My Travelmonth + Tips & Checklists

My travel month

Tips:

-)it is best to start saving from the beginning of your au pair year but it can also work out if you start saving later on (its much harder though so just start saving right away even if its only 10 $ a week)

-) plan ahead. Figure out where you want to go and what you want to see. Look at flights and bus fares to figure out the best and cheapest way to get to all your destinations. Consider Airbn&bs as well as couchsurfing and hostels.

-) great sights for booking flights: Kayak.com, flighscanner, googleflights, expedia,… make sure to compare everywhere and set your webbrowser on private, sometimes you will get better deals that way.

-) Make sure you keep other costs in mind, such as transfers, public transportation, food, luggage cost (a checked bag usually costs between 25-50$ depending on the airline)

-) get a phone plan for you travel month if you don’t pay for you phone on your own.

-) find a friend or friends to travel with you. Its saver and so much more fun.

-) read blogs and watch travel diaries of your destinations in order to find the best spots to visit

-) do an au pair tour. Its fun, it’s relatively cheap and you get to see great spots.

My travelmoth

I had a good friend and we did everything together. We started in NYC where we both lived and went straight to Hawaii. There we did the Big Island Tour with aupairadventures, which was amazing!

We arrived the day before the tour started and got a room in the Hotel where the tour started. I would recommend going to the Best Western instead, it’s a little bit more expensive but definitely a lot nicer than the Billy Bay Hotel. Make sure to check the Facebook site, most of the time some people who will do the tour with you will want to book a room together to save money.

During the tour we drove all around the Island.

See the itinerary here:

Make sure to pack WARM clothes. It got really cold and windy on some of the camping spots. And I mean really cold. Make sure you pack at least one pair of warm leggings/long pants as well as some warm long sleeved shirts.

Bring loads of sun screen you will need it. Most likely you will be able to buy some on the beginning of your trip but during the trip you wont really have any opportunities to buy stuff like that, so think ahead.

During our tour we saw so incredibly much of the island and had tons of fun. We met new  people and woke up everyday with a great adventurous awaiting us.

If you are interested to see exactly what we saw, here is a link to my travel diary.

After our week was over my friend and I still had a few days left on the island because we rented an apartment through Airbnb which was great. It was a cute little apartment with everything we needed and super nice hosts. (Link: )

We also rented scooters in order to get around the island because there really isn’t any public transportation and I can tell you it was so much fun. The company where we rented the mopeds was really great and again we met some awesome people.

Riding along the coast with the wind blowing though your hair with an amazing view is one of the best feelings I ever got to experience. Obviously you can also rent a car if your old enough and if your budget allows it but riding our scooters was so much fun and definitely something I can recommend. Though a car will get you to placed further away (faster). It all depends on what you want to do.

Back to what we did.

We went back to some of the amazing beaches that we saw during our tour. We also watched sunsets at the pool overlooking the ocean and drove around Kalua Kona with our scooters. Thinking back, it really was the best part of my travel month and an experience that I will never forget.
After our last few days on the island we flew to San Francisco and started the Western Sun Tour there. (Again with aupairadventures)

This tour was really full of obstacles, I will probably do another blog post going into more detail, but it was still a lot of fun and we got to see so much in very little time.

Just look at the detailed itinerary to find out exactly where we went.

If you are not into camping I would not really recommend this tour because that will be what you do for most of the trip. BUT again it makes the experience not only a lot cheaper but also something you will most likely never do in your lifetime again. Believe me when I say that.

Packing list for Hawaii 

-) Sunscreen (loads of it)

-) sunglasses (bring super cheaps ones as well that you can wear in the ocean)

-) swim suits (obviously)

-) warm clothes as well (one or tour pairs of leggings, PJs,)

-) a hat, cap or some sort of protection for your head (you will hike a lot and spend loads of time in the sun, the least thing you want is a heat stroke when you want to enjoy your time on this amazing island.)

