Got my flight info.
I’m going Copenhagen – London/Heathrow – New York (EWR) on January 9th.
Luckily I don’t have to get up at 3am like last time. I will have to be at the airport around 6am. Which is actually okay. Right now I’m in contact with the Danish agency. I can’t find my flight at the time they say I should take off from Heathrow. They (Agency) say it’s 10.25 – but when I check the date and the flight number on Heathrow’s website then they say 11.25. Then I told the agency that – but they keep saying 10.25. I don’t know if the website is giving me the time from the Danish time zone. But that would be very unusual. Basically ALL companies give you the times in local times, so no one misunderstand.
The agency will contact me again when they have had confirmed my flight tickets. I rather fly 10.25 – otherwise I just need even longer! And I don’t like to wait :/ Time will show – as long as I get there! :)
CPH – LHR :: 2 hours flight
LFR – EWR :: 8 hours flight
After the workshop on January 13. I will go to New York (LGA) to get my flight to Cleveland, where I have only 40 minutes before I need to get my final flight heading for Denver!
LGA – Cleveland :: 1 hour 49 min. flight
Cleveland – Denver :: 3 hour 27 min flight
I really hope my earplugs works! Otherwise I will be in pain… I have this with my ears when flying. My head can’t equalize the air pressure. Like my head can’t cope with the fast changing. Many other people are chewing gum, yawn or hold their fingers on the nose and “pushes” the pressure out. I’m not able to do that. So the pressure inside my head is way too high or way to low and that is really, really painful! If I just move the tiniest slight the pressure will change and I will cry in pain.
Know I have tried these plugs I have to put in at least 30 minutes before I enter my flight. And they seem to work – when they are not falling out (which have been my own fault). I feel the pressure like everyone else but it’s not painful any longer. So I think I’m gonna buy a new set to bring, since I have used these many times now. Some would might say “Have you seen a doctor?” the answer – Yes of course have. But they say nothing is wrong. And like tell them, something must be wrong! It’s painful, I’m crying and screaming – that’s not normal! And no I’m not afraid to fly!
But at least I have found a way to deal with my “problem” :)
Networking, networking, networking.
It’s told to be one of the most important factors to get a successful year. I – like many other people use facebook. I have found Euraupairs page on facebook and have now found two girls. One girl is arriving and attending the same workshop as I in January – she’s going to live in New Jersey.
I also tried to find girls from the area I would be in. I have found a girl who lives in Denver and she have told me that there are 9 firls from Euraupair and many other girls from different agencies.
Then I tried to figure out who my CC will be, when I live in Boulder. And it shows that Boulder don’t belong to the Denver area, So I probably don’t get the CC the girls from Denver has.
Euraupair was very kind and have told me that The area coordinator will contact me, within a few days to tell me. Normally you would know who your CC will be when you get the placement papers. But right now my host family has address in Seattle and not in Boulder since they haven’t moved yet. But it’s so nice that they will contact me and tell me, even though they don’t have the new address yet.
Maybe I’m a bit too pushy? I don’t think so. “If you don’t ask you don’t get any answers.” I’m a person who likes to know what’s going on, and what is going to happen, who will I need to go to, and who will be in my cluster. I like networking!
I think it’s great to start friendships before even going there. Then You have a familiar face, and someone who says “hey lets meet when you get here” The girl from Denver have told me to write when I arrive. So if she goes to Boulder or I go to Denver then we can just write each other and ask if we could meet. That’s great! And that is also what’s the au pair life is about. New friends, new adventures and exploring other cultures - whether it’s your own, the American or a third culture.
With networking comes Researching!
Yes I said researching! Find out as much as you can before going. I have started with Boulder and Denver - regular facts and what to do. I have found places I want to go myself, places where I can take the kids, places where I can go with the family (if they are up for the things I have found of course), things I can’t wait to see (like festivals, parades, venues etc.)
I found some pages about Boulder and I’m totally in love with the city already. This was only confirmed by one of my friends who have been to Boulder twice. He was like “it’s SO awesome! And then there is this sportsbar/restaurant who have the greatest nachos, you have to try them!” And of course he doesn’t remember the name. So I will search for nachos in a sports bar. Thank you Mathias, good advice ;)
Always find different info about where you live – it might make it easier when you recognize shops and street-names from pictures and maps. Maybe it will make me feel more “home” when I recognize these kinds of things.
Selling out!
Yes, I have found that 23 kg isn’t much for a whole year! Many advices from host moms, former au pairs, CC’s and so on say “Bring half of what you think you need and a handful of money!”
The chance that I find some awesome clothes in States is way too big. And then when I get home I have too much clothes. So things I never wear, things I can’t fit any longer, have worn or don’t like is for sale. Second-hand-purchases are very popular here in Denmark and instead of just toss it, then I’m able to earn a little money and someone else will get the joy of my stuff.
And all of this got longer than I thought. One last info: my visa forms will arrive within 1-2 days – then I just need to get an appointment at the embassy, I just need those documents so I can book a meeting. So long :)
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