Third week

Hello!

From now an I can call myself a real au pair, the kids are in there 'I’m not always happy anymore' fase. At first I had some trouble with handeling the kids when they are tired or in a mood, because I didn't know how to react on it or how to handel. I still not 100% sure how to handel, but I will find a way and it is a good thing to learn more about. I talked about it with Leah and we will find a way to give the kids some time for themselves to relax.

The week is started! I made my first tiktak haha. This week we went a lot to the park, the kids also made some new friends at the park with the Yellow slide. I also started driving the kids on my one this week, it went pretty well and I really like to drive! I already liked it back home, but here it is even better. The rules they have here are so simple.

I'm graduated!! I had my graduation on Tuesday, but how?? My school has organized a drive-in for all the students, really nice! But unfortunately I had to sign out for that, because I’m here. I texted my mentor, he felt sorry for me so he came up with a brilliant idea. He wanted to put me on the big screen during the graduation, so I could say something to my classmates. We weren't sure if we could put me on the big screen so we tried before everybody arrives, but some of my friends already send me pictures of me on the big screen during trying to make it work. In the end it worked! I could say something to my classmates. At first I was a little fed up about me not being at my graduation, but after everything I still was a little included in my graduation. Thankyou Rob! I was able to follow the graduation live on my computer and in the mean time I FaceTimed to my best friend. So I was still included! Thanks again for everything and congratulations to my classmates!

Fall farm

Every Wednesday my host kids are free at 11.30am. This is perfect when you want to do something. Leah came with an idea that I could take the kids to a farm. She told me about that kind of farms, but I didn't had a picture with it. We don't have that kind of farms in The Netherlands. We went to Clark's Elioak Farm, it was a nice farm with a fairytales theme and a lot of thing to do for the kids. They had climbing equipment, a maze, different rides, animals you can pet and feed and fairytales houses. Emmett was scared of feeding the goats, but Ainsley and I fed them. Sometimes Ainsley was also afraid of the goats, if they were fighting or pushed each other away.

On Sunday we went to an other farm, Gaver Farm. This one was so much bigger and so much fun! I went here with my host family and the parents from Leah, I got to know them better what I really like! The grandpa did some research about The Netherlands and asked me some questions. I really liked it that he made an effort to know more about my home country. We played with everything at the farm, we went from every slide and had a typical American lunch! Hotdog!! And cider donuts! The cider donuts are so good! We also had kettle corn, that is popcorn but then better. We had so much fun and I really like the farms! It is a really nice thing to do during the Fall.

Girls trips

Wednesday evening I was with Juanita (South-African and Sharon (Italian), two girls from my LCC group that life nearby. We went to Rockville, a town 20 minutes from Olney. It is a really nice place with a lot of restaurants, cafe's and bars. We had dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings, a typical American restaurant where you can watch sportgames inside and have a lot of dishes with meat. We really had a fun time and had good food! After dinner we went for a little walk around the town and found a old cinema, it was closed now, but maybe soon it wil reopen again! Already a few museums in DC are reopened this weekend. After the walk we went to a desert place where we had an ice cream and sat outside.

I have been to Washington DC again!! I went with the same girls as Wednesday evening. We drove to DC and went to all the monuments in DC. It was really busy at the Washington monument, because of a nationaal praying day or something. There were so much people and they came from everywhere. We past them and went to the Lincoln memorial, the few up there was so beautiful. You can see the city and the Washington monument. We went to take a break up there and enjoyed the few. After the Lincoln memorial we went to see the Capitool, but it wasn't that beautiful as normal, because they were repairing it. We sat there for a little by the water. Later in the car we went to George Town, a small town with a really famous cupcake. The line for the bakery was so long.... That cupcake has to be very good to go wait in that line. George Town has a lot of restaurants and big brand stores, but also little boutiques. We had lunch at a Spanish restaurant and went to an other place.

Next stop: Collage Park. We wanted to do something els, so we went to look for a nice park or place to chill during the sunset. I found this place and it was really pretty! We sat by the water on a bench, we saw ducks, turtles and fish. It was really a beautiful place and stayed there for a while. When we were back in the car we went to Sharons house but before we arrived, we went to Five Guys to grab something to eat! Then we went to Sharons. We sat outside and it was very nice, we played Jenga and talked for a long time.

If you were thinking that I have seen the girls to much this week already, then you are wrong. Sunday evening I went back to Sharons house to had dinner together. Before we had dinner we went to Walmart and T.J. Maxx to show me how the stores are. I really liked the stores and will be back soon. Walmart is kinda the same as Target, but more cheep and T.J. Maxx is a kinda outlet store where they sell clothes, bags, things for at home and things you don't actually need. When we got back at Sharons she had to finish the food and after that we could eat. She made us some Italian dishes, focaccia (Italian bread), Italian prepared potatoes and burgers with avocado. The food was so good!! The rest of the night was really nice watched a serie, Ratched, in the basement and had ice cream. I really had a fun weekend with the girls and I’m happy that I have met them. :)

Love,

Naomi