The first days with my new family

Well, the first days in Philly (Philadelphia) were great I think. If feels like the kids really like me and so do my hostparents I think. We had spent a lot of time together and I think that is really important to get to know each other better, and it’s also better for the kids of course!

The drawing Jana made for me!

So, Friday September 6 Paige picked me up at the train station in Philly and drove us to the school the girls go. I got a really warm welcome. The youngest one, Elin, gave me a big hug when she saw me and she said: 'Oh there you finally are Lieke!'And the older girl, Jana, was a bit shy but now I think she likes me as well. She kept on saying: 'Why are you so tall Lieke?'and 'You're so funny!' When we all went back to Paige's house, she gave me a tour through her house. I was very very happy with my room! As you can see on the picture do I have my own bedroom with a sofa and a walk-in closet and I have my own bathroom! When I wanted to enter my room, I saw the drawings the kids made for me. I almos started to cry because I thought this was so sweet!! After I unpacked all my stuff and tidied my room, we went out for having dinner together and Paige showed me some highlights here in Philly. When we got back home I was really tired so I went to bed around 10 pm.


On September 7 we went to the office where Paige works as a lawyer for an investment manager. There is also a gym that I could use if I want, so I went to the gym, while Paige was playing outside with the girls. The office is a very nice and big building and they have lots of healthy food and drinks everywhere that you can take if you want. After we went to her office we drove a bit through the city and then we had some lunch at a nice and cozi Mexican restaurant. I had some little tortillas I could fill by myself with chicken, black beans, avocado, cheese, and salsa and that was delicious! Unfortunately, I didn't make a picture of it... After we had our lunch, we went to another playground and when we got home, we watched a movie together and had a pajama party and this was very funny!


On September 8 we walked to a playground, played some games and we swam at Arjan's place, (My hostdad). This morning there was a bit of chaos, because the alarm went off twice while I was baking pancakes for the girls. Of course Paige woke up because of the very bad sounds from the alarm, but fortunately she wasn't angry at all, because it also happens with herself. The kids were a little panicked, but after we fixed the problem, they became calm.
After we went to the playground, Paige and I brought them to their first soccer lesson. Then we went for lunch at home and after lunch I went running through the city to get to know Philly better. When I was halfway through, I called my family and it was great to speak to them and see them again, because I hadn't called them since I am in the USA. I didn't call them earlier, because I wanted to prevent myself from thinking about home too much because of 'the cultural shock'. It was hot today, 27 degrees, so I was very sweaty when I came back. Luckily we went to the swimmingpool at Arjan's apartmentcomplex. This pool has an amazing view as you can see on the pictures! I really loved this view and I think I could have sitting there for hours if I had the time. After swimming we went to a nice park, called Rittenhouse Square Park, and there we had dinner in a very nice Restaurant. I had a salad with grilled shrimps and some walnut bread and that tasted great! When we got back home everyone was really tired and we all went to bed earlier.

The view from he swimming pool!

Swinging at the playground!

On Monday September 9, I had my first workday. It was a bit chaotic because the girls did not feel completely well and of course they still had to be ready for school on time. I had to help with the preparation of lunch and snacks etc. Paige and I brought them to school by car but unfortunately it was very busy on the road. Fortunately we were just in time! After bringing the kids to school Paige and I went to the grocery store and then Paige went to her work. I went to apply for my Social Security Card that you need to be allowed to live here and this was a little difficult, because my google maps didn't indicate exactly which building it was and that is why I entered 3 wrong buildings and at each one I asked someone where to get my Card. I was very happy when I finally found the right building and when I had de paper I need to have, I went to apply for a new American bankaccount that I needed so that my host parents can pay me off every week. When everything was arranged, I went to the gym at t Arjan's apartmentcomplex and then I went back home. At 2:15 pm I walked to school and brought the girls some snacks and we went to the playground until Paige picked us up for Jana's pianolesson. Unfortunately I found out that I mixed up the girl's lunches... So the girls were a little angry on me. While Jana had her pianolesson, I was playing in another playground with Elin close to the music school. When we al went home we made our own pizza's and then the kids payed on their Ipads for a while and went to bed. So for me, it was a chaotic, but educational and very busy first working day!

I really love the view from the gym!

Today everything went much better than yesterday! The girls were ready for school on time so we could go to school a bit earlier and I didn't mix up their lunches today! Jana felt a bit sick because she had a cold, but she still went to school and she still likes to play with Elin. After I brought the kids to school I went to TD Bank again because they filled in my wrong phonenumber because they saw my written 1 as a 7... Then I went to Arjan's gym again and after that I went to the Applestore because I couldn't download  any American apps. Finally I fixed it all and got back home. I did the laundry, tidied the girl's room and cleaned the kitchen a bit. After that I picked up the girls from school again and we went back home by Uber. I had to cook diner for myself and the girls because Paige had to meet a friend. I made some crunchy chicken, I baked potatoes in the oven and I made some broccoli. Of course, the girls didn't like everything and they were playing with their food. So dinner is still really messy here with them… I also had to bring the girls to bed. Luckily they are not one of those children who never want to go to bed in the evening! I read them a story, brushed their teeth and then they went to bed and I had time for myself.


