Summer Heat Delirium: My Mallorcan Mini-Life

Hello. It's been a while. Possibly over a week! I keep meaning to post updates little and often, so that these posts aren't so long (because I read over some of the stuff I'd written in my last post and I think I'm gonna try to start making them shorter for the sake of time). I've been very busy though.

Well as you can probably see there have been some updates to my beloved blog (I just figured out how to make tabs at the top – amateur that I am). Nothing really exciting, but there is a map of the world which I used to make tabs of people and places I want to visit (if you're not on there, send me an indignant message and I will happily add you. And hopefully visit you before I die).

There's also a link to my profile which is a bit boring (because everyone has facebook, so who really needs a 'profile' anymore?) but I suppose it makes things look a bit more Bloggy. Whatever that means.

Anyway, just one more week in this delightfully sunny island known as Mallorca, Spain and then I'm back to the dreary and cold Northern lands known as Manchester. The reality of returning to the UK is upon me now and although in my last entry I was all nostalgic for England, I know that going back means three very imperative things:

Sorting out my year abroad (accomodation, documents, CRBS and so much paperwork that I can't even begin to comprehend the intricacies).
Working (possibly with Cancer research again....groan. Money is money though).
Taking (and passing) my driving test FINALLY. You cannot begin to imagine the dread I feel at this.

But with regards to the latter, as my sister and members of my family keep cheerfully informing me “You might surprise us all Rachel...and pass on your first time.” Well. I only hope that's true...

I sometimes have nightmares of this happening on the day of my test, even though this has never actually come close to happening...

I am actually quite a safe driver, in spite of what people assume about me based on my rather reckless and careless attitude as a cyclist and pedestrian. However, there was one very panicked and heart-stopping moment (for myself and my instructor) in a lesson once where I was waiting in traffic downhill and temporarily mixed up the brake and accelerate pedals when I released the park brake to go.

That was only once though. And I've never made the same mistake again.

But so anyway, the prospects of going home is better than the prospect of staying in Palma for the rest of September without an au pair in sight. (Everyone for the summer is leaving by the end of August).

So now there is one whole week left before leaving. And weirdly, although my last post was all about the blues and homesick vibes I was getting, I feel a little bit wistful thinking about the fact that the beaches, the tapas bars and the sun will all go on partying without me once I've left Mallorca. I guess it's simply a case of “You always want what you can't have” and “the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence”.

(In England's case, the grass actually IS always greener at this time of year simply because Mallorca's grass got burnt to brown desert the moment the summer sun appeared from April onwards).

And needless to say, there have been times in the past 2-3 weeks where, when I've felt at my worst, I've continually said to myself: NEVER AGAIN AM I AU PAIRING.

I think it's true that au pairing definitely has an expiry date and there's only so many summers you can live with a family and look after their kids for 2-3 months whilst inhabiting their personal lives and space. But the truth is, I've had some of the best and funniest moments of my life au pairing and I wouldn't change those experiences for the world.

I mean, who knows if I'll do it again? Towards this part of the summer, things always get a little hazy and when the delirium sets in (like it is now) I begin to say irrational things. The bottom line is, I've never been with a 'bad family' so to speak. I've always had independence, I've always had fun and I've always had the beach at my disposal. So maybe it is simply delirium from the intense summer heat that makes me indecisive about whether I'll do it again.

Looking back over the past 7 weeks from the beginning until now is quite a satisfying thing to do. When I think about the things I've done, the places I've been to, the hilarious moments and the exciting memories and the relationships I've built here, it's almost like I've built a mini-life here in just two months. I love the fact that now I know Mallorca – I know the places on the map and and know which buses go where, which bars sell the best Sangria, ensaimada and tapas.

(Just in case you were wondering, the thing on the right is ensaimada. It is somewhat similar to a pastry, but in actual fact it is a little cloud of heaven covered with icing sugar that melts in your mouth.)

Which is encouraging because it shows me that regardless of some of the difficult moments I've encountered, I've managed really well. It tells me that I am cut out for this (living independently in a foreign country shizzle). Even though I've done it before, for much a much longer period of time already, I was starting to doubt myself this summer when the blues hit me.

With all the fun I've had here, I think one of the best things I've learnt in the past 7 weeks is that no matter where you go, who you meet there and what you do, you must always have a focus and stay grounded. Being yourself and remaining true to your personality is the most important thing. It's sometimes easier to blend in and just be like everyone else. But if you're not afraid to do what YOU want, be independent and don't let others change that then everything becomes so much easier. I think you start building your mini-life abroad when you stay grounded and don't change your stripes.

Some pictures from my weekend. The penultimate one. Watch out – the heat is setting in and things are about to get REALLY delirious in the next few days...

Starting with the best (and oldest) handmade ice cream parlour in Palma.

"...So this summer,I went to Mallorca...

...and ate it"

Found a pink Vespa.

A Bulgarian picnic with pasta salad, tortilla, chocolate chip cookies, LOTS of beer (Cruzcampo) and a strong Bulgarian liquor called rakia (homemade and unavailable in shops).