My first day.

My new whip!

I have yet to spend a week here in Deutschland but already I feel at home, thanks in large part to the unrelenting hospitality and generosity of my host family.  After a long and exhausting flight through 9 time-zones I was greeted at Tegel international by Christian, my host father, his sister-in-law Nicole, and her son Milan.  My heavy bags were quickly wrestled from me and I was led to what would be my car for the next year.  A small red manual Kia, a toy in comparison to my pickup truck which I have endearingly named Betty now sitting in Santa Barbara. 

Milan had just returned from a year of study in Atlanta Georgia and spoke American English very well.  He was eager to speak with an American in Germany as I likewise was eager to question him as a German in America. 

The weather in Berlin upon my arrival was far from that of the so-cal pseudo-paradise of SB.  Grey skies and drizzle offered a preview of weather to come for the next year.  My liberation from the rain of Oregon in sunny Santa Barbara was rather short lived. 

We zipped along the highway through Berlin while I earnestly scanned the built environment, inspecting the structures and their aesthetics (a habit imbued in me through my studies in historical preservation at the UO).  We soon left the urban sprawl of Berlin for a skyline dominated less by buildings and more so by trees in the small borough of Kleinmachnow.  This suburb situated to the southwest of Belrin Mitte (middle) has a population of approximately 20k people and exhibits a very green and quaint setting.  The nearest urban center and transportation hub to my new home is Zeheldorf.  Here are located several streets lined with shops, specialty boutiques, markets, etc. all centered around a Straßenbahn (streetcar) station. 

As we drive into the town Christian points out interesting locations and buildings. “here is the old American Barracks”, “Here we have the annual Amerikanische-Deutsche Volksfest”, etc…. 

We soon enter a neighborhood of mixed houses, stark modern constructions alternating with warmer older house.  The street is not paved but rather laid with cobblestone making for a very bumpy ride. 

Home sweet home

We turn a corner and stop in front of the family’s home, a beautiful 3.5 story house that was not done proper justice in the pictures I was sent over email.  I struggle to pick my jaw up off the ground as we open the white gate and approach the entry.  The historic exterior is contrasted by a well executed interior renovation. 

My Amerikanisches Zimmer

 The walls are adorned with modern art as well as classical prints. I am not yet given a house tour as it is the wish of young Louis to personally guide me throughout every room.  I stop in the foyer in front of a grand staircase and Christian asks me if I can tell which room will be mine.  I only then through the corner of my eye notice the large American flag draped over a door. 

After unpacking and changing, the boys and Anja arrive.  They greet me warmly and Louis proceeds to tour me around the house which proves to be much larger than I had surmised from the exterior. 

Dinner that night is prepared by Christian and Nicole.  The whole dinner becomes much more classy than I imagine with candles, formal plate settings, and soft classical music.  We begin eating the delicious meal of lamb, potatoes, and sautéed vegetables.  I further my drowsiness with large glasses of red wine that are almost forced upon me. 

After dinner the adults and myself sit upon the porch with wine, beer, and cigarettes late into the evening.  I am very surprised that my mind has forced my weary body to remain awake this long.  I soon crash upon my bed violently and sleep deeply.  The next morning I awoke in a daze as I had believed the prior day to be a dream, as it was too good to be true. But to my delight it was all real.

The Trip Before the Trip

Well, after a very cramped, loud, and long flight from LAX to Dusseldorf, then a short flight to Berlin Tegel I have made it to my home for the next year!  This trip came after a much needed annual venture into the mountainous back country of Yosemite National Park with several family members. 

The Yosemite excursion consisted of a 5 day trek from Tuolomne Meadows along the Merced River ending in Yosemite Valley, a scenic 30 mile hike with an addition 15 miles including a day trip to Washburn Lake and a glorious sunrise climb up Half Dome. 

I have been backpacking in the Eastern Sierra Nevadas since I was 9 years old beginning with an almost identical trip of the same distance.  This year I was walking along the same trails as I had 13 years prior along with 11 family members and friends ranging from ages 10 to 65.  At first many obstacles needed be hurdled just to get out boots on the trailhead, then we faced a 10 mile climb atop heavy snow that obscured 90% of the trail... >

My dad and I quickly pulled ahead of the pack as we weren't weighed down by the 2 young hikers, Olivia 10 and Will 11.  We navigated a rough path relying heavily upon our GPS to show us where the trail led underneath the snow.  The hike was grueling, arguably the toughest I have yet to complete, not due to a significant rise in elevation but simply because we had to forge our own path with equipment ill-suited for the amount of snow. 

