My new blog:
http://unastodaspartes.blogspot.com/
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
The Final Chapter: Why I came home
There were several reasons why I didn't stay. The family were going on holiday for three weeks and by all means I was invited...But being around people whom don’t speak the same language as you is awfully isolating.
Language is another reason I left. I went to Germany with the promise I would be able to go to a school to learn German. Unfortunately all places had gone by the time we looked into it. I wasn’t encouraged to learn German because they wanted Christo to learn English. At first it was ok that I didn’t know German and I didn’t mind listening to people speak but not understanding but as time went on I became more and more isolated from the family- Or at least I felt it. Besides that it was embarrassing. I wanted to make the effort so it would be easier for me to integrate.
And I’m sure you all think that little Christo must be one of the reasons! Well, it came clear to me when his English teacher asked him why he didn’t like me and he said " Because when she picks me up and takes me to Kindergarten Mama and Papa aren’t there;" this problem of his unpredictable and rebellious behaviour was much bigger than me. It was never going to be completely resolved unless his parents stopped working!
I realise that I perhaps backed down too soon with him- I could see that he didn’t want to play with me, and he quickly became hostile to me so I just stopped trying to get him to play. However, after the English teacher told me this, the knot in my stomach, which had been holding me back from him, untied. And he picked up on this (and the fact I was buying him ice-cream) and things changed. He was less hostile and aggressive, this changed for good. But him enjoying spending time with me was always temporary. We'd have a nice evening building car races together but the next morning he'd be pleading with his Mama for her to take him, and not me. To put it bluntly, he missed his parents and I was never going to be able to change that.
Very quickly I became extremely fond of him and him of me I believe. To quote "Hannah is brilliant." "Hannah is a really good dancer Mama" and " I love you." But like I said, the problem was much bigger than him not liking me. And this problem was another reason why I came home...
Love x
P.s I’ve grown to quite like writing a blog, so I’m going to carry on writing one! A new one of course. I’ll let you know…
There were several reasons why I didn't stay. The family were going on holiday for three weeks and by all means I was invited...But being around people whom don’t speak the same language as you is awfully isolating.
Language is another reason I left. I went to Germany with the promise I would be able to go to a school to learn German. Unfortunately all places had gone by the time we looked into it. I wasn’t encouraged to learn German because they wanted Christo to learn English. At first it was ok that I didn’t know German and I didn’t mind listening to people speak but not understanding but as time went on I became more and more isolated from the family- Or at least I felt it. Besides that it was embarrassing. I wanted to make the effort so it would be easier for me to integrate.
And I’m sure you all think that little Christo must be one of the reasons! Well, it came clear to me when his English teacher asked him why he didn’t like me and he said " Because when she picks me up and takes me to Kindergarten Mama and Papa aren’t there;" this problem of his unpredictable and rebellious behaviour was much bigger than me. It was never going to be completely resolved unless his parents stopped working!
I realise that I perhaps backed down too soon with him- I could see that he didn’t want to play with me, and he quickly became hostile to me so I just stopped trying to get him to play. However, after the English teacher told me this, the knot in my stomach, which had been holding me back from him, untied. And he picked up on this (and the fact I was buying him ice-cream) and things changed. He was less hostile and aggressive, this changed for good. But him enjoying spending time with me was always temporary. We'd have a nice evening building car races together but the next morning he'd be pleading with his Mama for her to take him, and not me. To put it bluntly, he missed his parents and I was never going to be able to change that.
Very quickly I became extremely fond of him and him of me I believe. To quote "Hannah is brilliant." "Hannah is a really good dancer Mama" and " I love you." But like I said, the problem was much bigger than him not liking me. And this problem was another reason why I came home...
Love x
P.s I’ve grown to quite like writing a blog, so I’m going to carry on writing one! A new one of course. I’ll let you know…
Sunday, July 12, 2009
I dont like unfinished stories. And this needs two chapters more.
Chapter 1: The Experience
Going to Berlin this summer was one of the hardest challenges I've ever had.
I learnt to take everything day by day because my feelings were so mixed. Some days I felt so lonely all I did was cry and stay in that tiny flat.Other days I got a grip of my situation and took the experience in my stride- explored Berlin, met fantastic people and handled Christo well!
