Just your average girl traveling around, meeting new people, and having the time of her life. After coming home, starting college, and still trying to figure out life!
Berlin! WOW I don’t even know where to begin! I guess I just
forgot that I was living in a different country. I forgot that anywhere I went
was new because Munich has truly become my home! I am used to everything now! I
have found an awesome group of friends; we have found good UHHH bars and clubs
(if you know what I mean.) BUT with that it also means that I have fallen into
some sort or “routine” as you would say. When I decided to go to Berlin I had
thought that I would go with a friend who decided not to come after all. If you
have ever heard anything about Berlin in most cases its not good. Not safe. And
really you don’t travel outside very far alone at night. As I was leaving
Berlin I decided that it wasn’t as bad as I thought. I had a great time and I walked
the city during the day alone and was in complete awe the whole time. Whether I
was stopped in from of just completely random street art or right in the middle
of one of the many Holocaust memorials. To me everything about Berlin was just
amazing! Something that I knew but I guess really didn’t click to understanding
in my head until I arrived was that Berlin is a “new” city it has been “alive”
for only 24 years when the cold war ended and it has been 23 years since Berlin
has been reunified. And a complete new fact that I learned was that November 9,
1989 the only reason the cold war really was ended was because of one word a
major politician had said in a press conference claiming the freedom to the
city. The history that this city has been through is truly amazing! And I have
never seen myself as such a true history nerd until I came to Europe! NOW I
just can’t get enough!
DAY 1: I arrived in Berlin at a little past 10. After checking into my hostel
and getting settled in meeting my roommates I was on a mission to find food. I
was recommended to this little pizza place! The pizza was actually really yummy
but the reason I am telling you all about the pizza is because of what happened
before. When I am standing in the pizza place looking at the Menu and having a
long discussion with the employees about what I should eat. While having these
IMPORTANT talks a young guy came in… looked at me looked at the employees and
said to me… “Split a pizza with me and then you have nothing to decide then.”
So I ended up having dinner with this nice guy talking about pizza and then
what’s different about the US to Germany.
Otto and I talked for an hour and then when we parted our ways. But it
was good to know that even in Berlin I would never be alone.
Day 2: In a nut shell… I got up figured out the Sbahn Ubahn system and took a
tour walk around got lost and saw so many great sites! After a day full of
walking I was totally exhausted! So what did I decide to do that night… Yup you
guessed it! I went on a pub-crawl! It
was amazing fun and I met some truly awesome people! I hung out mostly with 3
girls and 2 of them where staying in the same hostel as me just a room down the
hall from me!
The girls that I met from the pub crawl. Stefanie (Sydney Australia), Sarah (Denver Colorado, Munich Germany!), Me and Mylene (Canada)
Day 3: after getting home and to sleep a little after 4 I didn’t end up getting
up until 10. After getting up and out
the door I was on the hunt for some down to art graffiti and ART! And must I
say I was not disappointed! I really could have walked around all day and still
not seen enough! After my tour and extra walking I met up with my new friends
for dinner and we sat and talked and had a good ole time!
Street art... Ich Liebe dich!
Day 4: Going home this day was so tuff! I left the hostel at 645 to make sure
that I could catch my bus in time!
"I love to live"
What I learned from this trip was that people are people! Whether 19 or 30 we
are the same! We party the same, drink, talk, and travel everything! I learned
that I enjoy the time that I am able to meet new people and try new things. I
love traveling and meeting new friends. Now today I am headed to Budapest for a
week. Wish me fun and good friends finding!
Your excited traveler;
Natalie Romo
Victory tower
Berlin Wall, Artist from USA
IT'S BATMAN!!!!! YES <3
Street performers!
“Au revior, auf wiedersehn, arrivederci: however you choose to say farewell,
your in the journey of a lifetime. Savor every moment.” Lonely Planet, Discover
Europe.
And I am the girl who will decide where to go. Nine months down and who knows how many more. I am enjoying my adventure and cannot
wait for more. I haven’t left the country since Christmas but my adventures
never end. While making new friends and meeting new people I believe that has
made my life everything it means. Some roads I have gone down have not been the
best, BUT others have been life changing and truly inspirational. I’ll bee on my way up!
I’ll be seeing great sites!
I’ll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights. This month I have an amazing amount of vacation days that I am so lucky to have.
My grandparents are coming so I will go and see them at some point and another
great thing I CAN’T wait for is that one of my best friends will be here! After
9 months of not seeing any friends in person I am jumping off the walls! All Alone!
Whether I like it or not.
Alone will be something
I’ll be quite a lot.
And when I’m alone, there’s a very good chance
I’ll meet things that scare me right out of my pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
That can scare me so much I won’t want to go on.
But on I will go
though the whether be foul.
On I will go
Though my enemies prowl… On and on I will hike.
And I know I’ll hike far
And face up to my problems
Whatever they are. I have already passed so many challenges and I know that there are many more
ahead of me. I have been through the ridicule of mean, rude, and crazy people
and I made the choice that I knew what was going to be best for me. I have been
mixed up but now I am just taking a step in the balancing act called life. No regrets! Now to tell you a little about my week, the weather has again been POOP! But
Wednesday was a holiday to “bring in May” so a couple of friends and I put on
our dirndls braided our hair and set our sites to Fruhlingsfest or Springfest.
