Life Update

Okay, okay.  I know you all have asked yourself the same question at least once... "What exactly is Audrey doing over there?" Am I babysitting? Yes. Am I teaching English? Yes. What the heck am I doing in Poland?! See below. I thought there were only 3 kids?!! In 2010, yes. 2012 = 5. Am I shooting an advertisement for Polo family collection? No, but I should submit some photos. Can you see more pictures of the little girl in glasses? ABSOLUTELY!! Do I get paid at the elementary school? Believe it or not, yes. My 15 hour work week, pays.. and it's enough to survive. Is that a real job or did you make it up? It's real. Look it up:Auxiliar de Conversacion  Am I volunteering? No, but I plan to find someway to help out this year. Am I ever coming home? Eventually! Where will I be next? I wish I knew.

The truth and my journey with the spanish language.

 Fall 2007: When I started University I heard during rush alllll about people studying abroad (which was already in my mind).  I knew it was something my little traveler's heart would absolutely HAVE to do.  I liked the little Spanish I had taken in high school and it had been easy for me (HAHAHAHHA... if only I knew the inevitable struggles I would soon have with the language and most specifically how the language would DESPISE my southern draaaawl) so I decided I would minor in Spanish. As simple as that.

Summer 2009: Unfortunately, I am impatient. I am also a little spoiled and I usually want what I want when I want it... and I do whatever it takes to get it.  If I have my heart set on something I will go at it with full-force.  (Let's reminisce to that time I wanted to be a marine biologist so I HAD to go that summer to San Diego to Camp Sea World at the ripe age of 16... embarrassing.  What happened to that dream? to that extreme passion? Well... that's Audrey.) I'm sure you are shocked to hear this, especially my daddy.  I decided I needed to study abroad ASAP because I was ready to go to Europe.  So I went the summer after my sophomore year with the ABSOLUTE bare-minimum knowledge of the spanish language... I had not even taken the conversation class yet.  I learned nothing.  I travelled.  I went to a *few* fiestas. I put 2 more spanish classes under my belt. I had to come back.

Summer 2010:  I wanted to come back without asking my parents to fund the trip.  I heard of this job - AuPair (fancy word for foreign nanny). I logged onto a website AuPairworld.net and typed I like kids. I like Europe. I speak English. I want to learn Spanish. Call me. I threw in a few pictures of me loving kids and that was that.  I waited and I received a call.  This mom was pregnant in Madrid and already had 3 children.  Super important that they learned English.  I received a lot of offers, but this family looked like they should be in a magazine based on the picture in their profile andddd bonus - they were going to Scotland for 2 weeks at the end of the summer.  Sold. I packed my bag and not only had a wonderful experience, but found a family in Spain that I loved and they loved me.

Summer 2011-Now:  I graduated college and accepted a job with the Spanish government teaching English in an elementary school.  Three days a week in the south of Spain. It was supposed to be just a gap-year before I started back my Master's.  One year turned to two and here I am still avoiding reality and growing up.

The polish question: So that same family that I was introduced to back in the summer of 2010 through a website (scary, not sure I recommend it even though it worked out for me) became family to me.  They moved to Poland in September of 2011 for Marcelo's job and also found out they were pregnant with baby Veronica so I came before my job started to help them move in and get adjusted.  Then I came back for my Spring Break in April and am here again now before my job starts.  We were in Madrid for August and Warsaw for September. I return to SEvilla in October.  

That is that. Hope that clears up some of your confusion!

Bottom line: I'm most likely considered clinically crazy, but I'm super happy!!!

My life via Instagram

Veronica (4 months) & Casilda (2 YEARS!! Vero was pregnant with Cas my first summer!)

Marcelo (about to be NINE!)

Veronica: the newest addition AKA #5

For Mencia's Birthday party we were twins.  She dressed like me and I "wore glasses" like her and of course wore my hair like her.

Mencia is FIVE YEARS OLD!!!!!

Gonzalo is six, he will be seven in March.  He lost his 2 front teeth last month... He's currently adjusting to the life of eating with your molars and trying harder to pronounce sounds correctly :)