Trying to study

Technically, I'm telling myself I'm not procrastinating at the moment. I'm waiting for my frozen rigatoni to get heated in the microwave for lunch.

My plan is to attack Advanced, get it all done and if I can start history by tomorrow, I will be able to forgive myself for the past procrastination.

Obviously my dream is to travel the world, hence the name of this blog. I can tell myself that as long as I work hard now, I can eventually have the money to go to all the places I've always wanted to go to. I'm not even picky about where I want to go to, anywhere would do.

I have this weird habit of trying to avoid going to places in the world I've already been to. That's why this time round I have tried to limit the time spent in Shanghai because I've been there 3 times already, and I can already safely say that I can navigate Shanghai for the most part like a local, so I've pretty much experienced all the culture there is to experience. By now I've spent a total of what, 5 months in Shanghai over the years? I think that's enough for me. STA sent me my plane ticket itinerary at 2am this morning (I only know because I was awake at 2am), for some weird reason. Must have been like an automated email or something. I'm staying in Shanghai as an extended layover almost. It costs next to nothing extra to fly to Shanghai on the 9th of Dec, then fly out there at like 11:55pm on the 11th of Dec and arrive in Paris at like 5:30am on the morning of the 12th. Some fun jetlag I'm going to have. Well luckily not too much jetlag from Sydney to Shanghai, only about 3 hours difference I think.

So now I'm typing this as I'm waiting for my rigatoni to cool down from the microwave. I'm feeling quite good at the moment, because concerta is a moodlifter (according to a certain someone from school), and I am feeling calmer than I usually would. I took the 27 mg even though I have the 36mg, because even though it's meant to be rare to build a tolerance to it, I always find the 36mg more effective if I only take it once in awhile (and that would be during HSC for me, I need all the concentration I can get).

I find journal writing and blogging strangely therapeutic, even though my journal entries differ quite a bit to my blog entries, and even though I'm semi blogging to no one because I don't expect anyone to be reading this. After all, my blog posts are full of random ramblings that may make no sense.

So I'm arriving in Shanghai at 7:20pm on 9 December, and leaving at 11:55pm on 11 December. That gives me the whole day of the 10th and 11th to do some stuff I'd love to revisit in Shanghai.

I think top of my list of things to do for the short time I'll be in Shanghai goes like this:

-East Nanjing Road, because it always feels more cultural than West Nanjing Road. West Nanjing Road just feels like...you know that area outside the newly renovated Westfield Sydney? That place with like Zara and stuff, and it's a bit like a promenade/board walk type thing. Basically West Nanjing Road just feels like that (except way bigger, longer, more expensive stores and cars sandwiched between two sides of the road, so it's an actual street). I want to go to Forever 21 (first one in Shanghai!) at East Nanjing Rd for cheap clothes, really missed all the Forever 21 stores in Waikiki and LA.

-I really, really want to go to this amazing-sounding restaurant in Shanghai called 'Ultraviolet' by Paul Pairet. it sounds amazing, but it costs 2500 yuan for a full dinner. Which means I'd be forking out $440 Australian dollars for a dinner. Which I refuse to do. Maybe I'll return when I'm rich, it's one of those wacky restaurants that offer fancy 'sensory' experiences I think. I'm bummed out that Maison du Macaron in Shanghai is closed down, they seemed to have the best macarons. Jean Paul Hevin, I may try instead. But they sound expensive.

-The Bund is a must for me.

-I should try visit Pudong, perhaps Super Brand Mall, they had a pretty big H&M if I recall. Even though I don't like H&M that much, and it's expensive ish in Shanghai.

-I want to walk to Huaihai Rd, just for fun because the French Concession always is really cool to walk in.

That's it, I think. Oh, and I refuse to catch the Metro or the bus or a taxi. Walking all the way is the best way in any city, I even like walking in Sydney. I don't know why I'm such a big walker, even though I am lazy as hell. Was considering visiting Yu Gardens too, but I don't think I will this time round. Bit too touristy for me, overpriced and the areas that aren't touristy are a bit too Chinese for me.

