I had the day off today so I got up early (okay, 9:00 but it felt early) and went to explore Animal Kingdom for a few hours. It was one of the more enjoyable things I've done alone while being here. Usually at a theme park like this, you are with a group of people who always have something different they want to do, always someone who has to go to the bathroom, always someone who left something somewhere, etc. Well you just don't have those problems when you're alone and it's pretty cool! I got through three major rides, one show, four shops, and one sugar free strawberry popsicle in less than three hours. Thank you, thank you very much.
So I've been in a bit of a pickle for the last few weeks... I have had trash accumulating very slowly in the trash cans in my bedroom and bathroom. I'm only here for a couple waking hours every day so it is not that much but I'm at a crossroads. The problem is I don't know where the dumpster is. And I have no problem asking one of my roommates but I don't want them to realize that I have been here for four whole weeks and haven't taken out the kitchen trash yet. I do feel kind of bad about it but I do the dishes nearly every day so I figured that makes up for it... My problem is the two bags of trash sitting in my room. And it isn't even that. It's that the trash bags are clear and every day I have to look at the empty Halloween candy wrappers that I may or may not have bought for myself.
Also, I have a work-related issue. I work closing shifts every single night which I love because I haven't missed a fireworks show yet while I have been working. And I'm still not tired of it! But my problem occurs every single evening at dusk from about 6:30 - 7:30 pm. The gnats come out. It's gross. I know you have experienced it before; you're walking along peacefully and all of a sudden you see little moving black dots EVERYWHERE and you start flailing your arms and walking faster to get away but they seem to follow you. Yeah, so the gnat pockets start showing up. And it's not a huge deal... except part of my job is to stand on the street and wait for people to approach me and ask questions. I wouldn't even mind if there were a few gnats around and only I could see them. But this is what it all boils down to... my worst fear is for a guest to be enjoying the lovely evening, look around for a cast member to ask for directions, and see me. A custodian. Holding a pan and broom. Surrounded by gnats. I cannot picture a more disturbing stereotype and it makes me sick to think about. Therefore, I spend this special hour every evening slowly walking and staring off into space trying to find a place the gnats are avoiding. I know it must look strange but it sounds a whole lot better than looking like a smelly, dirty janitor.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
You know you're fat when you see a trash can and think "dining table"
This was something I heard a guest say at about 2:30 am on Sunday morning that made me chuckle to myself. Yes, you heard me right, I was awake. And happy. At 2:30 am. Walt Disney world has an annual event called, "Disney Wine and Dine Half-Marathon" where about 12,000 runners begin at 10:00 pm and run 13.1 miles through three of the Disney parks and end at Epcot where they receive a free beer or glass of wine at the finish line.
If anyone knows or has met the person came up with this idea and conveniently doesn't work at Epcot, please send me a message with their name and address. Or phone number. I don't like confrontation.
So I get to work at 10:00 pm on Saturday evening and left at 4:30 am on Sunday morning. To your and my surprise, it was probably the best shift of my life. I had prepared by watching General Conference, receiving a package from Elder Chugg, and taking a nap on Saturday. I got to the park and there were already about 10,000 guests drinking the night away and waiting to greet the runners. Every attraction and all 27 food kiosks were open until 3:00 am and by the time the park filled with all of the runners, it was packed! We had a live DJ and music and lights all night which helped only added to the energized, drunk mood. I had a very interesting might observing and interacting with a lot of different guests and cast members and it was a lot of fun! I didn't have to deal with any angry drunks, only happy drunks. We were told repeatedly to expect a lot of vomit, so I was all pumped up for that! Unfortunately... fortunately... not one person threw up the the World Showcase! As one of my co-workers said to me, "Tonight they went straight from drinking to passing out and skipped the whole vomit step." He was right - I saw about four different people passed out and receiving medical attention. All in all, it was a fun night and by the time I got home, I had about six hours before I had to leave for my next shift. Yippee.
Here are some weekend highlights:
-A middle-aged man caught my eye the other day and started walking toward me. I assumed he had a question about directions or food recommendations but I soon spotted the lit cigarette in his hand. I started psyching myself up for a smoking-section confrontation but as he got closer he mouthed, "I know, I know." Once he reached me, he took one last drag from his cigarette and proceeded to put it out in his hand. He motioned for my trash pan and I let him put the cigarette butt in the pan and before he walked away he muttered, "You didn't see anything" and displayed his ash-filled hand behind his back for all to see. Someone is looking for attention.
-Shortly after midnight on Sunday, a tipsy man approached me and asked how to get to the "big ball" which is a question that I get a lot. I directed him to the Epcot icon and he walked away. About 7 seconds later he approached me and said, "We can do this one of two ways. I can sneak around you and secretly take a picture of you or I can just ask to take a picture of you for your smile." I laughed strangely and told him he had my permission. He continued to ramble about me not having a Disney-issued smile and custodians and his daughter-in-law and sweeping leaves. I really don't know. All I know is that he took my picture, showed it to me, and left. All I learned from that is that my genuine happiness shows while I'm working! At least in the eyes of drunk people...
-So there is this older guy. I've seen him probably five times in the four weeks that I've been here. He comes out after dark and rides around World Showcase in a motor wheelchair/scooter with a mad hatter hat that is decorated to the brim with lights. I have yet to see his face because it is dark when he is out and the lights around his face are so bright that they make it impossible to make out any features. Sometimes when he is driving past people and the stare or make a comment, he'll give them something to stare at and he flips a switch that lights up the entire wheelchair. Very fancy. I haven't even gotten to the strange part yet. He is always alone and he rarely stops moving. Except when he reaches the front of a country around the promenade. He turns to face the front of the country with his back toward the lagoon, puts it in park, lifts his hat with both hands, and rotates it in a circular motion for about five rotations. Then he places his hat back on his head, kicks it back into gear, and continues on to the next country. I am determined to find out his motives one day.
-A little girl, probably four years old, approached me to trade pins and after she picked out a Mickey Mouse pin of mine that she wanted, she asked me if I liked Ariel. I told her I love Ariel and she is one of my favorites. The girl's eyes lit up and she replied, "Then it's your lucky day!" and handed me an Ariel pin in exchange for my Mickey pin. I smiled as she ran away. Sometimes you need a four year old girl to remind you how luck you really are.
If anyone knows or has met the person came up with this idea and conveniently doesn't work at Epcot, please send me a message with their name and address. Or phone number. I don't like confrontation.