Going to Berlin was also one of the best experiences I've had.
I've never felt that kind of responsibilty before and I very quickly had to grow out of my teenage mind-set and into a 'I've-got-a-child-who-is-100%-my-responsibilty-at-certain-times' mind-set. When you are faced with something you are not sure you can do, you perhaps dont do it, because no-one is relying on you. But when a five-year old relies on you to save him from fear or falling or simply just building lego so it doesnt fall over- you have to do it. And you just do.
For one reason or other at times I was treated very much like a child who was completly naive and at first I took this to heart, climbed into my shell. And then I realised that I wasnt that child at all. It became more than this. As I learnt to be by myself and to not feel lonely, I discovered myself more than ever. ( In a none self-indulgent way)I could be in my realm, my element and there was no-one to influence me. I was just me.
Thats not to say I'm not myself and haven't been, my identity just became a bit clearer to me ( oh, how cheesy hannah...)
I also learnt the importance of language. A language that isn't your own.You never think about speaking your own language. We speak it mindlessy, without pausing for thought. Until, on a reguarly basis people dont know what you are saying. Until, people scowl at you for being so ignorant as to not speak their language. Until, you have to slow down your speech at all times to be understood. And finally,until, you meet a lot of people who speak not just two languages but 3 or 4 or even 5. I became utterly ashamed. I felt arragont and ignorant (well thats certainly how people saw me.) So I am going to learn Spanish, I wanted to anyway but Ive never felt it was so so important.
I feel very effected by the past three weeks. By the people I met, by the challenges I faced, and by what I learnt. And I have absolutley no regrets.
Love x
Chapter 1: The Experience
Going to Berlin this summer was one of the hardest challenges I've ever had.
I learnt to take everything day by day because my feelings were so mixed. Some days I felt so lonely all I did was cry and stay in that tiny flat.Other days I got a grip of my situation and took the experience in my stride- explored Berlin, met fantastic people and handled Christo well!
Going to Berlin was also one of the best experiences I've had.
I've never felt that kind of responsibilty before and I very quickly had to grow out of my teenage mind-set and into a 'I've-got-a-child-who-is-100%-my-responsibilty-at-certain-times' mind-set. When you are faced with something you are not sure you can do, you perhaps dont do it, because no-one is relying on you. But when a five-year old relies on you to save him from fear or falling or simply just building lego so it doesnt fall over- you have to do it. And you just do.
For one reason or other at times I was treated very much like a child who was completly naive and at first I took this to heart, climbed into my shell. And then I realised that I wasnt that child at all. It became more than this. As I learnt to be by myself and to not feel lonely, I discovered myself more than ever. ( In a none self-indulgent way)I could be in my realm, my element and there was no-one to influence me. I was just me.
Thats not to say I'm not myself and haven't been, my identity just became a bit clearer to me ( oh, how cheesy hannah...)
I also learnt the importance of language. A language that isn't your own.You never think about speaking your own language. We speak it mindlessy, without pausing for thought. Until, on a reguarly basis people dont know what you are saying. Until, people scowl at you for being so ignorant as to not speak their language. Until, you have to slow down your speech at all times to be understood. And finally,until, you meet a lot of people who speak not just two languages but 3 or 4 or even 5. I became utterly ashamed. I felt arragont and ignorant (well thats certainly how people saw me.) So I am going to learn Spanish, I wanted to anyway but Ive never felt it was so so important.
I feel very effected by the past three weeks. By the people I met, by the challenges I faced, and by what I learnt. And I have absolutley no regrets.
Love x
Friday, July 03, 2009
I set an alarm off in an Art gallery yesterday. I stood too close to a painting. A red light swooned above my head and three busty men came running at me. Thats just typical of me isn`t it?
But I must tell you...
On the 6th day Berlin gave me Roya. Roya looks like Pocohontas. I met her at Christos birthday party, she is the sister of one of the little boys that came along. She is very striking and well dressed, obviously into her designer wear... and cars. But also likes music and reading and the guardian!Anyway we got on and before she left she got my number and said " We should go out some time." So, we went for lunch yesterday. I found her very calm and unexcitable, unlike myself. I realised how I am very much an open book...