On Wednesday September 11 was my 3rd workday and it was the first day I would go to Arjan after school. He is the father of the kids. Paige brought us half way to school in the morning and we had to walk the rest of our way to school. This was a little hard for Elin because she doesn't like to walk at all. But I just took her by her hand and dragged her along to school. After I brought the girls to school I ran around in Philly and I was very happy that I had run 15 km and I had seen very beautiful places in Philly where I definitely will go back!

Arjan's fancy bike

After I was back I had lunch at home and at 1 pm Arjan came to Paige's house to pick me up and tell me everything he would like me to do for the girls and what kind of work he does. Arjan has his own label company and he makes labels for all little companies all over the world! I think that is great! At 2:50 pm we went to school by bike and Arjan took his very fancy bike to pick up the girls!
I could borrow Paige's bike, but Arjan and Paige are going to buy me a new bike!! I am very happy about that! After we picked up the girls we had about an hour time before Elin had to go to her therapist. Elin has motor retardation and a little kind of ADHD and therefore she has to go to a therapist. While Elin was there, I went to the playground with Jana. After that the girls had girls scouts for one hour and we went out for dinner because Arjan didn't have had time to go to the grocery store. After we had dinner I had to help the girls with taking a shower and bringing them to bed and then I got back home (Paige's home).

On Thursday, September 12, I could sleep a bit longer because the girl's were sleeping at Arjan's home. When I woke up I went to the gym and after that I took a quick shower. When I came downstairs I saw that I had received a message from Arjan that Elin has fallen on the ground again, but this time it turned out worse… She fell with her head on the ground and she became a little dizzy and she was really tired, so the school nurse told Arjan to go to the doctor because it wasn't just about the fall. The doctor told them that Elin didn't have enough Oxygen in her blood and therefor she got a inhaler and now she is feeling much better luckily! I picked up Jana from school and then I went to the swimming pool with Elin. After that I brought Jana to gymnastics, because Arjan thought it was better to stay home with Elin. When we came back, Arjan had made dinner for us and then he went swimming with Jana and when he came back, the girls had a dessert with vanilla icecream and M&M's! Then Arjan went out for having dinner with a friend and I had to bring the girls to bed. Today was the first time they both gave me a big hug! They are so cute! When Arjan came back home around 11 pm I went back home by Uber and then I went to bed directly!

                    


On Friday, September 13, it went much better with Elin! In the morning I went to the gym again and after that I started doing arts and crafts for decoring my room a bit more. My mother had printed a lot of pictures for me before I went to the US so I wanted to make something for all those pictures! After that I facetimed with Kim, a friend and classmate, and this was very nice! After that I went to Arjan because when I went to him for getting the key for the gym, he told me that he would pick up Elin with his bike and that Jana had a playdate with Anjoli. But when I entered his house, I didn't see or hear Elin so I asked him… Then he thought that I would pick her up so it was a little

Picnic at school!

misunderstanding. Because he was already 20 minutes to late, the school called Paige and of course she was a little mad on Arjan. But it all turned out fine because now Elin's teacher finally had some time to talk to Elin alone! In the evening there was a picnic at school and it was very funny! Paige had brought us some food and the girls really liked the picnic and they ate lots of other foods form her friends of course! There also was a big screen where the kids could see a movie and that was also very nice! After that Sarina, a babysitter for the girls, picked up the girl's because Arjan didn't want to ask me again to stay up late to babysit the girl's. I told him that it wouldn't have been a problem for me but it's very nice that he is so nice to me! I went back to Paige  and there we watched tv and then we went to bed.

Yesterday, September 14 was my first official day off. In the morning I went out for a run and then I took a shower and went to the grocery store to grab some stuff to make arretjescake to bring with to the hostfamilyday. Everyone of my Cluster in Philly and New Jersy has bring something, so I wanted to make something typical Dutch. After that I had lunch with Paige and the girls because Arjan brought them back to Paige again. At 2 pm I met Lara in the center of Philly. She is a German girl who lives close to me and I met her during the training program in New York. We had very much fun together! She told me that she went out for dinner with her hostfamily on Thursday because it was her birthday, so I told her I could treat her with some cheesecake at the Cheesecakefactory. I have Always wanted to go there and when we finally came there, I really admired the beautiful restaurant! I didn't know that it was a restaurant where you can also have a good lunch or dinner and it wasn't expensive at all, except of the cheesecake! We shared one piece of the salted caramel cheesecake because some people told us it was very heavy! And I am glad we shared because I am sure I would never have eaten that on my own!! But it tasted awesome!!! After we ate our cheesecake, we went to some other shops and we went to Love Park. There we made a few pictures together and when I came back home Paige texted me what I would like to have for dinner because she was going to get some food in a sushirestaurant. After we had dinner at home we watched a movie, named Sing, and I brought the girls a donut form Dunkin' Donuts!

Enjoying to be here!

