June 2015 – Riley Cochran

I have a big announcement. I have been in contact with many families over the past week. They have all been pretty great but I found a family that is the family! This family is so kind. They have three very sweet children and they live just outside of Stockholm, Sweden in a small town called Sollentuna. I will be moving to Stockholm in September and living with this family for a year. On top of all of that I found out that with an au pair work permit I can go to university classes for free and all medical is covered because I become a resident! I am beyond excited to go on this new adventure.

A year ago I never thought I would fall in love with a continent as much as I have fallen in love with Europe. I hope that I can stay longer than just another year. I know that God has plans and I am not meant to come home yet. It’s hard to think about all the things I am missing out on back home, but I am so happy to share all my adventures with the people in my life!

I hope to have friends and family visit and explore this new country with me. Sweden is a lot richer in culture than Switzerland and that excites me. I can’t wait to learn a new language and a meet new family. I know that this family will make learning Swedish even easier because they speak it fluently. That was an issue I ran into with learning German. Not only did the family speak French but in Zürich they speak Swiss German which is far different from German. I hope to actually excel in Swedish and maybe even become fluent!!

Join me on my adventure here. If you have ever been to Sweden or any other Scandinavian country comment and tell me your favorite cities you’ve been to. I would love to hear from you. You can also email me at riley@rileycochran.me.

I have missed writing oh so very much! I have been quite sick and I was in bed all of last week. I am glad to be better and writing again. I am also pleased to announce that I have finally made a big decision. I have fallen in love with Zürich and although I am extremely bummed that I cannot stay, I have been searching for a new family in a few other countries. I have been in contact with about 20 different families in Germany, Ireland, Australia and some other Northern European countries. This process seemed so tedious and complicated when I lived in the U.S. I am very fortunate to live close to most of the countries I have been looking in because I can go to that country to get my visa. Instead of taking up to three months I can go straight into the country and get the visa in about a week!

I really miss my family back home but, my heart still remains in my travels and the nomadic life I have recently discovered. I have to say the best part of being in Europe is that I can have my job and social life back home but for just a small price I can hop on a plane or a train and I can be in the country next door in sometimes less than 3 hrs. I can have my cake and eat it too. Europe is really such an amazing place. The culture and history that differs from country to country makes all my travels even more worthwhile.

Although I am really sad to leave Zürich, I am really excited to get to know a new culture. I cannot wait to live with another family that speaks another language and I am excited to get to know some new kiddos and watch them grow for a year! The family I have lived with for the past year could not have been a better family to start my adventure with. They are all so supportive and sweet and parting will be very emotional. I do know that I will have so much fun continuing on with this crazy adventure.

I am excited to learn a new city. I can tell you all the best coffee shops and the best clothing stores in Zürich and I am so excited to share those with the new Au-Pair for my old family. I am also excited to learn these things from the old Au-Pair of my next family. I know now that there are very few cities in Europe that aren’t easily accessible by train and that aren’t easy to navigate by tram or Metro. I cannot wait to write more about my next adventure!

Please feel free to comment below and tell me your favorite cities in Europe. I want to see them all!

Xoxo,

Riley

Month: June 2015

Big News!

Goodbye Zurich!!