Au Pair VS. Facebbok VS. Host family

Right now I’m following kind of a debate about facebook and au pairs.

It’s kind of a weird topic, with no right answers. So to light up the subject I will give you my opinion.

I think facebook is a great idea to use, when you try to match with host families. But I think the biggest benefit belongs to the host family. They can have a very big “sneek peak” in an au pairs life. Everything you ever have been posting will be found. Pictures, updates, comments, games etc. It all will be available to the families.

Personally I don’t mind. I have a lot of stuff on facebook, and use it several times daily. I like the fact that I can follow all my friends’ lifes in just a few minutes a day. I can show them all that I want and show my way of living to the rest world.

But the biggest issue and debate is the pictures! There is a huge debate whether or not, it’s okay for an au pair to delete pictures who would have been “bad” in the host parents eyes. Personally I have only deleted a few pictures, pictures that I wouldn’t like to show my parents.

The “problem” in hostparents eyes is often when au pairs smokes or the picture contains bottles or drinks. I Personally won’t remove all of those pictures.

First of all: I DO NOT SMOKE not even at parties.

Second: I hardly never drink.

Third: When I DO drink, I drink around my family and nearest friends, not because I’m worried that I will get to drunk. But because I enjoy having a nice time with them and a glass or two is part of the cozy time.

Fourth: I HAVE NEVER AND WILL NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE!

Fifth: I only drink when I’m celebrating something, Birthday, anniversary, graduation etc.

But it’s so important for ALL au pairs to TELL THE TRUTH at all times. The more open you are, the better. If they ask do you smoke? Then say NO if you don’t, but say YES if you do also if it’s just “social smoking” But instead of just saying yes or no.  EXPLAIN!  This also counts for all other questions the family may have. Always tell the truth.

But it’s just my advice and thought about aupair VS facebook VS host family

Interview and I recommend

Okay, The agency now have recived my application. And I’m going to the interview Monday. The guy who is doing the interview and read my application. Said that it was a very good application. So I hope it’s true!

At my website www.miebruzelius.dk I now have had the time to fill in all the pictures. When I say “all” it’s just a small sample. There wouldn’t be enough space or time. If I had to put every single picture on my website. So a few pictures of everything. The rest is on my facebook. But you have to be a friend of mine to see.

Then when we finally have facebook I will make one more post today (I hope) about being an au pair and the use of facebook. Idea is taken from the blog I will describe bellow.

I follow a blog named www.aupairmom.com I love it! It’s made for hostmoms but as time went more and more people started to comment. It’s great and have all kinds of topics and questions. I can only give my highest recommendations! Everyone who wants to become hostfamily or au pair should know about and follow this blog!

Small update

Well, MyEducation have recieved my application. Now they will write to my tomorrow, they only miss 1 information. I think it’s my passport number. But since I sent my application before I received my new passport, I couldn’t write it down. But they will just have it and put in on themselves. No worries.

Now I think I will need to go to an interview so we can look at my papers and they can hear me speak English.  And then I think they will sent my papers to Euraupair, who will make sure the families can see all my informations. I thought I had it all under control, but now I’m not sure. But I guess You and I will know when we take the next step.

I have started all over on my website, still the same, just more controlled.  Now It’s more manageable and have a nicer and easier look. As always it’s www.miebruzelius.dk If you don’t understand Danish, then press the English flag above the menu, to the left side.

There will be uploaded pictures, but over the last 48 hours we have had cloudbursts in here in Copenhagen, Denmark. So internet, TV and  Phone signals is pretty weird. The pictures will come, I just need some more stabile signal to do so.   But all text is online, and many pictures to. But albums have to wait.


Today I made a raspberry/strawberry Pie. And ate with some vanilla ice.

That’s all for now. 

Paperwork done!

I finally manage to get all my paperwork done, and sent it to MyEducation yesterday.

Now I will have to wait until they have finished going through all my papers. Then One of them have to call me so we can set up a meeting, so I can get my interview done. At the interview as far as I’m aware – we actually just go through all the papers together, including my “Dear host family letter” all me references. I would guess it has to be in English – so they actually can hear which level I’m on.

Personally I have pressed excellent to, speaking, listening and reading. And Good in writing.

