Amsterdam Again!!!!

Before I do anything, I just want to say on the 13 anniversary. It' s always somber this time of year, obviously, but here I don't feel it because they werent personally affected by what happened all those years ago. Has it really been 13 years? I think everyone will remember where they were, what they were doing, how olde they were and ho they were with (if they were old enough). This must be what the folks who got the news of D-Day felt. I was 1 2 about to be 13, and in homeroom at my Junior high. My teacher rushed in and told us all to shut up before flicking on the tv. We saw the second plane hit, images forever burned into my head. Whatever little bit of innocence we still had we lost it that day, when we saw the horror of that day. What must those people had felt and to jump...and it's intense to think about it. Let alone live it at the time.

We will never forget 9/11 and may they all rest in peace.

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So I have great news, I now have WIFI back in my room!!!! It's wired instead of Wireless so I cant use my Nook up here anymore, but you know beggers can't be choosers. I can use my laptop up here and skype(FINALLY) and watch movies, and not be bored and cut off from the world!!! My host mom called me today after the guy fixed it, to see if I was happy now..apparently she caught on to the depressive state I got into after 2 months of nothing. On the bright side, Big town Rush, and Storage wars (Canada version) found themselves, another fan lol. But I digress, a few interesting things have happened this past week, and now I can relax and blog about it, in the comfort of my living room(yes I have my own living room, more on that later)

 This past sunday, I went with Marcy to Amsterdam, and I FINALLY got to see the Anne Frank Musuem, if you haven't read the book. Read it, seeing it was amazing, the line however was so long though. But we only had to wait and hour or so. Then we saw another Musuem the Rijksmuseum where famous Dutch painter Rembrandt has artwork along with Van Gough. It was nice, but museums arent totally my thing at least it wasn't that Sunday, 

I'll post some pics that I took that. It would have been better but I was barely functioning on 4 hours of sleep... I need 5 to be my usual peppy (Hahaha) self.. So I was super exhausted then. Octoberfest is Next Saturday, and I'm getting slightly excited. I went on a shopping trip(set limits for myself and went over 10 euros!) But I was happy as I don’t have to pay the family anymore, but they're not happy, but I think my agency is finally helping me now. Whoo hoo.

Let's see on this coming Sunday, I'm finally going to see Utrecht. I know, I haven't yet been, but really I didn't know anyone there, and you can only visit so many city centre before they all look the same. At the moment, because's Prince's day is on Tuesday, they're a small carnival in town, that my oldest two seem excited for..too bad the baby who is 4, cannot go on any. Well except for the kiddie rides but she always wants someone to ride with her lol.

In other news, last week after my swimming class, I went into the changing stall and a girl had left her bag in there. Iwith her Iphone, and a ton of money and credit cards. I have morals, and I don't steal so I returned it, but I hope she thinks twice. Firm believer in Karma...I lose my camera yesterday and I got an email because everything synces together(I love technology) so he found my email in the menu. He returned it to me today. 

However, I went to find his house near Scheveningen beach and look I left at 10:40am. It's a 12 minute bike ride to his house from mine. Why did it take me 45 minutes, and I still didn't find it???? He had to come to me lol..No EFFING sense of direction. Friends, take heed. Family should already know that if you want me to meet you somewhere, you gotta give me a landmark..I.E Train station, Theater, Casino...not a street or I won't find it...ugh..and its even worse here because everything is in Dutch!!!! To the Right is Delft Glass, it's super expensive, but they have all types and it's so pretty.

This is the outside of the Anne Frank house, pictures weren't allowed inside. I understand the reasoning for it, as some people have a familial connection to the Holocaust and don't want be to be bothered by the shutters and flashes of camera. 

This Violin isn't playable, but it was so amazing to look at it, its made out of the Delft glass.                                                                                         

So I shall end this blog with two night pictures of Amsterdam. Somehow we ended up in the Red light District, but that's not here, being there embarasses me. Anyway, enjoy and until the next post, OCTOBERFEST!!!!!

       So I really forget aboout the Embassy Festival I went to on Saturday that showcased about 30 nationalities in the Hague.  I'll add to that next post, possibly tonight.              

