SORRY!

Hey girls! I am so sorry I have it this way... I came back home and now I'm studying again and everything. Girls who wrote me on FACEBOOK, I am so so so SORRY about not answering, but the messages went to "OTHERS" and I didn't even see that I had them!!! From now on, I promise I'll check them more often! And I even promise to update the blog with the trips I didn't mention from when I was still in the U.S! Like, Yosemite, Washington DC, NYC or Florida! :) Again, SORRY!!! :D P.S. You can still write me comments, messages on FB or tweet me! :D THANKS FOR READING ME! :D

Yeyyyy

Hey hey hey!

Soooooooooooo, I was looking for flight to Hawaii and I found a really good deal!!!!!!! :D Is like ~$570 for flight+hotel in Kauai!!! :D I'm so excited about it.. I really hope it works out! :D

This is a photo of it:




I am really excited about it! :D Hopefully we can be a few, and it's gonna be more fun!! :D


By the way, my dad went to pick up the package and they told him there that the money was not from the "cash in delivery" (in spanish contrareembolso), it was from the customs service or custome tariffs (in spanish "Aduana"). So he did pay it...
Anyways, my nephews loved the gifts! And my siblings and siblings in law the candy and chocolate! Hahaha :D


I am really gonna try to keep you updated! :D

So I'm gonna tell you that this month I'm gonna go to Tahoe! I'll write a post about it. I think is gonna be great! And I'm gonna try to make "Robiols" filled with nutella and dulce de leche! :D They are a typical recipe from Mallorca for Holy Week! :D I'm really excited about it! I hope it works out! Haha because is gonna be the first time that I'm gonna make then by myself, alone! xD They are sweet and so yummy! :D I'll post a pic when I make them! :D

This is how they look when they are cooked: (Pic from internet)




And just to finish, I'm gonna post a song that I like and I discovered thanks to the TV Show Revenge. I don't know if it's original from this singer or is a version (I think is original). But anyways, I like it! :D
So here it is!

Agnes Obel - Riverside




Have a good week! :D


-Love <3
Mari Carmen

Problem with the Postal Service

Hey!!

So I've been sending packages to my dad since I'm here... I think I alredy sent like 3 or 4 (or more) and I never had any problem.
I paid the amount of money to send the package (and it was not cheap, by the way). So my problem (or my dad's problem) now is that the Spanish postal service is asking him for money to pick the package up.

They drop off in the mail box this paper saying something like: "Your package is here, come to pick it up. You have to pay XX Euros." In Spanish we would say "contra reembolso", it is when you send a package and you do not pay anything when you send it, and the person who receives it, has to pay for it. I think in English is called "Cash on delivery" or soemthing like that, I'm not really sure.

Anyways, is not the amount of money because is not a lot (30€), but because we have to pay something now when with the other packages we didn't have to...

My host mom helped me and we called to the US Postal Service and they said that is weird and some countries add taxes and bla bla bla... but this is not a tax, this is money that they are asking to pick it up!!!!
So we gave him all the information about the package and they said that they were gonna call or email or something the Spanish Postal Service and get back to us as soon as they have an answer from them (Which by the way, the time that they have to answer is 17 laboral days, 17!!!!!!!!!1... WTF????.. When in the US the time that they have to answer is 5 days! 12 days LESS!... Yes, this is Spain. I don't know why I am surprised about it.).


So this is right now the thing hahaha... Anyways, I'm gonna tell my dad to pick it up, because in Spain, you have 15 days to pick the package up since it arrives (or the paper arrives to your house telling you that the package is here). If you do not pick it up in that 15 days, they send it back. This means that we don't have 17 days to wait for their (I'm sure negative) answer.

The worst thing is that in the package you can only find candies, chocolate, 3 toys, 3 shirts and another "unexpensive" gifts for my nephews...


Argggggggg hahahahahaha xD Well... let's see what happens... I'll have you updated! hahaha :D


-Love <3


Mari Carmen!

Upsss...