On the 8th day Berlin gave me Matilda. Matilda is a grandma, visiting her daughter and grandchildren in Berlin but actually lives in India with her husband. Matilda like me is an open book, so we instantly got on. That day I was feeling very down about my situation with Christo etc, and she listened and we spoke about her life aswell. I almost cried with relief of having this stranger suddenly comfort me- its like she said " I was put here today for you."
On the 10th day Berlin gave me Hania (said like Hannah.) Hania is a tourist in Berlin, a Polish girl studying Law. I met Hania in the queue for an art gallery, I said "Spreckensie Englisch?" (Do you speak English?) and she did! We debated whether we would go into this gallery which was supposed to be free but wasn`t that day... We decided no! And then we spent the rest of the evening in other galleries and museums- The National Gallery and The Bode muesuem. Hania was very easy going (perhaps because she wasnt German?) Anyway, we discussed how we didn`t like German Art, Polish cuisine, Children, Travel and more Art. As we walked around and she told me about this painting and this artist and why this was good and why this wasn`t. I thought `Oh my god she studies Law and she knows tonnes about Art,' but it turns out she studied the history of art at college. We had similar tastes so we could laugh at the portraits of grumpy men or of angels with the the german flag on the wing! She was there when the alarm went off.... She didn`t even laugh, she just looked at me and said deadpan "This is fun."
Th 10th day also bought me Michelle (the english teacher I have already spoken about?) She is a Jamacian woman, with the most mature and beautiful 14 year old children I have ever met. Wonderfully kind and straight forward she took me in yesterday and gave me my first cup of tea in 2 weeks.
So Berlin has thrown up some people for me in the works. And they have really helped me even if for a breif hour or so. Being here has made me realise how much I rely on the company of people, to get to know people, to talk. And all the people I have just talked about have been very good, kind-hearted people.
And maybe there will be more?
Love x
But I must tell you...
On the 6th day Berlin gave me Roya. Roya looks like Pocohontas. I met her at Christos birthday party, she is the sister of one of the little boys that came along. She is very striking and well dressed, obviously into her designer wear... and cars. But also likes music and reading and the guardian!Anyway we got on and before she left she got my number and said " We should go out some time." So, we went for lunch yesterday. I found her very calm and unexcitable, unlike myself. I realised how I am very much an open book...
On the 8th day Berlin gave me Matilda. Matilda is a grandma, visiting her daughter and grandchildren in Berlin but actually lives in India with her husband. Matilda like me is an open book, so we instantly got on. That day I was feeling very down about my situation with Christo etc, and she listened and we spoke about her life aswell. I almost cried with relief of having this stranger suddenly comfort me- its like she said " I was put here today for you."
On the 10th day Berlin gave me Hania (said like Hannah.) Hania is a tourist in Berlin, a Polish girl studying Law. I met Hania in the queue for an art gallery, I said "Spreckensie Englisch?" (Do you speak English?) and she did! We debated whether we would go into this gallery which was supposed to be free but wasn`t that day... We decided no! And then we spent the rest of the evening in other galleries and museums- The National Gallery and The Bode muesuem. Hania was very easy going (perhaps because she wasnt German?) Anyway, we discussed how we didn`t like German Art, Polish cuisine, Children, Travel and more Art. As we walked around and she told me about this painting and this artist and why this was good and why this wasn`t. I thought `Oh my god she studies Law and she knows tonnes about Art,' but it turns out she studied the history of art at college. We had similar tastes so we could laugh at the portraits of grumpy men or of angels with the the german flag on the wing! She was there when the alarm went off.... She didn`t even laugh, she just looked at me and said deadpan "This is fun."
Th 10th day also bought me Michelle (the english teacher I have already spoken about?) She is a Jamacian woman, with the most mature and beautiful 14 year old children I have ever met. Wonderfully kind and straight forward she took me in yesterday and gave me my first cup of tea in 2 weeks.
So Berlin has thrown up some people for me in the works. And they have really helped me even if for a breif hour or so. Being here has made me realise how much I rely on the company of people, to get to know people, to talk. And all the people I have just talked about have been very good, kind-hearted people.
And maybe there will be more?
Love x
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Its 10am and I am on my second cup of coffee.
Because I spend most of my days alone I write my blog in my head, there are thousands of things I have wanted to say but haven`t.
