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!!!

Plus all the time spent with Friends before moving away for a long period of time.  Here is a secret...I don't know if I'll be visiting Vancouver at all during the year of my program.  It's an expensive flight and although it would be nice to be able to, it's not a guarantee so I want to get lots of friend and family love in while I can! Also my poochie Kona will need some mad love before I leave, pet-less living is HARD!

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...

Flight Booked!!!!

That's right, I finally booked my flight to Orlando!!!
Yes, I am currently in Orlando, and that may be why it took me so long to book my flight back down, because I sort of forgot I needed to until yesterday.  I wanted to arrive midday on the 16th, so I leave Vancouver around 11pm on the 15th, have a lay over in Houston, and then arrive in Orlando around 11am! Perfecto! Last time I flew down for the program I got to fly down with Heather, who I had met at the interviews!  This time it's all me by myself.  Tamara, who is actually from Courtenay as well (well Comox, and we've never met!) is flying out a few hours earlier and arrives earlier in the morning I think, so we're perhaps going to try and do our Walmart shop together! Yes I know people on the program already, but I'm excited to meet my arrival group and do all the fun things at the beginning with them!!
It feels good to have my flights booked! Now just insurance, the visa arrival and the assessment fee! ....for the Program anyways!

7 Random Facts I learned from Ron Logan this Week:

• Ron Logan enjoys driving up beside those kinda sketchy cars with blasting hip hop beats, roll down his windows, and blast jazz.  He said usually the guys laugh and give him a thumbs up
• Hitler as well as Mao's wife, use to put musicians in jail for not writing heroic music which is very brassy and strong sounding
• The baritone singer in the Voices of Liberty group in The American Adventure does many on the operations announcements on rides (ie: Please stay seated)
• Tokyo Rose was a broadcaster in Japan during World War II who tried to get American soldiers to pack up and go home by telling them it's what they wanted. She was later tried for treason.
• So much precision was put into Illuminations:Reflections of Earth that all Don Dorsey would go through the music and find one beat in one bar and change it from 3/4s to 4/4s so that it coincided perfectly with the fireworks
• The Globe in Illuminations was originally going to be 3 cranes (a mum, dad and child crane) but even after spending $3 million on them, they decided they didn't work well and trashed the idea
• It costs $15,000 per day to put on Illuminations, however it has been credited with $80 million in profit for Epcot!
• Bonus: Toni Braxton sings 'We Go On' in Illuminations, and the Show won "Most Spectacular Show in the World 5 years straight! (Including 2010!!)
• Double Bonus: The reason there is a countdown at the beginning of Illuminations is because Don Dorsey liked the countdown at Hockey Games! (when everyone slow claps, then it gets faster!)

Clearly our last class was about Illuminations ;) If you haven't seen this show it is absolutely breath taking. It's in three acts: The Creation of the Earth, Modern Day, and the Future.  Professor Logan absolutely loves Illuminations (I'm pretty sure he said he was the most proud of it...but that could have been the Wild West Show in Paris), and I absolutely love it as well! We use to walk out of work at Le Cellier and be able to conduct it.  I couldn't believe when I first started on the popcorn cart that we got to watch Illuminations! Incredible! It's no where near the same as seeing it in person, but here is a link in you want to check it out!

The Canucks won last night (2 MORE!! - as if everyone didn't already know that!) and I got to skype both my sisters and brother in law, and my Parents and Grandparents!! If you don't have skype and are far away from your family/friends, or going to be, GET SKYPE! It's free and you can video which is so, so nice! It was a pretty fabulous evening, especially because I had been feeling a bit homesick/overwhelmed earlier in the day with decisions.  I was missing my family a lot and then had about an hour long chat with my Grandma and she put me in the best mood ever! She has such an incredible knack for that! What a lady! I love her to bits!
I have a 615 workout and then 8am class tomorrow morning so I'm going to hopefully make it a pretty early Sunday night!! Hope all is well in your worlds as well, I almost start to feel selfish being so darn happy :)

Epic Weekend!

Before I start with my update I wanted to let you know that Wally Boag, who played Pecos Bill in nearly 40,000 live performances on the Golden Horseshoe Revue in Disneyland, passed away yesterday (Friday). He was 90 years old.  Wally also voice Jose in the Enchanted Tiki Room, helped write a lot of the show, and helped in the production of The Haunted Mansion. To read more visit WallyBoag.com or Wally Boag.

Wally and Betty Together

Betty Taylor, the longtime female star of Disneyland's Golden Horseshoe Revue has passed away, one day following the passing of her beloved co-star, Wally Boag. (Saturday, June 4th, 2011).  The spunky leader of a troupe of western dance hall girls, in Disneyland's popular Golden Horseshoe Revue, Betty Taylor passed away this morning at her home in Washington State. Betty was 91.  To learn more about the Disney Legend visit Betty Taylor or Betty Taylor: Disney Legend.

Betty Taylor "Slue Foot Sue"

School fountain with the sun pouring over it

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning I had class!! I'm doing pretty well in everything which is good, I wish I had more class time.  I really like being at school - it just doesn't seem like there is enough of it!

Never thought I'd be saying that ;) It's just so nice to learn!
On Thursday after class I went to Universal for the day!! Here it is in photographic form:

So fitting...

Such a fun land!

The Lorax!  Truffala Trees are important!

The Lost Continent...He'll never get dry mouth ;) yuc yuc yuc. hilarious!

