What to Pack for a Year Abroad

I was overwhelmed when I first realised that I was going to have to pack my life into a suitcase. It seemed like an impossible task - how could I fit in everything I needed? I could have bought two more suitcases, but instead I set myself the challenge of fitting it all in to one 20kg suitcase, and one 10kg bag. It's actually worked out very well, so I thought I would write a basic list of what to include in your packing.

Clothes:

4x t-shirts

3x jumpers

2/3x smart tops 

3x pairs of jeans/trousers (2x old, 1x smart)

2x skirts/shorts (I think shorts are better, they're much more practical)

2x jackets (one for summer, one for winter)

A scarf, a hat, a pair of gloves, sunglasses
2x smart outfits that you can mix and match (always good to have this option, it can seem rude if you turn up underdressed)

Shoes:
1x boots
1x trainers
2x flats

Technical:
You'll need your phone and whatever else you have, e.g. a laptop, and chargers
Headphones
You may need plug adapters depending on where you live

Extras:
Make up
Shampoo
Conditioner (don't bother saving space by buying the travel size ones, they're somehow more expensive than the regular size!)
Books (always take at least one thing that is written in your mother tongue, you'll start to really miss it after a few weeks)
A few photos from home
Postcards, paper, pens, envelopes etc. so you can write to friends and family (or you could save paper and utilise the tools of the 21st century and just send them an email instead)
Money. Always take a little bit of money out with you, just in case you need something before you get paid. Convert it before you go abroad to reduce the stress

And that's about it. If you're going to Germany remember to bring a pair of flip flops or slippers (or both) with you, as the Germans have a thing about bare feet inside, and always wear 'house shoes'. 

My First Week as an Au Pair

I arrived in Stuttgart and was delighted to see my host family waving cheerily at me. I am very lucky, my host family is extremely attentive and within the first two days they had set up a bank account for me, and helped me order a German SIM card.

I arrived in the evening, so all that was left to do that day was to unpack and get settled in. After a tour of the flat we ate supper, and then I played with Ben. The next day we all went to Ben's Kindergarten, and once we had dropped him off we had a little walking tour of the town. We stopped at the town hall so I could register that I was living here. My host family had booked a meeting in the bank for 10am, in which my bank account was set up and my first month's pocket money paid into it in advance, so I could pay for my German course and my SIM card.

Over the next few days we picked up the brochure for the German classes, as well as one for a dance school. Now I had my bank account set up I could apply for classes. I did an online test to help me work out which level I am in German. I was between A2 and B1, so we looked for classes at those levels. Naturally I chose the two cheapest. Mostly, the evening classes are cheaper than those during the morning, but I would rather save money and be a bit tired the next day instead of spending more money.

I continued to accompany the parents as they took Ben to Kindergarten and picked him up. He also does a few activities afterwards, but as it was the end of August none of the classes had started yet. My host family were very kind, and always asked me to help them with things, like the laundry, which meant I could see how the washing machine and dryer worked and so forth.

As I got the hang of things I started doing little things on my own, and then gradually the bigger things. Time passed incredibly quickly, and even though by the end of the week I was still finding my feet I felt settled.

Is anyone considering au pairing?