I AM an au pair from Preston, living in Monterey, California, USA. I recently obtained access to the Internet and think your web page is great.

It is wonderful that I can talk to people in Lancashire from my computer here.

I live with an American family and take care of their four children aged from six months to eight years. It has been a very interesting experience living with them and adjusting to their lifestyle.

My strong Lancashire accent is not always understood and I am forever repeating myself.

But the nine months I have been here have been the best of my life. I have been to many places in America, seen and done lots of exciting things.

I have been to many American cities, including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

California is the most beautiful state of them all.

If anybody is thinking of doing a similar exchange programme, I would advise them to go for it. There is nothing to lose.

HEATHER TARNEY, Monteray, California, USA.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.