Sorry!!!!!! I know I'm not writing...
I am not gonna say that I don't have time because is not true... It's just that I forget every time and when I remember it I'm kinda lazy... :(

Well...
Just say that I'm thinking about extending... I swear that I'll tell you more about it when my area director gets me back! :D


And as I always say, but never do, I'll try to write more often! :(


Sorry!!!!


-Love <3
Mari Carmen


P.S. By the way, I've been here already for almost 8 months!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can not believe it! :D

Thanksgiving! :)

Hey!

So as I promised, I am here to write!! hahaha :D

So on Thursday was THANKSGIVING! (aka. the turkey day! haha xD). We had guests for dinner (4 people). We had deviled eggs, Sweet Potatoes, Mash potatoes (my favorites), gravy (is the sauce from the turkey), stuffing (is the mix that you cook inside the turkey, with dried bread, (in my case) sausage, celery..), homemade cranberry sauce, comercial cranberry sauce, pecan pie, pumpkin pie, salad and TURKEY!!!

The turkey was really amazing, it had a beautiful color! I think it was around 12-14 lb (6 kg). The turkey was in the oven for around 4 hours.. haha xD

I made (with my host mom instructions) the sweet potatoes, mash potatoes, pecan pie and deviled eggs. And then I helped with the stuffing, pumpkin pie and the Turkey :)


It was great, but actually is like a big dinner... nothing else... I mean, in the beggining we said thank you and hold our hands, but that was the only special thing.
But It's not a criticism, I really loved it!!

There's not too much more to say, so I'm gonna post a few pictures for you to see how was my dinner! :D
Hope you enjoy them! :D


Putting the stuffing inside the Turkey


The sweet potatoes and stuffing


My PECAN PIE! :D It was delicious! :D


And the TURKEY!



Thank you for reading me! :D


Love youuu <3


P.S. I'm really thinking about extending :)

HERE AGAIN!!!

Hahahahaha I'm so sorry... I know that I told that I was going to try to write more often... but I'm too lazy.. So I'll try to write more often.. but maybe just once a week or so...


Well.. a lot of things happened, not really interested.. but that's alright...

I went to a college football game, I went to LOS ANGELES, today I went to see BREAKING DAWN! Hahaha...

Well, It's too long to explain everything and I am so sorry, but I'm not gonna write everything... so if someone wants to ask, just comment I'll love to tell you :D


And I'll try to write!!


Thank you and sorry! :D



P.S. I have to say that I'm not homesick anymore! :D I'm just scared because Christmas is coming and I know that I'm gonna feel bad.. Anyways.. Thanksgiving is next week and I'm gonna enjoy the most typical american holiday! :D

P.S.2 I have to change the background and colors and that stuff and put it nicer, so dont worry about how it looks like right now :)

Bad/good food!!!

Hey hey hey!
Bad food habits the last weeks!!


(one of the picnics)

I have to write more often! I really apologize...


I don't really know when the things happened... xD So I'm gonna try to explain it fine! Hahaha Only the things that I was doing and that! :)

In the past weeks I went for 2 picnics! Haha so nice! :D One with more au pairs and the other one with Spanish people! Was so nice to eat Tortilla de Patatas and speak some spanish (from Spain :) )


Picnic with Lilly, Jasmin, Katharina, Ann-Christin (taking the photo), and me! :)


Picnic with Spanish people! Alba, Mary and me!

Was so nice... and we ate too much... I really need to go to the GYM, I signed up with Ann-Christin.. but I'm not going too much... and I should.
Sometime we have "movie night" (for example, last night and tonight)... And we eat Pita Chips and Cookies... It's so yummy but so unhealthy...

Anyways... we also went to SAUSALITO!


