I've Climbed the Mountain, I've Crossed the River and I'm Almost There

I have been blog-slacking but that is not my jam. I have been either otherwise engaged or just not motivated. I'm not sure anyone wanted to read my thoughts as I was stuck in a hotel room in Virginia with nothing but American television, an adult colouring book and my probable weather-induced anxiety.

Let me start with Florida, since at this moment in time I'd rather not relive the stupendously boring and eternal travel to get there.

On Monday, after a seemingly never-ending haul, I finally did arrive at the Vista Way welcome centre, fairly disoriented and warm and generally disheveled, to be herded through a typically Disney efficient series of stations, and to my horror, my housing ID photo was taken. I was handed a pink ID stating my new home was VW - Vista Way. Not gonna lie, I was slightly stunned, but I made my way to my new building (27) and found a roommate already there, and I found I already knew her from Facebook! Nicole, from Calgary Alberta, helped me unpack my car and we did our epic first trip to Walmart, wherein we did two rounds of necessity shopping - household objects and then food.
When we got back, only one more roommate had moved into #2702 but by the end of the day, everyone had arrived, brining to total to six roommates including myself - Elise, Camille, Emilie and Ana from France, and myself and Nicole from Canada.

The gorgeous ladies of 2702, plus a barley bag

Tuesday, I woke up early with half my roommates to attend an immigration session (aka "how to not get kicked out of the country") at my old stomping grounds, the Commons. It was pretty much old hat but it's good to have it reinforced.
Afterwards I was reunited with my lovely and dear friend Lindsay Wilson (the lumberjack from my last program with whom I met John Stamos that one time) at her house at Plantation Park (sounds faaaaancy looks like housing for adults). Lindsay is halfway through her management internship program at Epcot. She will be one of my leaders once I start working,  so due to said conflict, her name may not be mentioned frequently. Sorry, Wilson. We hung with two of her roommates (one of whom will also be one of my leaders and the other completed his first merchandise program during my first program) before going to Sweet Tomatoes (my first time... I know).

John Stamos' favourite Canadians, together again

Wilson dropped me off at Commons for my second orientation session of the day, a Welcome to Housing session (aka how not to get kicked out of housing). To my delight and surprise, one of the two facilitators was a friend from my first program who has married her American boyfriend after the end of my program (that's totally what I want, btw). Again, old hat, but good to have reinforced. Trivia though. Both lightsabers and wands, considered "weapons" until recently, are both now permitted in housing as long as they are used for good.

Patricia is living the former CRP dream.

I came back to Vista and unpacked and organized and did a round of laundry (both washers and dryers are conveniently located on my floor [the ground floor NO STAIRS!]). While drying clothes, Nicole and I walked to a nearby Wendy's and meandered back when it looked like it was going to rain. It did not, and on the way back we found the Vista Way front desk, library and club room. And both pools.
Today was a day off until 1600, wherein Emilie, Nicole and I lined up with a sizeable amount of CRPs and Academic Exchange participants to, again, be herded efficiently from station to station until suddenly all our Disney paperwork was complete and we had paycards for when we start making some money.

Paperwork JOY

Afterwards Nicole and I adventured to what famously became my favourite restaurant of my last program, Steak N Shake (Karen remembered where it was and still pronounces it "Steak North Shake" by the way). We also went to Dollar Tree to browse the selection of glorious cheap American goods.

Milkshakes from Steak N Shake are the love of my life.

Which brings me to the present and brings me to being all caught up, and you to "This is what we've been waiting to read?"

See ya real soon!

Lindsey

Magical Moment: When Nicole and I were exploring the Clubhouse, a cast member let us pick the next movie for public showing (under several ratings provisions). We selected That Thing You Do.

Pixie Dust for: Everyone who contacted my during my three-day snow-in in Virginia. Thank you for helping me maintain my scarce sanity. Now let's never mention it again.

We're Doing a Sequel. We're Back by Popular Demand.

Come on, everybody, strike up the band.

Hello long lost friends!

On December 5th, I announced to the world using all the social media that I was joyfully returning to the most magical place on Earth, Walt Disney World, as a Cultural Representative in the Canada pavilion as a merchandise cast member. I didn't know (but should have) that December 5th is also the birthday of one kinda famous guy named Walt Disney, so didn't that just work out. As such, those who choose to do so will be treated to another year or so of mildly interesting and strangely written blog posts. You're welcome.

The Facebook post that made it official.

For those out of the know (so... no one?), I have already completed a CRP in merchandise, starting in March 2012 and ending in February 2013. You can reminisce here with my last blog if that's what you want. Full disclosure: I only reread my own blog after I had accepted another contract. It kind of sucks to remember being so warm when you live in a country that sometimes experiences a thing called a Polar Vortex.

Not ok for Facebook for ok for the blog!

Crazy eyes? Crazy excited!

So here's where I'm at now: It's January 2nd. My last day working for my current job (London Health Sciences Centre... sorry bro) is January 15th. I'll leave my home since June 2015 of St Thomas on either the 18th or 19th ("weather-permitting") and drive to the hometown of my nametag's fame, Perth. On January 21st, my mom and I will cross the border and drive to Lorton, VA, where on the 22nd, I'll board the Amtrak Auto Train (it's a thing, I took it on my way back) with my car and Mom will fly back to Canada from DC. I'll spend a glorious and sedentary 17 hours on said train and arrive in Sanford, FL bright and early on the 23rd, drive the half hour or so to Orlando, and resurface for food and water when I've rested. I'll be chilling like a villain at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort until my official arrival date of January 25th, 2016, meaning I'll be moving into Disney Housing and I'll have no concrete idea of what comes next.

I have to think of a new sign-off saying (*adds to ever-growing to do list...).

Lindsey