So I get to work at 10:00 pm on Saturday evening and left at 4:30 am on Sunday morning. To your and my surprise, it was probably the best shift of my life. I had prepared by watching General Conference, receiving a package from Elder Chugg, and taking a nap on Saturday. I got to the park and there were already about 10,000 guests drinking the night away and waiting to greet the runners. Every attraction and all 27 food kiosks were open until 3:00 am and by the time the park filled with all of the runners, it was packed! We had a live DJ and music and lights all night which helped only added to the energized, drunk mood. I had a very interesting might observing and interacting with a lot of different guests and cast members and it was a lot of fun! I didn't have to deal with any angry drunks, only happy drunks. We were told repeatedly to expect a lot of vomit, so I was all pumped up for that! Unfortunately... fortunately... not one person threw up the the World Showcase! As one of my co-workers said to me, "Tonight they went straight from drinking to passing out and skipped the whole vomit step." He was right - I saw about four different people passed out and receiving medical attention. All in all, it was a fun night and by the time I got home, I had about six hours before I had to leave for my next shift. Yippee.
Here are some weekend highlights:
-A middle-aged man caught my eye the other day and started walking toward me. I assumed he had a question about directions or food recommendations but I soon spotted the lit cigarette in his hand. I started psyching myself up for a smoking-section confrontation but as he got closer he mouthed, "I know, I know." Once he reached me, he took one last drag from his cigarette and proceeded to put it out in his hand. He motioned for my trash pan and I let him put the cigarette butt in the pan and before he walked away he muttered, "You didn't see anything" and displayed his ash-filled hand behind his back for all to see. Someone is looking for attention.
-Shortly after midnight on Sunday, a tipsy man approached me and asked how to get to the "big ball" which is a question that I get a lot. I directed him to the Epcot icon and he walked away. About 7 seconds later he approached me and said, "We can do this one of two ways. I can sneak around you and secretly take a picture of you or I can just ask to take a picture of you for your smile." I laughed strangely and told him he had my permission. He continued to ramble about me not having a Disney-issued smile and custodians and his daughter-in-law and sweeping leaves. I really don't know. All I know is that he took my picture, showed it to me, and left. All I learned from that is that my genuine happiness shows while I'm working! At least in the eyes of drunk people...
-So there is this older guy. I've seen him probably five times in the four weeks that I've been here. He comes out after dark and rides around World Showcase in a motor wheelchair/scooter with a mad hatter hat that is decorated to the brim with lights. I have yet to see his face because it is dark when he is out and the lights around his face are so bright that they make it impossible to make out any features. Sometimes when he is driving past people and the stare or make a comment, he'll give them something to stare at and he flips a switch that lights up the entire wheelchair. Very fancy. I haven't even gotten to the strange part yet. He is always alone and he rarely stops moving. Except when he reaches the front of a country around the promenade. He turns to face the front of the country with his back toward the lagoon, puts it in park, lifts his hat with both hands, and rotates it in a circular motion for about five rotations. Then he places his hat back on his head, kicks it back into gear, and continues on to the next country. I am determined to find out his motives one day.
-A little girl, probably four years old, approached me to trade pins and after she picked out a Mickey Mouse pin of mine that she wanted, she asked me if I liked Ariel. I told her I love Ariel and she is one of my favorites. The girl's eyes lit up and she replied, "Then it's your lucky day!" and handed me an Ariel pin in exchange for my Mickey pin. I smiled as she ran away. Sometimes you need a four year old girl to remind you how luck you really are.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Mary Poppins and Alcohol
What a crazy few days! So on Wednesday, I ran some errands and around 6, I realized I had nothing to do for the rest of the night. So I hopped on the bus, rode over to Hollywood Studios by myself and ended up having so much fun! I rode the Tower of Terror twice, Rockin Roller Coaster once, bought myself a big mint chocolate chip ice cream cone and shopped until about 8:30. Yesterday I worked 6 hours and today 11. That might normally be tough but the annual Food and Wine festival at the Epcot Word Showcase began yesterday. What an event! Basically, around the 1.3 mile pavilion, we have small tents for about 25 different countries. Each tent sells different types of food and wine representative of that country. It is a huge deal each day of the Food and Wine Festival (it lasts until November 13th) is busier than any other day of the year, besides New Years Eve (where we see an average of 80,000 guests in Epcot alone). So what that all means is... it is packed. All day, every day. We are all a lot more busy working to keep the park as clean as people expect a Disney park to be. I am constantly moving with things to do wherever I turn and it makes the time fly by! Also, something that helps is every single day of the festival, we have a special musical guest performing in the American Garden Theater which is an outdoor amphitheater in the American pavilion. Today is was a girl named Taylor Dane and we have everyone from Boyz 2 Men, Sugar Ray, or Hansen coming in the next month and a half. So I'm pretty excited about that! If you know me, you know I love concerts :)
I do have some great little stories from these two days...
Mary Poppins
-Yesterday I was standing near Mary Poppins and watching kids and adults alike greet and talk with her in adoration. As I was watching, I really began to think of what those people were going through as they watched and met her. Mary Poppins is a nanny who has a magical way of pleasing and entertaining the two children she nannies as well as everyone she meets. She is always happy and always wanting everyone else to be happy. She really is an intriguing character and to meet her with that frame of mind would really be an awe-filled experience. I witnessed that time after time as she knelt to talk with shy little girls, held their hands with great care and appreciation, and gave the most loving, longest hugs to the most awestruck girls who ate up every word Mary spoke to them as she held them close and rubbed their back. Guess what happened to me? I teared up.
-During that same hour, I noticed two grown adult women (presumably sisters) each pushing a stroller past Mary and the long line of people waiting to meet her. Sister #1 excitedly said to the little girl in her stroller, "Look Lacey, it's Little Bo Peep!" Sister #2 disgustedly turns around and screams, "SARAH! That's Mary Poppins!" Sister #1, "Oh," as everyone who witnessed this glares judgmentally at her.
Alcohol
-Today I was cleaning restroom and there was a louder, larger woman making quite a big deal about her new back brace, how she needed a certain stall, and how much pain she was in. Right before she left, she said to her friend, "I would totally pop a Demerol but then I wouldn't be able to drink any more beer." No comment.
-Yesterday a flustered young couple was juggling rain ponchos, two little girls, and newly-bought dinner. The woman grabbed the stroller and as soon as she touched it she yelled, "Tyler, why is this all wet?!" He replies nonchalantly, "It's a margarita." No argument.
-One thing that really whomps about Food and Wine is the smell. To work for 10 hours inside a mixture of Hawaiian barbecue, fresh French rolls, and funnel cakes is torture. I thought it was all over when I clocked out tonight but I happened to sit next to this guy from France on the bus. Apparently France has some kind of wine that smells like portabella mushrooms. I almost had to plug my nose to stop my mouth from watering.
That's all for now! I'm exhausted and tomorrow is the Wine and Dine half-marathon here at Disney World. It begins at 10:30 pm and ends at 3:30 in Epcot. What does that mean? Maddi gets to work from 10 p.m. - 4 a.m. where 10,000 runners end a 13.1 mile race and we give them alcohol. Sounds like a good idea to me.
I do have some great little stories from these two days...