Oh, and Xujiahui! A bit far to walk perhaps, even the metro takes awhile to get there with multiple transfers. But it's quite fun to walk around in, even if I could never afford most of the stuff that is sold in the malls.

-So the night of 9 December I want to go to Huaihai Rd, even though I'd have just gotten off a 10 hour flight and it takes 45 minutes to walk there and Shanghai would be freezing cold.
-10 December, I would walk to East Nanjing Rd, then maybe Xujiahui. But I want to buy stuff at East Nanjing Rd, so maybe I might go there on the 11th instead, because I may have to bring great aunt 1 along on the 10th to re-teach me how to cross Shanghai roads. And if she saw me buy crap at Forever 21, she'd flip, even if it was with my own money.
-11 December, I'd go to Pudong. Super brand mall, Jean Paul Hevin , then go visit the Bund on the way back. Which reminds me, I would definitely have to take the Metro to Pudong because I'm not about to swim across the Huangpu River.

The thing I always hate about visiting Shanghai is the money issue. I would get it exchanged in Sydney if I could, but my mum and grandpa wouldn't let me. They would be like, 'your uncle would give you money when you get there and we would pay him back' which makes me feel awkward, because Chinese people simply don't have my spending habits. My uncle tends to give me 200 yuan at a time, which is a bit over $40. He's fantastic though and is my favourite family member, so he'd never say anything if I asked for more, but I'd feel awkward asking too many times because then he'd think I was wasting my money. He is frugal but generous (he never splurges on himself but always took me to expensive eating spots, like the fancy Italian restaurant with river views and the Japanese place). Plus, there always is a bit of a fight at the end with my grandpa insisting on paying him back, my uncle refusing to accept, my mum insisting to pay him back, etc.

I'm estimating I'd need about 1000 yuan in those two full days. Yes, a thousand. Which is about $175 but to a Chinese person that's ridiculous crazy amount. I'd pay for it myself (I mean, 175 really isn't that much), but as previously stated my mum wouldn't let me. I may have to sneak to a currency exchange by myself. Then they'd give me dodgy looks when I bring like 3 bags of clothes home from Forever 21. These are the moments when I wish my mum would come to Shanghai too. No asking-for-money issues there, even she was buying tonnes of crap in Hawaii. Because I know she is crazy good at budgeting, and even though she pretends otherwise, I know when we go on a holiday she always makes sure she has triple the amount we actually need for 'emergencies'. And heck, she could afford to give it to me even more now with that husband of hers (makes me feel a bit like a bitch though). So I may tactfully ask her closer to departure date for the 1000 yuan, because I refuse to pass up Forever 21. Maybe she'll understand, because she too loves Forever 21. I'll even show her the Chinese website to convince her.

I was considering getting another pair of fake uggs, but now I don't think I will. Too much work haggling with the people at the fake designer markets.

Ew my rigatoni's all cold now. Don't have much of an appetite because of the concerta.

Anyway, then 12 December at 5:30am I arrive in Paris (12 hour flight I think from Shanghai).

Charles de Gaulle airport is 30 minutes drive from my host family's home. I hope they can give me a lift, but the dad works so I'm not sure when he'll be at work by, and obviously the mum would have to stay at home to watch the baby and kids. I'll have to confirm with her. I don't think there would be much of an issue though for her to take the baby with her, but the problem is the kids have to be at school by 8am. Still that should be enough time to pick me up with them in the car, drive back and still drop them off to school.

So they live in Chelles, France. I have pictures of their house they sent me.

It seems nice enough. I mean, the house does look a tad run-down from the outside, but then again it could be one of those 'rustic old European houses'. 

They gave me their address already, so I found their house on Google Maps. At least the hedge is trimmed neatly, that's a good sign right?

I'm a bit anxious (tiny bit) because I keep reading horror stories about au pair experiences in both France and other European countries. It's a bit daunting, I think you tend to come across bad experiences like 65 percent of the time. I hope they're nice.

I'm also a bit concerned about 'French etiquette'. It seems they have really intense rules regarding eating especially, and table manners. Now, knowing that Chinese table manners are the opposite of Western ones, that's a tad scary. Even worse, my table manners are like a cross between Western and Chinese. So I don't know about that, will have to read up on table manners in France. Especially as their profile claims they enjoy food or something.

