Just Another Post

  I don't feel like anything extraordinary has happened lately, but that's not to say I haven't been busy. The most exciting event has been the backstage tour of the Beauty and the Beast show at Hollywood Studios. I finally got to see the show and then we met Belle and her prince (not the Beast) and got to walk onstage and see all the costuming things. It made me miss performing.
 Which reminds me that I mentioned auditions last time. I ended up going with one of my mates (Jenessa), Amy and one of her mates (Sara). None of us were offered a role, but it was still a really good experience and I would like to go audition again when I can. All that happened at the audition was this: there were about 180 or so girls and they pulled us into a room in groups of 60. Two ladies looked at us in groups of ten. They then called out the numbers of the girls they wanted to stay and thanked us for coming out and auditioning. Only one girl was called from our group if that gives you any idea of what standard Disney holds for their performers.
  That was Tuesday. Wednesday I spent the day at Universal with Nick, my neighbor and fellow Downtown custodial cast member. It's always fun to go to Wizarding World with him because he wears his Hufflepuff robes and everyone asks for pictures and/or directions.
  We're going to have our first visitor of our program this week. Sam's fiance is flying down from Indiana on Tuesday and we're all going to eat in France to celebrate her being here.
  Other than that, I'm planning on just relaxing on my days off. I worked quite a bit this week, not as much as  some, but still a lot. Hope everyone's finding their own adventures and having fun!

One Month Down, Six to Go

  I've been at Disney a month now. It went by so quickly and yet it feels like I've been here for a much longer time. More has happened in one month here than three months back home. Work is going great; I love my job and my co-workers have been wonderful. Living with 7 girls I don't know has been interesting. Learning to live with all the different personalities has probably been the most difficult part of the program so far.
  I have really enjoyed meeting so many different people here. I still try to talk to someone new every day. Lately, I've been talking to the entertainers on West Side and the merchants in the Marketplace.
  Amy and I are going to Look-Alike Auditions on Tuesday. Amy is from England and also works Custodial in Downtown Disney. I'm really hoping she gets offered to be a friend of Alice. I am hoping to be friends with Tinkerbell.
 

Remember the Time....

 ....I was in a parade at Animal Kingdom? Yeah, that was real-life yesterday.
 I had initially planned on going to the parks alone, but ended up meeting my friend Molly and her two Irish visitors there. Right after meeting Pooh, Tigger, and Eeyore, a cast member approached us and started talking about Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade. We had never seen it, but we said we wanted to. He proceeded to ask us if we would be interested in being in the parade. We said of course we would!
 So we met Brian at the brown gate outside Safari at 3:10 and got suited up with the rest of the lucky guests. We were on the tiger float. It was just the four of us girls sitting in a rickshaw-like contraption, waving and smiling like 4-year-olds. We danced (as best we could since we were buckled in) and sang and called out birthday and anniversary buttons and blew kisses to all of our adoring fans. That hour (that I could have sworn was only 10 minutes) has been the best part of my program so far. Molly and I both agree that we do not want this parade to be our last, so entertainment auditions here I come!

Around the World in 80 Minutes

 I determined that since I have now been here almost a month and still had not met any, it was time for me to seek out some Princesses. Armed with my camera, sun block, and sunglasses, I headed out for the World Showcase in Epcot to meet the princesses in their own countries. Pretty simple enough goal, but when you add in saving the world from 7 evil villains (mind you I only foiled one sinister plot) it becomes a bit more difficult. I was charged with the task of traveling to China and finding the Jade Monkey stolen from the temple by Monkey Fists. That's right. I got to be Kim Possible for a day.

 After a quick mission, I got back to finding royalty. I found Belle and Aurora in France, Mulan in China, and Jasmine and Aladdin in Morocco. Mulan was my favorite interaction. She was so sweet and told me I reminded her of her friend Tinkerbell! It's not my goal in life to look like Tink, but when a character tells you you look like another character, it gives you hope for the future.
 I went into work at 5:30, but when I got there, they said someone could leave if they wanted to. I thought it over and decided I would like to make it to Star Wars Weekend before it's done for the year, so I left, suited up in my Star Wars costume and headed into the Studios with Jenessa and Amber.

 It was a lot of fun to see all the Star Wars fans there. We walked around, watched the big Hyperspace Hoopla show, went on Star Tours, and the Tower of Terror once it got dark. Oh and we took a drawing class! I learned how to draw Bolt.

http://www.disneytouristblog.com/star-wars-weekends-2012/

 Lauren is finally awake now so I have to go dance, but I hope everyone has a great day!

International Bus

 Tonight was pretty uneventful as far as work itself goes: no code v's, no lesbians hugging me, and no people taking pictures of me. However, I probably had the best bus ride of the program so far. I started talking to Maria, an ICP from Mexico that works Downtown Custodial with me. I have decided to take advantage of all the opportunities here and asked her to teach me Spanish. We made a deal that I will help her with English and take her to see American things (this is her first time in the U.S.) and she will teach me Spanish and cook me Mexican food and teach me to dance the salsa.
  I think I was one of two Americans on the bus home tonight. After Maria got off, the girl sitting next to me started talking to the other ICPs about Cantonese and the difference between it and Mandarin. She proceeded to teach us a few words, which I already cannot remember. My overall goal is to become fluent in French, but if I can pick up some Spanish along the way, I'm definitely ok with that.

Where I'm Meant to Be

 Two nights ago, I found myself walking around Epcot's World Showcase waiting for the nightly IllumiNations fireworks show (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gAnSBlvRZg). Even with so many people crowding and rushing around, it was really peaceful. I think that's a good sign of how content I am with my life right now. Since I arrived almost 3 weeks ago I haven't worried about college or future plans at all. For once, I'm not in a random environment where I have to find a nook to be safe and comfortable in....I'm happy everywhere here! I am finally working for a company that expects the best out of its employees and that values and recognizes hard work. Even though I am not in my dream role with Disney, I am so happy to be here.
 Given the chance, I will audition to be a character performer, and as scared as I am, I am also confident enough that I have the talent and ability to land my dream job. Perhaps it won't happen the first time I try out or even the second time. I might start out being a fur character and then progress into a face character. But either way, I want to put myself out there and let Disney see what I have to offer and live with no regrets.