Summary:
I've sent a postcard to my host family. I've filled out all the papers needed when you're applying for a VISA to the States. I'm thinking about my mom, who passed away last year, she should have been celebrating her 60th birthday today... <3

Longer version:
There's a neverending pile of papers that has to be filled out, checked and signed in order to get your J-1 VISA! I got up today, made myself a sandwich and a cup of tea, then I sat down with all the paperwork for 3 hours! Half of the time I was talking to the nice lady from my au pair agency, and half of the time I was talking to my friend, who's filling out the same papers.

I've also been talking with "Skattemyndigheten", and asked the to send me a birth certificate (personbevis). But first I had to wait in the phone queue. Got place number 121... :[ Good thing is, the send me the paper for free, so that's convenient.

Today I sent a postcard to my host family. I thought that might be a good way to let them know that I look forward to meet them. It's a bit more personal than an e-mail, I think. So I put on some stickers and p a inted a little on the postcard (i.e. a car, a rainbow, a flower), to make it fun for the children to look at too. =) A s mentioned before, the berries on the postcard are called "smultron" in Swedish, and I believe "wild strawberries" in English.







Love to you all

- Wikenfors

I received all the papers that has to be done before I go to the US embassy (I really don't know how to spell that word^^). And there's a lot of paperwork, I can assure you! And everything has to be accurate, and I'm a bit worried. But it'll be fine, I'm sure. I'm going to call the agency in Sweden on Monday, so that they can help me. =)
Right now I'm reading all the broschures I' got, "Guidelines for a Successful Year" "Au Pair Handbook" et.c.

Yesterday I went to Värnamo with my dad, and we bought 2 TSA-locks and a suitcase. It's bright pink! Haha, nobody will be able to take that one without me noticing it. It's not that discrete...

TSA-locks are the kind of locks that people who work at an airport can
open. If you have an ordinary lock, they may break it. So that's why
I bought these TSA-locks.

I'm writing a postcard to my host family. I bought a huge postcard with a picture of some Swedish (?) berries. We call them "smultron" and I think they're called "wild starwberries" in the US. Well, anyway, it's pretty Swedish. =P

I'm so happy that I'm really going to the States! In 24 days! I found the host family of my dreams; kind and funny parents, cute and lovable children. Everything's perfect right now. =)

Over and out

 

- Wikenfors

Today I've been to Värnamo (tha big city ^^) and looked for a suitcase for my trip to the States. I got a bad surprise - the suitcases cost really much! I was looking at a suitcase, and I go "this one looks nice", then I see the price, ~$300(!), and I'm like "this one is really ugly". Haha. Does anyone know if you can bring all your stuff in plastic bags instead of in suitcases? ^^ Haha. But I found another place later where they weren't that expensive. But I'll buy one when my dad's with me.

I was going to buy a postcard to my host family and a calendar for myself. Then I realized that I had lost my wallet. So I had to apologize to the lady I was going to pay and leave the store. I texted everyone that might have seen it and I call my dad and have him look in the house for me. No wallet. I thought that maybe I dropped it when I ate pizza with my classmates, so I go to the pizzeria. No wallet. I go to McDonalds. No wallet. I postpone that problem for now.

At 7 PM I had to go to my doctor to have him fill out my medical form. When I arrive at his house (he's got a private clinic) he's not there. So his wife opens, try to call him, but he doesn't answer. So I sit and wait, and read a childrens book to his 4year old daughter. =)
30 minutes later he turns up, apologize to me and offers me a free vaccine against tetanus, since the vaccine I have will end when I'm in the States. So, on Sunday I'm going to get my vaccine for tetanus and be tested for tuberculosis, TBC. You have to be able to prove that you're not a carrier of that disease when you're going to study at colleges and universities.
I also got the advice to get the vaccine for H1N1 (swine flu). I think I'm going to take it..
When I was about to leave, the doctor's daughter shows up again and gives me a drawing she made. How cute! =)


So, when I got home and parked the car I found the wallet under the car seat. What a joyful moment! =P Then it just got better. Watched a movie, Payback, with Mel Gibson, then I watched Scrubs. So the evening ended good =).

• Have you ever participated in genocide?
• Are you planning on bombing the States?

Silly questions, if you ask me. =P But I'm sure they're there for a reason. Haha. (and I guess that my blog is getting investigated now, since I used the word "bombing". Oh my. Bomb bomb bomb bomb BANG! ^^ Investigate that!) Hah, I'm so funny, I know.

Now I'm off to bed. Nanananana... (:

- Wikenfors

I'm starting to feel really nervous by now, and I've tried to make a provisional packing list. If anyone notices anything I've forgot, please let me know. =P And I'll try to bring as few clothes as possible, because if I know myself, I'll be out shopping as soon as I get my first salary. Although I plan to save money each week, for future trips and stuff like that.


