Dinosaurs

     Because of the flooding in Bangkok, my trip has now been postponed by 15 days. My flight now leaves on the 18^th of November. I am glad that I will be avoiding the disaster portion of the trip, but also a teensy bit disappointed that I will have to wait. Waiting is not fun.

     So.

     I don’t want to bore you all by just regurgitating everything I read in my guidebooks. Until my trip, I will continue to update you on how I’m preparing. I’ll draw attention to things that really stand out to me. But since I did decide to throw the rules out the window, any topic is fair game. Today I’ll stick fairly close to home.

     As you know, in Thailand I will be taking care of a toddler named Nadia. This is not the first time I’ve been responsible for a little person. Prior to this particular gig, I’ve spent a lot of time taking care of my own adorable niece Gracie. Gracie is an overflowing handful who loves attention and loves telling everyone what to do.  J

     Example:

Once, about six months ago, I took Gracie to McDonald’s for the evening for a bit of socializing and playplace fun. This kid is always making friends. I don’t think she understands the concept of a stranger; no matter how many times it’s explained to her. On this particular evening she, being 4 at the time, made fast friends of two older girls, sisters, also playing in the jungle gym/playplace. I think one was 6 and the other may have been 8 years old. They played happily for about thirty minutes while I observed. Clearly the older sister was accustomed to getting her way and bossing the younger sibling around.

Well, she was about to be schooled in the ways of sassy.

The following is the exchange I overheard and tried desperately not to pee myself over.

Older girl: (In a very authoritative voice) I know! I got an idea. How about we play spies, or hunters, yeah, let’s be dinosaurs. (motions between herself and her younger sister) And we’ll chase you (motions to Gracie) ‘cause you’re a hunter. You go up there, through there and then you can hide out if you want, but we’ll find you, ‘cause we’re great dinosaurs. And then we can chase you around here and through there. You run and stuff and then we’ll get you. We can make all sorts of dinosaur noises and walk like ‘em too, while you try to hunt us, okay?

*I’d like to point out that this entire time Gracie has been patient and attentive, looking the older girl square in the face just waiting for her to finish her litany of orders.

Gracie: (pause) I got an idea. How about I be the dinosaur and you be quiet.

Then Gracie runs off happily to play, not a care in the world.

I love this kid!

     I am told from the previous Au Pair that Nadia has a very calm demeanor and that she is a very well-behaved little girl. So, calm…I had to get out the dictionary for that one. I’m eager to meet Nadia, begin teaching her English and just having fun with her.

     I’m one of those people that has kind of-oh what’s the word?-an obsessive personality. When I like something, I like it. I devour everything I can about the subject: books, movies, TV shows, accounts from other people and pretty much anything else I can get my hands on. This aspect of my personality spills over into other areas of my life. Sometimes to my benefit and sometimes not. For instance, I’ve read so much about Thailand in the last month I think my eyes might cross permanently.  

     And now I’ve got 20 days to obsess. Just think of how much I’ll know tomorrow.