Blogs from Vigo, Galicia, Spain, Europe - page 2

Ahhhh, school. It's a little strange to be In School again after more than five months out...but what I just realize is how much I ADORE school. I'm trying to hard to pick up Spanish, to both understand and speak the wonderfully useful language. Which means Tuesdays and Thursdays my life revolves around my lessons at the universidad de vigo. Every other day of the week is simply filled with flash cards! Today was no exception, it began earlier than I would have liked--with taking the babies to school before I napped before taking the bus up the many hills to the university. Once there I ran some errands and then headed to class, where I spent two hours being slightly confused but happy to be learning (past tense today; something I need a lot of ... read more

Ah, another week begins! So this was my first, well second BIG test in which I was to face the ultimate challenge: kids in the morning! AHHHH! So I rose early, got dressed, set the table and then dared to do the impossible: GET THEM UP, DRESSED, FED AND ON TIME TO SCHOOL!!! And I tell you what it happened; I bribed Marta with sweets, was stern with George, coaxed Lucia out of bed and got Elena up last! Then they all were fed, cleaned and off to school. I thought I had a victory when “it” happened: Elena decided to get cry-ey…meaning we were half way there when she needed the toilet, which she then needed to cry about for the remainder of the walk; then she didn’t want to go to school so she ... read more

I have found the secret to being a good au pair: TAKE A NAP! I realized that I have been having no energy for the kids, so today I took a nap…well I went back to sleep after taking them to school! And I felt so much more on top of it and awake with energy that I came up with ideas of what to play with them, was funny and charismatic and had fun with them on the play gym and at the park. It was a great feeling to be settling into my job here, getting used to the hours, kids, work, people, language etc.; it’s all an adjustment! And adjusting I am! Sometimes I have moments of sadness or panic, but one should always have those if one is doing something worth wild! ... read more

Well I had my first big show down with one of the kids today…George, Crowkay, as they call him decided to really test the limits tonight, my first extended period of time without their parents. He and I had just had our first alone time together and it went really well, we took a long walk and went to some shops around Vigo. But as soon as the other siblings got home he really acted up, hitting the others, yelling and stuff and then he wouldn’t listen to me, he kept saying “you can’t do anything to me” so I grounded him for tomorrow and his parents have backed me up, so I guess that’s one win for the au pair! The rest of the day was much better! I got up and got the kids ... read more

“BEACHING IT UP!” Was today’s theme. I woke up earlish and got going, Jen and I met at the bus stop and caught the C3 to Samil, the popular beach around here. We then spent five and a half hours lounging in the sun until I turned very brown and we were desperate for ice cream (Helado!). I then went home on the bus (which is great because you get to really see different parts of Vigo) and cleaned up at home and did some house keeping before my family returned. I’m excited to see them, which is a VERY good sign! I then spent the latter part of the evening playing games, making supper and laughing with the kids before tucking them in to bed. It’s funny how looking after someone else’s kids makes you ... read more