Since my last post about media sensationalism was a little heavy, this post is a lot more happy! Especially because I JUST finished my LAST EXAM!!! How exciting is that?! I just finished my first full year at university in the states. It was a long road to get here and without sounding full of myself, I'm pretty proud of the fact that I set a huge goal and with the help of lots of amazing people, am well on my way to accomplishing it!
I had a heavy heart last week. Since last weekend, I have been overwhelmed with generosity and love; both for myself and for others. It started with a beautiful article I read about a Disney Cast member(s) who went above and beyond to create an amazing experience for some sweet girls who had to experience a horrible tragedy. You can read it here:
Boston Marathon, Sandy Hook & the 3:00 o'clock Parade
It makes you believe in the good. The good that fills this world and will always continue to be there. There is a lot of sad and a lot of bad, but there is so much good that we cannot let ourselves lose sight of. There is also this Youtube video that I absolutely love:
Restore your Faith in Humanity
This weekend I got to see the Director of the Mahima Care Home talk about what they do, what it's like, and the difference it is making. The Mahima Care Home is a Kolkata-based girl rescue and rehabilitation home that addresses the grave injustice of sexual slavery, by providing a safe home for girls who have been rescued from the sex trade. This lady actually goes into the establishments with a team and the police and take young girls out of the sex trade and provide a place for them to live, be loved, be educated and feel safe. It was really inspiring to hear and it makes you believe there are people being the change in the world.
One of my friends accomplished something very important to her and super exciting, and we had a little get together to celebrate! You could tell how excited and happy she was, something I haven't seen in a while, and it was really great.
Personally I've been showered with love as well. I strolled into work last week, getting set up, looking for things in draws and turn around to all my co-workers with red and white balloons and a birthday cake!! They all sang and we had cake and I just couldn't believe it! I was so surprised!!
Two of my favourite ladies sent me packages in the mail, making me feel the love from 3000 miles away. I haven't opened them yet though. I also got a package from my parents! So fun!
I got to see my niece gallop like a horse around her new house, flutter like a butterfly, attempt to give me a house tour which was a lot of spinning and chin shots, and hear her say "Katie" over and over in the most amazing voice ever. Hearing your name said by a little munchkin that you love? AMAZING. There is little that can outdo the videos and pictures I've gotten of Clo lately. She can carry on conversations! and runs around in her adorable little outfits. Told me all about bumping her head. She's so logical and has the most mischievous, glorious laugh that you can't help but smile about. Even though the laugh came after a little hair pulling... She's incredible.
Two of my dear friends in Florida have been planning a birthday celebration for me on Friday and Saturday, and last week they let it slip what we're doing. We're going to be staying at the Grand Floridian CLUB LEVEL! I can't even believe it. I'm still in shock and still can't wrap my mind around it. Then on Saturday we're going for Tea which I'm SO excited for! Saturday night my boyfriend takes over for dinner :) How incredible? I'm in shock.
But it keeps going, because Sunday is when we leave for Miami, and Monday is our cruise! (Still can't believe that one either!!!!) AND Disney announced both Disneyland and California Adventure are going to be open for 24 hours while we're there!!! SO I will have been able to spend 24 hours straight in both Magic Kingdom & Disneyland if I can convince Francel... Epic Disney Geek status. :D
How can your heart not be overflowing when you are ambushed with so much love from so many places? I will mention that in there also Francel and I went to a movie. After the movie I really wanted Menchie's. It's frozen yougurt where you get to add your own toppings and they have lots of yummy flavours. I didn't want to recommend it though. Francel opened my car door (how cute is that? Such a gentleman :) ) and then as he was walking to his side of the car I said to myself "ice cream ice cream ice cream." When he got in his side he looked at me and said, 'do you want to get some ice cream?" I was in SHOCK! There is no way he heard me because i said it inside my head (and he was outside of the car ;) ). I thought he was going to want cold stone, which is good, but super ICE CREAM whereas Menchie's is more froyo. And what did he suggest? MENCHIES! So happy. lol. I told him I'd been thinking about it and he said he just kind of got a craving while getting in the car. EPIC. Ask and you shall receive?
Overall it's been an amazing week, I haven't even hit everything. I attended a 40th birthday party where I only knew the birthday boy and his husband and one other person who left before me, and everyone was so nice and so inclusive! They asked all about school and work and were genuinely excited when I told them about my concierge job. I LOVE friendly strangers! It was such a great afternoon. I also officially finished moving in to my new place, with the help of an amazing friend.