The next 4 days went much smoother as we descended into the trickling glacial valleys ,one flowing into the next, of the John Muir Trail.  The mosquitoes were few and far between and the fish were plentiful.  Other than a few blisters wrought from the first day the trip went beautifully. 

Half Dome-distance from edge to valley floor approx. 5000+ ft.

The climax of the trip hands down had to be our early morning climb up Half Dome.  Those of us willing to make the intense climb before the rising sun bathed the monolithic granite giant and the valley below awoke at 3 am.   The group consisted of myself, my cousin-in-law Geoff, his daughter Olivia, his brothers Nick and Jim, and my uncle Bill.  The hike to the base of Half Dome from Little Yosemite Valley is roughly 3 miles along relentless uphill switchbacks, nothing to take lightly. 

The real challenge is not met until one emerges above the tree line and is overshadowed by a near vertical granite slope with 3 foot tall steps that vanish half-way to the top.  But the fun doesn't stop there! One must then descend into the 'saddle', a small dip that then meets the granite dome.  Here lies the way up the shear rock, two steel cables and a deteriorating wood step approximately every  3 meters.  Mind you there are no harnesses or carabiners to secure you to these cables....if you fall, it will be the most scenic and fatal fall you experience before your soul transcends the clouds (or whatever you believe happens when your face meets granite at terminal velocity). 

Also remember that we have a 10 year old girl with us... and it is still dark...

View of the 'saddle' from the cables

Before we have time to process the epic task that lay before us along spindly cables we must hustle as the sun is fast approaching and we wish to experience sunrise on top of the dome.  I attack the cables at a near sprint.  I have done this several times before and knew that if I psyched myself up enough it would be relatively easy.  At this point fear is not my biggest concern but a lack of oxygen (one can not run too far or fast at such an elevation without risking a blackout resulting in a quick trip to the valley floor), as well as a lack of visibility as the dome was obscured by clouds and I had begun to pierce the ominous grey shroud.

I make my way up the cables sprinting, always keeping one hand on a cable while the other reaches farther up.  I am wearing fingerless gloves and my fingertips soon begin to bleed having been cut by the steel cables. 

I soon emerge from the clouds and enter what feels like an ethereal world.  granite mountaintops sit like islands on a sea of clouds.  What little breath I had remaining from my ascent is stolen from me by the beauty I am beholding. 

The sun soon rises and we are have scrambled up just in time to enjoy its splendor.  We glow with awe and snap dozens of pictures, then discuss how we are to descend from such heights....  I suggest going down backwards to those who fear heights and an awkward descent.  I opt for a sideways repelling motion in which I hold onto one cable and hop down the slope.

We all make it back safely and quickly pack our backpacks in order to race down into the valley where cold beer and warm showers awaits our triumphant crew.  The trip as a whole was unforgettable and a refreshing and calming adventure for my soul so eager for the coming change that Berlin and the coming year is to offer. 

I finally have a solid internet connection here after my host father did some much appreciated troubleshooting.  I assure you that more about Germany and my experience with the children is soon to come!  Bis Bald! (see you soon)

Children, niños, bambini, Kinder

"Why are you crying?"

So it may sound that I am inept when it comes to the care of children.  But despite my imposing outer appearance children are often strongly drawn to me.  I am not sure as to why, but I am fairly certain that it is because children can sense the fact that I am a 5 year old stuck in an adult's body (ask my girlfriend and she will attest to my immaturity). 

This past year as a senior in college with a debilitating case of senioritis I often would pass on nights of drinking and socializing at the bars, not because I needed to wake up early, not because I was lazy, but because I was too preoccupied with the construction of bigger and better battleships with the use of my awesome LEGO collection.  That's right....a 22 year old college student willing to waste devote hours of weekends to the wonder that is LEGOS.  A testament to inner-child.

I wish I could build this kind of AWESOME>>>

While studying in Italy last spring I would often go jogging along the top of a local Medicean fortress.  One afternoon after jogging with my now girlfriend Hannah we began to do pushups, sit-ups, etc. on a patch of grass.  While counting out push-ups a small local boy (probably 7 or 8 yrs old) sat cross-legged in front of me.  As sweat dripped off my nose the young boy cocked his head to one side and asked 'cosa fai?' (what are you doing?).  I responded in Italian that I was exercising, but he continued to watch me quizzically.  Hannah began to giggle as the boy fired more questions at me.

What my inner-self looks like

I entertained him and told him he should continue to play with his comrades (a group of 5 or so children his own age playing a few meters away).  But the boy instead began to mimic my motions, following me in push-ups, then sit-ups, then jumping jacks.  He paid no mind to Hannah as he had deemed me Italian due to my handle on the language and her a foreigner. 

