Flashback and my First Few Days

California is everything I wanted it to be and more.  Mind you, I've only been here since last Friday, but I love it!  The sunshine has been welcomed and the warm weather is perfect.  The fact I can look out my window and see palm trees has me googly eyed pretty much every day. :)

Check-in day (Sunday) was a little crazy and busy but it all worked out in the end!  I met some awesome people during check-in, especially in the drug testing line. :)  All of us in the drug testing line are working attractions of some kind or lifeguarding; basically any role that puts guest safety in your hands.  The line took a really long time, but we were all able to joke and talk while waiting.

My dad left right before my housing meeting so our goodbye was a little rushed, but I enjoyed having him here to help me!  Our drive to California was fun!  We always have a really good time together.  Also, my car made it safe and sound!  I'm so proud of Felipe. ;)

My traditions are not until tomorrow, so my roommate Lauren and I have been hanging out a lot!  She is so incredibly cute and we have an absolute blast together!  My other roommate Katie had traditions on Tuesday so she has been busy with training already, but has 6 days off so hopefully we can all go into the parks together!  My last roommate Khristine has traditions with us tomorrow so I'm hoping we will be able to take her for her first time to Disneyland. :)

The apartments here are beautiful and so much nicer than anywhere I lived in Provo.  I mean, I'm paying significantly more, but the quality is definitely represented.  Lauren and I have the corner room so two walls are almost completely windows.  When I walked in I got super excited!  I love natural light and having so much of it is exactly what I wanted!  Only issue?  The curtains they have are NOT very good.  They hardly block any light so at night the light pole outside our window seems like the sun. :)  I need to go buy a blackout curtain so I can sleep past 7:00 am.

I went to an info session for something called Flashback Productions.  Flashback is an annual charity performance Disney Cast Members put together.  There is singing, dancing, and acting and cast members are split into 4 teams based on line of business. It sounded like an amazing opportunity and something that I would love, so I took a chance and signed up for it!  I've only had two rehearsals so far, but I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!  I forgot how much fun I have while dancing, and though my body aches and I'm sore, I wouldn't have it any other way.  I was actually asked to be in the intermediate dancers group!  So we get to do harder dance moves and be in smaller groups.  There is one group above mine, which is the core dancers, and if I stay at Disneyland, my goal is to be in that group next year!  I've met so many awesome cast members so far and all of them are impressed I jumped right into an opportunity like that even before I'm an official cast member! :)

Yesterday Lauren and I got to go into California Adventure!  A nice guy we met during check-in named Brian is already a cast member and offered to let us in using his guest passes!  So he definitely made magic for us.  We had a blast together despite it being a little chilly outside (am I already used to warmer weather?!).  I can't wait for my Disney journey to official begin tomo
rrorrow!  Hopefully I'll figure out exactly where I'm working!

Disney College Program II

I. Love. Disney.  I'm not sure I've ever mentioned that before, but as you can see through my personality and various objects I own, it's clear I am a Disney freak.  I was actually labeled that when I first started my program at BYU because I was the only one that wanted to work for Disney after graduation.

I didn't do a great job documenting my journey during my first program.  Sure, I took pictures and posted them on Facebook, but I couldn't tell you any of those great and funny stories I was SURE I wouldn't forget.  Oh well, maybe in the next life we will have better memories. :)

Getting to where I am now was not easy.  This last semester was the hardest I've had.  Not because I was taking particularly hard classes, worked a lot, or had a ton of homework, but because I had a weird feeling the ENTIRE semester!  Seriously!  I was sad often, mad about little things, never felt like I had enough energy, was frustrated because I wasn't losing any weight despite taking three athletic classes, and my dating life was about as great as it is now (nonexistent).  I think a lot of my issues stemmed from my lack of energy, which I've finally solved!  I finally found out I'm lactose intolerant and have very little enzymes to break down many other types of sugars.  Unfortunately, because I couldn't digest anything, I was not getting any nutrients from my food!  So I was very malnourished, though I didn't look it.  Since I've been taking vitamins, I've feel 1000000000000000% better!  I've also tried to eat very healthy and with fresh ingredients. :)

Anyway, so last semester I had this plan to get a Professional Internship at Disneyland.  I'd already applied for one before and had no luck.  I figured because I was graduating this time I would have better luck.  Did I?  .....no.  I applied for 2 of them and did not get either of them.  When I got my "No Longer in Consideration" email I was incredibly upset.  I wasn't sure why my plan was not working out.  I thought I had prepared and did everything I was supposed to to get this internship!  Alas, it was not to be.  I called my mom and cried on the phone like I do.  After wallowing in my sorrows for a little while, I had a feeling I needed to apply for the Disney College Program and go to Disneyland.  I figured this would be a great way to get my foot in the door, allow me to network, and see if I actually want to continue working with Disney.  On September 30, I got my acceptance email!  I was on a plane landing at the Chicago O'Hare airport and was crying tears of joy next to some cute little old people.  I hoped they didn't notice me. :)

So the waiting game began, I started saving (the program in Disneyland is MUCH more expensive than Walt Disney World).  I was accepted to Attractions again, which made me incredibly excited!  I found some awesome girls to live with when I get to California, and I can't wait.

I leave on Friday, which is in 2 days, to start the drive to California.  The weather across the US has been kind of crazy!  Snow storms, freezing rain, sleet, hail, frozen fog, all over the place.  My dad and I were a little weary about the weather so we planned on leaving on Friday instead of Saturday.  It'll be a fun little vacation for daddy and I.

I'll try my best to update this as often as possible, but I may be a little preoccupied with the parks because they are so close. :)

Wish me luck!!