So you can see how one week can make a huge difference. The end of the semester relieves a lot of stress, and the overwhelming power of love has really left me nearly speechless this week. Sometimes it's hard to not get caught up in all the hardship, in the ever changing visa information, the tragedies in the world, and the friends who weren't worth it. However, if you just stop for a moment, you can see the love. It's all around us. It's on the internet, it's in the last 5 minutes of the news, its on the faces of strangers and its in the incredible people who you surround yourself with. Life is good. Especially today :)
Showing posts with label college program. Show all posts
Showing posts with label college program. Show all posts
Monday, April 29, 2013
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
The Aftermath
Fun Fact of the day: When everything seems awesome, something is going to go wrong.
I'm really excited about the college program, but I'm a little realistic too, and it seemed to good to be true. So I emailed international services at my university. I was a bit worried (okay..almost had a mini melt down) when they said I had to be taking classes to be able to participate.
I don't have a scholarship for summer courses.
Que: freakout.
After a few emails back and forth I figured out I could take just the internship course, which is a one credit course and the adviser said I get to pay instate for it...soooo it seems like I'll only have to foot out an extra $100+ to work this summer.
There are 10000+ stipulations when you are going to school on a visa, I have to make the government happy, the scholarship people happy, my school happy and now soon Disney happy.
Oh, and myself :D
I also then thought I could take an internship as my fourth class in the fall....however it's only 1 credit. So I have to rework my schedule and fit in another class to make it to 12 credits, aka full time. I get to pick my classes for the next three semester next Monday so that'll be good. I know it's silly, but choosing classes always seems exciting to me. This time will be a little different because a lot of the classes I have to take, especially in the spring semester are General Education classes (science, math, socials etc) and I have to do them all on the main UCF campus. An hour from home. At least it'll only be twice a week if I work it out correctly.
So long story short, I'm really excited to work concierge! Every time I tell someone I just get the hugest grin on my face and I feel so, so happy! Everytime I'm in lodging class learning about the PMS system and PBX and all that jazz, I get excited because it's what I'll be doing.
Those of you who know me well also know I'm obsessed with making reservations, and I've eaten at pretty much every Disney restaurant, and done a lot of the other extra neat recreation offerings so I think I'll be able to help guests out! A lot to learn, but it'll be amazing!
And I get to do Traditions again!!! I may be one of the few people excited to do it three times! Can't Wait!
In totally different news I had an amazing weekend! A bunch of friends and I participated in the Highlander IV Mud Run! It was 5km/3m with like 30 obstacles along the trail including A LOT of crawling through mud! Some people had to be pulled out with ropes! It was craziness!! I'll get some photos added! We actually already signed up for our next race in September, and I honestly am so excited for it! My thighs were killing me from yanking my legs up out of the mud, climbing over walls and all other general ninja-ry.
Sunday I made an epic dinner for Francel! Since we aren't eating out but we like to, especially at Disney, I made different courses from different restaurants!! I made Pineapple-Coconut bread from Ohana with Macadamia nut-honey butter from Kona Cafe. I've never made bread before!! It was soo yummy!
Then I did a cheese plate (France ..really i just love cheese).
Then a tomato and gin soup from Raglan Road. It was cool, it went from 2 1/2 pounds of tomatoes..to soup!
For the main course we had Le Cellier's Filet Mignon with Mushroom risotto and a white truffle butter sauce (Francel cooked the steak, we took a 6 minute break! lol).
Next we had double dessert! Mini chocolate Lava cakes from California Grill and...
Walt's Favourite Lemon Meringue Pie! It was soooo yummy if i do say so myself!
Francel knew I was making dinner, but didn't know it was special! I met him at the door in a dress and heels and a glass of champagne and a card that I have been saving since Canada. He showered and got dressed up too, and we ate at the dining room tale with the fancy dishes, it felt like we went out for this crazy nice meal! It was such a fun day/evening! Francel does a ton of incredible things for me, and with me, and I just wanted to show him how much I appreciate him in return.
I'm kind of completely in love :)
That's all for now kiddos, I'm off to make some quinoa + veggies. Yum!
I'm really excited about the college program, but I'm a little realistic too, and it seemed to good to be true. So I emailed international services at my university. I was a bit worried (okay..almost had a mini melt down) when they said I had to be taking classes to be able to participate.
I don't have a scholarship for summer courses.
Que: freakout.
After a few emails back and forth I figured out I could take just the internship course, which is a one credit course and the adviser said I get to pay instate for it...soooo it seems like I'll only have to foot out an extra $100+ to work this summer.
There are 10000+ stipulations when you are going to school on a visa, I have to make the government happy, the scholarship people happy, my school happy and now soon Disney happy.