'Input Harry Potter Music here'

Beauxbatons Academy of Magic V. Durmstrang Institute 

HOGWARTS!!!! The ride is so amazing...except for the huge scary spiders!!

You can't do Harry Potter World without a Butter Beer when it's over 90 degrees!

The pic is fro my phone so kind of blurry, but this is the dog from Marley and Me!

Such a clever orangutan!

I want her in MY arms!

hahaha. this made me laugh. a LOT! I may have ran to take a photo of it!

I will get Clodagh this shirt as soon as she's WAY bigger!

I won this Minion playing Whack-a-Mole! I loveeeee him!

He wouldn't stop sniffing me!

Bullwinkle!

Woody the Wookpecker!

I was excited it was Nick Cannon because we ran into him at Yachtman's Steakhouse during my first CRP!

Scoooooby!

Such a Curious little George!

On Friday I was just having a quiet morning when this conversation with my friend Kristin occured:

Kristin "Good Afternoon!"

Kate "Hey! How are your errands going?" (I knew they were going to do errands)

Kristin "Great! Have you been a good girl lately?"

Kate "Of course! I'm always good!"

Kristin "How would you like to go to Disney World today?"

Kate "Are you kidding? :O"

Kristin "Well we thought you've been working so hard at school you deserved a fun day at Disney"

Kate "I'm the happiest kid in the world!!!"

I was SOOOOO EXCITED!! You may have noticed that I LOVE DISNEY! And living so close but not being able to go has been insanely a little bit hard, to say the least.  I couldn't believe that I was getting to go! Kristin and Oscar are such incredible friends and I'm so lucky to have them! We did go about the day acting as if I were their child they were taking to the park as a special treat..which is was! Plus if you've seen me at the parks a super jacked up excited kid pretty much explains it perfectly! 

So Kristin and Oscar picked me up and we went for lunch at the Golden Corral before heading to the parks.  It was actually so good! I don't know what people are talking about who diss this place! It's a buffet (watch out waistline!) but had so many options for vegetarians it was awesome! I even got fried okra which is weirdly becoming one of my favourite things! There was so much food from pastas to a whole turkey carving station to potatoes like 18 ways to gazillions of vegetables to a huge salad bar to fruit to make-your-own tacos to sandwiches...and don't even get me started on the desserts! It was pretty delicious for $8.59!

Then we headed over to HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS!!! Which just happened to be hosting Star Wars Weekends!!!

The added doors to all the trams because someone fell out! I don't know how :p The trams look so different though!

My favourite part of Star Wars Weekends...dressed up fans!!!!

Lotso in the Pixar Parade!

On this very stage George Lucas stood a week ago!

C3PO in the new Star Tours queue which is set up like an airport

Kermy the Peeping Tom ;) 

In line for Star Tours: The Adventure Continues!

CHEWBACCA!

WICKET!

Kristin pointed these out and I thought they were neat! Honey Spoons! So clever!

Jedi Mickey! and R2-MK 

 

Storm Trooper & I!

Creepy Star Wars lady...I should have taken a picture of her fingers...I couldn't deal with how long and freaky they were!

You know who!

Boba Fett..I think? I wanted to call him Bubba. haha that isn't correct.

These creepy Sand creatures make the most ridiculously freaky sounds...

...and chase people!

Earful Tower I think? I may be making that up

The sea organ from Pirates of the Caribbean!

 At Hollywood Studios we rode Star Tours (it was totally different from my first ride except Yoda was in both!), the Great Movie Ride, the Backlot Tour and the Tower of Terror! At the Great Movie Ride I have never seen the Bandit scene, I've only ever gotten the Gangster scene because that's the one they run when it's slow! Well, I asked if the Bandit was on today, and boy was he ever! We waited an extra couple of minutes and got to sit in the front row AND see the Bandit scene! We pulled into the country scene and the cowboy came out of holding up the bank, and then it caught fire...it was awesome! I was so giddy and excited and happy to finally get to see it! We had an awesome sequence on the Tower of Terror and saw the outline of the little girl lit up, which I don't remember.  It was such a good ride!! Then we left Hollywood and headed for the...

So GIDDY!!

Pretty sunset!

AHH!!! I am so excited! I couldn't wait to get in!

Home. True Love. Whatever you want to call it <3

This is an awful picture due to lighting, I'll get a better one, but it's my
Professor Ron Logan's window!!

The Castle!

Once we got to the Magic Kingdom we went right to the Haunted Mansion as it's Kristin's favourite ride! It was so cool getting to see the new interactive queue!!! They put in incredible effects like a tome with musical instruments that if you touch one it plays that sound, and then warped creepy instruments on the other side that play crazy sounds (including a screeching cat!).  There is also a pirates tome that spurts water, a book that writes itself and more! It was awesome! The ride was good of course as well! After Haunted Mansion we hit up Pirates of the Caribbean (yay!) before getting Dole Whip Floats (Heaven!) and popcorn and heading to Kristin and Oscar's secret firework watching location! It was great view, not crowded and we got to sit down in comfy chairs!

Right before the fireworks they had the amazing The magic, The Memories and You Photo show on the castle! It was incredible. My jaw hit the ground and I didn't want to blink! It made the castle look as though it was morphing in front of your eyes, and left me speechless. I'm impressed! Then we watched Wishes for the first time in over a year and it was amazing.  

It was the most incredible day with fantastic friends and I owe them so much for all their kindness over the past year and more.  So much fun! I love life :D

More Ron Logan facts coming soon ;)