premier jour...

I slept in today until about 11, played with the kids, had corn and beets, eggs (everyone else had sausage) and chips, and cinnamon in yogurt for lunch. Then we put together a 3d puzzle of the globe before my driving excursions. Three things I almost forgot about driving standard: emergency brake up!, neutral when at a stop light, and give it lots of gas up a hill. I took mt french mother and the kids around town; we drove past their English classes and Doctor's office in the next town over, we stopped at the train station, and then we drove to the mall so my french mother could pick something up at the FNAC (like FYI). I'm too slow for the people around here because I'm afraid random roads out of nowhere have the right of way. The other rules of the road are basically the same. The car is a green Puegoet.

One weekend in September, there is free entrance to some places in Paris and around France that you normally can't get into. In two weeks, I'll use a week day to visit the Swiss Embassy and apply for a passport. I need to remember to buy a calendar and a cheap watch. I'm also in the market for a mobile and plan, just for emergencies and letting my french parents know if I go somewhere or need something.

So I was wrong about the pay. It's less than I though, but they put gas in my car, they pay for my French classes, and they are paying for my health care. They are buying me ten metro passes and ten train(?) passes for weekends each trimester--more or less depending on how many I use. International calls from the land-line are free and all other calls within France, except French cell phones. So my student loans, and if I get a mobile, are my only expenses.

The kids: The youngest boy is going through a "difficult" phase. He's trouble, but he's probably the goofiest kid I've ever met. When we get used to each other, he's going to have a hard time saying goodbye. He's already put on his grandmother's shoes, eyed the fashion mannequins in the mall, and pushed around a pink disney princess stroller. He needs to start speaking English at home or he won't be able to get into classes. The other boy is definitely the middle child. He's mostly independent but can also put on a show and push limits. He's a climbin', jumpin', gun-shootin', ball-playin' kind of a boy. He's funny and he knows it, and he walks with a swagger like the Incredible Hulk sometimes. He mostly get ignored. The girl likes glitter and butterflies and seashells and giving me presents. She likes jewelry, bossing around and scolding the 3-year-old, and controlling everything that's going on. She likes my purse. All the kids are really into Bollywood, so I'm gonna teach them some moves that my Babson friends taught me.

Heading into Paris tomorrow--I've already met another au pair and a girl who will be at University in Paris this year. Being introduced to a whole group of au pairs under the Eiffel Tower tomorrow evening. Not too worried about making friends.