Moving on...

So I am moving to Béziers on Monday! I have discovered, as did my Scottish friend who was also an au pair until yesterday, that being an au pair is really not what its cracked up to be. At first it is great, no doubt... but then it seems that the families, regardless of how nice they are, begin to take advantage of your presence there. For instance, in our contract it says that we will be working 30 hours a week for 75 euros/week. Alright so not a lot of money obviously but for the experience it is worth it. However I have been expected to work 40+ hours per week ... but still for only 75 euros. Same story for my friend. She finally got fed up with the kids and the parents who expected perfection and were just plain mean. She flew home yesterday. Me I'm not flying home yet, but I am leaving the family. Actually they told me a week or so ago that they couldnt keep me here because I cant drive standard and am too nice with their son (??) ... so I was sad but then decided that actually I was being set FREE, and started looking for work in Béziers. And then three days later the family said that actually I could stay if I wanted. But I was already too happy to be leaving. So I am going to be living in the city (small one but it beats the countryside), where my french teacher has offered me a studio in the school free of rent and I am still looking for work. It's not how I had expected the summer to go but I am really happy. It will be a different experience buying my own groceries here, etc. Et voila, that's that. Ciao!