Soon the entire group of children surrounded me.  I then began an impromptu show and exercise class.  'Guarda' (look) I would say before launching into somersaults and handstands.  The children would laugh and Hannah would likewise as she stood outside the circle of kids being entertained by a big sweaty stranger.  'Fa cosí' (do like this) enticing the group to follow me in a silly action.  Soon the group erupted as the kids watched, copied, the tugged on my arms making sure I watched as they elaborated.  It was quite a cute scene that earned me a good amount of brownie points with Hannah. 

This sort of interaction with kids is not a rare occurrence as I am one of 20-sum cousins on my dad's side of the family, most of which are younger than I.  Many a times have I been swarmed with children of varying ages and ultimately become a mobile, human jungle-gym.  

When it comes to my interactions with children I truly enjoy myself, while I must abandon my sailor's tongue I am able to digress into a child's mindset, a place of innocence that many people wish they could revisit. 

The boys I am to care for in Berlin are ages 8 and 11, in my mind a great age range.  They are too young to start thinking they are too cool and old enough to easily communicate and rationalize with.  This also serves as an opportunity to fill a big brother role for two boys.  I have enjoyed being the older brother for my sister Emily, and I look forward to having a couple little brothers to play with.

A Manny?! Really?!

That is right.  I, a 6'2'', 195 lb. guy who trains in MMA (think UFC cage fighting) is going to spend a year taking care of two children.  If that weren't weird enough, the children I am to take care of and the parents under which I am to be employed have only spoken to me through email or online video chat.  And this job is not near my home in southern California, or my alma mater in Oregon, but in Berlin Germany.  

My Au Pair profile pic. (My sis and I)

My FB profile pic (fake blood)

Many people have asked "how did you find this job?".  I had heard of employment as an Au Pair a year ago while I was studying architecture in Siena, Italy.  I only recently looked seriously into such a prospect when my good friend Grace told me she was going to be working in Rome.  I created profiles on two websites (greataupair.com and aupair-world.net) that matched my preferences with prospective families.  

Of course my profile was well polished and omitted my love for death metal music, and violent MMA hobby. You can see the disparity in my Facebook profile pic and my au pair profile pic.^^^ 

In my profile I also said that I love art and enjoy drawing and painting.  This is very true.....

.....but I failed to mention the recent trend in my art of depicting inebriated cartoon animals.  <<<<

With surprising speed I attracted attention from many families across Europe.  I had many options as I speak Spanish, Italian, and have been studying German for the past 2 years. 

After I had registered and started receiving offers from families my girlfriend Hannah created her own account and began to get offers almost immediately.  We began poking fun at each other over who had received more offers.  She typically won, although I maintain that I deserved a handicap as men are not as desired for Au pair positions. 

I eventually received an email from the mother of a prospective family in Berlin.   It opened with the explanation that her sons had seen my profile picture and said that I looked cool.  The email then went into a lengthy barrage of questions.  I responded promptly to begin what would become a long thread of emails.  We eventually established a date and time to video chat.  

Come the day I was to video chat with this promising family I awoke upon a couch in a house that was not mine.  I sprang to my feet and fumbled around for my phone. 8:45 am.  I was supposed to meet the family online at 9am.  I bolted through the door.  The night before I had began casually drinking with friends vowing to 'take it easy' as I needed to be about my wits the next morning for my interview.

Needless to say the night did not go that easy... 

I was thankful when I ran up the steps to my apartment that I had arrived before 9, and that the smell of alcohol cannot be sensed through my webcam. 

To my luck there was an email awaiting me explaining that the family needed to postpone until 9:30

HUZZAH! --some time to make it look as if I hadn't been run over by a truck filled with tequila.

The video session went over well and I attributed my deep set, baggy eyes to being tired.  More emails were exchanged until I was offered a job taking care of 8 year old Louis and 11 year old Felix.  

Where I will be living for the next year

In return for taking the boys to and from school, cooking a few meals a week, helping with homework, and generally hanging out with the boys, I will receive a solid monthly pay (roughly $300 American), full room and board in one of the most gorgeous houses ever >>>

The family is also kind enough to help pay for German languages classes I will be taking once I arrive, as well as taking me on their annual family trip to Austria for a huge classical music festival the end of July.

As the date of departure approaches it seems to be so close yet so far away.  While I wish to embark on this adventure immediately, I also wish to spend much needed time with my family which I rarely have seen these past years as well as spend what remaining time I have with my girlfriend while we are in the USA.  

Come the 21st of July I begin this new adventure abroad, wish me luck in my preparation for this transition!