-) sneakers (you will walk a lot and will need comfortable shoes)

-) flip flops (obviously)

-) enough underwear, (you wont really get any opportunities to wash your clothes) 

-) your own little first aid kit and any medication that you know works for you

-) a camera (phone) to capture all the amazing things you will see. Maybe also a power bank, because you wont have many opportunities to charge your stuff and that way you can charge everything in your tent as well.

-) a pillow (if you have space even a neck pillow from the flight will do)

-) cash (I know that seems obvious, but bring enough cash because you wont always be able to pay with your debit or credit card.

-) at least two copies of all your important documents (drivers licence, passport, visa, insurance card, etc.) and make sure to pack each copy in a different bag, in case any of your belongings get lost or stolen.

-) Lots of comfortable clothes. (I mostly wore workout pants, sports bras, bikinis and baggy shirts)

The packing list for the Western Sun Tour is basically the same

-) again don’t forget to bring something warm to wear at night and also for the grand canyon because in the mornings and at night it gets really cold there.

-) For this trip also bring something nice because you will stay in Vegas and yoga pants and a baggy shirt wont really do it.

I will add a Cost-Check List as well as Packing Lists here:

Fabulous weekend in New York City

Hey guys

since my time here in beautiful New York City is slowly coming to an end, I wanted to use my time to see what the Big Apple has to offer and I have to say it is  a lot. Trying to decide on what to do first  can be hard, so here is some  inspiration of what one can do on a weekend in this amazing city.

My friend and I started our day walking along the Hudson River and we found a few cute places such as this little fountain. This area is also great for all of those who want  to jog and seek a different area than the well known Central Park. Many people jog, work out and enjoy the park and general fun area.




Later on we took the subway to the High Line which is a must see. A beautiful and unique view is offered when you walk on an old Railroad overlooking the city surrounded by nature. The High Line also offers a great view of New York's streets and a unique spot for pictures.

Later on we walked to Chelsea Market which is super fun and perfect for a lunch break.



After a good lunch we hopped onto the subway and went to Central Park to do enjoy some time on a row boat on the lake. We rented our boat for only 15$ and enjoyed an hour of bliss in this beautiful spot nature has to offer.






After our little excursion to Central Park we walked to the Guggenheim Museum and enjoyed an hour of almost free art. (on Saturdays the entree fee is donation based from 5:45-7:45 so you can pay as much as you wish) The Guggenheim is an absolutely stunning museum which not only offers great art work but also an exquisite architecture. Just make sure that you arrive early enough because the line is usually quite long.








Ending this eventful Saturday with a ride on the Staten Island Ferry which offered us a beautiful view on the Statue of Liberty at sun set.




Since we walked around quite much on Saturday we decided to take it easy on Sunday and indulged during a brunch at a Rooftop Lounge with a view on the Empire State Building. On the 230 5th Avenue Rooftop Bar you can enjoy a nice brunch every Saturday and Sunday from 10AM-4PM. They offer a great buffet for I believe around 29 $ which is a good deal if you eat breakfast and lunch there.








As always I hope you guys enjoyed and maybe get the chance to visit some of these great places.

xoxo Lisa

Cultural Care Au Pair Cruise

Hey guys

I am back with a blog post about the annual Cultural Care Au Pair Boat Cruise.

I went on the cruise on May 14th and it was really fun. The cruise was about 3 ½ hours long (from 6:30 PM-10PM) so we got to see the city during daylight as well as during nighttime. It was really beautiful especially for Au Pairs who have never taken the Staten Island Ferry. We passed by the Brooklyn Bridge and got a chance to see the beautiful skyline of Manhattan at night. On the boat you could purchase tickets to win prices. The prices were gift cards(to Sephora, Starbucks,etc.), iPod shuffles, vouchers for a Silver Bay Classes and a few other things. There where two main levels, the lower level where you could talk and the upper level where they played louder music for dancing. It was a fun experience and a chance to meet other Au Pairs. If you plan to go on the cruise next year make sure to get your tickets as early as possible because they sold out pretty quickly.