Mary Poppins
-Yesterday I was standing near Mary Poppins and watching kids and adults alike greet and talk with her in adoration. As I was watching, I really began to think of what those people were going through as they watched and met her. Mary Poppins is a nanny who has a magical way of pleasing and entertaining the two children she nannies as well as everyone she meets. She is always happy and always wanting everyone else to be happy. She really is an intriguing character and to meet her with that frame of mind would really be an awe-filled experience. I witnessed that time after time as she knelt to talk with shy little girls, held their hands with great care and appreciation, and gave the most loving, longest hugs to the most awestruck girls who ate up every word Mary spoke to them as she held them close and rubbed their back. Guess what happened to me? I teared up.
-During that same hour, I noticed two grown adult women (presumably sisters) each pushing a stroller past Mary and the long line of people waiting to meet her. Sister #1 excitedly said to the little girl in her stroller, "Look Lacey, it's Little Bo Peep!" Sister #2 disgustedly turns around and screams, "SARAH! That's Mary Poppins!" Sister #1, "Oh," as everyone who witnessed this glares judgmentally at her.
Alcohol
-Today I was cleaning restroom and there was a louder, larger woman making quite a big deal about her new back brace, how she needed a certain stall, and how much pain she was in. Right before she left, she said to her friend, "I would totally pop a Demerol but then I wouldn't be able to drink any more beer." No comment.
-Yesterday a flustered young couple was juggling rain ponchos, two little girls, and newly-bought dinner. The woman grabbed the stroller and as soon as she touched it she yelled, "Tyler, why is this all wet?!" He replies nonchalantly, "It's a margarita." No argument.
-One thing that really whomps about Food and Wine is the smell. To work for 10 hours inside a mixture of Hawaiian barbecue, fresh French rolls, and funnel cakes is torture. I thought it was all over when I clocked out tonight but I happened to sit next to this guy from France on the bus. Apparently France has some kind of wine that smells like portabella mushrooms. I almost had to plug my nose to stop my mouth from watering.
That's all for now! I'm exhausted and tomorrow is the Wine and Dine half-marathon here at Disney World. It begins at 10:30 pm and ends at 3:30 in Epcot. What does that mean? Maddi gets to work from 10 p.m. - 4 a.m. where 10,000 runners end a 13.1 mile race and we give them alcohol. Sounds like a good idea to me.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Attention Women
Well, hello! I know this is my second completely spiritual post in a row but it's good for you, I promise :) I don't know if you were able to watch the Relief Society General Broadcast last Saturday, but it was amazing! My favorite talk was Elder Uchdorf's and I want to share it with you. So call you mom, daughter, or sister over and take 20 minutes out of your busy day and watch this.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Please watch this and laugh.
I saw/listened to this for the first time yesterday and throughout my whole day at work, it would pop into my head and I couldn't hold back my laughter. Yeah, people stared. Click here to enjoy.
My Weekend in Bullet Points
So! The last few days...
- On my name tag, it says "Brigham Young University - Idaho" on the bottom so often times, people notice and comment on it. I have now developed this radar for these type of people. Some people read it, give me the once-over, and walk away. Some people look at it, ask where I'm from, say "Oh cool" and leave. And then all the others... they read it, they get this smug look on their face, they ask me where I go to school and I pretend to not know they already know, I tell them, and they say "Oh! We're from Utah!", they look at me and wait for the fellow-Mormon excitement, I become excited because it's my job and say "Awesome!", they expected more and they're like "Yeah!", then I smile and wait to see if they want to talk about General Conference or what new celebrity is taking the discussions, they never do, they walk away. It happens every time.
- I witnessed my first fight yesterday! We'll call the victims thing 1 and thing 2. So thing 1 comes back to its family with some food and they all get really excited. I spy thing 2 scamper slyly across the sidewalk and make its way over to thing 1 and family. Thing 2 goes in to try and steal the eggs. Thing 1 FREAKS out and screams/chases thing 2. Thing 2 retreats and tries to act like nothing happened. Thing 1 was a bird. Thing 2 was a squirrel.
- After fireworks one night, I was doing my job and sweeping all the trash around the pavilion. I was in an area that was rather shaded and hard to see so I continued to sweep things that had an abnormal shape to them. I came across this fist-sized object and didn't think twice but swept it into my pan. It was a little heavier and more dense than I had expected it to be, but oh well. I kept putting my pan up and down to sweep things into it. About 3 minutes later, I put my pan down and, to my surprise, a bull frog hopped right out. I hap swept and rattled a poor huge frog into my trash-filled pan. I stood there, watching it hop away with an incredulous look on my face for about two minutes straight. I am not used to my trash hopping out of my pan. That was a first.
- There is something else that I have kind of noticed my whole life but more-so in the last couple of weeks. After dark last night, I was walking back to the office to clock out and, like usual, I was walking in awe of the beauty of everything around me. Apparently, someone else noticed the same thing too. Let's call him Mr. Softy. So Mr. Softy had no idea I was watching him this whole time but he was walking and he rounded a corner and saw that huge golf-ball-like Epcot icon (it's actually a ride called spaceship earth). Let me tell you, at night it is breathtaking. It stands 180 feet above the ground (and 180 feet below ground to support it) and has beautiful bluish/purplish lights surrounding it against the dark, cloudy night sky. So Mr. Softy had his breath taken away by the sight of it. He pulls out his cell phone, goes to the camera, notices I am passing behind him, puts his phone down to pretend like he's texting, sees me pass by, lifts his phone again, and snaps a picture. I saw that, Mr. Softy.
- I don't know if you knew this, but Florida is the lightning capital of the world. And they don't just say that to brag. It's a daily occurrence. Last night, it accompanied the fireworks show in Epcot perfectly.
- Speaking of fireworks, I spent an evening at Hollywood Studios this last week with a couple friends where (it poured the entire night and...) I got to see Fantasmic! I have seen it at Disneyland, but it has been a while and it is a little different here. So amazing! Also speaking of fireworks, the firework show at Epcot every night? Blows me away. I get chills every time. And I've seen it almost ten times now. It is so great! I just have a thing for colorful fire and the smell of sulfur...
- Today I got to go to Sacrament Meeting again! Yay! And the girls I get a ride with wanted to go early to choir practice. I have never sang in a church choir before but I figured it was more time that I could spend in the chapel, which is the closest place I have felt to being home while I have been here. So we get there and find out the song we're singing in Sacrament Meeting. It was the As Sisters In Zion/We'll Bring The World His Truth Medley. I was floored. Not only is this one of my favorite songs of all time and the soundtrack to some of the most spiritual moments I have ever had at EFY, but the last time I sang it was at stadium singing up at BYU-Idaho with Garrett and my roommates from the spring, all of whom I love and miss so dearly. So I was privileged to stand and sing this song in front of the entire congregation, including the Orlando Temple President and his wife. It was one of the most incredible moments I've had in my experience here. I've never been an avid singer, but have always enjoyed it. I have never before felt the true meaning to the words of a song and truly been able to sing it with everything that I am. It was my testimony and I was sharing it so freely and loudly. I felt the spirit with every single person in that room. It was an incredible feeling.
