My 1st White Christmas…

Most people have asked me if I had a white Christmas…the answer is yes! (But technically we cheated) Dave (my host dad) was on call on Christmas day so we just moved everything up by one day, so we opened presents on the morning of the 24^th, while it was snowing outside, aww!

Making snow angels

Keeping with tradition Dave and Amanda said the kids could each open a present on Christmas eve, so Amanda found one for Annabel, then asked Dave where mine was, to which he replied “she’s not a kid, she’s an adult” and Amanda said “no she’s is like our 4^th child” It was really sweet! I told Dave that’s why they are my host-parents! So they let me open a present, a bright pink snuggli (not sure if they are big in SA? But basically it’s a blanket with sleeves) Now when I sit on my pink chair and watch tv I have a pink snuggli to keep me warm!

AJ and I snuggling on my new snuggli

The next day was lots of fun, I love Christmas! My host parents really made me feel very special! Later that morning we all went outside and played in the snow! We had an awesome fillet mignon for Christmas lunch, a far cry from a tradition SA style braai (BBQ/grill) but I can’t imagine trying that outside in the snow! Although I have to admit, I have seen people trying it!

Our beautiful Christmas tree

I’m going to stop there but will let you know I had an awesome New Years Eve with my Swedish and Colombian friends! We went out and just had a good time, I was DD (driver, not drinker) so I had a good sober time, but hey you can party without alcohol and have just as much fun (plus having no hangover the next morning, is an added bonus!)

New Years at the Safe House, WI

Big Decisions…

My next big thing is…a big decision, I have to decide in month’s time whether I want to extend with my same family or whether I would like to re-match with another family (two of my friends have already had their families offer to ‘take’ me.) I love my current family and really enjoy Wisconsin, I have a really awesome room, and I get along well with my host family and love the children… However I would also like to see more of the country, but I can do that from here. I’m a little worried if I re-match and get a family from hell and that will taint my whole au pair experience as I will spend the next weeks in re-match trying to find another new family. Plus I know my host family at present is going to New Jersey again next year and to Boston in July. I’m just not sure, and I can’t look at what families are out there until I have told my family I want a re-match. Well just anyone’s thoughts on this would really help, even though ultimately it’s my choice, I want to be able to blame someone else (ha ha) …so please tell me what you think…

Skyping with my family (this pic is just for you dad :)

Yip, that's my confused face...

Oh wait you are taking pics, okay I'll smile :)

My first Turkey Day…

The 26^th of November was Thanksgiving Day which in America is basically a big excuse to eat, drink and be merry. With my host mom being a vegetarian I was a little worried about how that would affect my first American Thanksgiving experience, but Dave who was not going to let that happen, cooked a big fat turkey (for two of us, hey I would have settled for turkey sandwiches) We had a lovely but small celebration. Annabel when asked what she was thankful for happily replied “Scrambled eggs” ha ha aren’t 3 year olds cute?

AJ and I at the Thanksgiving day table

The other day she asked me “Robyn, where you live in AFRICA (yes the emphasis was on the word Africa) it’s like a zoo there, right?…” And that was it, I have no idea where it came from or why, but I suppose it is true!

Braden, AJ and Finn...fall family photo

That is my little American adventure up until end of November o9, although there is just one more bit I want to add… I got stopped by the cops - for going through a red light! Argh, can you believe I’m such an idiot? I never even saw the light, but the cop saw me so he pulled me over and started questioning me… this is how is basically how it went down…

Cop: “Ma’me, you just went through a red light”

Me: “Seriously?” *very confused look on face*

Cop: “Yes, is this your car?”

Me: “No, it’s my host parents car” *heart beating profusely*

Cop: “Your HOST parents?”

Me: “Yes, I’m not from this country. Where was the traffic light?” *fight urge to call it a robot*

Cop: “Can I see your license?” *after explaining where the traffic light was*

Me: “Sure” *trying to smile my ‘please don’t give me a fine’ smile*

Cop: “I’ll be right back”

          “Are you host parents form Pennsylvania?”

Me: “Originally yes” *by now I have decided if his pen touches the piece of paper in his hand I’m going to turn on the water works, I know what you thinking guys “Crying is blackmail” we know it is, but having so many emotions has to have some perks right?*

Cop: “Okay, well please tell them their license plates have expired”

Me: “They have?!”

Cop: “Yes in March”

Me: “I’ll tell them, I’m so sorry”

Cop: “Its okay, just drive carefully, and have a good night”

Me: “Thank you, you too” (Did that just really happen?, and no fine? Shoo, got to look out for sneaky traffic lights)

Intergrating? ... Maybe...

*Hi-lighted words are explained in the glossary page

Back to Milwaukee…from a wonderful vacation…

Tuesday morning was an early morning wakeup call (yes mom, I consider 5am early!) Only to get to the airport to discover not only can I not find my e-ticket but I have also chosen the wrong terminal. I had to literally fly around the airport from terminal 1 trying to find not 2 or 3 but 7-the last terminal! After finally finding the right terminal and checking myself in, I had to wait in the security check lines, which if you have ever had to travel in the States, you know it’s serious business! I got half way through the lines before I started to freak out realizing I had 10 minutes to make it through and board my plane, so I asked a lady if I could move to the front of the line, she not only moved me to the front she called one of those golf cart things to come and fetch me to take me to my boarding gate! People were just starting at me, with my big sunglasses, funny accent and special treatment…I felt very Hollywood - just for a moment! Finally in my seat I was glad to discover I was not the last to board the plane! My connecting flight was in Vegas, the airport is just filled with slot machines, and it’s actually quite a pretty airport.