Oh, and myself :D
I also then thought I could take an internship as my fourth class in the fall....however it's only 1 credit. So I have to rework my schedule and fit in another class to make it to 12 credits, aka full time. I get to pick my classes for the next three semester next Monday so that'll be good. I know it's silly, but choosing classes always seems exciting to me. This time will be a little different because a lot of the classes I have to take, especially in the spring semester are General Education classes (science, math, socials etc) and I have to do them all on the main UCF campus. An hour from home. At least it'll only be twice a week if I work it out correctly.
So long story short, I'm really excited to work concierge! Every time I tell someone I just get the hugest grin on my face and I feel so, so happy! Everytime I'm in lodging class learning about the PMS system and PBX and all that jazz, I get excited because it's what I'll be doing.
Those of you who know me well also know I'm obsessed with making reservations, and I've eaten at pretty much every Disney restaurant, and done a lot of the other extra neat recreation offerings so I think I'll be able to help guests out! A lot to learn, but it'll be amazing!
And I get to do Traditions again!!! I may be one of the few people excited to do it three times! Can't Wait!
In totally different news I had an amazing weekend! A bunch of friends and I participated in the Highlander IV Mud Run! It was 5km/3m with like 30 obstacles along the trail including A LOT of crawling through mud! Some people had to be pulled out with ropes! It was craziness!! I'll get some photos added! We actually already signed up for our next race in September, and I honestly am so excited for it! My thighs were killing me from yanking my legs up out of the mud, climbing over walls and all other general ninja-ry.
Sunday I made an epic dinner for Francel! Since we aren't eating out but we like to, especially at Disney, I made different courses from different restaurants!! I made Pineapple-Coconut bread from Ohana with Macadamia nut-honey butter from Kona Cafe. I've never made bread before!! It was soo yummy!
Then I did a cheese plate (France ..really i just love cheese).
Then a tomato and gin soup from Raglan Road. It was cool, it went from 2 1/2 pounds of tomatoes..to soup!
For the main course we had Le Cellier's Filet Mignon with Mushroom risotto and a white truffle butter sauce (Francel cooked the steak, we took a 6 minute break! lol).
Next we had double dessert! Mini chocolate Lava cakes from California Grill and...
Walt's Favourite Lemon Meringue Pie! It was soooo yummy if i do say so myself!
Francel knew I was making dinner, but didn't know it was special! I met him at the door in a dress and heels and a glass of champagne and a card that I have been saving since Canada. He showered and got dressed up too, and we ate at the dining room tale with the fancy dishes, it felt like we went out for this crazy nice meal! It was such a fun day/evening! Francel does a ton of incredible things for me, and with me, and I just wanted to show him how much I appreciate him in return.
I'm kind of completely in love :)
That's all for now kiddos, I'm off to make some quinoa + veggies. Yum!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
2 Months!!!!!
Oh my goodness gracious me! Only 2 MONTHS until my Cultural Representative Program starts!!!!! I am So excited! If you can't tell....I CAN'T WAIT TO START!!! Anticipation is a double edged sword - if you're anticipating something it means something awesome is coming up, which is exciting; but I'm crazy UNpatient so it drives me crazy waiting! With all the surprise Disney trip commercials this year I asked my parents why they never surprised us, and they said it was so we could anticipate the trip and that part of the fun was looking forward to it. So I'm trying my best to think of this experience that way as well - I have to enjoy the lead up to it, because once it starts it's fast and hard until it ends again! Plus there are tons of exciting things in between now and August 16th: (Ready for the recap? You must have it memorized by now as well!)
- My return to Beautiful British Columbia
- My reunion with my long lost sister Carrie who had been living in Toronto for far too long
- Hanging out with the greatest Grandma in the entire world!
- Getting to hold/cuddle/give-back-to-her-Mum-when-she-cries my beautiful niece Clodagh! (just kidding on that last one ;) )
- July 1st weekend celebration with whole family (finally we can all be together!)
- Running outdoors without choking on thick air (humid 35 degree Orlando makes me die after 2 minutes)
- HARRY POTTER 7 PART 2!!!! Ahhh!!! Opening night baby - yeeeeyahh!!
- Baking/cooking with Carrie! We have SO many yummy recipes to try!
- My friend Claire's Wedding!
- My friend Erica's Wedding!
- Bridesmaid/wedding activities!
- My sister Kim's Wedding!!!
 |
| I can't find a picture of Kona so here is Lily who looks like a tormented Beaver in the pool. Can't wait :) |
My visa arrived at my home this past week and I'm so excited to see it!! There are 9 UK and Canadians arriving on August 16th, 3 being Canadian. Myself and Tamara are both from the Comox Valley (even though I've never met her) and then there is one other girl whose name is slipping my mind right now but she is friends with my friend Jill so it is a small world.
