Live in Boxford

About my family ....

A life lesson that I learnt - "everything happened for a reason". There's no free lunch for everything.

The home is far away from the shops. It takes at least 15 minutes drive to get to the shops area in other town.... If you wish to walk out the street and meet people, buy a pack of noodle, no way! you must drive...

Some other au pairs told me their host parents said Boxford is a Rich people area... American call it vacation home! But I think this is crazy! Too quite! Chinese said: “ask sky, sky not answer; ask earth, earth not answer too!” hope you understand, (I think the Equine suhailas will understand. hahaaa....my direct translate.

My host parents are nice persons. My host mom is so helpful and she took a day leave on last Friday just to bring me to another town to apply for a social security number (as I/C number) because I faced some problem when I tried to open a bank account last Wednesday. And they bought me my favorite food in the supermarket!

Yup, the second shock is the stuffs are so EXPENSIVE in this area. Everything are “Wao” double and even tripper price in Malaysia. It’s out of my expectation. Daily stuffs and clothes in UK and Australia are cheaper and nice quality, and this is not applicable here. Too bad! I didnt brought enough clothes and stuffs for myself! :(

The first day I reach here, my host dad tested my driving skill. This is the first time I drive in a huge car and drive on the other side of the road. Scary man! I told him that I am nervous but I try my best to be steady. And I did it! I did it! But it’s tense! so tension!

The roads are extremely, typically narrow! If I drive in the speed 30mph, the car coming from the back, I cant let it take over me, because the road is only allow for one car each time! It’s even bad when I don’t recognize the directions. If I missed a junction, I have to go all the way straight and look for a safe place to turn back.

The first day I drove the youngest kid to school, I lost in the county on my way home. I took more than an hour to reach home and my host parents were anxious! hahaa.... I can laugh now, that time I was so helpless and felt want to cry! It’s so hard! I thought it’s relaxing to be here, but it’s so hard.... everything are so new to me.... never ever come across in my life!

One of the day last week, a korean girl came all the way from another town to visit me. I am so happy to have my first friend in my cluster. She is so kind to open her hand for me, when I am in the ‘dark’... When we were chatting in my house, tears flow from my face and I start crying.....
And day after day, I went to library by my own, opened a bank account by my own, drove to North Andover (another town) by my own, meeting new friends by my own (like a blind date), come back from somewhere by my own, and I am fine now.... at least I am getting better! Now I am crying, for those barriers that I gone through!

I never mentioned about the kids? Oh ya, they are 13 and 16 year-old. The 16 years old boy is polite and respectful. At least he knows how to say hi and thanks, answer me politely when I talk to him, smile when answering....

The 13 years old boy is a very hectic! He yell at his mum, throw things, broken the gate,....refused to bring his course materials, teasing me, testing on my patience,...
He gives me a new challenge everyday!

One morning, I ask him to keep a form in his bag, he said NO. And I ask him does it matter if he doesn’t submit. He said NO. And I ask him just to put in the bag and return to teacher, he said NO. And all the NO NO NO.... The first word I learnt from him - NO. And he tried to cheat me and thought I can’t read English! Oh Damn boy! I read the sentences in front of him and told him: “Don’t you think I can’t understand English?” Please bring it. And he was shock and after a second, he said he will do it tomorrow. “Well, I trust you for this time, you have to do this tomorrow.” I said.

I thought, if he refused to do it the next day, I will tear it and throw it in front of him. But he did it the next day. I don’t understand why he can’t do it the first time. Oh, hectic.....

That’s about me in America. Too long and bored to read? Oh, just forget it.
I met so many au pairs last few days. Most of them admire me because I have older children and need not to work like a hell. I have a lot of free time to do my own things, I have my own suite..... well, having younger children at home may be happier?? They are more attach to the family if the little kids love them... I also heard about some crazy host mother, screaming all days and under medication,.... compare with them, I am luckier?


Yesterday is Mooncake festival. I have a cluster meeting in my community counselor’s house. I gave all au pairs a Tang Lung and Malaysia handmade bookmarks. They were so happy and fight for that! I gave the same to my host mother too and she is fascinating about the Tang Lung.

I look at the sky and found the moon. It’s bright, especially in this county, the reflection on the lake looks so amazing.... Were you looking to the same moon in other end of the world? I miss you so much!