Today was my second 'day off', and first I had breakfast with the girls and after that they went to the office of their mother's work and to soccer and I walked around in the city for about 2 hours. When we all got back home, we had lunch together and at 2:30 pm we picked up Arjan at the train station because he had a wedding in New York yesterday. Then we went to the hostfamilyday at Katie's house and we met some other hostfamily's and of course the other Au Pairs and that was great! Everyone had brought some food and I brought my arretjescake. We also made a group on whatsapp with some Au Pair girls who live a little close to me, (just on the other side of the river).



When we came back home, I had to help with bathing the girls and after that, Paige went to a musical and I watched a movie, named Sing, together with my girls. It was a great movie and many celebrities sang in the movie! Because the girls still were a little hungry I made a plate with lots of different fruits on it as you can see on the picture. Believe it or not, this whole plate was empty within 15 minutes!! And I just had a few apple slices and some banana parts! Normally the girls don't want to eat that much fruit! But when you make it a little different, I am sure they will like it!
After we watched the movie I read a story with them and helped them brushing their teeth and then they went to bed. When I was walking downstairs Jana yelled to me: 'You're the best girl in the world and I love you Lieke!' And Elin said: 'Goodnight sweetie'. And I Loved that! I think I really love the girls now!! We've had so much fun the last few days, just because they now are getting used to me and I am getting used to be here!

Hostfamilyday @Katie's home

The first few days in New York

Schiphol Airport with the Dutch Au Pairs

Finally the time has come to start a new adventrue! On September 3 I flew to New York JFK with 3 other people I met at Schiphol (Amsterdam Airport). We had so much fun together! When we arrived we had to wait for the Passport and documents control. This took us about one hour and a half. Then we went to our hotel by taxi. Yeah, one of those big cool yellow taxi's! When we arrived at our hotel around 9:30 PM we met all the other Au Pairs from all over the world and it was really great to met them all. They came from Germany, South Africa, Mexico, Japan, Brazil, Spain, Russia and France! Then we went to our rooms and met our roommates!

The Yellow Taxi!

The next day our training began at 8:20 AM! Yeah right, everyone was still sleeping, but we had to listen to all the information Amber gave us about the life as an Au Pair in the US. She is someone who works for the organization interexchange. Then we got a break for 2 hours and we went to the center of NY. There we ate some Chinese food and we went to the hotel and after that we walked back to our training place. There we now had a First Aid training (part 1). The men who gave us the First Aid training where so funny! It was a long training that lasted untill 5 PM, but we made it! After that we had a tour through NY and we went to the city with the subway AMAZING view from the top of the Empire State Building! Really loved that view and I could stay and watch it for hours!

New York, New York!

The 3rd day in New York we also had a training from Amber in the morning, but now about the American culture and in the afternoon we had First Aid training again (part 2). We finished this training at 4:30 PM and then we got our First Aid certificate! After this course Amber came bck to give us all our travel documents or travelinformation to get to our host family. I had to go to Philadelphia by train, and Amber let everyone who had to go by train see where we had to go on Friday September 6. I was a bit struggeling because I had one big and one a bit smaller suitcase, but had to walk about 5 minutes through the big city with these two big 'friends'. And I also had to take them downstairs with the escalators… But it all turned out fine and when I arrived in Philly on Friday,  my hostmom was already waiting for me to pick me up and go to their home. 

The City That Never Sleeps!

Why am I going to the US for a year?

Hello everyone!
My name is Lieke, a 18-year-old Dutch girl. I am currently living in Philadelphia, (Pennsylvania, USA) as an Au Pair and this blog is about my gap year here.
Since I quit my education (Nutrition & dietetics) in March 2019, I had been thinking about what I want to do next. After a few weeks I knew what I really love to do: travelling. 'I want to see the world' I said to myself. That's why I started my journey when I just turned 18 on the beautiful little Island: Curaçao. I have been there for 12 days and I have learned so many new things from this trip! And I also became a lot more independent because of it!  Then I started looking for different studies at various colleges / Universities. Unfortunately, without much result… Then I started looking for other options and finally I ended up with a gap year as an Au Pair in the USA with the Dutch agency 'Travel Active' and I chose to do this! In May I started arranging this great adventure and within a few weeks I already had arranged a lot. Thanks to my mom who helped me with everything we had to do for this!!! Because I wanted to go to France during summer to do entertaining work with children on a camping, it was not always easy to do everything I had to do for my Au Pair profile and for the orientation in New York.

Luckily it all worked out and September 3 I could finally fly to New York with 4 other Dutch Au Pairs from the same agency and here our adventure was going to start!
On August 30, I gave a big American Party for all of my friends and it was really great to see all of them before I went to the US! I already knew I was really going to miss them after everybody would leave the party., but apparently I was able to handle this feeling somehow.. I also had a party for my family one week before and that was also great! I will miss all these lovely people so much! And I really didn't know how I should deal with this when I am in the US, but on the other hand, I was really looking forward to go to the US and start a whole new life there! I couldn't wait to go!

However, I really want to thank all of my friends and relatives for all the support they gave me for making my dreams come true! I love you all so much guys, and I won't have ever done this without you! I will definitely keep you up to date about my life here, so keep an eye on my blog if you are interested! I will update it every week and add some pictures! Also keep me up to date about the life in the Netherlands of course!!