This contract is already so different from my last one, for starters I arrived in March in 2009, and got the chance to work my way into the Orlando weather, Disney summer guests, and high season. This time I'll be arriving at the end of summer, in the heat/thunderstorms, with big crowds, on podium for Food and Wine Festival and then it's right into Christmas! Secondly my arrival group last time had 6 or 7 people and was mostly guys!
Hopefully I'll be able to meet more people from other countries this time! I know this sounds silly, but I was nervous when I first arrived and spent the first couple days in a pack with the Canadians. This time I'd love to get to know the other 2 girls but we have a better chance of branching out and being part of the other countries crowds in the beginning as well! Also I've already been chatting with August 16th arrivals from Germany, the UK, and Africa so it'll be super exciting getting to meet these people all in person..in 2 MONTHS TODAY!!
School has been crazy busy!! We just finished mid terms last week and we have finals next week! Ah! Plus group projects in between! I have been doing accounting homework for what feels like 1,000 hours today. I finished two quizzes and my take home final exam! Phew! I'm pretty nervous about the in class final for accounting and will be studying like a crazy person for it all weekend! And everything else. Here is my schedule next week:
Monday:
All 3 classes plus:
Quiz/Test in Human Resources
Assignment Due in Human Resources
Group Project due in Accounting plus 2 cheat sheets
Studying
Tuesday:
Entertainment class/Group Project
Insane studying
Wednesday:
Entertainment Project due/Presentation
Human Resource Final Exam
Financial Accounting Final Exam
Studying
Thursday:
Entertainment Final Exam
Looks fun eh? I also have some personal paper work that I have to get done this week as well, which gets to count as my "fun break activities" (isn't that how you always think of paperwork?)
Therefore this weekend is going to have a TON of studying in it, except for a little reprieve to celebrate Yelitza's Birthday with her!!! This weekend is also Father's Day, so even though I'm not home I'm hoping to get a good skype in there!
I actually have a pretty traumatic mid-weekend last weekend that mainly revolved around an incident with a creepy man getting way too personal following me down Universal Blvd in his car as I walked to Universal Studios. I felt super violated and upset, but a little park time helped a lot. I hung out in Harry Potter work, rode Duelling Dragons 4 times in a row, took in the sounds and scenery and had a really good time. Also I started the pilgrimage to Universal (it took about 2 hours to walk there...in 35 degree weather + humidity) because they have a Starbucks there and I have a gift card. However once I finally arrived they had a big ole sign saying "This location is not set up for gift cards." I was a little sad as it was the iced passion tea that had inspired me not to turn back. Can't win them all haha.
Monday after school I hung out with my friend Nick from the Canada Pavilion (Le Cellier) kitchen. We sun tanned for a bit by his pool and then he made me the most delicious dinner! I don't really cook myself actual meals, I usually have some oatmeal, or some quinoa, or a smoothie or something like that, so when he offered to make veggie burritos I was so excited! And MAN was it good!! The fact that Mexican food is probably my favourite in the world right now helped, and that he's a professional chef, and that I don't usually eat flavourful food, but I was one happy camper!
That about sums things up I think. Thomas Kinkade was in our class the other day! However we (the class) weren't! We were kicked out for Thomas Kinkade and Professor Logan's meeting (alright, we were kicked out so we could work on our projects) and even though we camped out we didn't see him. I feel as though Tuesday morning Professor Logan said that Thomas Kinkade either got sick or lost and didn't come, but then I thought it said they did meet so I'm not sure what really happened! (it's an 8am class okay? That's early to fully comprehend! ...just kidding!) I'm sad that my entertainment class is ending. I would go to Professor Logan's class at any time of day everyday for the rest of summer/until he ran out of stories. Yup, I'm just that into class/Disney knowledge.
I'm going to try and knock out my cheat sheet assignment for Monday before heading to the gym for a sweat fest. Hope where ever you are in the world the sun is shining and you've got a smile on your face.
Life is good today!
Ps- I have a confession today was well...I have been listening to Christmas music on Pandora while studying!! It's both soothing, happy and somehow keeps the stress levels down!
Are you the type to count down for Christmas from 6 months out?
Or do you not allow any Christmas music or decorations until December 1st?
Know what's even better? Disney Christmas, especially fireworks! I know, I have a problem...
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Wisconsin To Chicago - April 3+4 & Disney Challenge Day 7/8!
