has come back to me. I remember so clearly all the stress and fuss about everything. Everything from striving for the perfect grade, to making a good impression on your teachers, to worrying about fitting in. College is a big deal. Not only because your final grades are defining your future, but also the process most people are still in, trying to find themselves.

But what I know now, and what I realised in this year abroad, is that there’s so much more to life. College was for me 3 very challenging years, but it was nothing compared to the challenges and things I’ve had to face this year. I know when you’re in school, it seems like everything and the most important thing in the world. But as I’ve mentioned before, when you really leave your comfort zone, that’s when you find the important things. That’s when you find yourself.

And even though you can do this in many ways, au paring was the best choice for me. Because I get forced into situations I couldn’t predict, I get challenged in my opinions and values every day. And that has taught me far more than anything I learned in school ever did.

So I guess what I wanna tell you all, is to encourage you that there’s so much more to life than school. If you wanna dream, dream big. If there’s something you wanna do, then do it. And if you get an opportunity to do something completely out of your comfort zone, do it. School is great and it is important, but just remember life has so much more to offer <3

That’s all for now, and congrats to all the people who is graduating this year! 
xx

 

What au pairing has taught me or When there’s 7 weeks left

Hello darlings!

Summer has finally come to Paris, and time is flying faster than ever. I cannot believe all I have æeft of my Paris-adventure is 7 weeks. When you’re in it, you never really see how time is flying, until you’re near the end. And even though I’m overly excited about next year too, I know leaving Paris is gonna be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done so far. Saying goodbye to your host-family, your friends and the most amazing city ever. I’m not gonna have a dry eye, and here are the 3 reasons why au pairing has been the best year ever:

  1. I got out of my comfort zone. Even though there’s still plenty of possibilities for you to do new stuff in your home city, nothing says leaving your comfort zone, as moving to a completely new country and culture. I’ve never been as challenged and happy as I have this year, so I guess they’re right when they say the real magic is happening outside your comfort zone.
  2. I got to do everything I wanted. Having been in school for 13 years, I’ve always had things to do. Homework to read, assignments to write and exams to prepare for. For the first time in my life. I have been able to do exactly what I wanted to. Stay in been all day watching series? No guilt. Spending all your money on coffees and crepes? Nothing you really need to pay for anyway. One of the things which have made this year so amazing, has definitely been because I’ve been able to live my life exactly as I wanted it.
  3. I found myself. Okay, I know it’s one of the biggest clichés ever said, bur for me it was true. I went to Paris with many expectations, and after having fought my way though college, there was still so much I wasn’t sure of. What I wanted to do with my life, what was truly important for me. Who I was, when I wasnt a student, a worker or anything else but just me. And all the questions I had befre, has in these last 9 months been answered.

Thats all for now – remember to follow me on my instagram to stay updated on my life in Paris! xx

Why you need to leave your comfort zone while you’re young

“Paris, it seems, was the beginning of letting go of who I was and grabbing hold of who I was to become.”

We go to school for a big part of our lives, and when we’re young it’s all our lives are about. To do our homework, to make our assignments, to get good grades so we can get into good universities, so we can get good jobs. It seems like that’s what it’s all about. And the society, our parents, maybe even our friends, puts this pressure on us. Makes us think that’s what we should do.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the past 6 months, it’s that there’s so much more to life than that!

Don’t get me wrong here, I still think an education and to get a job one day is important, and I’m planning on going to university soon. But come on you guys. If all you’ve ever known is being a student, how do you know who you are? What you like, and thereby what you want to study and one day work with? School is good and it’s important to have knowledge, but how about knowing life? I have been way more challenged living abroad than I ever have in my 13 years in school. I’ve learned more about myself, what is important to me, what I want from life and which values I have.

By going out of my comfort zone I have (sorry for the cliché) found myself. I feel like I know who I am and thereby I feel so much more secure that what I have applied for at university is what I really want. When I applied 6 months ago I wasn’t even sure I ever wanted to go to university.
Leaving my home country has been the best decision in my life. It’s so important that you try to escape, try something new. Taste the world and experience what it means to be truly alive. We’re only young once and we only live once. Get the best out of it, before we grow old and full of regrets.