That's their profile info. They say 'we love good food', I only hope we won't be eating out too often because I have no idea about French table etiquette. 

They have already changed their profile to look for someone for September 2014. I am filling in for their au pair from Melbourne who is au pairing from October 2013-Sept 2014, but she is going to visit her own family during Christmas, which is when I step in. 

They used to claim on their profile that they pay an additional 150-350 euros per month or something for additional english lessons in the neighbourhood and evening babysitting, that better still be true. They did email me about the job requirements:

-------------------

Hello Joanna,

I would ask you 30 hours working per week  (for 314 eur per month pro
rata temporis), I think it would be like that :

-           I would need you Monday Tuesday Friday Thursday all morning
until 1pm some days or 2pm45 some days, including 45 min or 1h of
english lessons to my 2 childrens

-          On Wednesday I would ask 1.5 hour of English lesson in the
morning for my 2 kids, probably from 10 am to 11.30 am, and some
Wednesday afternoon to bring my older son to a lesson in another city
by metro (which will take about 3 hours, from 1.30pm to 4.30 pm) I do
not know exactly how I will organize that

-          Sometimes to bring them to their activities in Chelles (music,
sport, danse)

-          Sundays free



-          plus 1 or 2 babysitting in the evening when I go to sport


And then, you will give collective lessons to children (maximum 10
children in a group). It would be on Saturday :

Probably 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm first group (little ones, around 6 years
old)

And 4.30 pm to 5:30 pm second group around 9 years old

This would be paid 30 euros per hour if the groups are complete (10
kids per group, as I have asked for 3 eur per hour per children). We
will be starting the lessons first Saturdayof October.

And there may be another group on wenesday afternoon, or maybe
sturday morning, but an English girl that we know could do it if you
are not available.


And if you wish, I can tell my friends that you are available to
babysit from time to time.


You will  have one week free of working during Christmas holidays,
maybe 2, I need to think about how we will organize our Christmas
holidays and what you would  like to do.

I need to check if you can have free French lessons in Chelles while
our Au Pair will not be there.  It will be during afternoons.

What is your level of French please?


So I guess you will have some time to visit Paris.


If you wish to take a day or 2 off work sometimes, we can arrange
that if you tell me in advance, even if it is on Saturday, I can ask
the English girl we know to do the French lessons for you.


If it is the same price to come, I would prefer if you could come
before the 13th of December.


I do not have a lot of time just right now, but we can skype to talk
about that.


Kind regards

------------------

So, I have a few uncertainties here.

-First of all, fingers crossed the kids are not the type to attack babysitters physically, like so many au pair experiences I've heard of.

-I have to keep in mind to ask them for a more clearer schedule, AS SOON as I arrive (to avoid the exploited scenario). 

-I have to calculate the amount of hours I worked during the first week to see if I would be exploited.

-I need to ask when I arrive whether they are paying me weekly or monthly. Fingers crossed weekly.

-Make sure they pay me for the 'extra' English lessons.

-I should be getting paid for evening babysitting too (unless it contributes towards the 30 hours per week)

-I hope they are going to pay for transport passes (but I wouldn't mind too much if they don't it's just that most families do, and Paris is an expensive place for everything).

-I wonder if they mean by vacation, a paid vacation? I think it is a paid vacation, because apparently paid vacations are really long and the norm in France. Fingers crossed it is a paid vacation. It would be I think, because they'd have to tell me beforehand if it wasn't, rather than me showing up assuming I'd get paid for the whole 2 months. 

-Housework is my main problem. According to au pair websites, the heaviest housework I should be doing is easy ironing and laundry. Strictly not jobs like hard ironing of blouses or something, shouldn't be laundering stuff that is too gross and dirty, and I shouldn't be doing stuff like cleaning toilets. 

-I hope I get my own bathroom. I get my own room for sure, because they told me if I wanted to come earlier or stay later they had a spare bedroom for me even with the other au pair there. 

-So basically I refuse to do stuff like change diapers or clean bathrooms. I will have to be firm from the start I think, so they don't think I'm a naive little 17 year old who hasn't done her research.