Here are a few pictures who were taken by Klaudia Rózycka who kindly allowed me to use them in my blog post :)  Find more of her pictures on her Facebook Page as well as her Blog.

Trip to the Beach

Hey

last summer I went to Long Island (Robert Moses Beach) with a couple of friends and it was amazing. The beach was absolutely beautiful and we had a really nice time. The sand was really nice the water was clean but fairly cold. I believe we had to pay around 10 bucks for parking, which isn't bad at all if you are a couple of people splitting the cost.

The area is really nice there are bathrooms available (free) as well as a restaurant.
Therefore if you live in the area or are visiting definitely check this out during the summer it is absolutely stunning.

xoxo Lisa

Training School (2)

Hey guys,

here is more information about the training school that I went to before I came to my family.
First off the training school that I went to was the Cultural Care training school which is located on Long Island. It is a beautiful former College Campus. There are two Buildings with all the Au Pair Rooms, as well as a Cafeteria Building and a Building where the classes are held. The rooms have bunk beds in them and I had to share my room with three other girls but I believe it can be more or less than that. The rooms were not air-conditioned which made it quite hot because I was there in August. We did have fans though. The classroom are air-conditioned and if you are not used to that they might seem a bit cold to you, so make sure to bring a sweater on the first day of class.

I arrived at around 10PM (22 o'clock) and I was the second to arrive in my room. The rest of my room mates followed throughout the night.

You will start classes on the next day no matter when you arrived. You start your day off with breakfast in the Cafeteria which is quiet big and you will meet a lot of other Au Pairs. There is q big variety of food that you can choose from. They have bread, oatmeal, cereal, fruit, etc.

Then you will start your classes which are held in another Building.
Lunch is in the same Cafeteria Building and you can usually get a salad from the salad bar(be fast, there is usually a big line there) and the regular lunch that they offer that day. The lunches are okay don't expect too much but it is definitely not bad.

After lunch you will continue with your classes.

The classes are usually quite long and you will definitely be tired. The classes themselves are okay, you learn a bit more about childcare, they give you ideas for food you can make, games you can play. You will also receive a first-aid course. The teacher that I had was really nice and happy to answer any questions we had. During the training school you will go over all the stuff you did in the online course you did when you were home.

The most exciting part about the training school will be meeting other Au Pairs. I was there in mid August and the school was really full, which was great because I met a lot of nice people.

On the last day you will get the chance to go to Manhattan. During your stay at the Training School you will receive a gift bag that your host family paid for. The bag can include a hoodie, a shirt, the Manhattan Tour, the ticket to the Top of the Rock, Giftcards, etc. Not every Au Pair gets everything which is okay, don't worry if you don't get all the things one of your friends got. If your host family already paid for you trip to NYC you don't need to pay for it and can just go on the trip. During your trip to the City you will get a nice tour with a guide, see NYC from above (Top of the Rock) and enjoy some free time.

Au Pair - Application Process (1)

Hey guys

Today I am finally starting to write posts about my Au Pair experience. In today's post I am going to concentrate on the Application Process, which can be a quite long one. To start with, I chose Cultural Care as my Agency. There are so many to chose from but I knew I wanted Cultural Care because they are a big company that has been in the business for years and is also very well known. I can only say that my experience so far has been great. The most popular agencies as far as I know are Cultural Care, GoAuPair and AuPairinAmerica. Definitely look into those three and if you are not happy with any of those, just google Au Pair Agencies.

What Agency is right for me?

To find an agency that fits your needs most you want to consider a few things.