I know this post is filled with cliches from movies and so many books. But I gotta say I’m serious about it too. Life is too short, and there’s no point doing something you hate when there’s a whole world out there, waiting for you to discover it. Leaving your comfort zone is the scariest and best thing you can ever do to yourself. It’s not easy, but I’ve never regretted my choice.

 

4 things I’ve noticed about the french

One of the great things about being an au pair, is that you get really close to the culture of the country you’re au paring in! I have here written 4 things I’ve learned about the french culture since my last post about it (read it here)

  1. They eat dinner so late. I mean for a dane, normal dinner time is around 18-19. But french people, when there eating at a friend’s place, they don’t even shove up before 19.30. And then you first get drinks, eat some chips, talk. And not until you’ve finished with that you start getting to the table.
  2. Their sense of humour. I know every language has it’s own sense of humour that can be hard for foreigners to understand, but have you seen a french movie? It’s kind of a cruel humour, it relies a lot on humiliating situations where you cringe and wanna hide under your duvet on behalf of the characters, who doesn’t realize the situations themselves.
  3. The patriotism. If there is one word I would definitely describe the french people with, it’s pride. They take great pride in their government and nation, and I would go as far to say they are typically offended by negative comments about their country. Several of my friends interpret their attitude toward foreigners as rude.
  4. French cuisine. Though the dinnertime is late, the food is really delicious. Good food and good wine are very important for the french people, and thought the cooking style has changed, most french associate french cooking with complicated preparation.

The 10 things you learn working with children

Bonjour a tout le monde

The french holidays are soon over, and once again I’m with my host family on holiday in Saudi Arabia. It’s some of an experience. Living with your host family for so long, when you’re not used to it can be a bit challenging. However, there’s a lot of new experiences you get, and old ones gets refreshed. I have here written 10 things you experience and learn when you’re working with children everyday:

  1. Patience. I think this one explains itself.
  2. They will come knocking on your door. If you live with your host family, you will definitely have tried this. Maybe just in the beginning, before the children learned you need your privacy, but they will come knocking, to play with you, see your room etc.
  3. If you order a different plate than them, dont expect you’re gonna eat it alone. Especially not if it’s french fries. Even if they’re old enough to ask first, the chances are that you’ll end up sharing with your host kids.
  4. You’re not always the best to play with. When you’re with the same children every day, at some point you stop being so interesting and fun, and you’ll even experience the children preferring to play on their own than playing with you.
  5. They can make your day. You might be having a rough day, and you may not really be in the mood to play. But then you toddler will give you a hug and say your name, or even give you an “I love you” and suddenly you’re entire day is suddenly a lot better.
  6. Life is more simple than you think. You ask a 2-year-old, or even a 7-year-old a difficult life-question, and they surprise you with such an simple answer, that still makes sense. It makes you realize things look more complicated when you grow up, but that doesn’t mean that’s how it is.
  7. It’s okay to have a meltdown now and again. Working with children for a whole year in the city of love always seemed like the perfect dream to me. But working with children as an au pair is a lot more challenging job than I ever imagined, and sometimes you just loose it. It’s okay though, to have a meltdown now and again, cause it is really hard sometimes.
  8. You ask questions to so much more. If there’s one thing that can make you questions things you never thought about questioning before, it’s children. All their why’s, and where’s and how’s make even grown ups start questioning so many new things.
  9. Parenting is so important. I know this one seems very obvious, but I’m gonna mention it anyway. I’d like to think my parents has raised me and my siblings as polite, thankful people whom still respect other people. So that’s all I’ve known. But being an au pair makes you see that not everyone has the same values as you’ve been raise by. Not even the ones you thought were essential for parenting. Don’t take me wrong, I love my host kids, and I know most au pairs do. But you’d be surprised by how many children you meet as an au pair, who hasn’t been taught right from wrong or has ever been disciplined. And even though it might be obvious to you, it’s rarely the parents can see it themselves.
  10. Love without conditions. Children can be mean, disrespectful and really annoying.  But let’s face it, at the end of the day, when they want to give you a hug or kiss, your heart melts for them and you love them anyway.