My language might not be fluent when I just have to say one or two sentences, but if I get started in English I will be able to do it as fluently as I can do. It’s extreamly hard to maintain my fluency. This summer it’s 3 years ago I was in Brighton. I really don’t understand where those years went. I lived in Brighton for three weeks, and when I got home I spoke fluent English. But every day I only get to talk Danish, Though I must admit that I often find myself speak English to myself. I guess it’s a way of keeping in touch with the language.

Listening is no problem, of course if people talk very fast or is mumbling it can be very difficult. But normal speaking and speed is no problem. It’s like I don’t have to translate everything in my head. Though I know my brain does it, it takes less than a second. I don’t feel it getting translated. Which must be a good thing I guess?

Reading is also excellent. As long as it’s “normal” pages I need to read. Like blogs, novels, short stories, etc. When it’s an “everyday language” It’s just easy for me.

Then we have the writing. Yes I am good, but I’m not excellent. I have tried to work on this for several years now. It’s a long and tough fight, but I won’t give up. I can see I have improved, and yes I do need a dictionary once in a while. But many times I know the word but don’t know how to spell it. I often makes mistakes in the To/Too though I have had several English teachers trying to teach me. Psychological is a very hard word to spell. And yes, I had to get my computer to correct it - which is why I often just use the word mentally. A lot easier!

The agency and I may not agree on my language skills. But I know I’m a lot better than many others. But it will turn out at the interview.

I really hope somebody is out there reading :) I feel kind of alone on the World Wide Web

My birthday and news on the au pair front

Happy Birthday to me!

Amazing, I’m now 20. The weird thing about it is that I don’t really want to celebrate it.

Back in February I bought tickets to “cirkusrevyen” (circus revue) Kind of a comedy/satire show. I bought 4 tickets, one for me, my mom, my dad and my brother. Just the four of us. An experience we could join together before my brother and I would leave Denmark for longer or shorter period of time.

Usually I would celebrate by inviting my family and nearest family-friends. We would start in the afternoon having birthday cake, cookies and coffee. I would get presents and we would talk and have a great time. But this year, I just don’t feel like to celebrate. It would be nice, but I’m not in the mood

I guess it’s because I want to get “used to it” – not having my nearest and dearest family around, when it’s Christmas and at birthdays. I know it’s a part of the game – and I’m not going to quit just because, it’s going to be tough.

I know I will be homesick; I’m going to miss everyone around me, family, friend, loved ones. I’m going to miss, my daily life, which is safe and a routine. I’m going to find myself, in a new and strange country, where things not always are done in my way. I’m will probably say “I give up, I want to go home!” thousands of times. But still, I think I would stay. Being homesick and having a tough time is a part of the package, whether want it or not.

Well – there are news about my project. I have now chosen MyEducation / Euraupair as my agency. I have received a lot of papers and forms I and many others have to fill out. It’s a lot of work and it takes a lot of time!

The Danish agency did a mistake, you send an internet form, and I chose to apply for departure in November. So I received all the papers to fill out Thursday June 16^th, inclusive forms that the doctor have to fill out, references forms etc. And then they wanted it back latest this Tuesday!!! Like that is going to happen! So I wrote back to them and said that that was impossible to get it all fixed. I can’t get a doctor’s appointment over a weekend the office is closed!  

Then they wrote back to me, that they would extend so now I have until July 4^th . But that they really want the papers as fast as possible, when I want to departure in August.

IN AUGUST! How did that happen?? I applied for departure in November; their computer systems must be really damaged! Well I wrote back calmly, that I actually applied for November and then a lot of questions about my au pair application. Who would have thought it would be that difficult to fill out applications in the right way?!

Well, let’s see what they will answer.

In the end I would like to mention my newly started website. miebruzelius.dk check it out! You can get it in Danish or English, just press the flags :) 

Posting in English?

I have had a few e-mails: asking if it was possible to start blogging in english, So they didn't have to use the google translater. I am considering it. But I would like to know if anyone then will read it?

Please comment, I need some responses

Jeg elsker:

Min familie
Mine venner
Mit kørekort
Min have

Sol
Sommer
En let brise
enkelte regnvejrsdage

Sodavand
Is
Chokolade
Vingummi
Hindbær
Dejlig saftige bøffer
Burger

Min nye bikini
Kjoler
Høje Hæle
Min hvide lette sommerkjole
Min kæmpe oversize grønne hættetrøje som jeg kan dalre rundt i

At gøre noget for andre
At smile
At skabe glæde
At rejse og opleve
At slappe af

Filmene:
A walk to remember
The notebook
About a boy