"This Dog Does Not Bite!:)" - "Really?!"

It all started in the middle of June. John came to this large city in one of the Western European countries to spend a year as a Au-Pair, i.e. a foreigner who lives in a family, takes care of its children, does the housework, and a lot of other staff that he/she does not have to do at all....

Why Au-Pair? You would ask...John thought it was a start of a new life that he and his girlfriend, Destiny, would lead far away from the bureaucracy and absence of perspectives in their motherland. In fact, everything seems to be better in this country: salaries are much higher (although what an Au-Pair gets cannot be called a salary, rather a drop in the ocean of the local prices), people are kind and polite, transportation system is perfect, and law is the basis, according to which the country lives. It is all really like that...before you start going into details and come to know some specific people, like Isolda, for instance, with her little son and a dog.

- Hi, I am Isolda. Isolda Nachermacher!

- Hello, I am John. Just John. Nice to meet you!

It was not that nice in fact as the development of event was about to show. Isolda took John to her house, where he had to work as an Au-Pair for the next 2 months. After a half-an-hour ride in a car, John stepped into the house...well, actually he tried to, but there was this huge dog on the way. Looking at the dog's face, one could not but read the "friendly warmth" and an intention to eat the newcomer for dinner.

John stopped. The dog acted accordingly: he stopped in the middle of the hallway, put his head down so that one could actually see him frowning angrily, and started barking as crazy. Isolda laughed:

- Oh, it's so funny! You're probably the first one to be afraid of Otello!!

Otello, this was the name of the dog, did not make the impression of such an innocent creature that had no one to be afraid of him...As large as John, when the dog stood on his two legs, and probably heavier than our hero, Otello was pretty convincing in his barking monologue.

- Really? I mean...really?! - asked John not really having to hear the answer.

- Of course! I know Otello since he was a little puppy, he's so sweat and has never bitten anyone in his life. - was Isolda's funny reply.

- Maybe...I don't know why but I don't feel like being the first in his biting list! He was probably waiting so long for someone to bite that I am not about to try his patience.

- Ok, as you wish...

- What?! As I wish? I wish to have a free way to the kitchen and toilette when I wish it, not when Otello is asleep or whatever.

- Then just don't be afraid and go where you need despite he's barking and jumping at you.

- Oh, really?!..I have a little problem with that: I've left my spare legs and butt at home, so I have too much to lose, you know?

- Well, I have to go to work, - said Isolda calmly. - John, feel at home. Otello, be nice. I hope you, guys, have fun. Bye!

Ok, here stands John...happy as one can be without a possibility to enter a toilette, while the dog is in the way. "Have fun, she said...how nice! We will have fun...actually Otello will.." - thought John as he heard the door closing behind Isolda. Somehow, however, John managed to avoid the jaws of the "beast" and in a couple of hours Julie, the Au-Pair that John was to change, came homw with the kid, Iraclius.

- Hi! - said John. - I am the new Au-Pair!

- Hi! I heard you were coming. How do you like it here?

- Well, to be honest...I did not get too see much yet, but have already got barked at by this monster.- John pointed in the direction of the living room, and Julie understood all at once:

- Otello is sweet. He is not much of a smart dog, but he can be sweet when he knows you better. Believe me, Otello is actually the nicest of all with whom you will have the "pleasure" to live hear.

- What do you mean? - asked John with a tint of doubt about the whole idea of coming here.

- Oh, my friend. Get ready to develop the "I don't give a f***" attitude to what is going on or you will feel a little uncomfortable here. - said Julie simply. - Let's go get the staff out of the washing machines. It's my final Au-Pair day today and I have a whole bunch of staff to iron.

Just so you know...

You already know that I am abroad now, right? So, in the messages with "Really?" in the title I would like to present a series of short stories that reflect my experiences here. All the names are made up, and so are the places...at the same time, the situations are pretty much real. O.K. then, let's see how it all looks from the side...:)

Who Else is Fine?!...

It has been almost 5 months since I am abroad. I had work and plans in my home country, but still the routine of the day and the dullness of work made me adopt the decision and go for drastic changes in my life...Going abroad, especially at not such a young age might be challenging, and the major part of this challenge is usually found in your own head...

Have I made a correct decision? I don't know and I am not sure that I will ever know. On the one hand, I am in a country where the living standards are much higher. If I cope with the task of starting my study here, I will most certainly have good perspectives for the future, etc. On the other hand, motherland is motherland...even though it makes you nervous and depressed. I mean, there are my parents, my friends (although, there are not many of them and we have never been so close for me to consider not leaving the country just because my friends are there)...

Finally, and most importantly to me, a foreigner here starts his/her life from scratch irrespective of the educational levels, experience, and similar things that does mean a thing when you confront the harsh reality. I have a specialist diploma, working experience of about 3 years, family plans, and future projections...Here I should prove my ability to achieve all that anew.

Sometimes it comes to mind that the things I go for right now are far from being the most important ones in life. Really, if you think, money is not everything, although without it everything else becomes much difficult to achieve. In other words, family is the basis...I think I am getting mature, so unexpectedly...I am thinking about having a baby with my girlfriend, but at the same time I am not quite sure that I am ready for such a huge change in my life. Probably, you are never ready until you just have to care for another human being that simply cannot care for itself and demands your protection....So, I am really not sure that what I am doing at the present time here abroad is right. At the same time, I am fine! 

I mean, I have genuine interest to see how it all develops and where it all goes, what can we achieve here, and where is the finish line...The most important thing is not to forget that the real life is what happens to you during the time when you are waiting for the "real life" to start. I am fine, totally fine! Who else is fine?!...