We took the Ferry in the Ferry Building and was (with Clipper card) around $5 each way! :) Not expensive! (If you don't have the clipper card I think that it's around $10 each way). It's good to see it... There's a lot of souvenirs shops and it's nice, but to go to the "Floating homes" (the boat-homes) is not easy to arrive walking. I went with Ann-Christin and then there we met with Anna, another German Au Pair. She has car, so we went with her to the floating home.
It's amazing how many of them you can see! And usually beatiful and amazing! :D



This last weekend was amazing! I went with my host family to Steep Ravine Cabines (I think that it's close to Mill Valley, but I'm not sure..). It was wonderful. We spent thursday, friday and saturday morning. We didn't have light, bath or kitchen in the cabin.. But I like it haha :)



I also tried the SMORES. I didn't know what it was before try it. It's the typical dessert for a camp fire (the marshmallow!!). So the smore it's a Graham cracker, chocolate and the roasted marshmallow together... I only have to say that it's my favourite dessert right now. I LOVE IT.




From the cabin we had an amazing views of the beach. We saw dolphins, sea lions, deers, rabbits and a FOX! :D I was really really exited... How many people can say that they have been seen that the same day and in the nature, not a Zoo or something... :) I'm really glad for my host family!! :)
We went for a little hike, but was so little.. but amazing as well :)

(Some views from the cabin)


And then, sunday was my day off, so I went with some girls (all au pairs) to STANFORD! I went with a spanish, sweedish and argentinan girl. The Spanish one, Miriam, can use the car, so she drove us there and we share the gas! :D It's pretty close... around 45 minutes or so. I have to say that I thought that it was gonna be better... I think that it's because I was waiting for a big sign with WELCOME TO STANFORD, or maybe STANFORD UNIVERSITY... and it was not... xD Anyways is amazing as well!! So big!! We were driving inside the campus for more than 10 minutes, a little lost.. Haha.. We didn't know where to park, or where the main entrance was... But was awesome! :D We wanted to see the fraternities but we didn't have time.. So maybe the next time we'll go to Berkeley! :D




We ate at Palo Alto (where Stanford is). We ate some american pizza! Delicious but too much oil and fat... That's why it's yummy.. isn't it? :) Hahaha And then we went to buy some ice cream... awesome too! I ate a White chocolate and raspberry ice cream... and I loved it.



Well.. so this were my last days! :) I know that I always say the same but I'm gonna try write more often... It's also for me because If I dont do that them I'm lazy because I have to write a lot of things at the same time... xD
Hahaha

And that's all! :D The only thing is that this week a girl from Spain arrives, Andrea, and I can't wait to meet her. Also, the next week Miriam, another spanish girl is coming too!! And I'm so so excited to meet her too! :D We just decided (Miriam and me) that we have to meet Taylor Lautner and I'll date Taylor and she'll date a "twin brother of him" Hahahaha... xD I'm sorry, I'm so selfish with Taylor.. it's mine! Hahaha :D I can't wait to see Breaking Dawn with her! (By the way, today another trailer was released... AMAZING, no words! CANT WAIT!!! :D )

So I hope you enjoy it! And sorry for the last "crazy fan" moment haha :)

Have a nice week!! :D


Love youuuu! <3

More than 1 month here!

Hey!! I'm so sorry! I told you that I was going to write before friday... and today it's monday!! :(
I'm going to tell you a little what I did this last weeks... :) (I always upload the photos in facebook).

Two weeks ago I went to make my Social Security card... So now I have it! :) It's a paper card.. not plastic! Haha. That day I went with my host mom to have lunch to a Spanish restaurant. It was not super delicious but was fine :). It's better than anything... Hahaha



The name of the restaurant is Esperpento. We ate Gambas al ajillo, morcilla, patatas con alioli y parrillada de verduras. It's good dont eat hamburguers sometimes... hahaha :P


I also went with Ann-Christin to the beach with the doggies! Was so COLD. Freezing!!!! When someone says BEACH the first things that you think are shorts, bikini, sun, hot... But not in San Francisco... Here is scarf, sweater, jeans and almost gloves!!!! But was nice to go to somewhere with car! I dont have car... and I really miss it. I want to DRIVE!!!!!! :(


(Here a pic in the "beach")

I also went to the Ferry Building (not to much to see...). It's the place from where the ferry to Sausalito and Larkspur departs. It's like a little place with some stores like restaurants, things for home, chocolates, ... (and a little more). It's not so interesting. So I don't have to much to explain about it..