April 3rd, 2011:
I woke up this morning and did a quick 20 minute (alright...19 minute) workout. The 'exercise room' was just that, a hotel room, with the bed and dresser cleared out, and then an old non-electric bike, old treadmill (that I felt like I was making move myself) and a big weight machine. There was a tv! I felt like I was making a lot of noise early in the morning and gave up quickly. Instead I showered and we had a free continental breakfast that included waffles and Orange Juice! I snagged some apples and danishes for the road before finding out Ashley doesn't like them - oops! (The apples and peanut butter came in handy later on though!). We jammed to Ryan Seacrest's America Top 40 and some country as we headed towards...
We left Pardeeville through a town of 631 people! We made our way through the countryside toChicago
It was sooo good! We also had a Honkers Ale beer and it was delicious. After dinner and watching the blackhawks lose (YEEYAH!), we took the ‘C’ line train to Wrigley Stadium and had a drink in the bar across the street. He didn’t want to take our Canadian licenses as ID, wanted a passport instead, but we grumbled a little and he let us in! I had a Mighty Arrow Seasonal Pale Ale. It was aBelgium
Hostel Welcome Wall
I woke up this morning and did a quick 20 minute (alright...19 minute) workout. The 'exercise room' was just that, a hotel room, with the bed and dresser cleared out, and then an old non-electric bike, old treadmill (that I felt like I was making move myself) and a big weight machine. There was a tv! I felt like I was making a lot of noise early in the morning and gave up quickly. Instead I showered and we had a free continental breakfast that included waffles and Orange Juice! I snagged some apples and danishes for the road before finding out Ashley doesn't like them - oops! (The apples and peanut butter came in handy later on though!). We jammed to Ryan Seacrest's America Top 40 and some country as we headed towards...
Pretty sure Wisconsin is the Indoor Waterslide Capital of the US...They are everywhere!!
Yogi Bear!
PARDEEVILLE!
Pardeeville is where my old manager Janice is from! It's a small town of 2085 people (approximately) and a lot of the shops were closed because it was Sunday (everyone let out a collective "awww!") however not the gas station where I found this:
Stephen Colbert's Americone Dream!
It was no Jimmy Fallon's Late Night Snack but we couldn't find that one anywhere!!
We went for Subway attached to the town bank...and found these. Horse Parking!!
Goodbye Pardeeville!
We left Pardeeville through a town of 631 people! We made our way through the countryside to
It was sooo good! We also had a Honkers Ale beer and it was delicious. After dinner and watching the blackhawks lose (YEEYAH!), we took the ‘C’ line train to Wrigley Stadium and had a drink in the bar across the street. He didn’t want to take our Canadian licenses as ID, wanted a passport instead, but we grumbled a little and he let us in! I had a Mighty Arrow Seasonal Pale Ale. It was a
April 4th
We woke up around 830 and were out the door by 9. We had Panera Bread for breakfast and man was I stoked!! I got a Panera Card so I get a free smoothie next time I use it! Yeehaw! Then we headed out to explore Chicago Lincoln Park Winnipeg.
Panera Bread is the greatest thing ever. So Yummy!
Lion and me!
Oprah!
This is my favourite musical! I've seen it twice...I want more!
The other Chicago baseball team.. White Sox!
We bussed back downtown and got our luggage and the car. I really like Chicago Forest Park
We left Chicago towards Lafayette where we stopped by Purdue University! It was a spur of the moment thing but fun to see! On our way through Indiana we noticed a freakishly HUGE amount of wind turbines..which I just googled and apparently are part of a Wind Farm. Who knew?...
We made our way through Indianapolis into Kentucky on our way to Louisville! We stayed overnight in Shephardsville which was right outside Louisville. Once we arrived we sorted out what we were going to do in Florida so that was really good! I may have also thought we were going to get killed in this hotel (not based on reality whatsoever) but made Ashley share a bed with me! The joy of good friends :)
Disney Challenge Day 7: Favourite Disney Sidekick
My first thought was Lefou hands down. He sings one of my favourite songs "Gaston" and is just hilarious. Yes he is awful and mean and I'm sure there are plenty of really fantastic good sidekicks, but for me, Lefou is where it's at!
However then I thought about it a wee bit more, and realized that Jiminy Cricket is probably considered a sidekick. He's dressed to the nines, and let's admit it, he's the concious we all need. I <3 Jiminy!
Disney Challenge Day 8: Favourite Disney Villain
My favourite Disney villain is tough. My favourite villain that I've interacted with is probably Captain Hook. We went to the same villain stop a few days in a row trying to meet Hades, but we always missed him and ended up with Captain Hook..the same one of course. He recognized us and was pretty funny. My favourite Disney Villain though has to be the most evil on of all (besides the Devil from Fantasia..he's just too creepy)... Maleficent! Everything she does is out of spite and her evil knows no bounds. She isn't a joking, silly villain or a messed up, dufus villain - Maleficent is straight up evil.