I want to talk about my experience with Germans at the swimming pool. How fascinating I find it that the older generation love a good swim but get grumpy with you if you, someone 50 years younger than them, go faster... Or even how the middle-aged woman got angry with me for over-taking her, i thought "well its a dog-eat-dog world darling."
I still haven`t spoken about bonding with Tina, from hair removal to globalization- we have covered it all! And for those foodies reading my blog ( i.e Amy-Rose and Amy Beck) would probabley like a full menu from each day so heres a basic one: I eat meat and cheese for breakfast (eek, to be fair I have started just having jam and bread) not a lot for lunch but then we have delicious teas; lasagne, stuffed peppers, a very fancy bulgarian meal- all of which is tasty!
I didn`t even tell you about Christos Birthday party. Met some lovely mothers, all very friendly (those who spoke english) one was questioning why I`d want to come to Germany. And I realized then that it was Caroline who made my trip to Germany so good last time and also James, who we stayed with. Because it has to be said the majority of Germans are not so friendly, and they admit this themselves!
But anyway, onwards and upwards,
This week I have a plan: I am trying to ram Berlin culture down my throat because I feel a bit like the troubles of my first week here have swallowed me whole.
So on todays agenda there is the Kathe Kruitz (sp) musuem and if I get time then Im going to go for a swim! (Must do 50 laps Hannah!)
Yesterday I went to a photgraphy gallery, dedicated to Helmet Newman.
" What have Christians got to do with politics"- Helmet Newton
I expected to not like this guy, who is famous for his obsession with women and taking photos of naked ones! But actually, his photos were absolutley amazing and completely underogatory. I thought it was quite empowering of women, which was refreshing. His work was apprently so avant-garde and contraversial at the time that his work his numbered, you cant buy any of the best photos on postcard for example. You must buy his book which is 500 Euros, hmmm..
Then tomorrow, Eastern Kruezburg!
I assume you have all gathered by now that me and Christo dont get on so well. I spoke to his parents about it and they agree that its not working so we give it a week, and then if nein improvment, its home time...
Love x
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Today has been a good day.
Its Christos 5th Birthday today.
I`m not going to go into the detail of the past two days which have not been so good- from getting a bit of a black eye off a four year old to having a five minute panic that I had lost him ( I thought he had run out of the flat while I was in the toilet...ohhh, can you imagine how I felt?) to Christo causing so much havoc that I had the best cry I`ve had in a long time (that kind of sobbing where you get a headache and get all sleepy afterwards)- it was altogether a very bad couple of days. But today was just what I needed and infact I think what we all needed. Christo needed it with me, to have some time where he could see me for me and not have to worry about communicating with me and such and also for big Christo and Tina as they have also had a very stressful week.
I spoke to Tina after yesterday to tell her how he had behaved with me and he said sorry and I feel that things will improve now, if only slowly. Today was nice because we have had no family time as of yet, and the air was a lot more positive between me and Christo. He can see now I think that I will tell his parents when he behaves badly and actually that all four of us are on the same side.
Tina and big Christo have very definatley made me feel like we are all "on the same side." By this I mean they are not some stuck up family treating their au-pair as a slave or as someone lower than themselves. They are surprised when I ask if I can eat some fruit or use the computer " of course of course you are just one of us." I feel comfortable here and they do everything they can to make me feel that way.
It hit me the other night, that I definatley needed to say something about all their efforts for me.
My grandad always used to say...(and then my Mother)... "going to never was a good fellow" and well this family would make them proud. To quote Tina, " if someone needs something we do it then." She was referring to the laptop that hadnt been fixed for me and it doesn`t bother me even though its very nice, but Tina was so stressed about it! Even when they have been at work all day and then they spend an hour putting Christo to bed, they never never say "lets leave it until tomorrow." I am always telling Tina to sit down because she is always finding something to do. If she said she would find a map for me she`ll remember at 10pm and spend half-an-hour looking for it. Christo also...
I also need to tell you about mother-aupair bonding.
But I will do that tomorrow maybe, because that needs a blog all of its own!
So, heres to a good day and I must just tell you......I made a German friend! She actually said
" We can be friends and I will show you around Berlin." I had to hold my excitment in when she said "We should go out sometime." You know me, I played it cool. I was cool...
