A Walk in the Rain

Today I changed the template for this blog and I thought that it would be cool if I could get some photos of my hometown to use as the background. I went out while it was sunny and I took a couple of nice photos that I could possibly use.
  

 

I thought about another place where I could get some cool photos and that place is called Rivendell, situated at Kaitoke Regional Park. For those of you who don't know what I am talking about, Rivendell is one of the locations used in the Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring.

I decided that I would make a good time of it and I picked up my little sister on the way.

After we arrived, unfortunately, it started raining and Rivendell just didn't want to be seen. In the end, because my sister wanted to go over the swingbridge, we ended up going for an hour long walk in the rain and took some photos along the way.

Surprisingly it was really nice to walk through this track in the rain.

 

The Matching Pool

I have officially been in the 'matching pool' for about a week and a half now and my profile is currently on view with my third (I think it's the third...or fourth?) family and I am really hoping that I get contacted by a family soon.

From what I've seen by trying to look at the family's profile I don't think that the host family side of 'Passport' is properly ready, but I wish it was. I would love to see the profile of the family that is viewing me.

Also for some reason, because of the notifications on 'Passport' each time my profile is released by a host family it makes me wonder if there is something about my profile that makes me seem off putting or troubling. I really hope that there isn't and I am trying not to doubt myself and I am trying to be as positive as I can about the whole situation.

To anyone else who is in the 'matching pool', how do you feel about everything that is going on?? and to all of you in the application process I wish you all the best with your application.

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Yesterday my cousin and me decided that we wanted to bake and I really wanted to try making Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting..

Here is the result

These are 9 of the 72 mini cupcakes we made

This is the middle of one of the mini cupcakes

They are so YUMMY.........

A Random Thought

As the title states I have just had a random thought about something that I could do when I am away in America.

I love to cook and I really love to try new recipes or experiment with food so what I thought was that I could have another blog all about the food that I cook, taste and experience during my time in America.

Even if it it just a simple recipe from home or a new one from my host family, it could be anything from the differences between McDonald's in New Zealand and the McDonald's in America to the other types of food that I may try during my time away.

I would also love to hear from people who have recipes they recommend or if they try my recipes what they think of them.

That is my random thought for this evening... :D

Passport

Applying to be an Au Pair in the USA has been an interesting experience. The American partner, InterExchange, has launched a new application system called 'Passport' and at first it seemed like it was just an inconvenience because I had already filled in the paper application but now I really like it for the following reasons.

1. You can update your application with new photos whenever you want to.

2. If your contact details change you can change them on 'Passport' instead of having to contact your International Co-operator (Au Pair Link) and have them then contact the American partner.

3. The more child care experience you get, you can add that to your application too.

and some other things too....

I have completed my application and my current status on 'Passport' is Under Review.

I can't wait to hear from Host Families in the next few weeks...