The What, Where, & How

I guess I should explain how I have received the amazing opportunity to live in Germany for a year. I am not just going to travel around and site-see on another person’s dime (I’m not that lucky). I was offered a job as an au pair. That’s right, a nanny.

I will be caring for an adorable, blonde-haired, German-speaking, almost 3-year-old little boy named Yannick.

Yannick likes horses, the zoo, and going to the airport to watch planes. He is an only child; son of Monika and Christian. They (soon to be "we") live in a town called Mönchengladbach, which is right beside Düsseldorf and about 45 minutes from Cologne (Köln).

My basic duties include getting up in the morning around 8 (Monday thru Friday) and getting Yannick ready. I then proceed to drive him to preschool for the day. After that, I can spend the day how I like, but must be home around the time that Monika and Christian pick him up from daycare in case the traffic is bad and I need to go pick him up. Oh, and I must also do a little cleaning around the house (about an hour a day). I get weekends off (Fridays if I want to travel that weekend) and 4 weeks of vacation during the year.

I picture myself (after dropping Yannick off) going to cafes and drinking cappuccinos (although in the states, I do not like coffee, I have figured out that I do like it when I am in Europe. I know, it’s touristy and all in my head, but I’m OK with that.).  What will I do at these cafes while drinking my cappuccino and perhaps eating some type of pastry? I could read a book, write a journal, people-watch, plan a weekend getaway, plan the rest of my day, skype with friends/family that happen to be up at 3 in the morning (which will probably only be James), et cetera, et cetera. Basically, whatever I feel like doing that day.

After breakfast at my café, which I will become a regular at, I will maybe drive my stick-shift Opel back home (after I learn to drive stick-shift). Then I could ride my bike around and explore the ‘hood. Apparently there is a river/stream near and also some horses. Maybe I can ride a horse! In Germany! How awesome would that be? Or I could take a drive over to the Netherlands (which is 20 miles away) and buy some tulips. Or maybe I’ll just go home and watch Pirates of the Caribbean in German and laugh at Johnny’s dubbed over German.

I also have in my head all of the outfits that I will be wearing while I do these things. Monika has informed me that they are very casual, wearing mostly jeans and basic t-shirts. However, as my mother will pledge to, I denote certain articles of clothing as “my skirt that I wear to stroll along the riverbank” or “my shirt that I pick apples in”. I like to visualize stories with my clothing. So as I picture my time in Germany, I also picture all of the clothes I will get to wear, like the pants I barely wear, but save because they would be perfect for wearing to an open air market while carrying a whicker basket for all of my fresh fruit and vegetables.

At one point it might have seemed far-fetched, but now I am getting to not only visualize but live out my dream.

So the question is: will I really do any of these things? Who knows. But I am excited about finding out and living my day-to-day life in Germany. I’m sure no matter what activities I get into every day or what clothes I have on, it will be a perfect experience. And as I start this life, I’ll be sure to let you know if I spend my mornings sipping cappuccinos and my afternoons picking tulips.

“Die wirklich glückliche Person ist eine, wer die Landschaft wenn auf einem Umweg genießen kann.” – Unknown  (I think this is translated correctly?)

(“The really happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery when on a detour.”)