(Ferry Building)

This week I went to my host dad office to meet the people there and know where he works. Was amazing to see all the skyscrapers from a 25 floor. I only can show you:
You can see all the fog. San Francisco in summer is the city of the FOG! :( Hahaha and because of that it's usually so cold...




The best part of the last week was that we went to a SF GIANTS game! (Baseball). I went with Stina, Birdy and Ann-Christin. I really didn't understand the game so much... but the food was awesome! Hahaha I ate a hot dog with ketchup, sour cream, honey mustard, soy, onion and pickles sauce and then Ann-Christin and I shared a pretzel and Garlic Fries (so yummy! :D:D:D:D). That day the Giants lost... (I think so! haha xD). Was a good time! SO COLD... I was wearing black and orange (SF Giants colors). I loved it. All the people, the environment, ALL! :D I want to go back again! :D I also wanna go to a football game but it's so expensive. The ticket for the baseball game was so cheap, only $10.



On friday we went to Alamo Square and the Painted Ladies. This is so famous in SF, I mean all the tourists know that! But was like.. is this a joke? Only 6 or 7 houses.. yes, beautiful but we have that kind of houses in my neighborhood... I mean, it's great... But it's not amazing... I thought that was gonna be better... And again, was so cold! Hahaha... weird right? :P




And the end of the post will be my trip so SACRAMENTO! :D



I went this weekend to Sacramento with Ana Sofia, Sara and Ann-Christin to Sacramento. We wanted to go to LA or Seattle but the flights were so expensive, so we'll go maybe in November, we have to book it with more time.
For Sacramento we wanted to rent a car but was more expensive and I wanted to drive.. but I could't rent it because I'm 20! (damn...) So we went by bus and was $30 roundtrip! And the hotel was $30/person. So cheap! :D
So we took the bus at 6.30 am on Saturday, and arrive to Sacramento around 9.30.



On saturday we had a super American breakfast in a place of 78 years old! So little but so yummy!!! :D We also went to Old Sacramento. This is the typical West city, that one that you see in the West movies! :D Was amazing! And.. was so HOT!!!!!! :D We were wearing sandals, shorts and sleveless shirts!!! Was like 35ºC! :D I was feeling like home! haha :P


(Super Pancakes! I always prefer them with Nutella/Nocilla! I dont like the mapple syrop so much..)

In Old Sacramento we spent around 3 hours. Walking in the streets and wacthing a little show.. Was so nice! I thought that Sacramento was gonna be boring, but was so great! :D Overcoat for the people who I went with! :D
I don't have to much to say, only that it's a charming place what worth to see it! :D



We spent almost all the Sunday with shopping! XD hahaha We found a store with shoes 2x1! I bought 1boots and 1 sandals for $15!! :D And I also bought a nike sneakers/boots for my nephew for $20 (before were $40).
We also went to Victoria's Secret and I bought a "Pink" shorts for $10! :)
We had lunch at Johnny's Rocket (or something like that). Was the same restaurant where I eat in the mall in New Jersey! YUMMY! :D



After that we went to the Capitol. It is AMAZING. So white.. so big.. Spectacular! We only saw it outside because we didn't have time.. but it's gorgeous.





Then to take the bus we almost had to run because we were late late! hahaha xD But we arrive in time! The bus departed at 5.30pm and we arrive at San Francisco around 8..
And bye bye shorts and hot, hello sweater and cold.


(Bay bridge)


Hope you enjoyed this big one! xD I'm so sorry for the waiting! I'll try to uploaded more often! :D


Love youuuu <3



P.S. Take care of the weight... I won like 3 or 4 kg since I'm here... And I'm here for 5 weeks! :( Today I signed up in the GYM so it's ok! hahahah xD

LAZY!

I am so sorry because I am not writing.. xD

I swear that this week (before friday) I'll write a good post! :D

Moreover, I am going to Sacramento this weekend!!


Love you!!!