Love x
Its Christos 5th Birthday today.
I`m not going to go into the detail of the past two days which have not been so good- from getting a bit of a black eye off a four year old to having a five minute panic that I had lost him ( I thought he had run out of the flat while I was in the toilet...ohhh, can you imagine how I felt?) to Christo causing so much havoc that I had the best cry I`ve had in a long time (that kind of sobbing where you get a headache and get all sleepy afterwards)- it was altogether a very bad couple of days. But today was just what I needed and infact I think what we all needed. Christo needed it with me, to have some time where he could see me for me and not have to worry about communicating with me and such and also for big Christo and Tina as they have also had a very stressful week.
I spoke to Tina after yesterday to tell her how he had behaved with me and he said sorry and I feel that things will improve now, if only slowly. Today was nice because we have had no family time as of yet, and the air was a lot more positive between me and Christo. He can see now I think that I will tell his parents when he behaves badly and actually that all four of us are on the same side.
Tina and big Christo have very definatley made me feel like we are all "on the same side." By this I mean they are not some stuck up family treating their au-pair as a slave or as someone lower than themselves. They are surprised when I ask if I can eat some fruit or use the computer " of course of course you are just one of us." I feel comfortable here and they do everything they can to make me feel that way.
It hit me the other night, that I definatley needed to say something about all their efforts for me.
My grandad always used to say...(and then my Mother)... "going to never was a good fellow" and well this family would make them proud. To quote Tina, " if someone needs something we do it then." She was referring to the laptop that hadnt been fixed for me and it doesn`t bother me even though its very nice, but Tina was so stressed about it! Even when they have been at work all day and then they spend an hour putting Christo to bed, they never never say "lets leave it until tomorrow." I am always telling Tina to sit down because she is always finding something to do. If she said she would find a map for me she`ll remember at 10pm and spend half-an-hour looking for it. Christo also...
I also need to tell you about mother-aupair bonding.
But I will do that tomorrow maybe, because that needs a blog all of its own!
So, heres to a good day and I must just tell you......I made a German friend! She actually said
" We can be friends and I will show you around Berlin." I had to hold my excitment in when she said "We should go out sometime." You know me, I played it cool. I was cool...
Love x
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Christo is not my friend today.
Today Christo does not like his au-pair. Today Christo will not listen to his au-pair. Today Christo put Hannah in a bad mood.
We are in our third day and Tina is pressing me to teach him verbs and this and that but he often has extra lessons- taking us to 5pm or half 5 and then we have to go to the Speilplatz for half-an-hour and by the time we have got home this little five year old ( who is under pressure to be ahead of his time and to be expressive rather than passive) is knackered! And besides that who is this strange looking english girl anyway and why is she here again?- thats what he`s thinking.
All the mothers talk about me when I get to Kindergarten (the private one may I add)---- " Why would you employ an au-pair to teach your child english when she speaks no deutsch?"----- thats what all the kids say and all the mothers and sisters etc. He is embarssed of my Englishness and pretty much ignores me until we get home. He threatens to run out in the road when I wont give him sweets (sweets that he has been given by a friend but his mother says no no no no no so I have to aswell.) And until now I thought it was just a phase, just a getting to know me but today I took him to his English teacher.
Did I mention that the English teacher is black? Oh...well...Tina says its ok though ( I hope you all pick up on my sarcastic tone here.)
Anyway,Michelle says to me " hes very undisciplined this kid" and she gave me a few pointers, she was a bit like the American supernanny. I thought she was bloody wonderful, I mean she understood everyword i said! Thankgod! It was a relief to hear someone say what I had been thinking but Tina goes on and on about how great he is and how talented and perfect he is. So, as I`m drinking my 5th (?) coffee of the day it hits me. This family had a nanny of some kind before and its very unclear why she left. Why did she leave? Well I`ll tell you why, cos this kid never stops shouting or moving or complaining. He doesn`t listen to you when you say "no sweets," no infact he goes in your bag while you are in the toilet and eats 3! He also laughs in your face as he eats a chocolate you clearly stated wasn`t to be eaten. Because honestly? He knows I can`t really do a right lot; and well I wouldn`t yet. If I shout at him now surely thats our relationship dead and gone?
