Where to From Here?

I can hardly believe it myself, but my time as an au pair is nearly finished! My 6 month extension finishes in two months now! It has gone unbelievably fast. I am daunted by the amount of stuff I have accumulated in the past year and 4 months, and I have already begun the process of making "to throw" "to keep" "to give away" piles. I am most disappointed about my books - I have bought so many books over here but have not had time to read them all - I don't want to get rid of them, but I don't want to cart them all over the world with me either! Ahh, the complex problems we must face!

Well, my time as an au pair has changed a lot for me, and especially it has changed my future plans. When I first arrived my initial plan was to be an au pair for ONE YEAR ONLY, then head STRAIGHT back to South Auckland, where I was working as a teacher in low-decile schools. It was my passion, my love. Before I came here I was an absolute workaholic!

However, coming here taught me to slow down a bit, to recognise and take opportunities when they presented themselves, to take chances.

I made the decision that instead of getting my return flight to New Zealand, I would instead use it to fly to Switzerland. I loved Switzerland when I was there last year with my host family, and when I go this time I will be able to meet up with the friends I made over there, and the family of my host family whom I grew to love.

After spending some time in Switzerland I will travel down to the south of France and visit an au pair friend of mine in her home town. Then I will continue through Europe, going through Spain and hopefully Portugal on my way to.... AFRICA!

It has always been a dream of mine to go to Africa. Now I have this chance, and I will grab it with both hands! I am still unsure of all the details - not sure where exactly in Africa I will go - but I have some ideas, and I will be looking to volunteer in an orphanage or school. It will be an amazing journey for me, one which resonates deep in my soul.

I am not going to Africa to try to change Africa or 'save' its people, rather, I am going to Africa so that Africa can change me.

I feel like my whole world has opened up. How far I have come from feeling trapped in my little patch of New Zealand, feeling as if the travelling the world were some lofty and elusive dream that I could never afford. Being an au pair has made the world accessible to me! Who knows how long I will spend over there, or where it might lead me. I am alive to the possibilities. This I owe to my year (and a half) as an au pair. So to anyone considering becoming an au pair, I say DO IT! For you never know what marvellous adventures and paths it may lead you down.

Spring Break Whistler, Canada

Everyone in Seattle knows about Whistler, and everyone in Seattle knows it is beautiful. You mention Whistler and they say "oohhh you are so lucky, it is so beautiful there!". Whistler is about a 5-7hr drive north of Seattle, across the Canadian border, about 3 hours north of Vancouver. It is a small village town up in the mountains, home to some of the best skiing in the world, host to the 2010 winter Olympics, and filled with hotels, resorts and all sorts of luxury boutiques. It was certainly a few steps up the ladder from the accommodation I usually pick for myself! Luckily, I wasn't picking, it was my host family! 

We spent 5 days in Whistler, staying in a lovely three bedroom condo within a hotel complex. Our condo opened out right onto one of the ski slopes (which, being near the end of the ski season, was pretty much just grass). The hotel's hot tub was also right beside our door - talk about perfect location!

The weather was sunny and warm for the majority of the time we were there, it was bliss to be in the sun! During the day my host parents and the older boys would go skiing, and me and the three little ones would go on 'Gina adventures'. We went all over the place, all through the village, all over the mountains, all through the town!

Dragging our sleds on one of our adventures in search of snow

no snow here, just cute kids!

ahhh beautiful!

In the evening when I was 'off', I wandered through the village by myself, I stumbled upon a music festival which was finishing up the Whistler Ski and Snowboarding Festival.

The village was quaint and lovely, well laid out, beautifully tidy, filled with boutique shops of curiosity (read: expensive!). One thing I definitely noticed was the amount of Australians around!!! In New Zealand and Australia you often hear about work exchange programs where you can work in a ski resort over the winter period, well, obviously that resort is Whistler! There were Australians (I didn't personally meet any New Zealanders but I'm sure there were a tonne of them around!) working in all the shops, all the restaurants and cafes, in all the hotels and resorts - they were everywhere!!! I felt like I was back home in downunder! Really, it was the strangest feeling. I was relieved to be back on American soil at the end of it! haha!

The ski slope right by our door!

Olympic rings! A picture perfect relic from the 2010 games

Dressing up crazy to go skiing!

Relaxing in the sun

Kids playing in the beautiful treehouse playground in the village

The Whistler village with mountains in the background.

We had a great time in Whistler, and it was lovely to be with the host family on their vacation!

Recent Happenings

Just wanted to update my blog a little with some pictures of my life with the kids :)

Get right under that sofa, boy!!

My Second Birthday Abroad!

Well well well, another year has passed and once again it is my birthday!! I turned the ripe old age of 24. I was out of Seattle on my actual birthday, I was in Whistler, Canada with my host family, so my au pair friends and I celebrated the weekend before. We went to all our favourite dessert places and loaded up on sugar! We ended up sitting in Starbucks at midnight talking about kids. Ahhh the life of an au pair!

On my actual birthday I was just with my host family, and oohhhh did they spoil me! I felt so special, they gave me very thoughtful presents, and the whole day felt magical. The kids were really great, the sun was shining, it was beautiful and warm in the mountain village of Whistler. The kids and I went around the village and had gelato as a special treat! Later that evening another Seattle family joined us and we had a big meal and three birthday cakes (one was healthy - a watermelon cut into the shape of a cake, covered in whipped coconut cream and adorned with fruit and almonds).

