From Jordan to Amsterdam

I had just returned from a long trip travelling Jordan and Israel, after 2 weeks at home in England I was already feeling restless. The idea of staying in England was already frustrating me, but I knew I needed a job to pay off my debts and fund my next adventure.

I started looking online for café jobs/ bar work and somehow found my self looking into becoming an Au Pair.

I  wanted a family that understood my crazy personality

Being the extremely impulsive crazy person I am I found about 4 au pair websites online, typed out a profile and uploaded some photos of me. Fortunately I have lots of experience with children, lots of stories to tell, I have travelled excessively so my profile appealed to many families. Unfortunately, a lot of families in spain and italy didn’t want to give any payment. With no savings, and not wanting to feel like a slave, I carried on looking.

I was determined that I wanted to find a cool family, a family that understood my crazy personality, my artistic skills and my travel experience that I could pass onto them and their children. I had a lot of emails, but none really appealed to me, untill my current host family emailed me. There was something about it that grabbed me, and made me want them.

The first email they sent me I read about 10 times before I took it all in.

In the email I was told all about their children, a 2.5 year old boy who loved the outdoors, anything to do with building, was crazy about bob the builder and was a typical boy. Then there was the little girl, who was just 12 weeks. How could I possible turn down a 12 week old baby and a boy who loved bob the builder ? Without even speaking to them on the phone I already wanted to jump up and down and say yes, did I mention they lived in Amsterdam ? How cool would it to move somewhere as great as Amsterdam !

After a few emails back and forth we arranged a phone call.

I was nervous. After travelling so much, I seemed to of picked up this annoying American / Australian  accent at the end of scentences occasionally so I was very conscious to speak in my best British accent ! Borris mainly did all the talking, asking me questions and answering my questions. Wendy just chipped in every now and then with an excited response to something I had said, I thought she didn’t speak very good English.

By the end of our hour long conversation I knew I wanted this family.

I was just hoping they felt the same about me. Boris said to me, well I suppose we should let you think for a few weeks and you can get back to us with your decision. I was very quick to say no no, I want it, im all yours, you have got me. You have sold the job ! And that was that, a few hours later my flight was booked and I was ready to start my new job in Amsterdam !

The next 5 weeks flew by and  it was time to pack.

Man that was stressfull. I’m leaving home for minimum of 1 year, what on earth do I take ? Not forgetting im a photographer and need all my gear ! I ended up taking 2 cases and shipping 3 boxes. With all my clothes here with me, homely things like photos, candles and nik naks, my apartment feels like home. It feels like me

Saying goodbye at the airport to my parents wasn’t too bad.

I have said goodbye so many times now for long trips away it seems like the norm. I was buzzing to get on the plane and get the official meet over and done with. The flight from Southampton to Amsterdam was just over an hour, an absolute doddle. Amsterdam airport was so easy, no ques, no waiting for bags. In fact my bag was the first through and within 2 hours of leaving my parents I was on the other side meeting Boris.

He stood there with a lovely flower plant for me.

Boris greeted me with 3 kisses, Dutch style. We were soon on the motorway and on our way ‘home’. Over the last few weeks, I had built up quite a relationship with Wendy, with whats app and emails so I was very excited to meet her. She greeted me with a big hug before handing me the little baby for a cuddle, I was really happy. My first night we went onto drink a bottle of champagne, we were celebrating the arrival of their awesome Au Pair after all , followed by 2 bottles of wine, all while I cuddled the lovely little baby. The little boy was asleep, so I wouldn’t meet him untill the following night.

The next day Wendy took the day off work to show me the neighbourhood.

We went to the shops and wendy was very kind, buying me anything I wanted in the supermarket and all of my toiletries. We went there by bike, we are in Holland after all, everyone here cycles. We chilled out at home for the rest of the day before picking the children up from day care. Again we cycled there. At day care, Koenraad ran into wendys arms, looked at me and said is this the girl who is going to live with us. That was it, we were now friends. He then sat on the seat of my bike and we cycled home together, singing all the way. For the rest of the evening he was slightly wary of me, but as long as I gave him his yoghurt after dinner, or played ‘crashing cars’ with him, he was my friend ?

I have been here two weeks now and I’m settling in nicely.

On Wednesday we are going to spain and Portugal. Koenraad loves me, he often hangs out with my in my room, singing and dancing and of course watching bob the builder. He hugs me, kisses me and holds my hand. Donna, the baby is easy. Shes happy as long as shes moving or getting cuddles. Wendy and Boris are great, I don’t think I could ask for better host parents. They supply me with endless alcohol, take me partying in the city and treat me like a friend, a daughter, a part of the family rather than a member of staff.

Oh and I’m still eating Falafal, just in Amsterdam, not Jordan