-Where do you live and where do you want to go?
Decide on where you want to go, every agency has different offers and places you can go to with them.
Find out what agencies are in your country and particularly close to you. For example Cultural Care has an office in Vienna, Austria which was super close to where I live. That made it easy and convenient for me because you need to go to a meeting and be interviewed. With Cultural Care you can go to the United States, which is exactly where I wanted to go.
I think it is important to have an office close by, it makes the application process easier and I think it is good to be able to go there and ask questions.

-Do you want to go to a training school?
You have to decide for yourself if you want to go to a training school or not. It is a great opportunity to meet other Au Pairs and make friends that you can rely on throughout the year. Some of them might live in your area. Furthermore you will get a chance to settle in a little bit and get used to the American Lifestyle before you go to your family. In addition you will learn more about childcare and are able to ask questions that you might have.

-How much are you willing to pay? - Prices vary, but I think in such an important matter the price is not the top priority. You should choose the agency because you like the people and what they have to offer. Some agencies might be cheaper but they might not offer things that more expensive agencies offer. If you are happy with a cheaper agency that  is absolutely fine just make sure that they offer everything you need.

Things to look out for:
training school, 24 hour emergency contact, contact in your home country, office in the country you are going to, insurance, LCC (Local Childcare Consultant, someone you can ask questions who lives close by), monthly meetings with your LCC

Take your time and compare not only prices but also what they different agencies have to offer.


My Agency -- Cultural Care

I chose Cultural Care as my Agency because I had already done a High School Year in the States with EF and EF works together with Cultural Care. I was very happy with all the support I had during my Highschool year, therefore I knew that Cultural Care would be a good choice for me. They are very well known and have been around for years. They make sure you are placed in a good family and have a great support network in each country as well as in the States (Boston Office). They are always happy to help you with any questions you have. You also have a LCC who is a person who lives close to you and organizes meetings every month and is there to help you with any questions or problems you might have.

Cultural Care also has a training school which I liked. (Detailed Post about the Training School will follow soon)

For Cultural Care you have to fill out your online Application (which is quite long) and you also have to come in for an Interview. You also have to go to their office for a meeting where you learn more about the program and where a former Au Pair talks about their experiences and time in the states. As soon as they accept your application you are able to be matched with a host family. As soon as you are matched they might write you or you might write them first. After you talked for a while you might Skype and if you both agree it could already be your final match. If you for any reason do not like the family or you do not like them you can remove the match before I believe 24 hours or something like that. Then you are ready for the next match. That goes on until you find the perfect family for you. It might be the first match but it might also take a while so don't worry. Make sure to plan enough time with your application and matching because it can be a long process. It might only take a week but it can also take months. (More detailed post about the matching process will follow soon)

Later on, sooner to your departure date you will have to get a visa. You will have to go to the US-Embassy in your country to get it. First you fill out a really long form and then you make an appointment and go there for a short interview. Nothing to be scared of- Honestly. They will (hopefully-but pretty surely) send back your passport with your visa in it a couple of days or weeks later. Again plan enough time to get your visa because it might could only take a couple of days but it could also take a lot longer. (More detailed post will follow if you are interested)

Kat Von D - Shade and Light Eye Palette

Hey guys

I'm back today with a review of the Kat Von D Shade and Light Eye Palette. This palette comes with 12 absolutely matte eyeshadows, ranging from warm, cold to neutral toned shadows. All shadows are equally well pigmented and super easy to blend. They all look great on the eye and are easy to work with. If you are looking for a great matte eyeshadow palette to add to your collection, this is definitely it. You can either create a completely matte look with the shadows from the palette or use it in combination with any other eyeshadows you may have. I love the palette because it is not always easy to find good-quality matte eyeshadows that are easy to blend and not powdery or chalky. Hope you enjoyed this review - Down below I have a basic look for you were I only used the palette as well as swatches of all the eyeshadows.

xoxo Lisa

click on the pictures to get a better look ;)

For this look I used the shadows: ludwin, lazarus, lateens and liberates. (marked them with an x in the  palette)