Summer is over :)

I'm really starting to wish that I hadn't of promised my host kid that I would stay for her birthday. To be honest, I want to travel other places, but it's starting to get kind of ridiculous. It's down right depressing most days, I can't even watch a sitcom, without wanting to cry after I've laughed at a scene. It' s very tough, and I'm trying to stick it out for the rest of the year. I've forgotten almost just why I came to do this. I don't regret coming abroad, if it seems like I'm constantly complaining, I just regret doing this program. Well maybe not that far, if If regret so much I would be basically rejecting all the new friends I've made, and I don't want that. I'm not actually homesick, I just honest to god don't want to be an Au Pair in Holland anymore. I'm so over it, like you have no idea. And for all those wondering I'll stick it out, even if every day is a total struggle.

But anyway, lets go on whats been happening since my last post. School has started for the girls, which I'm extremely happy about, and though Hockey season is back, it's not as brutal as when I got here earlier in the year. Actually the ride is rather relaxing, when I don't ride the bakfiets that is. Lets see what else has been going on. I still have no wifi in my room, so I'm currently typing in the stairwell, about to skype my mom for her birthday,

I can honestly say that I'm ready for that next adventure in my life. Never will I do somehting like that. But I'm glad I took the leap, Even if it didn't turn out like I wanted it too, Once I get a job, and start saving I'm thinking school, and then Australia 2016, while I'm 27. But when I do that, it'll be on my own terms and not as an Au Pair. But let's not get ahead of myself. I need to finish out this year first. Octoberfest in 2 weeks, I'm starting to get excited too. In the meantime, enjoy the pictures I took.

Things are finally looking up

Omigosh I have ome good news. After following a complaint I gave to the IND(Immigration in Holland) about paying my last host family back, I no longer have to du it anymore. And so now I've been getting my last 4 months planned out.

This month, I'm going with two friends to Octoberfest, and I'm excited to finally go to Germany for that. And a week before we do that, I'm going to Paris for a weekend to see the Eiffel tower and whatever else it has to offer. Found a bus that will do it, for only 68 euros round trip, how cool is that. And FREE WIFI the whole way. Though I'll probabaly be sleeping as the ride is from 11:00pm-5:45am, but then again, maybe not. Still not sure. In October, I'm finally going to London, I've been booking some things, and I'm going there and doing the Harry Potter Studio tour, seeing Big Ben, and the Eye, and Buckingham Palace. That's going to be great. Someone is eating something in the library, that reminds me of mexcian food.4 more months until my return and I'm going straight to get a spicy burrito..yum!

Let's see, at the moment, I got a moment of reprieve. The kids are visiting the granparents and the parents are in England for a wedding. Yeah, freedom until Wednesday. But on a brighter note, they go back to school on monday. I'm like cheering so loudly at that, or I would be if I wasn't currently in the library.

Let's see November, I'm thinking Rome, and doing a Segway tour, to see the sites, of course the coliseum, And I haven't truly thought about anything past it. There was a a big earthquake back home, a 6.0, but where we live everyone was okay, but Napa, and Sac, not to good up there. Man, the the big one is coming, it's just a matter of when I suppose. That's all for no,I'll update again, when I actually finally get to do it. 2 weeks here I come!

Vacation over, and it starts work again...*sigh*

This last week, my vacation was over and I spent it with the gurls. I'm exhausted by the way, but they enjoyed themselves. On Monday we went to the beach, it was an ugly wet day, and e did this glow in the dark Mini Golf thing, that was fun. They had pizza and ent to an arcade for the first time(No words for that) and then they got ice cream. Tuesday was low key, one of my host kids apparently has a mild allergy to tomato paste??? Why wasn't I told this before? I cook dinner 3 times a week as well...apparently according to the mom, the tomato paste she can't have is only foundin pizza that's not made at the AH or home. Basically she told me(the host mom) that the girl is allergic to all non-healthy things,,how in the hell doe that work? lol...Right...Let us not tell her of things I've been feeding them for the past 5 months then. I think she just doesnt want her eating it. Alright.

