Survival

There are certain seemingly obvious things that you need to find / note / realise when moving to any new location.

A good doctor, dentist, hairdresser and beautician. A nearby, but decent supermarket, and a good pub.

I've got the food and the pub down, and we're being very careful with our new, very sharp knives. It is also good to note when said supermarkets are open, in case, for example, you were to frequent said pub and not have any hang-over-appropriate food the next day. (There is nothing but Subways open on Sundays).

Then there are the other, not so obvious things.

While an Au Pair Visa is, though not without it's trials, suprisingly easy to obtain, the job itself may leave you wondering what the freakydeak you are doing looking after someone else's kids, instead of working on your own career. The decision to take some time out from working in an office for so long and take a 'gap' year looks rather silly when faced with three very different, very bored children.

Which brings me to my next point.

Starting work as an Au Pair to 3 children in the last two weeks of their very long summer vacation, in the midst of rainy weather that forces everyone indoors, is probably not the best time. This will, no doubt, lead one to above mentioned questions of "What am I DOING?".

Regardless, I appear to have survived my first week of work. This, however, may be an illusion, and I may actually have died a slow, noodle cooking induced death.

p.s. children don't like pepper. just in case you were wondering. and putting some on noodles because you 'thought it would taste nice' is not an appreciated answer!