Clothing:
• 2 pair of jeans
• 2 pair of 'soft trousers'
• 2 dresses
• Briefs
• Socks
• Pantyhoses
• PJs
• 2 bikinis
• Bras
• 4 tank tops
• 2 sweaters
• A pair of shorts
• 1 skirt
• 4 pair of shoes (Converse, heeled boots, flip flops, sandals - I'd like to bring more! ^^)
• A tracksuit
• A somewhat warmer coat


Necessaire:
• Safety razors
• 1 deodorant
• 2 perfumes
• 1 tube of toothpaste
• 1 toothbrush
• 1 hairbrush
• 1 comb
• Make up
• Hair stuff (hairpins, bag sized spray et.c.)
• Headache tablets
• Sun glasses (sunny California - I am prepared!)
• Sun spray, sun block lotion
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Nail scissors, nail file, transparent nail varnish
• Make up remover, pads
• Body butter


Important papers:
• Tickets
• Birth certificate (copy)
• Insurance papers
• Passport
• Address and phone number to my host family
• Au Pair papers


Other:
• Camera
• A couple of movies
• Cords to various electric items
• My favourite book
• Scratchpads and pens
• Calendar
• Cell phone charger
• Gifts to my host family
• Swedish recipes
• Batteries
• Adapter
• My baton twirling stick (just for fun)
• Address- and phone numberlist to friends and family in Sweden
• Photos of my loved ones (to have in my room, as a way to handle homesickness)
• My diving certificate and diver's logbook
• Deck of cards (maybe)


Carryon luggage:
• Cell phone
• A book
• Wallet (app. $300-400)
• Camera
• Toothbrush
• Some clothes
• All the important papers
• Scratchpad and pen
• Something to eat (to be purchased in the tax free)


I guess that was the most important things to bring. I'll just have to see if I'll be able to crumple everything up in two suitcases. I'm going shopping for a suitcase tomorrow, actually. The one I use to have is a bit too worn, since it had to survive the tsunami. =P

---

Love to you all

- Wikenfors

To be more successful in the hopes of finding the perfect host family, I got the advice to make a video about myself, and so I did. The agency told it was a good video, so I'm content. =)

I knew that many of you have lots of questions about how you make such a video, what's important to think of and say et.c., so I'll do a list of things that I find important.


Important things when making an au pair video

1. There's this site, http://aupairvideos.com, where you can find hundreds of au pair videos. (Hence the name). I would recommend you to watch a bunch of them, and to write down things that you think the au pair did well, i.e. nice phrasing, good angles, smiling et.c

2. Write a script. The easiest thing to do is to base it on your personal letter to the family, but you will still have to say something more than that, something that will get the families interested in you. Practise reading your text out loud.

3. When you're recording yourself, a good advice is to record small pieces, and to put them all together to one video later. And record every one of these pieces several times, so that you know what you're going to say and are able to say it as fluently as possible. It shouldn't sound like you're reciting it straight from your script, though.

4. Smile. A lot. It really makes a big difference.

5. If you know how to play an instrument, dance, sing or do horseback riding, it would be a good idea to show the families that in the video. But remeber to keep it short. If you have video clips of you when you play together with children that's very good to have in your video as well.

6. Think. What would a host family think of your video? If you were the host mom or dad, would you hire the person on the video?


Hopefully this will be of help to someone out there trying to make an au pair video. =)



Here's my video:



Love to you all

- Wikenfors

Well, I knew it would happen sooner or later, but here I am - blogging! So this blog will be about me and my year as an au pair in the United States of America.

So, I thought I might tell you why I applied to become an au pair. It all started when I didn't get into medical school in Denmark (due to an unfortunate misunderstanding). Then I decided that I wanted to become an au pair. I wasn't sure where, tough. France or th US. I chose to go to America. I've already been to France several times, and America seems like a really interesting country. Anyway, I applied to Cultural Care Au Pair and made THE best application, I can assure you. And I got many matches with host families around the US, but it never seemed to be the right family...

After a couple of months I got tired of waiting, so I applied to another Au Pair bureau as well, Au Pair in America. The very first match I got was the perfect family. After the conversation I had with them on the phone, I knew that this was the family of my dreams! They fulfilled everything I could ever ask for in a host family. They were so nice and seemed very kind. =)

So, they wanted me as their au pair, and I wanted them as my host family. And now I'm going to California! They live close to the beach, in a small village 25 minutes from San Diego. I'm going to take care of their twins. A boy and a girl, soon to be two years old. They're so cute! I'm leaving Sweden the 30th of November! Gosh, I'm so excited! =)



There's a lot of thing that needs to be fixed before I go, though. I got to fill out like hundreds of papers in order to get my VISA, so that I can stay legally in the States. I have to set an appointment with the US ambassy in Stockholm, Sweden. I got to visit a doctor and complete my medical form.
And I'm still waiting for the police to send me a copy of my criminal records, and it has taken a long time now. Either they forgot about me, or else they have found sooo much criminal things about me that it takes a while for them to put it together. ;)
I also have to buy a new suitcase, the ones I use to have are pretty the worse for wear, since they, too, had to survive the tsunami.



But most importantly, I have to say goodbye to all of my friends and family. I'm not going to see them for more than a year! I was thinking about throwing a "goodbye party" for myself. =)

Tonight I'm going to say bye-bye to some of my classmates. We're going to a pizzeria, then to McDonalds. =)

Love to you all

- Wikenfors