Tuesday was low key, aka stay at home because the middle child claimed sick when her mom came home the previous.  then realizes oh, I can't do anything fun today...can I retract it? No the damage is done, but anyway I built forts for them out of chairs, and they had a ball.

Wednesday, We went to a bunch of parks, my youngest one(4) ran away from us, and freaked I and the 9 year old out. 4 Year old don’t understand, that particular worry,, but we do and it sucks.

Thursday, we went to the museum, took a moment to get there as all the directions were driving and not biking but we got there.

Friday, we went back to the museum twice as my 7 year old tries to be an grown up and left the discount book  we needed for the museum at home atfer pitching a fit when I put it in my backpack..after that bit,,,I was too through. And then my week was over, well kinda. I went to my swimming class, and I made progress! I can now open my eyes under the water, and yes it is a big deal lol. My goggles broke and my substitute swim teacher said good I didn't need them anyway, lol...its a hindrance yeah but I'm so glad she pushed me!!!

Saturday, today really, I wanted to go to the Anne Frank Museum. But I'm gonna end up going alone and being happy about it. I have a few problems I've been dealing with and I'm about ready to go the hell home. I'm at the library, I don't get wifi in my room anymore, my host family did something to it, and won't fix it no matter how many times I ask . My bed, is an old like fold up wire bed, and my back is killing me, but I'm dealing with it.  And the important bit, my first family threatened to sue me if I didn't pay back the ticket lol, they bought for me to get here. Apparently, according to the Dutch IND I'm not allowed to pay back which I have been because I didn't know that rule...they're taking 100 euros out of 300 euros...a MONTH! Yeah, so my 4 months left, I'm ignoring them and enjoying my last few months. Why didn't I know this before..been paying...and been broke since April..

Wow...at the moment, there is a crying kid in the library....wont they comfort they're kid already? Okay, not much going on I know, but I have 1 and a half weeks of this left. For like 3 days my host parents are going to London, and my host kids are going to their Grandparents...I can't bloody wait! I'm tired...so effin tired.

Vacation is nearly over, Hi Amsterdam

So yeah my vacation is this final week and I find myself ready for it to end and just get back to working. That seems to make everything go by faster for me. I've mellowed out since coming here, and I find that I really am over the whole Au Pair thing. I'm not going to end it, as I'm 6 months in and that would be stupid, but I just think I'm done ya know. I come to the realization that though I love kids, this might not have been the best job for me.

Au Pairs have nothing when they leave their whole world to become an Au Pair. I lost a good friend of mine this past week, I just spent the week with her and then out of the blue I get a text from her saying the next day after I left mind you that she was going home the next day because her Host Mother decided she didnt want an Au Pair anymore.

I think I'm over the whole Au Pair thing as well, I can honestly say that as much as I love kids I never want to do this again. When I go abroad again, it will never be in Holland and never as an Au Pair.

This past week, I saw a movie every night lol, thank goodness for my movie card, I am going to miss that when I go back home.. And ontop of that on Wednesday I went back to Amsterdam and went on a tour that was free to Au Pairs. I'm all up for extra knowledge so it was fun, and I made a new friend in the process. We were going to visit the Anne Frank Museum,but good grief that line was atrocious, it was so massive.

 We did go to the Cheese musuem, and I tasted a ton of types of cheese, which was oddly fun. We tasted a cheese that tasted like Lavender soap, no joke. It was blue, and just gross. That cheese block to the right of the page is fake, however they do have cheese that big and more. If I ever get up the nerve to go into the neighborhood cheese shop and take a picture of some of them you'll see.

This next picture has a great story behind it, apparently there is a bridge in Paris that is filled with padlocks of all kinds. Look to the left there this was on a small brige in Amsterdam. The locks have names on them, and people...well couples write their name on them and they lock it to signal their love never ending. The bridge in Paris that covered in this, I want to see, however I was told that one section of it, collapsed because the locks(which I felt here) were really heavy. It was just an amazing thing to see.