- So I'm doing pretty well! I love my job and have been talking with family of friends on the phone several times a day which really helps with everything. It lightens up my whole day to get a text or message or call from someone. I love it :) I still have my lonely moments where I see a plane flying away from the Orlando Airport and desperately wish I was on it. But that's natural! Thank you all for your love and support and friendship. It means the world to me! I love you! Have a beautiful Sunday!
First, work-related:
- I watched an elderly couple race each other the other day. Like, ready-set-go status. They were probably about 80. He was running. She was driving a scooter.- On my name tag, it says "Brigham Young University - Idaho" on the bottom so often times, people notice and comment on it. I have now developed this radar for these type of people. Some people read it, give me the once-over, and walk away. Some people look at it, ask where I'm from, say "Oh cool" and leave. And then all the others... they read it, they get this smug look on their face, they ask me where I go to school and I pretend to not know they already know, I tell them, and they say "Oh! We're from Utah!", they look at me and wait for the fellow-Mormon excitement, I become excited because it's my job and say "Awesome!", they expected more and they're like "Yeah!", then I smile and wait to see if they want to talk about General Conference or what new celebrity is taking the discussions, they never do, they walk away. It happens every time.
- I witnessed my first fight yesterday! We'll call the victims thing 1 and thing 2. So thing 1 comes back to its family with some food and they all get really excited. I spy thing 2 scamper slyly across the sidewalk and make its way over to thing 1 and family. Thing 2 goes in to try and steal the eggs. Thing 1 FREAKS out and screams/chases thing 2. Thing 2 retreats and tries to act like nothing happened. Thing 1 was a bird. Thing 2 was a squirrel.
- After fireworks one night, I was doing my job and sweeping all the trash around the pavilion. I was in an area that was rather shaded and hard to see so I continued to sweep things that had an abnormal shape to them. I came across this fist-sized object and didn't think twice but swept it into my pan. It was a little heavier and more dense than I had expected it to be, but oh well. I kept putting my pan up and down to sweep things into it. About 3 minutes later, I put my pan down and, to my surprise, a bull frog hopped right out. I hap swept and rattled a poor huge frog into my trash-filled pan. I stood there, watching it hop away with an incredulous look on my face for about two minutes straight. I am not used to my trash hopping out of my pan. That was a first.
- There is something else that I have kind of noticed my whole life but more-so in the last couple of weeks. After dark last night, I was walking back to the office to clock out and, like usual, I was walking in awe of the beauty of everything around me. Apparently, someone else noticed the same thing too. Let's call him Mr. Softy. So Mr. Softy had no idea I was watching him this whole time but he was walking and he rounded a corner and saw that huge golf-ball-like Epcot icon (it's actually a ride called spaceship earth). Let me tell you, at night it is breathtaking. It stands 180 feet above the ground (and 180 feet below ground to support it) and has beautiful bluish/purplish lights surrounding it against the dark, cloudy night sky. So Mr. Softy had his breath taken away by the sight of it. He pulls out his cell phone, goes to the camera, notices I am passing behind him, puts his phone down to pretend like he's texting, sees me pass by, lifts his phone again, and snaps a picture. I saw that, Mr. Softy.
Now, non-work-related:
- I got my first letter from Elder Chugg! I was shocked by how much he has grown already. My heart is so full and I couldn't be happier! Also concerning Elder Chugg, he has some medical concerns to make decisions on soon so it would be greatly appreciated to keep him in your prayers!- I don't know if you knew this, but Florida is the lightning capital of the world. And they don't just say that to brag. It's a daily occurrence. Last night, it accompanied the fireworks show in Epcot perfectly.
- Speaking of fireworks, I spent an evening at Hollywood Studios this last week with a couple friends where (it poured the entire night and...) I got to see Fantasmic! I have seen it at Disneyland, but it has been a while and it is a little different here. So amazing! Also speaking of fireworks, the firework show at Epcot every night? Blows me away. I get chills every time. And I've seen it almost ten times now. It is so great! I just have a thing for colorful fire and the smell of sulfur...
- Today I got to go to Sacrament Meeting again! Yay! And the girls I get a ride with wanted to go early to choir practice. I have never sang in a church choir before but I figured it was more time that I could spend in the chapel, which is the closest place I have felt to being home while I have been here. So we get there and find out the song we're singing in Sacrament Meeting. It was the As Sisters In Zion/We'll Bring The World His Truth Medley. I was floored. Not only is this one of my favorite songs of all time and the soundtrack to some of the most spiritual moments I have ever had at EFY, but the last time I sang it was at stadium singing up at BYU-Idaho with Garrett and my roommates from the spring, all of whom I love and miss so dearly. So I was privileged to stand and sing this song in front of the entire congregation, including the Orlando Temple President and his wife. It was one of the most incredible moments I've had in my experience here. I've never been an avid singer, but have always enjoyed it. I have never before felt the true meaning to the words of a song and truly been able to sing it with everything that I am. It was my testimony and I was sharing it so freely and loudly. I felt the spirit with every single person in that room. It was an incredible feeling.
- So I'm doing pretty well! I love my job and have been talking with family of friends on the phone several times a day which really helps with everything. It lightens up my whole day to get a text or message or call from someone. I love it :) I still have my lonely moments where I see a plane flying away from the Orlando Airport and desperately wish I was on it. But that's natural! Thank you all for your love and support and friendship. It means the world to me! I love you! Have a beautiful Sunday!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Magic Moments
These are what we learned about in training as those things you see in Disney commercials. Those things that we are now responsible for thinking of and making happen. I had my first one today.
It all started when I was changing trash liners and watching guests pass by underneath the daily thunderstorm forming. A woman in a wheelchair and her husband about 20 feet away from me were working on getting an umbrella out and open when the handle completely snapped. I approached them and all I could see was cracked wood and splinters everywhere. I asked if that had just happened, they said yes and asked for tape to fix it, and I told them I would be right back... I had something better in mind.
Many of you may know that most every major customer-oriented company holds to the motto that "The customer is always right." Well, Disney changed it up a bit and we believe that "The guest is not always right. But they are still our guest." With this in my head, I continued on my mission.
I made my way to the nearest gift shop and after a very short chat with the manager, I walked out of the shop and back towards the couple with a brand new Mickey Mouse umbrella in my hand. As I approached, the husband looked somewhat confused and I handed the umbrella to the woman and said, "This one might work a little better." She looked at me in awe and was speechless. Her husband thanked me and asked to where and when they should return it. I informed him that the umbrella was their newest souvenir. The woman gasped and they both shared that biggest smiles and thanks they could possibly muster. She grabbed my hand and shook it ever-so meaningfully. I told them it was my pleasure and went about my trash bag business. I could see them looking at their brand new umbrella and smiling at each other and before they walked off, the husband walked over to me, looked at my name tag, shook my hand, and said, "Thank you so much, Maddi." My eyes filled once more as I watched him and his wife walk away waving at me.
What a telling story. All I did was replace a broken umbrella. It was really so simple and something I would have done for anyone in any situation. But the legacy of Disney and their impeccable customer service turned this act of kindness into a surreal moment for two grown adults who probably could have afforded another umbrella and would have had a wonderful day anyways. It feels amazing to know that I was part of making their wonderful day something truly magical that they may not forget for a long time. That umbrella is going back home with them in a few days and may sit in a closet and never get used again. But it will always have some pixie dust on it...
It all started when I was changing trash liners and watching guests pass by underneath the daily thunderstorm forming. A woman in a wheelchair and her husband about 20 feet away from me were working on getting an umbrella out and open when the handle completely snapped. I approached them and all I could see was cracked wood and splinters everywhere. I asked if that had just happened, they said yes and asked for tape to fix it, and I told them I would be right back... I had something better in mind.
Many of you may know that most every major customer-oriented company holds to the motto that "The customer is always right." Well, Disney changed it up a bit and we believe that "The guest is not always right. But they are still our guest." With this in my head, I continued on my mission.
I made my way to the nearest gift shop and after a very short chat with the manager, I walked out of the shop and back towards the couple with a brand new Mickey Mouse umbrella in my hand. As I approached, the husband looked somewhat confused and I handed the umbrella to the woman and said, "This one might work a little better." She looked at me in awe and was speechless. Her husband thanked me and asked to where and when they should return it. I informed him that the umbrella was their newest souvenir. The woman gasped and they both shared that biggest smiles and thanks they could possibly muster. She grabbed my hand and shook it ever-so meaningfully. I told them it was my pleasure and went about my trash bag business. I could see them looking at their brand new umbrella and smiling at each other and before they walked off, the husband walked over to me, looked at my name tag, shook my hand, and said, "Thank you so much, Maddi." My eyes filled once more as I watched him and his wife walk away waving at me.
What a telling story. All I did was replace a broken umbrella. It was really so simple and something I would have done for anyone in any situation. But the legacy of Disney and their impeccable customer service turned this act of kindness into a surreal moment for two grown adults who probably could have afforded another umbrella and would have had a wonderful day anyways. It feels amazing to know that I was part of making their wonderful day something truly magical that they may not forget for a long time. That umbrella is going back home with them in a few days and may sit in a closet and never get used again. But it will always have some pixie dust on it...
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
If a tree falls in the middle of a forest... do the other trees laugh at it?
That was the wording on the shirt of a guest today. I was laughing so hard... because I always laugh when someone falls... and if I was a tree and I saw another tree fall... then I would probably laugh too... anyways. I probably had my best day yet today! And nothing extraordinary happened, but it was still the best day! I do have a compilation of small stories that might contribute to that title:
A family of five was walking, the dad pushing the stroller and a ten-year-old girl walking in front of it. About 20 yards ahead of them a duck crawled out of the bushes and was clearly in their way. The girl yells, "Dad, watch out for the duck!" The dad sarcastically replies, "Duck? What duck? I don't see a duck..." Girl, "Dad! Stop! Ah! Ugh..." That sooooo reminded me of my dad and Isaac. I was smiling.
A middle aged man holding hands with one of his children was speed-walking toward Norway and said, "Hurry, honey! We have to make it to the ride in Norweigia!" Serious.
I was standing in Mexico facing the huge Mexican Temple when and older woman walked over to me. I got ready to answer her question or graciously receive her compliment on my hair when she stood next to me and smiled straight ahead. After watching her, perplexed, I realized her daughter was taking a picture of the two of us. So I smiled, the camera flashed, she thanked me and walked away. I'm still confused.
I was sweeping the streets and a woman was walking the opposite direction with her mom. The daughter was talking and the only part of the conversation I heard was, "...he hadn't even been alive one second and I was completely in love..." Ahh :) I got chills.
After dark, I was walking the street and a little boy stopped me to trade Disney pins. After 2 seconds, I realized that his family was from England, because of their accents. Boy one, 5 years old, and boy 2, three years old, decided what pins they wanted and their parents helped them take off the pins from their lanyards that were now mine. We have finished our little transaction and the dad said to the younger boy, "Sebastian, you remember what we do when we pin trade with someone?" The boy looks at me and motions for me to come down to his level. I do and he gives me the sweetest, most adorable kiss on the cheek. I think I blushed. It made my whole year.
Just before the fireworks, this group of four loud, happy adults came walking towards me saying, "Let's just ask Sally!" One walked up to me, looked at my name tag and said, "Her name is Maddi!" I was a little lost but he continued, "Maddi, we need you to make a decision for us. Beer or a margarita?" Without missing a beat, I said, "Margarita." He replied, "Margarita, huh? Are you of age? Do you even drink?" I said, "No and no but where else are you going to get an authentic Mexican margarita like the ones in Mexico in Disney World?" That was acceptable and all four of them walked away with margaritas in their hands. You're welcome, Walt. That's $36 right there.
So that was my day at work! Today I actually had a realization. A really big one too. Like, so big that I had tears in my eyes. It started when I was talking to a couple and the woman told me that she had heard about the college program and was supposed to do presentations on it at the local college and wanted to know what I thought of it. Without thinking first, I replied so honestly. I said, "Honestly, it's a job. I work 40 to 50 hours every week." I took a second and looked around at the lights on the different landmark replications and beautiful buildings around the 1.3 mile pavillion. I saw the sun waiting as long as it could to set behind blue/pink clouds and reflecting off of the lagoon. I watched two girls dressed up as Belle and Ariel run to have dinner with their favorite princesses. I continued, "But look at where I work. I get to be inside of this happiness all day long. I'm never going to get this opportunity again in my life. The people I work with are some of the kindest, most interesting people I have ever met in my life. And I get to be a part of all of this. I absolutely love it." I did have tears brimming at this point and the couple thanked me and walked off. But I took a minute to stand in awe. I do have a full-time job where I come home alone to a silent apartment that I wish was filled with my family or friends. But that would take away from the experience that I am going through personally. It is a tough situation for me, but let me just tell you, it pays for itself many times over. When I have a frantic mom come up to me, I spend 5 minutes doing some detective work, and I get to kneel down and let her watch me tell her two daughters that their favorite character is right inside the building, waiting especially to meet them, and their faces light up. Or when a newlywed couple taking pictures of each other is so grateful when I offer to take a picture of them together and it might just be the only picture they have of both of them on their whole trip. Or when a family excitedly approaches me and tell me about all of the fun they had doing the things I suggested when I met them the week before in another park. Or when I get to high-five little kids with a mickey glove on and they think they just touched gold. Or when there is a tired-looking toddler in a stroller passing by and I catch her eye and smile and she beams back. Or when I get to wish Happy 50th Anniversary to a couple walking hand-in-hand down the street. I am so blessed to be able to do what I do. These moments are ones that I will never forget. I was lucky enough to grow up with hundreds of Disney memories and to think that I am taking part in making them now blows my mind. Every time I go to Disneyland, I look at those "Cast Member Only" doors and daydream. As I was turning the key in one today, I realized I don't have to anymore. My dreams have come true in the happiest place on earth.
A family of five was walking, the dad pushing the stroller and a ten-year-old girl walking in front of it. About 20 yards ahead of them a duck crawled out of the bushes and was clearly in their way. The girl yells, "Dad, watch out for the duck!" The dad sarcastically replies, "Duck? What duck? I don't see a duck..." Girl, "Dad! Stop! Ah! Ugh..." That sooooo reminded me of my dad and Isaac. I was smiling.
A middle aged man holding hands with one of his children was speed-walking toward Norway and said, "Hurry, honey! We have to make it to the ride in Norweigia!" Serious.
I was standing in Mexico facing the huge Mexican Temple when and older woman walked over to me. I got ready to answer her question or graciously receive her compliment on my hair when she stood next to me and smiled straight ahead. After watching her, perplexed, I realized her daughter was taking a picture of the two of us. So I smiled, the camera flashed, she thanked me and walked away. I'm still confused.
I was sweeping the streets and a woman was walking the opposite direction with her mom. The daughter was talking and the only part of the conversation I heard was, "...he hadn't even been alive one second and I was completely in love..." Ahh :) I got chills.
After dark, I was walking the street and a little boy stopped me to trade Disney pins. After 2 seconds, I realized that his family was from England, because of their accents. Boy one, 5 years old, and boy 2, three years old, decided what pins they wanted and their parents helped them take off the pins from their lanyards that were now mine. We have finished our little transaction and the dad said to the younger boy, "Sebastian, you remember what we do when we pin trade with someone?" The boy looks at me and motions for me to come down to his level. I do and he gives me the sweetest, most adorable kiss on the cheek. I think I blushed. It made my whole year.
Just before the fireworks, this group of four loud, happy adults came walking towards me saying, "Let's just ask Sally!" One walked up to me, looked at my name tag and said, "Her name is Maddi!" I was a little lost but he continued, "Maddi, we need you to make a decision for us. Beer or a margarita?" Without missing a beat, I said, "Margarita." He replied, "Margarita, huh? Are you of age? Do you even drink?" I said, "No and no but where else are you going to get an authentic Mexican margarita like the ones in Mexico in Disney World?" That was acceptable and all four of them walked away with margaritas in their hands. You're welcome, Walt. That's $36 right there.
So that was my day at work! Today I actually had a realization. A really big one too. Like, so big that I had tears in my eyes. It started when I was talking to a couple and the woman told me that she had heard about the college program and was supposed to do presentations on it at the local college and wanted to know what I thought of it. Without thinking first, I replied so honestly. I said, "Honestly, it's a job. I work 40 to 50 hours every week." I took a second and looked around at the lights on the different landmark replications and beautiful buildings around the 1.3 mile pavillion. I saw the sun waiting as long as it could to set behind blue/pink clouds and reflecting off of the lagoon. I watched two girls dressed up as Belle and Ariel run to have dinner with their favorite princesses. I continued, "But look at where I work. I get to be inside of this happiness all day long. I'm never going to get this opportunity again in my life. The people I work with are some of the kindest, most interesting people I have ever met in my life. And I get to be a part of all of this. I absolutely love it." I did have tears brimming at this point and the couple thanked me and walked off. But I took a minute to stand in awe. I do have a full-time job where I come home alone to a silent apartment that I wish was filled with my family or friends. But that would take away from the experience that I am going through personally. It is a tough situation for me, but let me just tell you, it pays for itself many times over. When I have a frantic mom come up to me, I spend 5 minutes doing some detective work, and I get to kneel down and let her watch me tell her two daughters that their favorite character is right inside the building, waiting especially to meet them, and their faces light up. Or when a newlywed couple taking pictures of each other is so grateful when I offer to take a picture of them together and it might just be the only picture they have of both of them on their whole trip. Or when a family excitedly approaches me and tell me about all of the fun they had doing the things I suggested when I met them the week before in another park. Or when I get to high-five little kids with a mickey glove on and they think they just touched gold. Or when there is a tired-looking toddler in a stroller passing by and I catch her eye and smile and she beams back. Or when I get to wish Happy 50th Anniversary to a couple walking hand-in-hand down the street. I am so blessed to be able to do what I do. These moments are ones that I will never forget. I was lucky enough to grow up with hundreds of Disney memories and to think that I am taking part in making them now blows my mind. Every time I go to Disneyland, I look at those "Cast Member Only" doors and daydream. As I was turning the key in one today, I realized I don't have to anymore. My dreams have come true in the happiest place on earth.
Monday, September 19, 2011
I smell like beer, sweat, and vomit.
It's true. Beer? People drink like crazzzzzy in Epcot. It's definitely more of an adult park so you can get it on every corner. And today, while doing a "trash run", I threw a full bag of trash into the trash compressor not knowing there was a gaping hole in the bottom. Therefore, someone's can of beer all over me. Sweat? Well this one is for a lot of reasons but mainly because I got to my locker tonight and realized I still had my work radio on my belt. So I had to RUN back to the park and RUN back to the locker room so I didn't miss my bus. And I did it :) Vomit? I had my first "code V" today. That's Disney language for "someone just puked all over the floor on their way to the nearest bathroom". We learned a lot about them and I was hoping I would never have to deal with one but I did on my second day and it was great! Haha it was inside a restaurant in Germany and I got to use this sawdust-like stuff (yes dad, you called it) and Disney has that solidifies any liquid instantly. It's pretty sweet, actually!
So here's a little recap on my last four days. Friday, the roommates worked all day so I cleaned the apartment and ran errands. Saturday, I went to Animal Kingdom and Epcot with one of my friends. SO fun! Sunday, I went to church which was amazing. Then I worked my first two real shifts yesterday and today. It has been wonderful so far! I love my managers, co-workers, the guests are mostly splendid, and the work is easy. As a custodian, I either get assigned streets or restrooms. Streets are when I spend two hours taking trash out and cleaning trash cans, and the rest of my shift is spent walking up and down the streets sweeping trash into my pan and talking to people. Restrooms are when I clean restrooms. That's it! It's almost too easy but The Food and Wine Festival starts next week. That's when we get code V's left and right and have to help people to benches. I'm looking forward to that!
Everyone I have worked with is soooo nice. They know I'm new so they go out of their way to show me where everything is and to check up on me in the kindest way possible. I have been so lucky in meeting people from so many different places and with so many different stories. Today on one of my breaks, I sat down across the table from an older man. I noticed his name tag said he was from Colombia (where Garrett is serving) and I started to ask him about it. He spoke broken English and I speak fragmented Spanish so that didn't work out very well. However, the third person at the table was a man from Haiti who spoke English and Spanish and acted as our translator for the whole conversation. What did he say about Colombia? He LOVES it. I have met a few other people from there also and they all can't say enough good things about it. He asked where Garrett is going and I told him Cali. The first thing he talked about was Salsa Dancing. Literally, all four people I have talked to about Cali, Colombia while I have been here have talked about how it's famous for Salsa dancing. So Garrett better come home ready to impress...
I had a really cool experience with two fellow cast members yesterday and today. We were actually talking about long-distance relationships and I brought Garrett up and the "Mormon" word kind of stalled both of them... I waited for someone to say something but soon I just asked what they thought about Mormons. They both admitted they had heard really strange things and were hesitant but weren't sure because I seemed like a cool person. So we kept talking about it and soon they were asking me really good questions. Some of them were hard too but I had the coolest experience! For every single question they asked, I thought for a second and soon a young womens meeting, a fireside, an efy class, a byu-i devotional, even scriptures came right to my head so clearly. I was able to answer all of their questions and they both seemed very interested and I was very relieved. We had talked about it for over an hour and it was such a cool feeling! And today I was working in the same area as the guy who seemed interested and he asked me more! Ahh I'm loving this! Maybe this is why I'm here.
I do have some quotes of the day...
There was a woman waiting with her three young kids for her husband to re-join them out of a pub so they could continue walking. He walks out with ONE beer in his hand and immediately regretted it. She glared at him for several seconds before yelling, "You seriously didn't get me a beer?!" And walking away with the kids while he scrambled for an excuse.
Right after that there was an older couple, probably 80, each on a scooter thing. The husband stopped along the promenade for her to catch up and as she did, she yelled at him, "Hey sexy, you headed my way?"
The last one was a couple with their adult daughter who stopped to ask me where the nearest smoking section was. I showed them and as the father and daughter started walking away, the mom came back to me and said, "We don't smoke, but the person we're looking for does." Don't worry, judgment not made.
So here's a little recap on my last four days. Friday, the roommates worked all day so I cleaned the apartment and ran errands. Saturday, I went to Animal Kingdom and Epcot with one of my friends. SO fun! Sunday, I went to church which was amazing. Then I worked my first two real shifts yesterday and today. It has been wonderful so far! I love my managers, co-workers, the guests are mostly splendid, and the work is easy. As a custodian, I either get assigned streets or restrooms. Streets are when I spend two hours taking trash out and cleaning trash cans, and the rest of my shift is spent walking up and down the streets sweeping trash into my pan and talking to people. Restrooms are when I clean restrooms. That's it! It's almost too easy but The Food and Wine Festival starts next week. That's when we get code V's left and right and have to help people to benches. I'm looking forward to that!
Everyone I have worked with is soooo nice. They know I'm new so they go out of their way to show me where everything is and to check up on me in the kindest way possible. I have been so lucky in meeting people from so many different places and with so many different stories. Today on one of my breaks, I sat down across the table from an older man. I noticed his name tag said he was from Colombia (where Garrett is serving) and I started to ask him about it. He spoke broken English and I speak fragmented Spanish so that didn't work out very well. However, the third person at the table was a man from Haiti who spoke English and Spanish and acted as our translator for the whole conversation. What did he say about Colombia? He LOVES it. I have met a few other people from there also and they all can't say enough good things about it. He asked where Garrett is going and I told him Cali. The first thing he talked about was Salsa Dancing. Literally, all four people I have talked to about Cali, Colombia while I have been here have talked about how it's famous for Salsa dancing. So Garrett better come home ready to impress...
I had a really cool experience with two fellow cast members yesterday and today. We were actually talking about long-distance relationships and I brought Garrett up and the "Mormon" word kind of stalled both of them... I waited for someone to say something but soon I just asked what they thought about Mormons. They both admitted they had heard really strange things and were hesitant but weren't sure because I seemed like a cool person. So we kept talking about it and soon they were asking me really good questions. Some of them were hard too but I had the coolest experience! For every single question they asked, I thought for a second and soon a young womens meeting, a fireside, an efy class, a byu-i devotional, even scriptures came right to my head so clearly. I was able to answer all of their questions and they both seemed very interested and I was very relieved. We had talked about it for over an hour and it was such a cool feeling! And today I was working in the same area as the guy who seemed interested and he asked me more! Ahh I'm loving this! Maybe this is why I'm here.
I do have some quotes of the day...
There was a woman waiting with her three young kids for her husband to re-join them out of a pub so they could continue walking. He walks out with ONE beer in his hand and immediately regretted it. She glared at him for several seconds before yelling, "You seriously didn't get me a beer?!" And walking away with the kids while he scrambled for an excuse.
Right after that there was an older couple, probably 80, each on a scooter thing. The husband stopped along the promenade for her to catch up and as she did, she yelled at him, "Hey sexy, you headed my way?"
The last one was a couple with their adult daughter who stopped to ask me where the nearest smoking section was. I showed them and as the father and daughter started walking away, the mom came back to me and said, "We don't smoke, but the person we're looking for does." Don't worry, judgment not made.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
hablas español?
Big news! We have new internet! All thanks to mommy dearest. I received a package from her today and in it I found an umbrella (it rains here, like, every day), top ramen, peanut butter, dark chocolate-covered raisins, muffin mixes, shoes, licorice, and an internet router! Woohoo! So, I am actually writing this from my bed. Big deal people. Speaking of my bed, I think I'll include a picture of it with this post. It pretty much looks like a prison cot and makes me want to laugh and cry all at the same time when I look at it. Except whenever I look at it, I am always so exhausted from the day that I fall into a deep sleep before my head even hits the pillow... but then I usually wake up right when I land because the mattress is covered in plastic (I don't ask) and it is so loud and the walls are so thin that I wake myself and my two roommates up every time I move. But after that shock, I fall right back asleep.
So it is Thursday night and I have worked for 8-9 hours the past five days! I know that isn't shocking to most adults because that is very normal for a mature and responsible adult; I have had a job at Old Navy for almost three years, but that has always been part-time. I feel like I have joined this club that should be called "Oh, you know, we just work to support ourselves". Okay, I know that was bad but really! I am supporting myself and it's fun. I am now balancing the feelings of loneliness and true independence very carefully.
For the last three days I have had actual on-the-job training with three different trainers and I'll give you a little overview because they were each very unique:
-Trainer 1: He's only three years older than me and we had a lot of interesting discussions that made me feel kind of smart. So that was a plus. As a trainer, he was interesting. He would tell us "what he was supposed to tell us" and then he would teach us "how he did it." He has only been here a year and he is a very nice person but not what I expected in a trainer. Definitely more socially-oriented than anything and he didn't try to hide it.