-And I always need to be ready to search for other families, because you never know if you might end up with a psycho one that kicks you out (that happens often apparently). Luckily, most of these girls have irresponsible parents who don't have enough money to help them out in a situation like this. Whereas I'm sure my mum would loan me the money (or rather her husband would) if I needed to say stay in a hotel in Paris for a few days until I found a new family. I probably would find one if I had to, because I could search for an au pair job anywhere in Europe seeing as the travel prices are cheap within Europe, so it wouldn't be just restricted to Paris.

-I better be free to explore Paris as soon as I get off work at 2:45 on weekdays. I'd hate to have the type of family who keeps you around making you play with your children, under the pretence that 'you must because you are part of the family, and that's what big sisters would do!'

-I think 10 years old is a safe age, because the boy likes reading apparently and I can't imagine a tantrum thrower being a bookworm as well.

-6 year old girl I would have to be more wary of. Not sure how easy or difficult she would be, but I'd expect any age for a girl before 8 years could be potentially tricky or bratty type.

-Unfortunately, I don't think they will be going on many trips together as a family (so no free holidays in Europe for me), because of the baby. Obviously no family in their right minds brings a baby of a few months old on holiday.

I think during my week-long Christmas vacation I would probs just pack my bags and go to somewhere else in France, maybe go take a look at the famous regions like Nice or something. Even if it wasn't a paid vacation. Well, unless the kids were really nice and I didn't mind them. But I can't really imagine an easygoing 6 y o girl, especially one that probably does not get enough attention because of the baby. And dammit, I just checked up on school holidays in France, the kids get 21/12 to 6/01 as a small Christmas holiday. Oh well, not too bad I guess it could have been longer/worse.

This blog semi freaks me out:

http://aupairabroad.tumblr.com

It took me hours to read. The writer is actually really engaging, you have to go to page 18 and work your way from the post at the bottom page up. Although her host family was annoying and the kids were nightmares, I think she had issues too. I mean, she got drunk every night and returned to the family at like 6am every morning or something? If I were the family, I might have had issues too. I am shocked at how immature the 12 year old was, though. 

So their long-term au pair returns on 15 February, but my Contiki tour of Europe doesn't start until 18 February so the family offered to let me stay in their spare bedroom. But I don't think I'd want to, because I don't want weird awkward moments with another au pair and having to deal with the kids' confusion, etc or have to say no to playing with them (since I obviously wouldn't be getting paid). So I'm spending 15th-18th Feb in London, which is where the tour starts anyway. I'm doing the European Discovery tour. What sucks was I had to pay and extra $500 to get a single room to myself, because my mum would freak if I had to share double or triple. 

http://www.contiki.com/destinations/europe/tours/110-european-discovery-winter

So by 1 March 2014, I would have visited:

-Netherlands

-Germany

-Austria

-France

-England

-Switzerland

-Belgium

-Italy

If I had more money I'd just go full on touring Europe without au pairing so I could do the Eastern countries like Poland and stuff, but hey I'm not gonna complain, I don't mind spending 9 weeks near Paris.

And, BTW, the host family 'piano' is really a lame digital keyboard, I saw it that one time I skyped with the family. So not much practice to be done there. Ok now it's 4 pm and I really have to study.

Before I go though, I should probably make a checklist of things I need to do between now and 9 December:

-Finalise scholarship applications by 2 October

-Passport photo ASAP

-Renew passport ASAP

-Get the Schengen visa from the French embassy, have to ring first to book appointment by 1 November

-Figure out how to get the UK visa by 1 November

-Revise grade 5 music theory (maybe grade 6) for music auditions by 1 November

-Send in flight itinerary details to Contiki by 8 November

-Pay full amount minus deposit for Contiki tour and check in to the tour online by 9 November

-Apply for elite performer bonus points by 30 November

-Figure out global SIM card stuff by 1 December

-Go figure out currency issues (yuan, pounds and euros), travel money card at the bank by 5 December

-Go get brows and stuff done as well as a facial with Ci by 7 December

-Plan spare time in France by 8 December

-Organise hotel in London for 15 Feb-18 Feb by 8 December

-Plan for 3 days in London by 8 December

-Confirm flights with STA by 8 December

-Tell Mum to answer calls for me regarding scholarship applications and UAC contact stuff by 8 December

Less important stuff:

-Buy tour books for Western Europe and France

-See if there are au pair meetups in Paris

-See if there's a nanny handbook somewhere

-Buy better luggage

-Research online language programs to learn French

-Double check with Host Mum if there is wifi, if not maybe consider getting extra internet data on the phone.

