A Reason
(The Christmas Tree - American Pavilion)
Well, it's almost a week until I will officially be back home. I am more excited than ever, yet being able to go home now makes me appreciate being here so much more. The days at work have been incredible. I really do love my job. Although the questions and guests get repetitive, the work really is unique and inspires a lot of joy in my heart when I get to make an impact, even the tiniest, on someone's day.
I was asked today, but my coworker (the one that inspires me to toss her in the waterfall) why I was leaving, since I obviously liked my job. I thought about the answer for only a few seconds before I knew. Unlike why many people have left, it's not really the job. Yes, I think I have learned all that I can learn from being here and that staying would only tax the situation, but the atmosphere was always inviting and there was always people to talk to and new things to learn. The reason I am leaving is the people.
Of course, I was never one to easily socialize... but when I do, I really tend to connect to people. However, this never really occurred in my stay in Florida. I met some great people, sure, but no one I felt really in tune with. The mentality of living at the Commons and working for Disney is that you either get drunk every night or stay home watching TV, because being under 21 and/or choosing not to drink or sleep around or go out and party in a way that no one else at home will ever find out about is unacceptable to the Commons lifestyle.
The funny thing about this is that I am one of the youngest people here (the majority being in their early 20s and only about three that are only eighteen), yet I have been told too many times to count that I seem like I am in my 20s because of my maturity. I certainly feel more mature than a lot of the people here. Especially those who come to Disney never having had a job before...
In any case, this is the reason why I feel the need to leave. Though being homesick does isolate me slightly from being completely social, I can't place too much blame on this one factor as everyone here is dealing with the same issue. Perhaps this is the reason they feel the need to go out and party nearly every night and forget how far away from home they really are and that this will all end in only one year.
I suppose another reason I have chosen to leave now is because I don't want to get sick of being here. I don't want my year to end with the same feelings one of my coworkers exudes; laboured sighs at being asked monotonous questions, bad show onstage, offending guests who don't know any better, hating every aspect of the job and showing it in both my verbal and body language.
I want to have enjoyed the time that I've spent here without being killed by it. I've learned so much, done so many things... but I still remember what my parents and grandparents asked me when I first came to Disneyworld at the end of the trip:
"Have you seen everything you wanted to see?"
The answer always being shouts of "No, of course not! We want to see it all!" Always hoping that our stay could be extended.
Yet the reply would leave us satisfied:
"Then there's a reason to come back next time."
Super Lumberjack
The past few days have been work, work, work.
I am exhausted.
After having a nice relaxing Saturday/ Sunday weekend, I came back to work on Monday. I started at 10 and it was pretty good until one of my co-workers decided to call in sick. That meant I had to work from open (11) until 12 by myself.. running from opening the theater and doing spiels to kidcot where kids get masks and have their passports signed. The managers weren't able to get anyone to come in earlier... seems this is the call-in sick season.
So, I handled Monday pretty well, I even got off at 4 which was nice. However, Tuesday I go in again at 10, and find out my coworker has called in sick again, when she specifically today me Monday night that she would come in... She wasn't really sick anyway, she had just had a "breakdown". Soo... I open kidcot and theater again until 12, but my 12 o'clock, another coworker calls in sick. So, I have to work not one hour, but two hours by myself, running between kidcot and theater, getting yelled at by parents for not being there to sign their passports or give their kids masks or tell them what time the show is starting and meanwhile two guests, not seeing the big handicapped button to open the larger door leave their ECVs parked in front of the doors, so that guests can't get in.
However, I was very calm and cool and I think I handled it very well, even when a coordinator didn't show up after saying she would come help me out.
I later find out that the coworker who was supposed to come in at 12 spent the day shopping as she's leaving on the 5th... She wasn't sick at all but got the luxury of hanging out at the mall while I was running around the attraction.
Today I went in and find out that the girl who had gone shopping called in today, as well. Thankfully I wasn't opening, but I worked at 12 and was supposed to get off at 6:45, instead I had to extend until 8:15 ...which isn't in itself all too troubling...BUT I know this girl called in and wasn't sick. She even told one of my other coworkers that she was going to call in sick at least twice this week. So.. nice.
I did get a card from one of the managers called a "Guest Fanatic Card" which means I did a good job and they recognized it so it goes on my record card but since I'm leaving that pretty much doesn't mean a thing.