We all sat down and my host mum had organised a game for us to play - Pictionary, except all the words related to me and my life! They were: happy, airplane ticket, Africa, car, travelling, walking, no sleep.
The 'no sleep' one made me laugh - my host parents always go to bed early and are always amazed at how I can stay up so late! haha. The 'Africa' one is a little hint at what lies in store for me after my au pair year, I'll fill you in soon :)

Choose a book, I said.....

This morning I was doing the laundry and the twins came in to me and said: "Gina! Can you read us books please?". 

So I replied: "Of course! Go and choose a few for me to read." 

They were thrilled and scuttled off to get me some. 

I continued folding the laundry for a minute, and when I came back into the room, this was the "few" books they had chosen for me! 

a pile to the moon!

cheeky deceivers! haha how can I resist them??

Fun with the Kiddos

I post a lot of travel stories on my blog, mostly because that is the most interesting part of my life haha, but sometimes people ask me if I ever actually do any work! Well, let me dispel that myth! Yes, I do work! Actually, I work heaps and heaps! The life of an au pair is one of being with kids alll the time, trying to keep up with the never-ending laundry, and trying to contain the trail of toys and kid's stuff that somehow makes its way into every corner of the house. Some days are full of tears and tantrums and whinging; other days are great and full of fun! Every day is different - never a dull moment, and always full of energy and fun!

Here is a glimpse into my work life, the fun I have with my kiddos (there's a video too so have a watch! haha)

Funny faces!

Sliding down slides! (Thankyou to whoever came up with this wonderful three slide design!)

Even I love slides!

Rolling down hills!

More rolling down hills! Oh we do love it so much!

Intense indoor volleyball tournaments

Indoor volleyball court

Talking a stroll

Locked in a cage

Pyjama party!

Epic war battles in the dark

Cuddles :)

All singing all dancing!

I have to say, looking over these photos just reminds me again and again that I LOVE MY JOB!!! :):):)

Walking (Driving) Among Giants

Despite being in the USA for over a year, I still have not completed everything on my travel list. Perhaps that is because my list was crazily ambitious, but that is beside the point. The point is that I am still determined to complete all the things on my list before I return to New Zealand. (The list is getting smaller! Whoohoo!). One of the things on the list that I really wanted to do was to see the mighty redwood forests of Northern California. And last weekend, this is exactly what I did!

The redwood forests contain the tallest trees in the entire world, the largest of which is 379 feet tall, a whole six stories larger than the Empire State Building! These huge trees dot the coastal areas surrounding Eureka and Crescent City in California. In amongst it all is a scenic drive called the 'Avenue of The Giants', a world famous 31 mile road that meanders right through these gigantic trees. I was so keen to do this trip, all I needed was a free weekend and a couple of friends crazy enough to do the 1500 mile (2400km) trip in 48 hours! 

Finally I found my opportunity, and I leapt at it with both hands! I found some friends to come with me and off we went on a Friday night. We drove all night and arrived in California at 8.30 in the morning.

Welcome to CALIFORNIA!!

The beautiful and rugged west coast, all misty and bleak

Strange roadside attractions

Doing what I love: roadtripping with good friends, good music and good scenery!! My idea of heaven :)

We passed through the small town of Klamath where I had heard there was a tree large enough that you could actually drive a car through it, and for a large tourist-hiked price, we took that opportunity!

Driving through a tree!!!

Tourists :)

We continued South down the famous 101 highway towards Eureka. On the way we stopped at a few small coastal communities and were awed by the magnificent views of the coastline.

Misty but still so fiercely beautiful!

ta-da!

Small fishing towns

We got to Eureka right on lunchtime (how perfect! did I plan that? why yes, of course I did!). Eureka was a gorgeous little place. The waterfront part of it had lots of charming Victorian buildings and houses.

We stopped for lunch in a small cafe, tucked away off the main road - we were recommended by some locals. It was great! I always love getting recommendations from locals!

After our meal we continued down the highway towards the Avenue of the Giants. We were in for an amazing ride!! These photos do not do ANY justice to what we saw, what we experienced. My neck was in such pain from craning up to behold the full height of the trees.

I think the most amazing thing was that the road ran right through the forest, these massive trees were right up to the roadside! It was incredible, truly incredible.

Trees so big you can climb inside!

Wow

Does not do it justice!!!

We finished the wonderful road and began our trek back North. We stopped at a rest stop just north of the Oregon border and slept in my comfy Stallion. 

The next morning we were driving through Oregon and it was fabulous sunshine all day, we all felt amazing!! We stopped in Eugene, Oregon for some sightseeing and lunch. We tasted some famous Voodoo donuts, which are pretty much the craziest donuts I've ever seen

Bacon on a donut????

We took a selection of donuts (not the bacon one thank you, I have class!) and we headed to a local market where we got some delicious soup and salad. We sat outside and basked in the sun, eating and relaxing. It reminded me of great times in New Zealand, eating lunch in the sun. It was always one of my favourite things to do - enjoy a lovely cafe meal in the sun! And the best part is that we were not in a rush to leave! There was no time limit!! We sat there for a loooong time and it was fabulous to not have to look at our watches!! As au pairs we are always running to time limits, always in a rush. It was absolute luxury to eat slowly and sit down and just chat.

Sunny and happy!!

It was the perfect end to our roadtrip. From Eugene it was 4 and a 1/2 hours back to Seattle. We got back, exhausted but so happy. I slept well that night! What a fabulous weekend, I love taking opportunities!!