 This piece of chocolate here, is so rich and yummy, reminds me thats yes we are close to Switzerland and yes I need to visit there before I go. I mustn't forget. My host family went to Switzerland for 2 weeks, and brought this back for me. It's huge, and so good.  It's like toffee nougat, swiss milk chocolate and honey I thnk. It's really good, never had this bit before. We do have those in the states, but this was just slightly different i think.

This bit to the right was a little walk through musuem we went through. The floor was covered in over the 100 or so different nationalities that currently reside in the Netherlands. America was there but our representation looks a bit like the UK flag lol. Anyone ever wonder why most of the countries have flags that have at least Red, Blue or white. Not all but alot have blue in them..wierd lol.

Now this last bit here was a disappointed. Starbucks will forever be overrated. This to the left is called a Vanilla cream, a Vanilla bean Frap at home. However the carmel as you can see on just the top was 50 cents extra, and I was disappointed and irritated that I paid that much and they only put it on the top. I anted the carmel in the cup like home. Sigh ..I won't really be back but I was peeved.

That's its I suppose, well there is more but I dont want to drama down my blog and turn this into a rant or something. i find myself wishing that my 5 months would just hurry up and go by already, it's beginning way to much. I'm not home sick as in I'm dying to see my family, but I do miss the simplicity of things. And on that note, I'm bucking up for 3 straight weeks of just me and the girls. #Icantwaitforschooltostart  

Vacation time, hurry up and come August 1!!!

Hey, it's been a while and I know but I truly didn’t feel like wrting. My Laptop has been acting up for about a month and a half now, and as of last week I have no backspace button and it's very frustrating to type with. .I rather eish a key I don’t use decided to not work as I am about ready to throw my keyboard and computer, bascially the whole laptop into the nearest wall, but I know that would create more problems. Lets see, my vacation started on Friday the 18 of July, and I had planned on going to London for 3 days but due to lack of funds that didn’t happen. I still have 2 weeks of holiday left so I'm hoping to at least go somewhere during this time. When August 1 is here, more money, yessss!!!

I'm going to Assen on Sunday though, a friend of mine came to visit me for a week in the Hague and I'm going to return the favor by going there with her.

So far since my last update I haven't really done anything notable at least not anything worth writing about. Oh wait, I supposed this is one thing. I got my Dress for OctoberFest, and I'll show you a picture of it below, it's so bloody uncomfortable and it;s called a dirndl. And it's blue. Sorry about the state of my closet lol.

Lets see, the weather here has been almost like home, it's been in the 90's this past week, and it's been so humid it was almost unbearable, I love it. People are sweating profusely but I'm like, it reminds me of home. It's so nice.

6 months mark!

So I don’t have anything to write about I don’t think. Well not yet anyway. In a few weeks I'll have vacation and I'm supposed to be going to London, but due to insufficient funds I'll probably go somewhere else for the moment. Just until I get more money. No biggie. I'm 6 months in, and I'm so ready for my 6 months to be over. It's not even homesickness that is causing it. Its that my host mom is slightly insane and no I'm not joking. She constantly starts things and she opens my mail...yeah I know Illegal, I'll be talking about that with her today or tomorrow. Probably tomorrow as I'm still very much so irritated at the moment.

So we all know that the July 4^th was Independence Day, but over here it's not really celebrated obviously. So I didn't do much for it. Yesterday I got together with some friends and we went to the beach, it was SOOO windy, it was ridiculous. I hate the sand so much, and when the wind is intense the sand hurts!!! But I digress, we stayed there for hours, and then later at around 9ish, we headed to a beach bar and theyre they watched a soccer game, Holland VS. Costa Rica. They tied 0-0 for the game but then Holland won in the shootout part, it was crazy. I don't like soccer so it didn’t interest me. America lost last week, Wednesday to Belgium. That's as far as my support goes. I don’t like it, but I supported my country, when they lost I have no reason to watch it. I don’t enjoy it, its very tiresome to me. But everyone here is just crazy about it.

And this totally off topic but I find that in the past 6 months has been incredible. I've done a lot of things. Though, I still need to do a bit more traveling, and actually go out of Holland and see more of Europe. Like I've seen most of Holland I've decided it pretty much looks the same everywhere you go. Until next time when I have something interesting to post.