Also when I was younger I met her and it was so scary! She asked if I knew her name, which I only kind of knew how to say, so I mumbled, she told me to 'speak up!" and I guess I said it well enough because she allowed me to have her autograph. It was freaky!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Accepted Times Two!
I interrupt our regular programming to bring you this message from our sponsors:
(aka ME!)
You may notice a countdown to the right there, as well as a spot just under it that says "Follow by email." If you want to, you can type your email in there and instead of having to check all the time if I've updated, apparently it will email you when there is a new post! Exciting!
Also if you have any questions - whether you're about to start the program yourself and want to know more about it, or more specifics, or if you have any questions about me, if I keep mentioning someone or something and you don't know who or what it is, you can email me or leave a comment at the bottom of the post! Email me at: katewdw@live.ca and I'll respond as fast as my little fingers can type! If there are lots of questions I'll even make a post of it. Feel free to ask anything :) Now back to regular programming...
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!
On my way out the door to my first ever Zumba class this morning I found this email in my inbox:
Good morning Kathryn!
I have some great news for you, you have been successful in your interview with Disney cruise line last week so congratulations!
You have been chosen for “Assistant Dining room Server”
Please stand by and I will get back to you as soon as I have more details on when we will start your process with your medical and criminal background check.
Let me know if you have any questions!
It was a pleasure meeting with you!
Eric Theriault
CEO-Co-Founder/Director of Recruiting
Cast-A-Way Cruise and Resort Hiring Agency
Exciting!!! It's nice to be accepted, especially after I didn't think the interview went so well. However I most definitely am going to do the Cultural Representative Program at Walt Disney World and am sooo pumped for that to begin!! Maybe sometime in the future I'll do a cruise line contract :)
In other news I did a Zumba class this morning because I bought LivingSocial deal for 10 classes for $20 dollars, and usually they are $10 a class so it was a pretty baller deal! I can also take spin classes with it, but they all seemed to be full. I was super nervous going, as I am not a dancer at all, but it was really fun. The beats are great, the instructor, Inna, was amazing, and I found myself smiling at points which doesn't happen that often when working out.
I got my sweat on a bit, and then the run/walk 4 miles home made for a pretty great workout. My sister Kim's baby is coming pretty soon so I'm going to spend the rest of the day making a few different meals I can freeze for when they are tired out by the newborn, as well as some of the yummiest Energy Bars I've ever had!! They are great for on the go and are packed with yumminess!
Almond Butter Energy Bars
1 cup Crunchy Almond Butter
1 cup Brown Rice Syrup
1 cup Liquid Honey
4 Tbsp Molasses
2 Tsp vanilla (extract works!)
1 cup chopped dried apricos
1 cup dried blueberries (or currants)
1 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1/2 cup flax seeds
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
5 cups Bran Cereal (like Raisin Bran...I use Nature's Path Flax Plus Pumpkin Raisin Crunch Cereal)
2.5 cups Quick Rolled Oats
Method:
1. In a large saucepan, over low heat, cook almond butter, rice syrup, molasses, honey and vanilla until blended.
2. Add apricots, blueberries, almonds, sesame seeds, flaxseeds and sunflower seeds and mix well.
3. Add cereal and oats; mix well.
4. Pour mixture into two 9 inch square baking pans (or a 9x13), lightly greased (I didn't do this). Place down with clean damp hands to compact evenly.
5. Let stand for 30 minutes, until firm, then cut into squares.
6. Freeze 1/2 the batch for next month. (I didn't do this either...they are toooo delicious, eat them!)
Right now I'm just trying to figure out summer university things and get everything together hopefully.
Here's a little Disney tidbit for you. This is my absolute favourite Disney World Commercial. I am only slightly embarrassed to admit that I cry every single time I watch it. Perhaps because her curly locks remind me of mine when I was little, or because of her determination to be just right and do it herself. Or because this is how I hope every little girl feels when she goes to a Disney park.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
A little More Details..
Sorry I didn't actually say anything in my post yesterday. I was beyond excited and thrilled and I couldn't really believe it, I still feel the urge to reread my acceptance letter in case I missed some fine print actually telling me to take a hike. But alas, it is real, and I, Kate Armstrong, will be a Disney Cast Member as of August 16th, 2011!! That's just 153 days and 7 hours ;)
Obviously I'm super excited I got in, it's sad though because a few of my really great friends, aka Sam, did not. She is one of the biggest Disney fans I know, and a hard worker, so it's too bad, but I think that she has some other really incredible things on the horizon :)
I was hanging out with my dear friend Amy (we dyed our hair!! I'm a red head... sort of! Don't worry Disney, it'll be gone before I start) and she sent me downstairs to get cupcake holders. I decided to just check my email real quick incase I got a message from my boss or family, and opened up both hotmail and facebook at the same time. Facebook loaded first and I saw an insane list of people saying they got waitlisted or declined! My heart started racing as I clicked over to my email and saw Kristen's name! I clicked on the email and all I saw was the big CONGRATULATIONS across the middle!! I quickly scanned the line saying I was to start August 16th and starting screaming haha. I hollered up to Amy and made her come downstairs and was jumping around like a crazy person!! I called my parents right away (thank you Amy!) and told them the news and then read the rest of the email! haha. It was one of the most exciting moments of my life. Knowing everything that rested on this, I am soooo freaking pumped!!!
Then I went back on facebook and saw everyone getting either waitlisted or declined. It's odd because only about 6 people seemed to be accepted right off the bat. However then looking at the start dates it kind of made sense. They told us we were interviewing for dates between October and February, and the only dates given out as far as I've seen are August 16th (mine!), September 6th and September 20th! Therefore I think they waitlisted everyone they wanted besides the first few, and are going to figure out their dates in the next while and slowly but surely the majority will be hired. That's my theory at least!! It is nice though because a couple of my friends from my first contract (including my one time roommate!) got rehired so there will be some familiar faces around the place.
It's funny because if I had checked my email in order I would have recieved this message from Kristen first:
Greetings Kate,
In addition to our last email, if you accept your position for Walt Disney World they would need you to apply for a new passport as soon as possible as the US government is now asking for passports to be valid for the length of your program plus 6 months before they can issue any visa. As your program would start in August, are you able to see today what you would need to renew your passport to ensure it can be renewed before Walt Disney World starts the visa processing?
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask!
Have a Great Day!
Kristen Thornton
Yummy Jobs
I would have been sooo confused and excited and freaking out if I got that before my acceptance/offer letter! It was perfect that I was in Victoria because that is where the passport office is!! Sam, being the amazing friend she is, agreed to go with me, so we got my photos taken on the way, then had Orange Julius while we waited. Side note: Sam had never had Orange Julius before..this was insanely crazy to me. We waited about an hour while chatting and catching up and then went up to the lady and plead my case! My passport doesn't actually expire for a year and a half so apparently it's a weird time to try and get a new one, so I had to write a message why I needed it renewed now, and the lady was sooo nice about it! She was chatting and charismatic, I thought she was going to be scary! haha. The guy at the front table was :S They wouldn't mail them out for 10 days, so Sam is going to pick mine up for me and express overnight it to me so that I can still make my trip with Ashley April 2nd. If anything goes wrong with it though I shall not be going to America.... ahhh!!
Everything is going to be such a close call! My arrival date in Florida is August 16th. My sister's wedding date is August 13th (I'm a bridesmaid!) and if I do go to university for the summer my last day of school is August 6th! It's such crazy bizarrely perfect timing, especially because my end date for my program is August 10th, 2012...and university would start maybe 2 weeks after that tops? Such unreal timing. It'll all either work out perfectly, or not. hahaha.
Now I'm just on my way home to Vancouver! I hate BC Ferry prices, but I love the ride! I am soo unbelievably excited, I can't even fathom the year ahead! This is my dream coming true, I'm humbled and surprised but it just feels so incredible.
Thank you all for reading this blog, and I hope that I can provide some kind of help to those applying, entertainment for those just browsing, and just keep you up to date on my happenings. Thank you especially to my family, know that as I'm overly excited to be moving 3000 miles to the south east, I'm also sad that I'll be so far away from so many people that believe in my dreams just as much as I do.
And sorry for the lack of pictures in this one, I'll fill it up next time ;)
Sunday, February 27, 2011
The Face to Face Interview…For Real!
Alright so it’s currently 6:42am and I am on the ferry HOME to visit my family as I mentioned yesterday! I’m weirdly awake after going to bed around 2am and hope that the awakeness will stick around as I have to run 10 miles , cook dinner and participate in a wonderful Oscar Party this evening! Long day…but sooo worth it!
Now to what you’re really interested in..THE INTERVIEW! I will do my best to recall everything..now:
We decided that Sam would wake up and shower first as she had to straighten her hair so I got to snooze a wee bit longer and got up around 6:45am. (It was a long week of waking up well before 7…except for that one sleep in…oops!) I showered, then scrunched my hair, dried it and wore it in a low bun slightly to the right of my neck with my bangs sweeping across my forehead. Natural, neutral makeup topped off with little gold hoop earrings and my swirly Mickey Mouse necklace! (I loveee this necklace…I bought it for myself last Christmas when as a cast member we got 50% off all merchandise! here is a picture!)