Thank you por your patience... XD


I only have to say that I am great!!! So thank you so much for all your support comments always! :D

My second week ended!

Hey!! :)

I am so great these days!! :D I hope all go like that always! Hahaha xD

I forget to tell you that my host dad made to me (I think was in Tuesday or Wednesday) Hot Chocolate, to help me with the Homesickness... My host parents are SO SWEET.



They also said to me if I wanted to invite Ann-Christin to dinner and sleep on Thursday (because her day off is on Friday). So she came, we took dinner and then a super amazing American Dessert!!!: Vainilla Ice Crean with chocolate, whipe cream and cherry! Was delicious!!!

On Friday, when we woke up we went to La Boulange, a nice place for breakfast! :)
And I worked until 10 because my host parents had a meeting with friends! :) It's nice work in the night because the baby is sleeping... Hahaha xD


On Saturday, I didn't do anything special.. Well yes!! My host dad made me WAFFLES!!!!!!!! With butter and mapple syrup!! And whipe cream! And also a sausage.. Typical American!!!! Hahahaha xD Was delicious!!! And then just work, help my host mom with dinner because we had guests and lunch... Ann-Christin came to eat the dessert and then we went to Starbucks and met with Lena. And then each one went to her home and sleep... I was tired yesterday...



Yesterday I went to Lombard Street with Stina, Lorena and Camila (all of them are Au Pairs). And we had to up a super hill to go there... But was awesome! :)




Then we went to have lunch to Little Italy and then we were walking until Westfield Mall! :)
Was a great day!! :)

PIER 39

Hey! :)

I have to say that this week I am better! :) The time run so fast! Hahaha XD (Mode Bipolar ON).

On wednesday I went with Ann-Christin to Pier 39. The famous pier where the Sea Lions are! They are SO CUTE!!!! :D

At 10am we took the bus 35-Eureka until Market St & Castro St! :) There we took the muni F to Pier 39! It's so easy!




I thought that Pier 39 was only the Pier with the Sea Lions but it's not like that! You have a lot of restaurants and stores where you can buy I <3 SF sweaters ($25), T-Shirts ($5-20), bags, SF cups ($5), a lot of souvenirs (magnets, postcards, teddys)... It's crazy! I only bought 4 postcards for $1! But I have to buy a I<3SF sweater or T-shirt soon!!!! :D




So we arrived there and walked and walked... You can see it in the morning... it's small.

I have to say that I dont have anything to say.. haha just go and look around!!! xD
I loved it! :D




We went to lunch to Wipe Out, te typical American-Surfer restaurant! Was so good :) I loved the french fries!!! :D
And at 1.30 we went back home! :) Was a fast visit, but not that fast because we had time to go inside all the stores, lunch and see the Sea Lions..
So if you have a morning free, you can go! :) I ate a normal Burguer with cheese! :)






I have to start making exercise.. because if not, I'm going to gain a lot of weight!!!!!!! And that's not possible for me!!!
So I have to start classes at college, and maybe I'm going to take Sport classes! :)


By the way, maybe tomorrow I am going with another Spanish girl, SO NICE, Rosa, who invited me to a "club"! :) Let's see!!! :D I'm so grateful! :D


So, goodnight! :D Hope you enjoy it!! :D


P.S. You always can see all the photos in my facebook! :D

Love youuuu <3

AWESOME.

Thank you so much for all your support comments!!!

I am a little (A LOT) bipolar these days... I only write that to "unburden myself" (I don't know if this it's good). I know that I am not going to go back home... I have a lot of experiences to live here.

I am homesick, yes I AM! xD But it's because of this that I have to keep myself busy... I feel worst in the morning, when I wake up and I see that it's not my room in Mallorca... but in the night, I usually feel better. Because I am more relaxed, without the baby crying and that things... xD Hahahaha


Anyways, THANK YOU SO MUCH to all the people who read my blog and always support me!!!! I am so grateful for that!!!

Today I went to PIER 39 and I took a lot of photos!! So tomorrow I'll try to write a good post about that because now it's late and I have to work tomorrow! :)




LOVE YOU!!!! <3
Thank you!!