So, it's been a long week, especially since I had to wake up at 7:30 this morning in order to get groceries before I started work since going out after work isn't an option due to the sun setting so early now. Fortunately, I stopped by Panera, this amazing bakery, this morning and got myself a blueberry scone and caramel latte. I am also pleased that I got the 6th to the 9th off so I can hang out with Derrick when he comes late on the 6th.
This weekend I am planning an Epcot day on my day off (Saturday) so that I can see all the holiday things, like the santas around the world and the lighting of the christmas tree. I also want to try and get to Beaches and Cream once more before I leave. My roommates might accompany me if they have the day off as well. So, I will try to take lots of pictures.
The weather is still beautiful and balmy... just like it was in September. Hopefully the chilly wind doesn't return soon. There have been a lot of people from Calgary coming down and I am getting lots of updates on the weather. Hehe. But it hasn't changed my mind to come home!I'm excited that it's only a couple more weeks.
Mini- Update
My parents came last week and we had a really great time... from going to Le Cellier (the restaurant in the Canada Pavilion and the #1 restaurant in Epcot) for lunch to chilling at Blizzard Beach, seeing a million christmas lights at MGM, and eating at a 50's diner where elbows weren't allowed on the tables and you had to eat all your vegetables. Oh, and not to mention going to Universal Studios and riding Dueling Dragons and the crazy Cat-in-the-hat couch... worse than dueling dragons, for sure. Haha. Dinner at Bubba Gump's, breakfasts at Panera, zebra desserts... mm. Working almost 12 hour shifts..
Yesterday I had a couple from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia (where the Blue Nose was built! - which happens to be on the dime) who were really sweet and gave me a Lunenburg pin! So I wore it on my shirt all day yesterday.
Also, I officially quit last week. My last day is on the 11th of December and Derrick is coming out to help me pack and bring back stuff on the 9th. We get to stay at the Yacht and Beach Club which I am uber excited about because it's my favourite resort and 2 minutes from Epcot and the Boardwalk.
American Thanksgiving is coming up as well, which means I get a double turkey day. The commons is having a little celebration tomorrow night and then thursday we get an hour long break to go eat turkey during work... so, sweet. I can't complain about the free food.
I have three weeks to go until I am officially home.
Food and Wine Part 2!
Ooookay, so I was going to have escargot but they were sold out at France so, next time.
Pizza (Italy) - Really good! I had a craving for pizza and it had bell peppers and sausage and tomatoes and mozzarella, but the best part was that it was on this spongy bread that was almost like sourdough.
Pistachio Baklava (Turkey) - Pretty good. I still LOVE baklava, but I think Morocco's was better with walnuts instead of pistachio.
Crepe au Chocolat (France) - This was at the crepe and ice cream stand in France and since I didn't get to have escargot, I decided to try something else that is on my list, so I had a cute little crepe that was folded up in a triangle and it was pretty tasty. Makes me want to make crepes more.
Mango Green Tea Slush (China) - This was at the Tea Kiosk called "Joy of Tea" or something like that in China. It was really yummy but was a bit bitter because of the green tea and mango combo.. however, pretty tasty.
Now I feel completely full. And there isn't much else to report on... Just business as usual. Except that it is starting to get chilly in Florida.. but I refuse to get a coat for work because... I am Canadian and it would be silly because Florida winters are like Canada's spring.
November is finally here. It doesn't ever seem like time passes here because there are no seasons. In Florida it is either hot or wet. Not much of a change.
They put up the Christmas tree today. I get to walk by it everyday to work as it is located right between Canada and Mexico, at the main entrance to the world showcase. It's huge and blatantly fake... filled with enormous decorations (Mostly signs and banners of various Christmas greetings or ornaments with flags of the countries on them) and an angel at the very top. I don't know whether or not to call it pretty. It's just kind of there right now. Like it was waiting... and sprung out of the shadows right after Halloween. (Which, it kind of was... I saw it dissected in the parking lot a day or two before it actually went up and the spot where they were going to put it, where there is usually flowers, was all chopped away.) There is also a crazy Christmas gift store that is right beside it that has been Christmas-y since the beginning of October.
Halloween here wasn't too exciting, as Disney doesn't really allow people to dress up due to the fact that the kids will get confused... for example, if an adult dressed up as snow white, children may think she is the real snow white and ask for autographs and then Disney would have a problem. Although, they do have a Halloween event called Mickey's Not So Scary Party at Magic Kingdom where dressing up is allowed. We did get some mini-candies from the managers though. So.. that was alright.