This is really just another version of Oktoberfest but MUCH smaller only having
2 beer tents I believe. BUT it’s almost just as fun! And I went with friends
that I have so much fun with! We danced on the benches and sang along to the
music. I have learned that my intake for German beer has increased since
September… so I guess that is an INTERESTING FACT! Also at the fest a friend and I both got told our english was so good. Honestly if you could see the looks on our faces. And every time my response was the same "Well YEAH! I hope my English is good. I was born and raised in California!" Anyways as I said I plan to
go on a trip next weekend and then once then a couple weeks later it’s PARTY
TIME!!!! I hope that everyone is having a good week!
My friend Agata and I
It's not ALL for me... I promis!
Stacie, Agata, and ME! Dancing on benches has never been so fun!
Your Acrobatic Au Pair Traveler,
Natalie Romo
"Travel is not really about leaving our homes, but leaving our habits.”
AND ALL RIGHTS RESERVED FOR DR. SEUSS! HE INSPIRED THE BLOG IN ALL IT'S ENTIRETY. The poem was his all just switched around a little! Citation:Seuss. Oh, the Places You'll Go! New York: Random House, 1990. Print.
So today I was out doing a little shopping. I
needed to purchase a gift for a little girls birthday party and so while at the
toy store with my friend after finding the required “goods” we continued to
look for whatever reason. As we passed a certain isle we both stopped in out
tracks and gawked in amazement. What were we so happy to see you ask? The
coloring book isle! Today not only did I learn that I CANNOT find a decent
coloring book in this country but also that I am not alone in the world as a 19
(almost 20) year old that enjoys a nice coloring session.
I have thought about this more and more
throughout the day and decided officially “I won’t grow up.” I became an au
pair because I connect so well with children and I wanted to travel. (But leave
the traveling alone for now) I learned that I connect with kids so well because
in reality, and all honesty I am a 5 year old in a young adults body. AND this
fact alone gives me insight in what kids want, need, and what they are slightly
thinking about: candy, climbing on that really dangerous thing, being REALLY
loud, laughing, tickling, and oh yeah did I mention candy? I think by me acting
more like a kid and less as an “adult” this gives me a certain connection that
others, like me, may not have with their kids.
Now throughout this year, when hanging out with
friends it well known fact that the words “Natalie you are just like a 5 year
old!” come out of someone’s mouth at some point! I don’t care because I know
who I am and I am personally ok with that. Talking more with my friend I also
learned that I am like Peter Pan. I never want to grow up and if I can stay in
NeverLand forever I will do my very best to do so! Yet my friend is more like Wendy, torn on when to
leave NeverLand but as of yet she is still firmly planted there. With the fact
that she is still residing in NeverLand also gives her that special “in” with
her kids! I believe that with this it has made us uniquely qualified for the lives
we have chosen for ourselves. Being an au pair or nanny is not really a job…
this is a lifestyle that we have choosen to lead. And for some it may be one
that we may choose to “Never grow UP” from.
If you have ever met me, seen me,
talked to me, or just flat out know me, you know that I am Ridiculously loud, a
little crazy, too hyper to really be my age, and you do something to me you
know at some point its heading right back in your direction but 20X’s worse! I
am happy and proud to be me and that is really all that matters! Now today I
will leave you with my new theme song! (Find the song by clicking the link) Enjoy
and HAVE A LOVLY WEEK!
It’s that time of year! The clouds have decided that it’s a
great idea to take a vacation and the sun knows it’s finally his turn to shine!
The weather today was sunshine and Bavarian blue skies with a dash of white
here and there from the clouds! I was lucky enough to wear shorts and looking
back at the last blog about the staring… yup apparently I didn’t get the memo
that it is to early to wear shorts! BUT on the other hand, I do NOT care. Now
all I am waiting to do is for the weather to be warm enough to got my tan back!
Then I will be all good for summer! Here in Germany it is also the time when
All the old men decide it’s a great idea to wear their wife beaters with short
shorts pulled up PAST (FAR PAST) their belly buttons and just to top off the
outfit they match it with Jesus sandals and white tube socks. Now I am not the
only person I have met when it comes to saying that Germany has a GREAT sense
of fashion! BUT I am not sure what the wife’s are thinking when allowing their
husband and daughters allowing their fathers to go outside in these DELIGHTFUL
outfits!
Now as I wrote this it was a beautiful day and an even nicer
night. But that was a couple of days ago and today is rather different! Pouring
rain and thunderstorms! This weather is as Bipolar as it gets! Don’t get me
wrong I love the rain but sometimes enough is enough! I am ready for the Sun
and the blue skies! Anyways with this weather comes great movies and
coffee! I hope that we all have a great
weekend! And HAPPY SATURDAY!
"Through travel I first became aware of the outside world; it was through travel that I found my own introspective way into becoming a part of it.”