Vegas airport...I hope to see you again...soon!

Finally back in Milwaukee I was welcomed by rain and 45F (7.2C) which at the time I thought was tragic…how opinions can change!

Hmmm...Milwaukee I think I love you...

Meeting famous people…

This morning was by far my best and worst morning, today was Hollywood day, but it also meant it was my last day of my CA vacation. We started the Hollywood experience by walking the “Walk of Fame” and of course taking cheesy pictures of the stars we like, next we saw part of the wax museum, outside were Snopp Dogg and Samuel L Jackson.



Donna, Snoop Dogg and I chilling in Hollywood, CA

I also posed for pictures with Batman and Jack Sparrow. Later I found Marilyn Monroe’s handprints (which are virtually the same size as mine) and feet prints (which are ridiculously small!) and her wax figure so we had fun taking pictures with her.



Marilyn Manroe and I in Hollywood, CA

Then we went a ‘tour of the stars homes’ which was pretty fun, if you were riding in a topless van in South Africa you know you’re on a safari and are looking for animals, however in Hollywood you are looking at where famous people live, puts things in perspective doesn’t it? We saw Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills and later went to Santa Monica Boulevard, where we were tipped off to a Lady Gaga signing, Donna being the fun lady she is said “do you want to go?” bearing in mind we weren’t even sure exactly where we were going…but we had a GPS.

I promise that is Lady Gaga!

We decided to just go for it, after maybe 30 mins or more of getting lost, driving in circles and lots of laughter we found the Best Buy where she was signing cd’s. The queue was totally crazy and it was pretty hard to get close to her, but we did catch a glimpse or two of her, so that was really fun! When we finally said goodbye to Hollywood and all its dreams we headed back to say goodbye to the boys and thank them for everything. The rest of the night was spent packing my bags; it’s amazing how nothing ever fits on the way home!



With the Hollywood Sign



Going to the Getty…

The next morning however it was not so easy to function at my normal pace this was greatly attributed not to drinking but to lack of sleep! Donna and I had already set out my last few days so we already had plans, the Getty Art Museum. I have to admit though lack of sleep makes my head a little fuzzy so I was feeling much happier after my third cup of coffee! The museum is up on the hill, so you park your car in a garage then you catch a train/subway up the hill to the museum. The museum is the most beautiful place I have been too! It is like a hidden paradise, I mean it’s pretty close to the big city life yet it is so secluded. There is the most amazing labyrinth made of hedges, but unfortunately you can’t walk through it as it is filled with water. There was an episode of America’s Next Top Model where they filmed at the Getty Museum. I saw some lovely art works there but my favourite by far was “Spring” by Lawrence Alma-Tadema, firstly the colours are vibrant and brilliant, but the best thing about it is the detail in the painting!

That night we went to a lovely couple (Andee and Rich) for dinner, it was the home cooked meal I was craving! It had everything, salad, meat, veggies! Yum Yum! Oh yeah that night was also the night I saw my first skunk. I was a little scared, I had just stepped outside to take a call when I walked to the end of the cul-de-sac (like two houses down) and while talking I realized there was this creature thing running to everyone’s front doors, I thought it was a cat or something…then I realized it wasn’t! So I told my friend, he thought it was VERY funny, but kept saying don’t touch it, yeah thanks good advice! I was a little worried it was going to run after me, because I would have been trapped in the cul-de-sac! Luckily the skunk decided for whatever reason he needed to be running the opposite direction to me, hey wait…do you think he was trying to tell me something?

Hmmm...dessert!

Little Venice and understanding football games…

My 4^th day in CA was spent exploring the surroundings again, this time picking the NW shores. There are buses that go to all the areas I was going but I wanted to walk it explore the area better, and decided I would take the bus home. People here are only not in their cars if they are excising so they have serious work out kit on and they are moving…not wearing flip flops, a lost expression and waving a camera at anything that moves, so it goes without saying people in So Cal (South California) were looking at me a little strangely!

With sights like this to see, how can you not be snap happy?

I walked to a place called Naples which is so beautiful it’s a little town that has bridges everywhere and little water ways with boats. Very cute! I continued onto Belmont shore which had a few shops along the main road, even a shop called Riley, (that’s my youngest sister’s name) Then I walked back along the beach 'til I got to Naples where I caught the bus on what I thought would be a short trip home, turns out…it wasn't! I told the bus driver where I needed to get off and asked him to tell me where it is, so either he forgot or just didn’t understand me, but I saw another part of the town I didn’t realize I was going to see. Then the bus came to a stop and he said this is the last stop, then I saw the light flick on and he realized what had happened, so he offered to let me stay on the bus and promised to tell me where my stop was!

Naples, CA

That night Kevin (Donna’s youngest son) had a football game. It was the final in the Rooster bowl. 

Kevin and I after the game

Without going into any details, A; because I don’t really understand the game and B; ‘cos I honestly can’t remember any intelligent things to comment on that happened in the game, other than the fact that they won their game! It was really exciting to watch although poor Dan who got stuck sitting next to me had to try explain what was happening while still trying to watch the game (Dan played Pack10 football for his collage…so he knows about the game!) when he left for work mid-game I found myself next a teacher that had taught both Kevin and Dan and he explained a little more in teacher terms what was happening. That night a celebration was in order, so we all headed down to a place called Beachfront. An awesome night was had by all!

Celebrating at the Beachfront Grill and Bar, CA