First great weekend in Luxembourg!

This is what the house looks like that I am living in!! Most of the houses in Luxembourg are made out of cement with slate roofs like this, usually painted some pastel color.

The left one is from the front and the right one is the back yard porch thing

Well, I can honestly say that my first weekend here was jam packed.  Saturday was very relaxed, I slept in and spent a lot of time reading outside, because it was actually sunny and hot! I even finished a book that I have been reading since spring break.  I then decided to go for a run (which was funny because I haven't run outside in like four years because of my knee, but I decided I would just try) so I ended up having a really nice run except for the fact that I didn't really know where I was going so i wandered around the neighborhood and ended up having to jut turn around at a bunch of dead end streets.  That night we had the Ridgeways (the family I am staying with's very close friends) over for a BBQ, which ended up being a lot of fun.  The Mom and Dad are from Ireland and the Mom is this loud, hilarious Irish lady so when all four of the parents went through three bottles of wine you can imagine how much fun the adult table was. 

This morning we got up early to go to the Schouberfuer, which is this huge fair that Luxembourg hosts fo

r about three or four weeks in the Summer and people from all over Europe come in to enjoy the rides and delicious food (think Great America meets Octoberfest).  It was a lot of fun exce

pt I think I might be getting to old for roller coasters, I was feeling sick after two and needed to take a break and sit down.  After the fair we went over to the Ridgeway's for another BBQ.  The Ridgeways live in a different commune that is out in the country and there house was beautiful, really old and farmy looking with rolling hills and horses around.  More great food and great company in a beautiful setting.  So, i am trying to go to bed since I have my first full week of work ahead of me, I am getting the kids up and to school by myself for the first time tomorrow, say a little prayer, goodnight!  

Let the sun shine

Today was a pretty big day because it was the first time I was behind the wheel in Luxembourg.  I picked the boys up from school all by myself and didn't get lost once (I wont mention the fact that I had a GPS telling me every turn to make) or get in an accident.  Another exciting thing that happened was that I met another Au Pair, named Rachel, who is from Minnesota.  She has already been here for a month and is here for the whole year and seems very eager to hang out.  We already made plans for Monday to go shopping at a sidewalk sale in town and I think we are going to take French lessons together.  She is also interested in doing alot of traveling so I think we might be travel buddies :)

Anywho I brought the boys home from school and we hung out for a bit then Eleanor and Marc came home so I spent some time outside on the back porch reading which was really nice because the sun was actually out (a very rare occasion in Luxembourg, the weather here isn't exactly ideal, it is basically always either cloudy or raining).  Then we had another delicious home cooked meal followed by a viewing of "Dinotopia", one of the boys favorite movies about two brothers who get stranded on a mysterious island where humans and dinosaurs coexist.

Now, I am going to bed, hoping to get more sleep than the 4 hours i got last night.

Goodnight!

These people are fattening me up

I am writing after another delicious dinner at the Summer's household.  This place is heaven for someone who likes meat as much as me, I mean chicken the first night, steak the second, salmon tonight, and ribs tomorrow... does it get any better? I even had a glass of white wine with dinner (big step for me) and I told Eleanor that I am hoping to acquire a taste for wine.

So my second full day was good.  I woke up early to take the boys to school with Marc and then came back home where I did some unpacking and relaxing.  Then Marc had to go to the military base in Germany to buy American groceries all day so I decided to go out and have an adventure.  I walked around the neighborhood and even found a really cute park, then went in to the downtown area and ventured in to a McDonalds, which was very exciting for multiple reasons.  First: it was beautiful! Seriously so clean and very modern architecture and furniture, nothing like they look in the states, second: The menu had a special section that was titled something like "Stars of America" this section included the Manhattan grilled chicken sandwich and the  Santa Fe double cheeseburger (this was funny because I am pretty sure they just chose random places and matched them with random meals), third: the guy who took my order called me madame and asked what I wanted in french and I panicked a little then after a couple seconds I was like "umm... can i please have some french fries" then he switched to English which was a big relief then I noticed that all the employees had matching Mcdonalds jeans with the double arch sewn on the back pockets, fourth: The ketchup packets were HUGE!!! seriously, it was like half of a bottle of ketchup in one packet, wow!  After my McDonald's adventure, i came home, took a nap, then hung out with the boys, then had a delicious dinner followed by chocolate brownies and after dinner conversation with Eleanor and Marc while we finished our glasses of wine (I am so grown up and so European) That's it for now,

Goodnight!

contact info

And here is my address:

17 Rue de Muguets

L-8035 Strassen

Luxembourg

My new best friend's name is Cameron

I got into Luxembourg last night at about 6:30 and had a very smooth arrival in to the country.  I didn't even have to lie to the people at customs about working here (since i don't have a visa or work permit...ooops) because they barely said a word to me.  Just got my passport stamped and was on my way.  I got my two huge bags without any problems and then took a deep breath and walked out of the terminal to meet my new family.  I was given a very friendly greeting from Eleanor (the mom) and Nathan and Colton (the two boys- 8 and 10), big hugs from everyone.  On the drive home, I got to see some of the sights of Luxembourg, which was great.  It looks a lot like any other European city, just a little smaller.  Lots of newer buildings as well as older, more historical looking ones.  The family lives in a really cute small little community and the house is really nice.  I have my own huge bedroom in the basement with a shower, toilet, sink, and king sized bed (right up my alley).  

        As soon as we got to the house last night, i put down my bags, met the Dad (Mark) and their dog Cameron (who is ten years old and reminds me of Ginger in her old age, so I love to hang out with her) and then played a rousing game of wii with the boys, which was great and i think i definitely impressed them with my skills.  Then we had a delicious dinner, the parents are both really good cooks, so that is a perk of the job for sure.  After dinner we had some nice conversation then I did some unpacking and went to bed. I guess I was a little jet legged because I didn't wake up until 1:00 this afternoon and had to take a quick shower then go with the Dad to pick up the boys from school.  On the way he explained to me some rules of driving here in Luxembourg, which was very helpful.  The school that the boys go to is really nice and I met some other parents, who were great.  Then we brought the boys home and I just ate some food and am now sitting at the kitchen table while they are playing some more wii. So far, it doesn't feel like I am very far from home (being around Americans that speak English all the time) except for when we leave the house, which is pretty funny.  I guess that is it for now, I better go hone in on my wii skills, as that is the best form of bonding so far.  Hugs and kisses to everyone from Luxembourg!

       

I love Switzerland...They sell little packets of nutella here

Well, it is 4:35 Chicago time and I am sitting in a airport cafe in Zurich, Switzerland enjoying a chocolate croissante, some pineapple, and some tunes from my good friend, Jason Mraz... life is pretty good.

So far, I am really enjoying Switzerland, the airport is really nice and they even sell little to go packets of Nutella... so I am basically moving here. 

My flight was fairly uneventful, i watched Made of Honor which was surprisingly enjoyable (less of a copy of My Best Friend's Wedding than I expected) and didn't get a whole lot of sleep because the lady behind me had her serious grumpy pants on and would yell at me every time I would try to recline my seat.  So while I am feeling a bit sleepy, I am still so excited to arrive in Luxembourg in a few short hours and meet the family I will be living with!

I guess that's it for now, I am going to go try and find my gate for my next flight, I will write more as soon as I arrive in Lux

~Kat

One week from departure

I have decided to create this blog as a way to keep in touch and update all of you while I am far from home.  I am hoping to write regularly and post pictures about my upcoming adventure while I am in Luxembourg over the next ten months.  I am leaving on Monday and I will try to write as soon as I get there and am settled in so check back if you want to hear about my adventures as an Au Pair in Luxembourg!