The first month is over..

Hello everyone,

it's Sunday, the weather is bad, really bad.. what could be better than lying in bed and writing a blog. Even though I have to disappoint you, because there's really not much to report from this week. I know, I know, that was always my opening sentence, but this time it's true :D

What have I always said as an au pair? Plans never work out :D So it was on Tuesday, instead of cleaning the car, I met up with an acquaintance at the Botanic Gardens and we walked around the city and got some delicious food at one of the food trucks at the Re Start Mall. I had a burrito and she had a pizza from a different food truck. It was great to stroll through the city center in nice weather and at the river I watched children feeding eels. They were really huge and very tame, apparently it's a popular pastime.

On Wednesday (April 26), I actually wanted to get up early to take photos of the sunrise. I did wake up, but unfortunately it was quite cloudy, so I decided to stay in bed. A few hours later, the temp agency called and asked if I could help out at the Museum Cafe at the Canterbury Museum on Wednesday and Thursday. It was again a rather hectic morning, especially because I couldn't find a parking spot. The free ones were all full or time-limited. The only parking spot I found quickly where I could park long enough even cost me the wages of my first working hour. Great.. Then I worked in the cafe until 4 pm, mainly collecting and washing dirty dishes from the tables, and then went directly from there to the bar for my next shift. Fortunately, the drive wasn't that long, so I could sit in the sun for a while and change clothes before the karaoke evening started. I also thought that there was quite a lot going on, probably because a lot of people ordered food and I was alone responsible for the bar as my boss was cooking. At the end of the evening, I received praise for doing well. :)

On Thursday (April 27), I took the bus to the museum in the morning so that I wouldn't have to pay so much for parking again.. But this idea wasn't as clever as I thought it would be. First of all, the bus I actually wanted to take was canceled, and secondly, I spent half an hour just getting my bus ticket. Oh well, I saw a few new corners of the city and went for a walk before and after my shift to take advantage of the good weather. In the evening, I didn't do anything, except eat something, chat with my roommates, and read.

Friday and Saturday were also relatively quiet days when I didn't do much during the day, except for some small things like laundry and shopping, and worked in the evenings. Friday evening was relatively quiet in the bar, but Saturday was very busy. I found it very funny that many people came in 60s hippie/flower power outfits, apparently they had been to a concert before.

Today, on Sunday, I read a bit and then played Monopoly with my roommates, and no, it wasn't my idea. They brought it upon themselves. I also won the first round, with a lot of luck with the dice, since I only had the red streets, the train stations, and the water and electricity companies, but it was enough. In the second round, luck with the dice unfortunately left me, and I declared bankruptcy after what felt like 20 minutes. But it was still a very fun afternoon and evening with my roommates. I find it sad that two of them will move out in a few days and slowly, but surely, make their way home, of course with a few detours and explorations.

That's all from me again. I wish you a nice Sunday and a great week.

See you soon,

Jessi