Day 484

That's right, 484 days ago I left my home in Venezuela to change my lifestyle completely. I left people that was important for me behind, I left my college degree almost done, and the most valuable thing I left back there, in the beautiful land that was my home, was the fear for the unknown.

I came to the United States wanting to know a different culture, to learn new things and grow as a good person, the same stupid things everyone says when they leave the country to go and "find a better future". Yep, all those things have happened already, I met people, I've changed and I've grown, but still, it is unavoidable to feel a little bit scared when a whole new situation is about to get you.

During the last year and four months my life has changed considerably twice, and in a few hours is going to change again. My first change was to go from a college student on Information Technology to being an Au Pair in America. "Manuel, what the heck is that?" Short story, I came to United States to work taking care of the kids of a family that gives me a place to stay, food and money.

My second change was when I decided that I was tired of the situation I was dealing with in my life. On my eighth month I changed host families. I became part of a family that I loved and they loved me since the beginning of my year; way different from being just an employee on the previous house. How is it going with my new host family? Incredibly amazingly awesomely great! The different between both families is so big that I could write another post about it, which I'm not gonna do because is not worth it.

The reason of this blog is to share my experiences during the third big change that is coming. Today, December 18th 2012, we will start a trip that will last around nine months, that is my time remaining as an Au Pair here.

I will go around the country with my host family. We will leave on our car, stop at different national parks, go camping and then keep going! "Manuel that is great!", "You are a lucky one", "Holy cow that's crazy!" and "What!!?" are the most common reactions.

The idea started as a vacation that never became true for my host family. At the beginning of this year the idea started to grow and we got a trailer!

Two trips later and some ears pulled to my host mom from her family, and the trailer was sold because it was more useful as an accessory for Barbie's car

Now everything will be easier, we will camp at national parks and for some periods of time we will rent a house or cabin that doesn't kill the budget.

And that is how a new adventure begins, of course there are sacrifices that are necessary to achieve this goal. I will leave an stable life in the richest county of US, I have to say good bye to friends that I won't see again, I will change my relationship to make it through distance, and my social life as my privacy will be limited at times.

But my old man always tough me to look at the bright side of things, to hold the bull on its horns. I will get to know so many things and places that even Americans just dream to visit, I will travel more than any other Au Pair (I think I am the first one doing this) and I will learn grow even more.

One of my goals is to keep this blog updated, to share what is going on in my life and how I feel while I'm moving. I'm not an expert but I'll do my best to keep the writing clean.

Kentucky, here we go!