A Change of Mind

I know that I have a couple of over due writings about my little adventures to document on here, but I have to officially document something else first!

I am staying in Switzerland for almost another whole year!

When I originally came to France/Switzerland last August I had a ticket to go back home 10 months later in June, which happens to be in a week from now.  It also happens that I am actually going back to good old England this time next week anyway, but only for a few days for the beautiful Natalie Hawkins wedding!  When I moved when to my 'new' family in November last year they asked if I would stay till August, because they needed some help still through the summer.  I was happy to stay a bit longer, making my stay here come to a nice round year.  My family (all 12 of them) have also planned to come pick me up at the end of my time in August, which is a good excuse to rent a chalet in France and have a little holiday together!  I would have then been home for good to finally face making a real decision about what I would do for the next year.  I had already planned to find a job, volunteer with the National Trust and find a university course that I could start in September 2013.  However my host family had said a few times that I was welcome to stay longer with them working as their Au Pair, but I felt I would be ready to go home in August.

Well a few weeks ago Caroline, Manu and I were sat down at dinner finalising a few details about my Swiss work permit, because I now get paid a little more, whoop whoop! Yes, 8 months later the permit still hasn't been finished and sent out yet.  I thought the Swiss were supposed to be swish at this kind of stuff!?  At the same time Caroline and Manu wanted to give me an 'official' offer to stay longer.  They made it clear that they didn't want to put any pressure on me at all to make a decision, and completely support me in what ever plans I want to make for the future, but they would like me to stay longer if I was up for it.  They really like me and love me being here (I'm not trying to big myself up, promise!  Their words, so I have to go with them, right?!  Haha!).  They like how I am with the boys, and that the boys like me.  We all fit together as a family, which is really nice and rather rare when it comes to Au Pairs and their host family's here.  I feel comfortable being in their home, which feels like my home too, and they are comfortable with having a 22 year old haunt their basement and look after their boys!  So really it feels that it is a great situation all round!

They want to give me the same deal I have now with my own bedroom and bathroom, plus all food paid for and access to a car.  I still get a prepaid phone, weekends and evenings off and all the usual holidays that I have been able to have in the last year.  They are going to pay for a flight to England and back at Christmas again.  I will have practically a whole month off in the summer to go home and get my fill of my beloved England.  They will very generously pay for another round of French lessons, or another class that I might like to take that would benefit my future studies, painting, drawing etc.  On top of all that though they are going to give me a 30% pay increase!  Bonus!!!  It's an offer I can't refuse, clearly!

It wasn't that easy to decide to take them up on the offer though.  I had a good think about what my options were for the next year and decided that if I were to stay for a few extra months it would all fit into my original plan very well!  So rather then go home in the middle of the summer, with no job prospects and volunteering opportunities at the National Trust starting to wined down for that season, it would more prudent for me to stay here where I do have a job (with opportunities to save) and work through the autumn and winter.  I can visit university's when I am home in the holidays and apply for courses from over sea's.  My host family will be very flexible when it come to any interviews I may have to go home for.  When I do go home for good around April/Easter time the new volunteer season with the National Trust will be up and running, so I can work with them until I go to University (or any other plan that may have cropped up if that isn't the path for me to take).  Everything fit's in rather nicely!

Obviously I would absolutely love to go home for good in August, I do love my home and miss all my family and friends!  Staying longer will just make it so much better when I do eventually go home, right?!

This is the new plan, by the end of my travels out here I will have been here for over a year and a half!

Good luck to me!!!   Hahaha!