Home...

I know that it's the beginning, but I am feeling so bad... Too much hours with the baby, I need to go out more...

I was thinking in go back home...

You can't imagine how much I miss you... Really... :'(




(I am not going to do it... but it's a thought in my mind)

1 week in San Francisco

(With Ann-Christine)

Hey! :)
This is my second week in SF (the 3rd in the U.S).
The last week ended better than started... In my last post I told you how bad I am feeling... I have to say that I'm still homesick, overcoat in the mornings.

Well, I am going to explain how was my week and giving more details! :)
(but I dont have too much to say xD)

The days after the "bad bad day" were better. The baby slept more and the mood was better. That's all that I can say about the work... Is a baby and only eat, play and sleep..

On Thursday I went with Ann-Christin to Japantown, we had fun! haha We went to dinner to a Japan Restaurant (it's Japantown, the weird thing was be eat indian food xD) Anyways.. xD we eat California rolls and Tari Taji (or something like that.. was noodels with egg and "chicken"). When we were waiting for the bill, she saw a MOUSE. Yes, a mouse inside the restaurant, and other people form the other tables also saw it but was like a normal thing... and I was freaking out xD hahaha
For dessert we went to eat some Frozen Yogurt!! :)






The next day I went with my Host mom to Costco... It's like in Spain "Makro", but bigger... haha. All is super big. We went to buy some stuff.. but anything more.. hahaha.
Well, my host mom bought to me a bunch for my room! She said that they wanted to buy it for my "welcoming" but they didn't have time. Really, my host family is so nice.
They also said to me to make a little party with more Au Pairs! I have to plan it!! :)





On Saturday night, we went to Marina (in the north of SF). I went with Ann-Christin and Stina to eat something (we ate pizza). We were walking over there and talking... We had to work in the next day so we didn't do so much! haha
I have to say that I saw a Street, it was MALLORCA Street! I was so happy when I saw that! Hahaha :) I have a little part of all of you here! :D



I spent the night alone because my host parents had a dinner with friends and spent the night there. I was not so homesick because I was tired and I went to sleep when I arrive.


But Sunday was my day off! I have to say that a tear (only one) ran over my face. It's because when I have a lot of time free I start thinking, and it's not good. For lunch I went to Mission Dolores Park for a picnic with more au pairs!!! :) Stina came to my home and we went to buy some things for the picnic. My host mom gave us a blanket, forks, knifes, spoons, napkins, plates... ahaha She is so nice!!! So we went to Whole Foods to buy some stuff and then we take the "train" to go there! :)
Almost all the au pairs in USA are from Brasil and Germany.. there are a lot of girls from there!!! Haha :)
We were there until 4.30pm. The girls were so nice!! And there were a lot of food, unhealthy food! Like cupcakes, chips, deeps, bread, cookies,...





After the picnic I went to Ann-Christin home to help her to dye her hair and see the Teen Choice Awards. Lena also was there (another au pair). We didn't dye her hair haha, but we ate a lot of unhealthy food!!! I was feeling so bad for that!! (not my tummy, my mind xD). We also order a pizza and was so good!

At 9.45pm I went to home after a wonderful day off! :) But when I was walking to home, I started to feel bad, homesick again.

I was talking with my host family about the schedule, and when we were talking I was almost crying (I hope they didn't feel it).
And then I went to my room and I started crying... Not too much, but enough.

Today I was better... my mood changes a lot... It seems a roller coaster. As I said it's only the beginning and I have to meet more girls but when I think in my family I fall to pieces. I hope it goes soon.
Today I didn't went to anywhere after work because a friend of my host dad came for dinner. But I am Ok! :)

Tomorrow maybe I go to downtown with Stina and other Au Pairs.. Let's see what happens. I'll try to make more photos because these days I am not taking enough.


So, now I am going to bed because it's 12am! And tomorrow I have to work. I'm starting at 10am to 6pm.

Wish me luck!!

Love youuuu <3


P.S. My bunch: