Building Nothing, Laying Bricks

Day three of working at the Crystal Prison..I mean Palace. Okay, so it's not what I expected. Day 1 I made mickey waffles all day. Not the batter, mind you, just funneling the batter into the iron, then flipping it. Ding, waffles done. Day 2, they didn't actually know who my trainer was, how to fill out my paperwork, or really what to do with me at all. So, after one hour of mindlessly running around, they sent me on an hour break. The only break I get in my eight hour shift. Did I mention most of us have already gotten overtime pay? Later, I did get to help with some of the line items, but I would equate the level of cooking to, say, cafeteria food. (Also, I'm never eating at a buffet again. You don't want me to explain.) Needless to say, I'm giving it a week and then I may try to transfer locations. Another culinary student works there, she says it really doesn't get any better. Even the person who ended up training me said that they lose a lot of college program students to location transfers. Not a good sign in my opinion. Yesterday was better than the first day, though, so I'll ride the week out. All is well in our house, though. Especially now that all our appliances are working. We noticed out bathroom outlets didn't work at first, and then our dishwasher broke. Maintenance fixed the dishwasher, and I fixed the outlets. (yay!) Our friend Kenny isn't so fortunate. His room mate seems to be broken, and maintenance said they couldn't fix that without a work order.

~ Cheers

Run Fast

00:00 - Did you know that Disney time is like military time plus? What I mean is that it's twenty four hour time, however, if your shift ends past midnight it is 24+. 25:00, 26:00. I'm working tomorrow morning at 06:00, four hours before opening. The next day I work until 23:00, three hours past closing. Apparently they call my location the Crystal prison. We have new room mates, so we're not moving. That's comforting. Now to get four hours of sleep before my eight hour shift.

Take the Wheel

05:20 EST. The start of a seemingly short six months with seemingly endless work days. Orientation was today, or rather, yesterday.  Traditions is the seven hour orientation into the Disney family. (Disney here - to - after referred to as "the Company"..no really, they say that) I've learned that business attire isn't "look nice" it's "you obviously don't know how to look nice enough, so dress like someone that goes door to door proselytizing or otherwise selling something." Funny, how it works. It seemed rather long while I was sitting there, but now I can't seem to recall all that we did or how long we were there. Sneaky, I think. Perhaps I shouldn't update my blog on less then five hours of sleep. Good news is, sleep seems in the forecast, and free time now = free Disney admittance. Also, discounts.

~Cheers for now

Five days on

Five days, 2,500 miles, and  three time zones crossed. Here I am, sitting in a brightly lit apartment on a slightly muggy, warm evening, finally in Orlando. Today, and for the next six months, I will learn, and grow, and sit, and recollect, and miss you all. Here's a rundown of the first day:

Arriving at the Welcome center wasn't unlike a convention, really. Lines, lines, more lines. Paperwork, pictures, stickers. Apparently no one came here from California? I got my room assignment, but was told if we don't fill up both rooms, I may have to move. For the time being, I'm at the Vista Way complex. Which, I've been told, is the ghetto. It's a really nice ghetto, to be honest, though the other complexes look like mansions. After sort of settling in, or at least meeting my roommate, (only one so far) we went to casting. Which was almost like army receiving, except everyone has to be happy. Sat on a long bus ride with an overly perky attendant rattling off the order of things. Ran through fingerprinting, background checking, record declaring, and such. Apparently my idea of business casual is far from correct. (Shoes must have some form of a heel, but not be high heels, and other such things.) I had to pose for my Disney ID. Tomorrow is mandatory housing regulations, and then Friday is Traditions. Saturday and Sunday are more classes, but I also get to tour the park I'm in, Magic Kingdom. (In business attire, of course) I'm working at the Crystal Palace.

Monday. Monday I finally start working. I hope it's more than peeling potatoes. I'm excited. And not. And introspective. Ready to see where this goes.

Treacherous Streets

I can officially say I've indulged in NOLA. Having said that, I can also happily say I am heading out for Gainesville tomorrow. The quiet sanctitude of a hotel room in a town I doubt has much going on sounds like a welcome break from the chaos. Also, I should probably consider a retreat from the sun; today's gallivanting left me looking not unlike a boiled crawfish. Not that you all needed to hear that, but hey, don't forget your sunblock, kids. Farmer's tans (or burns) are serious business. The Mississippi is pretty high here, and only expected to get higher. Sandbags are already partially submerged, which is yet another reason I'm glad to be moving on. Food here really is an experience. (but to be honest, I like the beignets I've had at home better then the ones at Cafe du Monde) Real Mint Juleps are overrated. Bourbon street is a total side show, that I've described through limerick (sort of):

There once was a girl on Bourbon Street
Who clearly drank herself to two sheets
She stepped off the curb
Whilst saying something absurd
And landed face planted in the street

That's all for today.

We'll be the colors

New Orleans is a circus. A bright, shiny, intoxicating, neon adult wonderland. I don't know how much I can take of it all, but for now I am entirely too amused, and want to experience all I can before it is gone. For  most of the drive the apparent flooding was non-existent, and in the city itself you would never know. Hopefully I'll get to post pictures I took for myself, but this is what the Mississippi looks like about ten miles from New Orleans. On a less somber note, the food here is delicious. Fois gras will probably always be a guilty pleasure of mine. There is definitely a Mint Julep in my future, as well as more gluttony. I think that and sloth will be the only deadly sins I'll indulge in tomorrow, though. After all, there are still 600 miles left to tackle before I get to Orlando. Considering I've already gone about 2,000 miles and crossed two time zones in three days, this seems like cake. Mmm, cake.

Clever foxes get cookies..

Alright guys. This is the first time since middle school that I have made any sort of attempt at blogging. So, here goes. Follow me along my journey these six months at DisneyWorld and beyond. It should be a fun ride. I don't know how regularly I'll update, but it's almost sure to be more detailed then Facebook or anything else. 

Let's see, what else? So far, I am on day two of the long jaunt across the country. There isn't really anything notable about the drive thus far, except that it is long. We've already been pulled over by Highway Patrol. Tomorrow should be more interesting, since we're heading in to New Orleans. Though, this all depends on if it is flooded. Yes, we are on a race to cross the Mississippi before it completely floods the 10 fwy. Exciting business, that is. Stay tuned, will update in Louisiana.

Cheers~