Daz's Rantings

My Weekly Rant !!

Rant ( v. )

This week's subject: The Trails and Tribulations of an Au Pair !!

September 14th '97
Wow you're back, wondering about what I have been doing ? Why a new Rant hasn't been here since last time ?? Well here is why !!

Whew, well what a few weeks I've had !! Maybe to fully appreciate this you need to know the beginning !! Yep, so cue flashback

* wibbly flashback sequence *

Well when I first came over here and joined my new host family, the previuos au pair ( or nanny ) was still here, his name is Paul. Well this was neat as he was available to introduce me to all the people and nannies that he had met, giving me a circle of friends to fall into which I'm sure you can imagine is good. You have just travelled 3700 miles, spent a week learning about kids and American families with about 400 hundred other nannies from various countries ranging from England to Germany, Sweden and Slovakia !!
So having these friends all ready to meet was nice. It takes all the trouble out of meeting new people individually, it was like " Here are some people, all nannies who will be your friends for the year !! " Well this was fine, and for about 11 months everything was fine. We all got on well, one or two left early because of a problem or another but the people with whom I was closest were always around. New people came of course, but none really around my local area so we all remained close, went out together and all that stuff. However the fact that they came out before me meant that they leave before me !! Well you can imagine how this is and the situations that it brings up ! So eventually the time comes for the other nannies with whom I have spent many enjoyable moments and chared memorable moments with, to leave !! You get the " We'll miss you mate " and all that, then there is the traditional leaving " do " !! Be it a party, a meal or something else along those lines to see them off. Then they go, back to their home country, and you may hear from them again ( most of my friends were from England also so I will most likely meet up with them !! ) So all of a sudden, the people you have spent most of a year with are gone and for a few days you are lost. However, nine times out of ten the families get another nanny so suddenly you find yourself in the " Hello I'm Darren, I've been here 10 months, this is a friend and so is this, pleased to meet you " It seems that it is one big circle and so you get yourself new friends and introduce them to other friends, some of which you met once and who the new nannies may not have met had it not been for you !! Well it is good as there are new people to meet, new stories to hear etc. But you also find yourself in the comparing situation !! Yep it's true, you find yourself or other people saying or thinking things like: " Well the nanny before her didn't do that, she would do this, she was definately not like that " and much more that I'm sure you can imagine !! Hey, I even got it !! The thing is though I'm sure the new people must get tired of it ! So then we get back to .... Whew what a few weeks I've had !! Going to leaving parties and meals, meeting new people, finding out about new people and places !!
Anyway that is that, that is one excuse why I haven't done many new rants just lately ( a feeble excuse I know and probably a feeble rant too but Hey !! )