Seasons

I know I haven't blogged much during this time as an Au Pair.

It's been a very roller-coaster experience and sometimes hard to keep track of all the changes.

Due to not having the correct documents for a Residence Permit in Austria, I won't be staying more than the 90 day US tourist passport allowance. This is also coupled with multiple talks with the Host Parents and agreeing that while we get along fine, it's not the perfect fit for a long term arrangement.

I remember that sometime between booking my flight and actually leaving, I started wondering if this would be more than a “Spring Fling” so to say. I was flying out about week after Spring started and if I could only stay within the 3 month allowance, than I would be leaving about a week after the official shift to Summer. I had seen a brief statement about the needed certificate for proof of German Language knowledge and had an inkling that I might not be able to have this the right time frame to then apply for the permit. 

I have been taking a language course here, but it was only after starting it did I discover that it's just a participation class and there are no tests at the completion that will issue the certificate specifically required by the government here for a US citizen.

I don't regret this class, though. It's the place I've been able to really make some friends – not just friendly people that know my Host Family.

Once it was clear that my hopeful 12 month experience would now be only a 1/4^th of that time frame, I started wondering what I should do next.

While Skyping with my boyfriend, he suggested my grandparent's house in California. At first I didn't really see what I could do there. But a couple days later I Skyped with my mom for Mother's Day and she mentioned that my grandpa is having some health issues, so its best to always have someone around in case he needs assistance. This is putting a lot of stress on my grandma who is very young-at-heart and social. She loves going out with friends and things, but now has to really change the way she plans things out to make sure she is available at the house as much as possible.

My Uncle lives in a different city and comes up as often as he can. He is very family-oriented and great at being involved with all of our different paths of life.

This development seems like the right timing for me to spend time with my family on the West Coast. 

My other grandma passed away about 5 years after we moved to Florida and I still wish I could have spent more time with her as a teenager, since I know the dynamics are different when you're older and can appreciate and remember all the things that can be learned from their life experiences. I really want to use this opportunity to glean things from my grandparent's and also help around the house as much as possible, while still giving independence to all 3 of us.

So, I should be back in Florida for part of July, to organize some things, see as many friends as possible, and hopefully go dancing! Then it'll be California for at least 3 months while I try to figure out what's next for me. :)

I'm very grateful to all who have been supportive of me as I've pursued this option and everything that has come from trying it. It seems like too often in life, we don't always appreciate our community until things get shaken-up from the daily norm.