-Trainer 2: My favorite! She was a middle-aged mother from New Jersey who loves her job so much. She trained us on restroom cleaning and she was so happy! She made sure we knew everything and felt completely comfortable. The thing that I got out of her training the most is that, if we love this work, it isn't work anymore. And let me tell you, she loves this work. There were a few times when she was talking to us about the difference we actually make in people's vacations and lives and I had to, once again, swallow my tears. One metaphor she told me that I will never forget is that we need to see ourselves as Minnie Mouse. We are married to Mickey and he has a really, really big house. He has a lot of family and friends over all of the time and we want them to enjoy themselves in a clean house so we need to do that for them!
-Trainer 3: I actually had him last week in some of my early training and I really like him! He is a really funny guy and definitely makes personal connections. He emphasized human relations and workplace safety. He actually pulled me aside (the other trainee was a guy) to tell me that if I ever feel uncomfortable around another guest or cast member, I need to report it immediately. And he instructed the male trainee to take care of me and every other female cast member. Definitely not something I expected at Disney, but it made me feel great!
So I am now officially done with training! I am a cast member at Walt Disney World, Epcot! For the second half of my shift today (after my written and manager assessments, which I aced) I was able to walk around the World Showcase and clean and interact with guests. I know this is a long post already but I just wanted to point out a few things I noticed:
-Because of my appearance, I had three different parties come up to me and ask if I spoke Spanish or just began speaking in Spanish and expected me to follow. That's what I get for forgetting three years of high school Spanish and dishonoring my heritage. I discovered that through Disney, I can take a free Rosetta Stone Spanish course. Now might be the time.
-Disney has these different colored pins for guests celebrating special occasions (i.e. "Happy Anniversary", "Just Engaged", "Family Reunion", "Happy Birthday", "Just Married", "I'm Celebrating", or "1st Visit"). The next time you visit, if one of these is applicable, and if you aren't bothered by smiling people around you, please put it on. They are so nice because other guests who see you and read it will smile at you and cast members will always congratulate you. I love it!
-Smiling. I always forget how happy people are. Half of the people I make eye contact with are already smiling which makes my job so much easier! While I was taking my last break, I was the only one in the break room and I caught myself smiling at nothing. As soon as I enter the park and a guest smiles at me, my smile comes... and stays. I'm going to have some major wrinkles around my eyes when I get home so don't stare.
What else is going on in my life? Tori is going to Homecoming on Saturday and I'm very stoked for her! Garrett (now Elder Chugg) reported to the MTC yesterday! I got to talk to him a couple of last times this week and it was so great. He was so ready to finally be out there and I am extremely excited for him! He is really going to be so great. No... like, really. I have the next two days off! I'm planning a huge Wal-mart trip and exploring the gym here at the complex. Maybe spend my evenings in the parks to watch fireworks. Maybe if I have a spare hour, I'll catch a bus to Hollywood Studios and ride The Tower of Terror. We'll see...
My work costume... nice, eh? :)
the cot.
Garrett and his sister, Ashlyn the last time I skyped them the day before he left!
So it is Thursday night and I have worked for 8-9 hours the past five days! I know that isn't shocking to most adults because that is very normal for a mature and responsible adult; I have had a job at Old Navy for almost three years, but that has always been part-time. I feel like I have joined this club that should be called "Oh, you know, we just work to support ourselves". Okay, I know that was bad but really! I am supporting myself and it's fun. I am now balancing the feelings of loneliness and true independence very carefully.
For the last three days I have had actual on-the-job training with three different trainers and I'll give you a little overview because they were each very unique:
-Trainer 1: He's only three years older than me and we had a lot of interesting discussions that made me feel kind of smart. So that was a plus. As a trainer, he was interesting. He would tell us "what he was supposed to tell us" and then he would teach us "how he did it." He has only been here a year and he is a very nice person but not what I expected in a trainer. Definitely more socially-oriented than anything and he didn't try to hide it.
-Trainer 2: My favorite! She was a middle-aged mother from New Jersey who loves her job so much. She trained us on restroom cleaning and she was so happy! She made sure we knew everything and felt completely comfortable. The thing that I got out of her training the most is that, if we love this work, it isn't work anymore. And let me tell you, she loves this work. There were a few times when she was talking to us about the difference we actually make in people's vacations and lives and I had to, once again, swallow my tears. One metaphor she told me that I will never forget is that we need to see ourselves as Minnie Mouse. We are married to Mickey and he has a really, really big house. He has a lot of family and friends over all of the time and we want them to enjoy themselves in a clean house so we need to do that for them!
-Trainer 3: I actually had him last week in some of my early training and I really like him! He is a really funny guy and definitely makes personal connections. He emphasized human relations and workplace safety. He actually pulled me aside (the other trainee was a guy) to tell me that if I ever feel uncomfortable around another guest or cast member, I need to report it immediately. And he instructed the male trainee to take care of me and every other female cast member. Definitely not something I expected at Disney, but it made me feel great!
So I am now officially done with training! I am a cast member at Walt Disney World, Epcot! For the second half of my shift today (after my written and manager assessments, which I aced) I was able to walk around the World Showcase and clean and interact with guests. I know this is a long post already but I just wanted to point out a few things I noticed:
-Because of my appearance, I had three different parties come up to me and ask if I spoke Spanish or just began speaking in Spanish and expected me to follow. That's what I get for forgetting three years of high school Spanish and dishonoring my heritage. I discovered that through Disney, I can take a free Rosetta Stone Spanish course. Now might be the time.
-Disney has these different colored pins for guests celebrating special occasions (i.e. "Happy Anniversary", "Just Engaged", "Family Reunion", "Happy Birthday", "Just Married", "I'm Celebrating", or "1st Visit"). The next time you visit, if one of these is applicable, and if you aren't bothered by smiling people around you, please put it on. They are so nice because other guests who see you and read it will smile at you and cast members will always congratulate you. I love it!
-Smiling. I always forget how happy people are. Half of the people I make eye contact with are already smiling which makes my job so much easier! While I was taking my last break, I was the only one in the break room and I caught myself smiling at nothing. As soon as I enter the park and a guest smiles at me, my smile comes... and stays. I'm going to have some major wrinkles around my eyes when I get home so don't stare.
What else is going on in my life? Tori is going to Homecoming on Saturday and I'm very stoked for her! Garrett (now Elder Chugg) reported to the MTC yesterday! I got to talk to him a couple of last times this week and it was so great. He was so ready to finally be out there and I am extremely excited for him! He is really going to be so great. No... like, really. I have the next two days off! I'm planning a huge Wal-mart trip and exploring the gym here at the complex. Maybe spend my evenings in the parks to watch fireworks. Maybe if I have a spare hour, I'll catch a bus to Hollywood Studios and ride The Tower of Terror. We'll see...
My work costume... nice, eh? :)
the cot.
Garrett and his sister, Ashlyn the last time I skyped them the day before he left!
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