The Set Up

There are lots of options for workaway holidays, most of which I had heard of like summer camps, Au pair-ing, working on farms and living with families exchanging childcare or lessons for food and board. I looked into all of these and was a little unsure really. For one thing I’m not exactly the most physically fit person, I couldn’t see myself on a farm! Summer camps seem a bit full on – my friend did Camp America a few years ago and although she loved it and the experience was invaluable, she was wrecked the whole time; late nights and early mornings, constantly looking after children. I just couldn’t do it.

Basically I was desperate to travel (just like nearly every other person my age). I had trained last year to teach English as a second language with the aim to teach abroad and travel. Half way through the course (a four week intensive) I decided NOPE, not interested.

Out of nowhere, at the start of January an opportunity came up. My Uncle (step mum’s brother), hereby known as S, knew someone who wanted a native English speaker to stay with her in Berlin for a month to teach her English. I couldn’t believe how perfect this was. My aunt (mum’s sister), known now as N, lives in Berlin, as well as S, so I would know people in the city, I would get to travel and see the world, and I would be getting valuable work experience. So, after a few emails back and forth with the woman, A, asking for someone to stay, I accepted, booked tickets and flew to Germany.

That’s where this blog begins, being in Germany. I’ll try to document my whole time here, from the experience of working away, to living with strangers, German culture, and basically everything else.