-Download music, movies.

-Download tonnes of books on kindle/iBooks.

-Switch to either iphone 5s or go back to iphone 5 because the S4 is crap.

-Buy some clothes online

-Research French culture and etiquette

-Go get birth control so I don't get stuck with my period overseas.

-Get monthly contacts

-Go to the dentist, because I haven't been in like 6 years?

-Buy some gifts for host family - maybe coffee table book of Australia for parents OR chocolate covered macadamias OR tim tams. Koala bag/toy/backpack for girl. Some Australia-print bib for baby. Maybe a really big Australia-themed snowglobe or some other toy or an English book for boy.

-Maybe bring my flute along and finally start learning it in Paris?

-Maybe find a babysitting job on the side for extra money in Paris.

Also, I'm seriously considering taking gap year. I found an amazing German family near Duesseldorf with 3 horses, 2 dogs, 3 cats, 5 kids. They go horseriding every week! Pay is 360 euros a month as well as free board, food and public transport, but I'd have to pay myself for compulsory language classes with the au pair visa. My mum would not let me take a gap year (even though she claims to loathe me and the amount of money she has to spend on me), but I so want to. They even have a separate detached ensuite bedroom with separate front door for the au pair. 4 weeks paid vacation if you au pair for the year. They are going on holiday to Denmark next year too, sounds like perfect family. I really regret buying return air tickets now. Who knows, if I change my mind I could even go to Germany and tell my mum last minute. It'd be perfect, I could visit German family first during my Christmas break to make sure they don't have evil kids and animals. I could ring STA, ask to cancel my flight to Sydney or switch it for Paris-Duesseldorf (which is honestly like 60 bucks by air or train). I don't even need a visa for Germany, if you are from Australia you don't apply for an au pair residence permit until after you've arrived in Germany!

Good thing about host family in France, the French lessons in Chelles are free (I don't have to take them because I am on a Schengen tourist visa and technically working there illegally, so it's not like the compulsory French lessons under an au pair visa). But the family wants me to take them because their long-term au pair has to take them, and the family doesn't want to complicate things by telling the government about long term au pair's home visit, so I'm just filling in for the girl's French lesson attendance, even. But I don't mind (unless it is really boring). Hopefully I will be half-fluent in French by the time I leave! If I do international studies at uni I kind of want to go to France for a year, not too sure yet. Maybe Germany or Spain instead. 

Had a bit of a snoop on Google maps, discovered the house is a 20 minute walk from a shopping centre. Only stores I recognised under the directory were Sephora, H&M and Carrefour (which is also in Shanghai!) Semi lame though. Would do Sephora if desperate for shampoo or something, H&M for clothes and I will steer clear of food because it's awkward eating your own food at someone else's house.

Off to do study now, hopefully. Munching on red licorice, watermelon and drinking apple,mandarin, strawberry and lime juice which just tastes like orange juice -_-

Also less obvious MUST-visit places in France/England before I forget!!

-Versailles

-Laduree or some macaron shop

-Shakespeare and co

-Paris flea markets

-Go see the Paris Opera Ballet or something. Or the Royal Ballet or the London Philharmonic (or Paris).

-Holocaust museum in Paris

-Music museum in Paris

-Horse ride in London, or Paris if French is good enough.

-Mont St-Michel

-Visit Chipotle because all the vloggers on Youtube keep raving about it, even though Chipotle outside of USA may be different.

-Loire Valley Chateaux

-Avignon

-Go to Ravel, Debussy and Poulenc's graves. Just out of interest.

-Go visit the tombs of all those crazy medieval rulers in London (Westminster Abbey, maybe?)

-Palace of Fontainebleau

-Urban Outfitters, Topshop and Brandy Melville in London/Paris.

Off to do English now, au revoir.