I was really anxious about what I was going to wear to the interview and spent many stressful hours shopping and calling for opinions, until my phone died! for the right thing. I ended up in a Jacob skirt suit with an RW& Co white detailed blouse. It may be the prettiest white blouse I’ve ever seen in my life – I love it! The outfit was the first clothing I’ve bought myself (besides a World of Color tshirt from
So we left the hotel around
The Disney recruiter’s name was Jeni and the manager interviewing was Shandon, a food and beverage manager from
Rodi’s interview was at
I wanted to beg him to let me on the show, however instead I just told him we PVR all his shows. Yup, I was a swooning dork. I saw something like that to him, yet when I peed with Mariah Carey last year I didn’t even flinch until I got out of the bathroom and yelled to my friends “I just peed with Mariah Carey!!!” right in front of Nick Cannon. I’m a special girl J
We headed back to the Sutton Place Hotel and waited downstairs for a few hours as time crept closer to
I had to bring 3 copies of my passport, my resume, and my filled out Disney application. She stapled them all together, asked a few questions and then we were ready to go! I waited outside the room for Jeni so nervous excited! We shook hands and went in the room. Let me just say this about Jeni: She is the friendliest lady ever! The exact person you would think of as a Disney cast member. Smiley, welcoming, she puts you at ease right away and the whole interview felt like a casual conversation.
I sat down and she said she was just going to look over my paper work. She commented on the fact that I had other fine dining experience (in a good way) and then asked me how I felt about the restaurant going signature.
*For those of you who don’t know, Le Cellier Steakhouse is becoming a signature restaurant March 1st, 2011. This means that the entire restaurant is getting an overhaul, new tables, new settings, new menu and new wine/drinks lists! And of course – better service! It’s going to make an already fantastic experience unbelievable. Hopefully!*
So I told her how excited I was and that I thought it would be an incredible change and she asked why and I told her about how I’d been to Artist Point and Victoria and Albert’s (which are signature restaurants) and how the service was there and such. She was interested in Victoria and Alberts because she had never been yet, so I told her it was incredible, especially being a vegetarian, I’d never had the option of a 7 course vegetarian meal before. She said she was also a vegetarian (score 2 for the animals ;) ) and then asked me all about the experience and service level. Then she asked what it was like selling steaks at Le Cellier and I told her I had no problem with it, but that I loved cooking so it was interesting to me how the prepared everything. I honestly never had problems selling steaks, I told my tables all the time how absolutely incredible they were – and no one was ever disappointed by my recommendations. The only thing that got me sometimes was when the prime rib was ordered rare…it looked like it still had a heartbeat…but I digress.
She asked me how my first contract was and if I was okay that it would be a different experience. I told her that my first contract was unbelievable, it was the best year of my life and actually made me switch my entire career path to hospitality from politics and that I was excited for a whole new experience this time, and that there was so much that I wanted to do that I didn’t have the time to the first time. She asked how I felt about a new management team and I said that I loved Christina and learned a lot from her but that I was also excited about a new manager because he would bring a different group of skills so I’d learn even more. She asked if I had tattoos and how my record card was and then that was about it. It was super short and having read Sam’s blog, she asked us totally different questions. I kind of said oh wow that was short, and asked her if she looks at us rehires differently than new applicants. She said that it was a good question and that they are looking for people with serving experience but also that they want to give new applicants the opportunity. She said she kind of just gets a feeling about people and that she loved my enthusiasm and not to worry. Then she said the dates wouldn’t be until the fall/early 2012!!!! SOOO FAR AWAY! And that we won’t find out for 3-4 weeks!
The
I also have to make some huge decisions this month which is stressful in itself. I have an interview to work at a luxury resort for the summer on Wednesday, and then I’m going to
I also feel like I forgot some of the questions/answers from my interview! I’m sorry! This is what I looked like when I got home from my interview:
I crashed HARD on the couch after a very stress/anxiety filled, early mornings, late nights, week. Originally I was leaning on my sister with the pug curled up on my legs, but I was the sole one left by this time. The sad part is I missed the rest of Say Yes to the Dress!
So please cross your fingers, cross your toes, cross your brother’s, sister’s, boyfriend’s, girlfriend’s, parent’s and pet’s fingers and toes as well that I get good news from Disney, and if not from Disney then from one of my other interviewers, and if not from one of my other interviewers then from the student loan people ;)
26 days and counting…
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