no fun...!

The last week were really no fun and very stressful, that's why you didn't read anything new on my blog for a long time.
Not that nothing interesting happens, I just don't have the time to keep it up to date -.- so annoying!!

But with my studies everything is fine - exept, that I don't have so much time to do all the things I want to do... and I thought, that I have more time to read things I am interested in... but at the moment I have problems to keep up with the main readings because of all the assessments we are now starting to write.
My first one is a book review about the "destruction of the indies" - a very boring and too repetitive on.
Next friday we are writing a courswork in Spanish - means learning some more vocabulary^^ And then some essays.... we'll see, how it goes :)

But my main problem is acutally to be an Au Pair, I decided for myself, that I am not made for this. Even if the family contributes a part as well... no day without criticizing me or a dispute between the parents, loud and clearly.
I really need to find another work, or I get crazy. I really cannot do this anymore....
Sounds horrible, but good to know, that I am not on my own, a girl changed the family two times, but in the end flew home, because it was just too much.
Maybe all families in London are a bit strange? But for the Au Pair before seemed to work quiet well and I can hear this all the time "Hana here, Hana there, she was so good bla bla bla"!!!
I am nerved!! -.-

But one good thing I want to show: my room in the old house and now:

old room...

...new room!

So, that's all for now.
I think one post per week, plus my Social Saturday has to be enough for the next time -.-

Read more ...

Happy Birthday!!

This saturday we celebrated the birthday of the little boy I have to take care of ( I am an Au Pair, who didn't know^^). He is now 6 years old and feels really grown up ;)

We went to a big playground especially for kids with different areas, a paradise for them! I haven't seen such a building in Germany and think, that this is a really cool idea.

After about 2 hours we changed places, in this hall there are some seperated rooms to celebrate the birthday more properly just with the invited friends. First something to eat, actually not much, just a bit of vegtables and sandwhiches and some little pieces of pizza.

Then everybody screamed the "happy birthday" song and the candles were blown out and actually then it was really fast over.

Then every child collected their birthday bags and then we already had to go out.
Definitely something complete different and maybe more relaxed for the parents, even if I thought, that the atmosphere wasn't that great... but well, the kids liked it I think^^

Read more ...

Ups and Downs

Now I am already one week in London and the last days I hadn't many things to do, because the mother is at home and so I have to look for the boy just from time to time a bit.

Enough time to discover the area, study a bit Spanish again and prepare everything for university.

At the moment I am looking for the best student account, very difficult! Actually on the internet you just find bad opinions about every bank, but well, what should I do? I need one -.- So hopefully I am not getting in horrible trouble with that. I am applying for an account at HSBC now.

for my best friend, Felix^^

Next step is a student Oyster card. I was very surprised, at the moment I have a normal card, uploaded 10 pounds, after one trip to Central London and back, 9 pounds where already gone!!!
Horrible expensive, I really should start to look for a bike -.-

Last sunday I spend nearly the whole day outside, there was a meetup (www.meetup.com) at Regent's Park to play a bit volleyball and we played nearly the wole afternoon! That was good fun, after that day I really hat sore muscles everywhere... first time after a year and my operation at the foot that I did sport^^

And I am still applying for other jobs, if it's not going to work - to study and being an au pair. I already got some negative replies, but no choice to give up^^ 

I am afraid, that's all for today, I am going to write some more applications (fingers already bruning^^) and hoping for the best!

Do you have the same problems to find a student job at the moment or had the problem?

Read more ...

First days in London

Since last wednesday I am now in London and have to take care of the little boy from my host family.
At the moment he is having is nap. I have to admit, I miss my family and home at the moment more than the first time at my Europe trip... I do not really know why, maybe because I just spent three weeks at home in Germany, or because I don't know, if I can really fly back in february to my mother's birthday....

landed in London

The first day I actually started immediately to care for him, I brought him together with the mother to bed and red him a little story, the next day we played all the morning together, the afternoon I had off and I spent the rest of the day to walk a bit around the area.

The house of my host family, typically English^^

So the next two weeks I am going to be a full-time au pair, then the orientation week of my university starts and I'll see after the enrolment, if it still fits or if I need to find another accommodation and work...cross your fingers!! :)

typical calm street at outer London

So maybe this or next week I'll start to go out a bit more, when I know more about my "future" and so on...
I really hate it, to sit here now and don't know anything -.- Do you know what I mean?

Read more ...

Planning London - Overview and Questions

picture from my trip in September 2011

Before going abroad, for holiday or whatever, you always have to think about so many things an consider als circumstances.
Next week on wednesday I fly again to London, but this time for more than one year. I am going to be an Au Pair in an French - South African family with a 5-year-old boy. We already skyped several times and they are really nice and the family life sound enjoyable.
But here is just a brainstorming what I have to think about...because I haven't really prepared anything yet^^

1. Luggage
I just want to have one big luggange, my suitcase calles Elli (yeah it's got a name... came to me as I had to wait for her at the baggage claim^^) and one handluggage. So I see myself clearing my whole wardrobe and deciding at every piece of cloth if I REALLY need it^^
Do you have the same ritual or "problems"?^^

2. Discover London
Yeah I've already been there, but haven't seen all, that for sure. This time I would like to buy a travel guide, but which is the best? I want one which prices and opening hours, with a bit description, a map and not too big or heavy. Someone told me that "lonely planet" should be pretty good, do you have another favourite?
"London A to Z" should be important too, but I don't know if a normal map would be enough...

3. Cheap freetime in London
Sounds like it is not possible, I know^^ But I found two website with some hints at ehow.com and timeout.com. I can't spent too much money, because I would like to have some savings to travel maybe to other cities and after this year, when I want to go to a university. Do you know any other websites or articles?

4. Working
Actually I work as an Au Pair, but not all the day and why not finding a little job I can do while the little boy is at school. There are several websites and I hope to find a job as a waiter or receptionist.
And one or two days a week I want to work as a volunteer, like at an Oxfam shop like I did in Dublin or another organisation.

5. Get social
of course I don't want to be all on my own in London, so I think I am joining some meetups. This site is really great - I think :) And maybe some of you are living in London or around too? Or if you visit, just tell me, maybe we can meet.

Have you been to London? Or are you planning to visit the beautiful citiy?

Read more ...