Also... I have a new Norwegian roommate who is pretty nice. That's really all I can say about her... I didn't really want another Norwegian roommate.. just because we've already had one and we still have one and she only talks in Norwegian when Marie (who is the other Norwegian) is around... so, whatevs.
And we have a new Attractions cast member named Brittany from Ontario who is like..23 and graduated from anthropology.. which is kinda neat. Anyway, she's really nice. Nothing much to say there either.
I had some really cute kids today. One wanted me to come over to his house so he could show me his toys. And I thought that was cute. And I gave a magical moment to these two kids, a girl named Jordan and a boy named Donovan who was wearing a raccoon hat. They were so cute and after the show they ran up and hugged me and the Dad called me 'Miss Stephanie' and it was so nice.
Anyway, not much else to report. I bought groceries for $70 and I got a taxi home for $2 which rocks, because I would've wrenched my back if I had to walk back, which I usually do. And I'm proud of myself for getting like.. a month's worth of groceries for that much.
Fun fun.
Food and Wine Sampling #1
After work I decided to cruise the food and wine kiosks and sample a bit. So here's my review so far of food I have tried:
(Greece) Spanakopitta - This was tasty. I knew I had to get it because in grade nine international foods we made it and it was so tasty... I probably still have the recipe somewhere. Anyway, it's cheese and spinach in a flaky pastry.. yum.
(Peru) Arroz Con Pato - Haha... this was a feat.. But I wanted to try it at least once to see if it was worth the hype (which it's not, not really..) Basically, it's Rice with Duck... We serve Duck at Le Cellier, as well. BUT I always thought it was odd to serve duck when we have plenty of the water fowl that like to hang out on the promenade (even if their diet consists of mcdonalds french fries and the occasional mcnugget... ew.) Anyway, it tastes kind of like a mix between turkey and roast beef.. But at least I can say I tried it. (Though it seems like there should be a rule that there should be no food served that is from one of the main disney characters - My apologies, Donald Duck... Daisy Duck... Huey, Duey, Luey... all the rest...)
(Ireland) Potato Pancake with Bacon and Onion - This was good although they put a big slab of garlic butter on the top that was kind of gross. I don't know much more to say about it than it was tasty.
(China) Caramel and Ginger Ice Cream - One of my absolute favourites. And they gave me a bunch too, like a container (usually the food is sooo tiny - like the salmon at Canada is only like the size of your thumb folded over.) And I watched the acrobats in China while I ate it... The acrobats were really good.. just a small act but they did flips while jumping romp and stuff.. very disney-like.
(Morocco) Walnut Baklava - My other favourite! Mmmm.. so good. I need more baklava in my life. 'nough said. (Maybe I should find a recipe..mm.)
Anyway, There are more things I want to try too, like I'm going to dare myself to have the escargo (snails) in France. But I have lots of time. And I could go on my breaks. Or after work now that I'm on the AM Bucket which means I work in the mornings more and get off earlier.
Also, we've gotten our keys changed in the apartment twice this week and still no new roommate. Oh well, no rush.. But we have a new attractions girl named Brittany coming in on Wednesday and Aaron is training her, so that will be exciting. She's from Ontario, but that's all we really know about her. I'm hoping she's nice. Anyway, it'll be fun to have someone who doesn't know the spiel or anything... so Davanna and I aren't the newbies anymore!
Not much else left to report. Hopefully more updates soon.
Back in Florida...
My manager didn't pick me up at the airport, so after 50 minutes of waiting and watching families and couples meeting each other... I just caught a taxi. The driver was really nice though and the ride was fairly short. Glad I took out money for cabs before, though.
My flight was fine. I work from 12 until 11:15 today. And I have no food.. so, I'm just going to bring money and see how that goes. I'll probably pick up groceries.. well, whenever I have time.. which might not be until Tuesday when I have the day off.
I work American Gardens tomorrow.. that'll be fun, I think. Eat to the Beat... I don't know who's playing though. No one I'll recognize, probably. I only recognized the Beach Boys and I already saw them.
This week I am suffering from a severe lack of sleep, so I think I will try to limit my use of the computer and maximize my sleeping time.
Davanna, a girl I work with, said we got our new shifts and that I got the AM Bucket... which I think means I work earlier and get off earlier. Which is fine for me because it gets my butt out of bed and then I can spend the rest of the day doing more things like getting groceries, or making dinner or going to the parks or whatever.
I forgot how slowly the days go by here...
