Working on Earning my Ears!

Hey everybody!

If anyone is out there actually reading my blog, I appreciate it!  I've been super busy for these past two weeks.  I had Traditions, DAKlimation (an orientation to Disney's Animal Kingdom), and then plain ol' work!  I'm still working on earning my ears.  My assessment is tomorrow!   We'll see how that goes!

I think that I've gone through a wave of emotions since being here!  There's of course the excitement of "being on vacation" at the happiest place on earth, and that is wonderful.  But then, you get tired.  And overwhelmed.  And homesick.  I was never homesick when I was at college because I spoke to my family and distant friends so frequently and knew that they were always only a few hours away.  But I definitely feel a little homesick here.

That doesn't mean that I don't enjoy the program! I do! I just think it's important to note that it might take me (and you, if you are considering doing it) a little while to adjust.  Some days are going to be really hard (for me, yesterday!) and other days are going to be really great (for me, today!), but ultimately, we just have to try to keep a positive attitude and plow on through the good and the bad.  We can do it!

(Just as a personal note: a lot of prayer can help!)

I'll give you guys an update sometime after I *hopefully* earn my ears!  Until then!

"I always like to look on the optimistic side of life, but I am realistic to know that life is a complex matter." - Walt Disney

I Survived Check-In Day!

I stand before you now an official Chatham Square resident!  How amazing is that?!

Yesterday was long, but it was so rewarding finally getting started on this program.  The day began early, checking out of the hotel and meeting two of my roommates-to-be at Vista Way at 7:00AM.  Check-In started early for us, maybe around 7:50 or 8:00AM (don't take my word on that, I could totally be making that up).  We were guided exactly where we needed to be at every moment.  It was such a well-oiled machine.  

At Vista, we received our Program Guides (an information book/rule book/planner/everything-you'll-ever-need-to-know-for-the-next-seven-months book), signed some papers, set up our housing, took pictures and immediately received our housing IDs, and had the option of getting our decal then or later at the complex. Immediately after this, we were directed to go on a bus that would take us to Casting.  I thought that there were a lot of stations at Vista, but that was only the beginning!  It was my first time in the Casting building, but it was a maze of different things we needed to do, mostly involving the forms that we'd filled out prior to arrival, but more importantly, there we found out our work locations!  So here it is, drumroll, please!

Kilimanjaro Safaris!  To quote a non-Disney Gilbert Gottfried cartoon character, "Somebody up there loves me!"  At the end of Casting I received a bit of a training schedule, and I start training on Saturday morning!  I'm an unbelievably excited.  I couldn't have been assigned a better role!

After Casting we were free to move in to our apartments, so that's exactly what we did.  It took me a full 24 hours to actually unpack, and I'm still a little disorganized, but the apartment is lovely. :)

I have today free, and then tomorrow I'll have Traditions.  I'm nervous about dressing appropriately, so I might risk dehydration and wear my suit.  We'll see how that goes! 

That's enough for today! I'm so excited for the rest of the week, and I'll do my best to keep updating regularly!  TTFN, ta-ta for now! 

"Fantasy and reality often overlap." - Walt Disney 

I'm in Florida!

Hey there, Hi there, Ho there!

After about seventeen hours of driving spread about two days, I've finally made it to the happiest place on Earth! :)  I'm so excited.  For a while I felt as if it were a dream, it couldn't possibly be real!  I spent last night with my dad at Downtown Disney and park hopping at the Polynesian and Grand Floridian, and the night ended with watching Wishes! Today we spent the day in the Magic Kingdom, but in the late afternoon dad had to leave for his flight home.  It was surreal having dad leave for home and me stay here. I feel like I've been on vacation and am supposed to head home now!  But the fact is that this is only the beginning!

Tomorrow is my check in day, so I'm going to meet my roommates, find out where I work, and find out where I'll live!  Information overload! I hope I can handle it! :)

I just wanted to post this as a little update.  I realize these next few weeks might be very hectic, but I'll certainly be getting to more parts of the application process later in the blog.  I just figured I should update about this too since it's going on right now!  Expect application advice blogs again later on the blog!

Here's to a wonderful check-in day!

"A man should never neglect his family for business." - Walt Disney