Prologue

It all began in August 1981 on Hamilton Avenue, a seemingly quiet residential street in Palo Alto. This is the story of an 18-year-old French girl named Bernadette (I should say "I," for this is my story) who arrives in Palo Alto for a one-year stint as an au pair and becomes a new person.
According to the dictionary, an au pair is "a young foreign person, who cares for children and does housework for a family in return for room and board and the opportunity to learn the family's language." But for Bernadette, it was nothing short of a life-changing experience, after leaving behind her stifling native environment. This is the story of a young woman's self-discovery, and of how, thanks to the love and generosity of others - the parents and children of her American family, new friends, neighbors, other au pairs of different nationalities - she learned to laugh, put trust in others, have faith in kindness, cope with hurt and overcome hatred, and be responsible. She learned to be free.
Hamilton Avenue is the chronicle of a young woman's experiences grappling for the first time with desires, fears, conflicting impulses, emotions and passions. It also describes her confrontation with preconceived ideas instilled by her culture of origin as an inner life and a new sense of self emerge.
As you embark on this one-year journey with me and my "new family" in a quest for love and personal freedom, you will meet a medley of young girls who forged fast and enduring friendships as we "came of age" together, as well as a rich collection of characters, young and old on a backdrop of great pop music of the '60s and '80s.
Enjoy the fun, the laughter, and yes, some anguish and tears, as I become Me!