But today in the park when he wouldn`t comply with coming home for the 15th time,I sat him down and had a quiet word in English with him- because he got that I was cross and strangely he does understand. I felt myself cringing as I did the tragic desperate teacher move " I want us to be friends"
OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD.
Ive faced facts, they have employed a foreign english girl so she cant runaway so easily.
But who knows what Christo tomorrow will be like?
Love x
Today Christo does not like his au-pair. Today Christo will not listen to his au-pair. Today Christo put Hannah in a bad mood.
We are in our third day and Tina is pressing me to teach him verbs and this and that but he often has extra lessons- taking us to 5pm or half 5 and then we have to go to the Speilplatz for half-an-hour and by the time we have got home this little five year old ( who is under pressure to be ahead of his time and to be expressive rather than passive) is knackered! And besides that who is this strange looking english girl anyway and why is she here again?- thats what he`s thinking.
All the mothers talk about me when I get to Kindergarten (the private one may I add)---- " Why would you employ an au-pair to teach your child english when she speaks no deutsch?"----- thats what all the kids say and all the mothers and sisters etc. He is embarssed of my Englishness and pretty much ignores me until we get home. He threatens to run out in the road when I wont give him sweets (sweets that he has been given by a friend but his mother says no no no no no so I have to aswell.) And until now I thought it was just a phase, just a getting to know me but today I took him to his English teacher.
Did I mention that the English teacher is black? Oh...well...Tina says its ok though ( I hope you all pick up on my sarcastic tone here.)
Anyway,Michelle says to me " hes very undisciplined this kid" and she gave me a few pointers, she was a bit like the American supernanny. I thought she was bloody wonderful, I mean she understood everyword i said! Thankgod! It was a relief to hear someone say what I had been thinking but Tina goes on and on about how great he is and how talented and perfect he is. So, as I`m drinking my 5th (?) coffee of the day it hits me. This family had a nanny of some kind before and its very unclear why she left. Why did she leave? Well I`ll tell you why, cos this kid never stops shouting or moving or complaining. He doesn`t listen to you when you say "no sweets," no infact he goes in your bag while you are in the toilet and eats 3! He also laughs in your face as he eats a chocolate you clearly stated wasn`t to be eaten. Because honestly? He knows I can`t really do a right lot; and well I wouldn`t yet. If I shout at him now surely thats our relationship dead and gone?
But today in the park when he wouldn`t comply with coming home for the 15th time,I sat him down and had a quiet word in English with him- because he got that I was cross and strangely he does understand. I felt myself cringing as I did the tragic desperate teacher move " I want us to be friends"
OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD.
Ive faced facts, they have employed a foreign english girl so she cant runaway so easily.
But who knows what Christo tomorrow will be like?
Love x
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
From taxi strikes to blue churches, today (my second day) is overall, a better day than yesterday. I suffered from first day blues, massively. I was rather panicked that I was perhaps not big or clever enough for this kind of challenge--and a challenge it is--- I am responsible for a five year old who doesn`t understand a word I say. And a panicked "mama" didn`t help me AT ALL.
And as Tina pointed out "We live better in the west" i.e I am in the Berlin equivalent to Surrey; haha, well maybe not quite. But what Tina was trying to say is this is the middle-class part of Berlin. When I asked if the West hated the East (you get that impression) she said " Ohhh yes, well, the East dont live so well." However, thats not to say Tina and Christo Senior ( and yes I have to point out the Senior because believe it or not some people think its a good idea to call their son after the Father!) are stuck up. And they have been very welcoming to me.
Tina is very full-on; obviously trying to make sure everything is ok for me- but she can`t eat a meal without leaving the table to show me that she bought this for me or she could show me this etc... And as she said last night " I am trying to understand you," in other words shes very nosey! But thats fine, I dont mind. And she wants me to know her too and how brilliant she and her family are and I dont mind that either. I can tell she appreciates the female company.
Papa doesn`t speak any English, a little bit but not really but we smile and laugh nervously at eachother. And when I got to Berlin airport and I saw a stern faced man clearly looking for someone my nerves hit the roof so you can imagine my relief when two smiling figures came rushing towards me.
