Bad Days

It's been a little while since I've updated this so I'll give you a short run down. I went on my first couple of outings by myself. I was a little scared at first of public transportation and not knowing the language in case I got lost. It went OK the first time...I walked around the city with Mara who knew the sites pretty well and could give me a little history along the way. I went to Postsdamer Platz with my family to meet another family for southern Germany. They had 3 girls and they absolutely loved me...they clung onto me all night. We saw Up! in 3D...and in German. It was strange but I followed it OK. The next night I ventured out again to meet 2 other aupairs. They both were super sweet and invited me out to watch New Moon with them when it comes out. I got lost that night and learned an important lesson about public transportation...know when the bus line closes and know which way the bus is heading!! My host mom drew me a map and told me what bus number to take but not that there are several buses with the same number but head in different directions. Bad Night.

I've been spending alot of time with the girls this week since they are on holiday from school. We've been bonding and having a blast. Today the host mom, Kerstin, Alena, and me went to KaDeWe which is a huge mall to meet one of Kerstin's guy friends for breakfast and do a little shopping before we leave for Mallorca on Saturday. Afterwards we came home to pack bags, put down the pool for winter, and just play around. I wasn't to happy to put down the pool because I hate the cold...and as everyone knows being wet when it's cold outside isn't fun either. I guess my face showed that because Kerstin kept saying Amanda why are you not happy. I'm here to work and I realize that sometimes I will have to do things that aren't "my cup of tea" but I will do it nonetheless. There has been alot of things that have gotten on my nerves but I'm alright, I get over it. But today I sat down and started to read the first few chapters of a new book when Kerstin said that I could go inside because it was going to take an hour or so for the pool to drain and then we could clean the inside out and put it in the shed. Well, Kerstin called me into the kitchen tonight and said we needed to talk because she wasn't happy about a few things. She said that I needed to 'work' for the 5 hours that I was suppose to each day and she didn't like seeing me sit down and that I needed to be smiling when we were outside today cleaning the pool. I need to always be doing things with the children...she likes action, action, action. And if I don't having anything to do and I'm bored that I should come to her because she has alot of work that I could be doing for her like doing their ironing. That pissed me the hell off. I have my alarm set for 7am. I'm going to get up and do the ironing for the children then go talk with Kerstin about what she considers me working. I don't mind playing with the children and doing their ironing but that will be consider in my 5 hours. I'm with the girls nonstop during the day...for more than 5 hours each day on the weekends and this week. Will I be payed overtime??? Because I'm not doing their ironing, dishes, making dinner, and whatever else for free. I hardly have 'freetime' but at night right before I go to bed and when I'm washing up in the mornings. Everything else I'm being dragged around by the girls. I'm sorry that I'm from the south and not accustomed to being out in the freezing cold for long periods of time. I hate the cold. And I'm here to help the children stay in line, teach English, and just be a helping hand...I'm not a constant source of entertainment. What it all boils down to is I need to talk to Kerstin and Henrick about expectations.