The Yellow Road

I never experienced something like this. In Belgium we also have a big celebration in a city named Aalst and it doesn’t come even close to what I just saw in New Orleans. Did you even knew that it goes for 10 days! Parades everyday and crazy party’s on bourbon street that’s really the place to be! One of the tradition is that they throw this kinda necklaces but we have to do something for it. If you now what it is ssssssttttt! don’t tell anyone.😉. (not the best picture it’s taken wit my phone) About the parades on Mardi grass. If you saw the first 5 wagons of each parade you kinda saw the parade but for the Zulu parade you just stay because you really want that coconut. Yes you are reading it correctly they give away coconuts! They are empty decorated coconuts and everyone wants them because they are tradition. they are not easy to get and if you really want one bring a cute kid because it seemed they always got the coconuts.

I am in the possession of one of those precious coconuts (“COCANUT”) 😉thanks to Joel A Simpson! Thank you so much! He was my roommate in the hostel and he came in at 5 am ( so in the middle of the night). How he got it? I have no clue but I don’t think I want to know! Right Joel! Best roommate ever go check his Instagram @eyefly876.

  Meet Joel the best roommate ever

Happy girl love this coconut (COCANUT) 😉

The necklaces I was talking about earlier

For the real party you have to go to bourbon street! Good memories most of them I’m keeping for my self ( What happens at Mardi Gras stays at Mardi Gras). The atmosphere at bourbon is crazy but fun I really had a good time. Also don’t forget to go at the bars at French street there you can find the real music of New Orleans. I’m still processing it all! It’s definitely something to have on your bucket list. It was definitely worth it. Of course like always I have some atmosphere photographs for you guys. I’m on my way to my next destination. If you want to stay tuned go to my Instagram the_yellow_road.

I’ll be writing soon again because I have a lot to tell and a new vlog is coming up soon! Greets The yellow road

well it’s not a person it’s a place and that place is called marin. I never thought you really could love a place. But these 2 years in Marin made it happen!

Marin is an area north from San Francisco and it is so beautiful! So if you are ever in San Francisco just cross the Golden Gate Bridge and you will be surprised with the beautiful views and nature that Marin has to offer especially Marin headlands are amazing! The hills and the cost line are so beautiful I can show you some pictures down at the end of this blog post but a picture doesn’t tell everything. The feeling that you get if you hit the trails here in Marin or Marin headlands it’s … I can’t describe it you have to experience it yourself an feel it. It’s like you can let everything go just for a bit.

The nature is one part why I love the place so much. Another thing is people are so friendly they will say hi to everyone and ask how you’re doing. It really can put a smile on someone’s face to just say hi you should try it. I remember when I was hiking for the first time here I past someone I never met or saw before and they were like ” hi how are you doing” and I was like looking around to make sure they were talking to me. Trust me in Belgium this doesn’t happen. It was really funny. I came home and told my host mom about it and she laughed about it because that’s what people do here . Now I do it to and it feels so good! Just try it it will make you happy. Also people here are so helpful if they see you struggling with something they will ask if they can help. Even if you ask for help like for the way to something they will help you with a big smile. The amount of sunshine does a lot to. people are in a better mood compare to people in my country. I’m not saying that Belgian people are awful. They are still friendly but in their own way and they are more focused on their own life I guess.

So yeah I’m in love! If you are ever visiting San Francisco don’t stay in the city but try to get out of it and visit Marin headlands. I promise you it will be worth it!

Well I can tell my experience was great of course it’s been with ups and down but that’s normal right? Well I have to be honest that the au pair life/living abroad changed me. I learned o lot from this experience.

First of all I learned that sometimes you have to put things aside and move on that you can’t worry about every little thing. Like for example when you not agree wit something the way it’s done you just move it along because at the end it’s not going to be your problem or responsibility. Funny enough i also learned to say no en keep it strong when I say no especially to my loved ones. I used to always say yes or when I say no I would give in because I would feel guilty well now I just move it along.

I totally don’t regret for jumping in this adventure it got bumpy and hard sometimes and yeah sometimes I said I’m so done with this but doesn’t that happen to parents to and at the end you just keep going because you know you love them. It got really hard when my grandpa died I felt so bad because the whole family had the chance to say goodbye and I didn’t really had that chance. But we can’t put or life on hold because someone might die while your gone.

Also the experience of traveling made me realize that I want more in life than just sitting around an I just love planning all of it. In the meantime I fell in love with photography I’m just an amateur. Everything I go out now I look around with another eye ,vision,different mindset,…. I totally love it. I even did and saw things that I never though I would. Every time I see the Golden Gate Bridge (I live close to San Francisco) I think “I’m really here, I’m really doing this”.

Last but not least the au pair experience made me so much richer (not in a money way). My host family became my family and they have a place in my hart now. I cried,laughed,argued,danced,act crazy,…. with them! The youngest one is like a son for me and the two oldest ones are like brothers. I even argue with them like I do with my brother. I’m so happy I have a second place that I can call home! I’m so great full to have them in my life! An dye second thing that made my life so much richer thanks to the au pair program are the new friends that I made! They I probably reading this so I just want them to know that wherever they are that I love them and that I miss them so much. Because of these new friendships I can travel all over because they are from all over the world.

The au pair life definitely gave me new big dreams and other prospectives for sure and I can tell you that my vision of America changed and I have to admit I fell in love with this country. So if anyone ask me would you recommend the au pair experience? It is definitely a big Yes, but keep in mind that it’s not only fun and traveling it’s also work and showing respect for other people’s live!