Cooking Disasters and Siestas (Au Pair Experience, Día Cinco)

The title is misleading because I'm going to start with the siesta. Basically woke up, took the kids to school and crashed. I said I'd take G's gymnastics kit to school before 11 but at 10 I was fast asleep. An "Antonia?" from S woke me right up and it was fine, she took the kit and I wasn't late but I was so embarrassed. How could I pass out after being awake for an hour and half?! Soon after she left I forced myself into the shower and after yawning about 15 times got dressed and sorted out my room. It was getting a little messy (the real me was coming out).

Once I was done with that it was time to cook lunch (here comes the disaster). It was rice with tomato sauce and fried eggs, then burgers, bread and oil. Nothing was really hard apart from the rice omg. Anyone who's ever eaten something I've cooked knows I struggle with cooking. I can cook but cooking rice in a pot is my sworn enemy. I always get it stuck on the bottom with a massive burnt patch that takes 12 years to scrape off and it's wet despite also burning. I added some oil to try and avoid this but this is obviously my destiny. So I panicked and made another batch in the microwave that was a bit hard but better than the sticky wet thing. Well done me.

I warned G when I picked her up from school, that there were two types of rice: malo y bueno. But when we got back and I asked her which one she wanted she said the sticky wet stuff. I nearly cried with joy. I didn't have to put a whole pot of rice in the bin! And I even managed to clean the pot before S came back downstairs. The only bad thing is because it was actually edible I'll have to go through this every week.

Also I need one of those toy tills you have as a toddler to practise with Euro change. I misunderstand the price every time and look like a noob 💀

Au Pair Experience, Día Cuatro

Okay so Sunday I didn't post anything but that doesn't mean nothing happened...

Sunday is the day of rest for me, so I had a lie in (until like 1pm) and then we had a long walk with tia. My host dad and his nephew went to watch the Barcelona vs... Someone else match. We watched it on TV and it was pretty entertaining. Mostly because of the way the family reacted to certain things, it was nice to see them all enjoying it.

Anyway here are some pictures of Sunday: 

Pretty old house

The River Segre

More pretty houses

Typical residential street in the old town

Catalonian flag (they want their independence)

Town at night (#nofilter)

It was nice to get out for sure and I'm happy to be part of such an active family. Just hope I can keep up!

Monday:

This was my first day of work. It wasn't awful but it was challenging. First getting up early (7:45 still feels like 6:45), speaking another language, translating things to and from English and all with a smile. Taking the kids to school was fine, they know the way and the fresh air and sunshine kind of perks you up.

Then I showered and me and S (host mum) went to town. Her friend runs a café and one of her many sisters was there too. S introduced me to them, bought me a forest fruit tea and then went back to work (at home). I chatted with S's friend and sister and had this really tasty sandwich for just one Euro (no friend of the family discount needed!)

Afterwards I went shopping as S had shown me all the shops. Apparently toner here doesn't make your face less blotchy it's just to remove make up and Vitamin C costs 9€ okay.

Then went to a massive chino and bought a picture frame and some cosy pyjamas (I'd been sleeping in the T-shirt I wore the day before because by the time I go to bed I'm too exhausted to open the wardrobe tbh). Also apparently I'm obviously not Spanish because I didn't understand that nueve centitos isn't 90 cents okay sorry.

Went home, got the kids and two of their friends from school and had lunch with them. Omg that was hard, fun but telling a little boy to sit down 100 times in two languages and still having to physically sit him down was a pain in the butt. They're cute though :)

Some wild children run wildly

Oh and next Monday I'm going to have an English class with some other children and I need to prepare something fun. (Suggestions? 3 children and me for 1 hour of English) S set that up for me and km grateful but also baffled.

Anyway more to come obvs. Can't believe I've only been here a few days!
Antonia xxx

Mushrooms and Abuelos (Au Pair Experience, Día Dos, Part Two)

Spanglish is my favourite language right now. So many Spanglish conversations, so little concentration...

So yes this is part dos of my second day blogging effort. I'm going to do a list thing for ease and... Ease. (It's late and I should be asleep.) Today was another jam-packed day...

1. Woke up. Showered upstairs. Missed R's football match. Family came back just before I'd brushed my teeth. Greeted everyone with bad breath and a toothbrush
2. Ate breakfast. Had a café solo (an espresso, bit bigger than those shot things from Costa). Coffee was not enough. Biscuit. Tried to figure out if grúa and crane are the same thing with host mum plus lots of confusion (they are).  No time for make up before we leave (¡qué horror!)
3. Walk around town. Through market. See police and ask why they're directing traffic. See more police and ask if I need my passport (no). Walk up this hill to a historic wall that was built to keep the Moors out. Walk up about 5 million stairs to get great views of town: 
   
4. Didn't pass out but might. Walk up more steps to visit church. Humbled so no pics inside. Try not to lose my hat in the wind. Walk down 500 steps to a regenerated part of town that was never finished because the money ran out. La vida es dura 
5. Family lunch. Abuelo, abuela, tia, primo and the family I'm staying with. Abuelo is deaf but impressed with my Spanish (related?). Abuelo speaks too fast. Cosy fire. Good food except the aubergines that taste like cigarettes (still finished it but never trying it again) 
   
6. Get asked my political opinion(!!) on the EU in/out referendum for the UK. Explain that our government gives no fucks about human rights or other people so we should stay in but yes the Euro is shit. Approving nods once I got it all out
7. Abuela asks about my hair. I explain in DETAIL. Ask if I can touch her hair. Yes. Try to undo her hair. No. Oops.
8. Go mushroom picking in the forest with tia and the kids. Find two edible mushrooms.
   
   Walk around with sticks like we're Gandalf.  Surprise pig farm. Host dad owns it. Permanent confusion on my face. Pigs are cute but smell awful. Lovely day with host family. Feel at home if a little overwhelmed.
9. Supermarket. Discreetly purchase lady things (tampons, pads, perfume, hand cream - not sure if allergic to soap or water but need to cream my hands every time I wash them!) with host mum and G while R asks me what type of soy milk I like (?? Soy? Clasíco? Normal?)
10. Home. Wait ages for dinner. It's Saturday. 10pm. Nice spread, another family almost clones of my host family but more fluency in English. G has a stomach ache. We eat. I have dessert with the grown ups (cheese and this kind of pear jam) and try not to be drunk off a finger of red wine. Play games with children. Decline gin and tonic offer. Bid all goodnight
11. Call mummy for an hour. Happy. Recommends I go to doctor about intense ear head and neck pains when landing plane. Love is shared. Life is the same at home. Should've bought more cat litter before I left not just ordered it from Amazon. Tesco isn't far!

Until next time chicos,

Antonia xx