Christo Jr is the cleverest five year old I`ve ever met.( And its no surprise when he goes to every extra class there is) He knows you aren`t supposed to use olive oil in the pan "no hannah, no" and he knows that you have to open tins with sharp knives " hannah here hannah." And even though at first he found it hard to accept that I didn`t speak any German, we have aquired a language inbetween the two which works great for us. So we both know "eat" "ball" "trinken (drink)" Vas ist das (in) deutsch?" "speilplatz" (playground) and "come"- so its a lot of "Christo, come" "Hannah come" "nein! Christo" "Speilplatz?" " Do you have the hunger?" (thats my favourite!) And we had a lot of fun making tea yesterday. Until Christo did a bit of boundary testing by taking a little experiment with blackcurrent juice a bit far-he spilt it all over the place and on the white table mats, and unfortunatley for me it was hilarious so I had to put my best `I-am-cross` face on.
So thats the family, ish. Oh I did forget to mention that they are not German- they are both originally from Bulgaria. And did you know that Tina could speak five languages!??? Impressive (she told me with much modesty....)
I decided to spend my first week just concentrating on getting to know the family and being an aupair to be my best ability. Its not Berlin here like we know it as the cool city with a lot of arty things going on, but I am taking the experience for what it is at the minute. And when I get used to the timing of picking Christo up etc I will do a lot more exploring.
Talking of picking Christo up- its that time of day! We go to the Speilplatz now and then mama asked me to teach him some verbs. The speilplatz is bloody amazing- I wish it was acceptable for 19 year olds to run around on swings etc.
Love x
And as Tina pointed out "We live better in the west" i.e I am in the Berlin equivalent to Surrey; haha, well maybe not quite. But what Tina was trying to say is this is the middle-class part of Berlin. When I asked if the West hated the East (you get that impression) she said " Ohhh yes, well, the East dont live so well." However, thats not to say Tina and Christo Senior ( and yes I have to point out the Senior because believe it or not some people think its a good idea to call their son after the Father!) are stuck up. And they have been very welcoming to me.
Tina is very full-on; obviously trying to make sure everything is ok for me- but she can`t eat a meal without leaving the table to show me that she bought this for me or she could show me this etc... And as she said last night " I am trying to understand you," in other words shes very nosey! But thats fine, I dont mind. And she wants me to know her too and how brilliant she and her family are and I dont mind that either. I can tell she appreciates the female company.
Papa doesn`t speak any English, a little bit but not really but we smile and laugh nervously at eachother. And when I got to Berlin airport and I saw a stern faced man clearly looking for someone my nerves hit the roof so you can imagine my relief when two smiling figures came rushing towards me.
Christo Jr is the cleverest five year old I`ve ever met.( And its no surprise when he goes to every extra class there is) He knows you aren`t supposed to use olive oil in the pan "no hannah, no" and he knows that you have to open tins with sharp knives " hannah here hannah." And even though at first he found it hard to accept that I didn`t speak any German, we have aquired a language inbetween the two which works great for us. So we both know "eat" "ball" "trinken (drink)" Vas ist das (in) deutsch?" "speilplatz" (playground) and "come"- so its a lot of "Christo, come" "Hannah come" "nein! Christo" "Speilplatz?" " Do you have the hunger?" (thats my favourite!) And we had a lot of fun making tea yesterday. Until Christo did a bit of boundary testing by taking a little experiment with blackcurrent juice a bit far-he spilt it all over the place and on the white table mats, and unfortunatley for me it was hilarious so I had to put my best `I-am-cross` face on.
So thats the family, ish. Oh I did forget to mention that they are not German- they are both originally from Bulgaria. And did you know that Tina could speak five languages!??? Impressive (she told me with much modesty....)
I decided to spend my first week just concentrating on getting to know the family and being an aupair to be my best ability. Its not Berlin here like we know it as the cool city with a lot of arty things going on, but I am taking the experience for what it is at the minute. And when I get used to the timing of picking Christo up etc I will do a lot more exploring.
Talking of picking Christo up- its that time of day! We go to the Speilplatz now and then mama asked me to teach him some verbs. The speilplatz is bloody amazing- I wish it was acceptable for 19 year olds to run around on swings etc.
Love x
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