I'm terrible at updating this! Sorry everyone...

Lots has been happening, sort of. I do a lot of the same things every week, my experience here is similar to how summers feel in Winona. I work full time and have a set schedule that way, but I also get to go out and do things during my days off and even when I'm working. Life is very good, I have no complaints about being here. I can tell it's going to be very hard to go back to the Midwest.

I've officially been to all of the parks, multiple times. I LOVE roller coasters now... the rush is amazing, though I scream the entire time. I have seen 2 different firework shows: Wishes is at the Magic Kingdom, right above the castle and IllumiNations is at Epcot, over the water in the middle of the World showcase. They are both incredible shows and I'm so lucky to be able to see them any night of the week.

It is FINALLY warming up! I have gotten to lay out this past week and enjoy the sunshine. It still is pretty chilly at night, but I'm thankful for no snow or terrible storms. And I'm excited for the Midwest and the warm weather they've been receiving (minus all the rain), maybe it's an early spring! That would be nice for all of you. Florida is so much more enjoyable when it's warm though... I'm very much looking forward to the summer months. Once again, this is going to make it harder to go back home.

Today I got to see a friend from Winona (Kenneth!!) and we went to eat at Rainforest Cafe. The food was SO good and it was refreshing to see a familiar face. Always good to know that when everything seems to be changing, good friends will always be there. I'm so excited with all the good friends I've already made here. And I'm looking forward to visiting a few of them in Australia hopefully next December :) This experience has opened my eyes to so many possibilities and ideas. There is so much that I want to do and so many places I want to go. I don't know if I'll ever have a home... might become a gypsy or something. I just never want to settle for something I don't truly love and I'm learning so much about myself here that my love for things is deepening. I'm finding what is very important to me and there is so much I can do with my life. I have so much to live for and I am truly blessed to have so much and so many wonderful people in my life. Thank you to all of you for touching and impacting who I am, I couldn't do any of this without your love and support.

peace and love,

B

Song of the Day: Temporary Home by Carrie Underwood

I have nothing to complain about. Life is good.

I am so happy I took this internship. Yesterday I had a moment with a guest that made me realize that this is why I'm here. I have never single-handedly made someone that happy before by just one simple act of kindness. I thought I was going to start crying because of the feeling I got. That's what I want to do for the rest of my life: make a difference in someone's life, feel their joy and expect nothing in return. My life will be complete when that happens. This is why I want to work in non-profits or join the Peace Corps, I want to work with a company that matters and changes someone's life. Though Disney is not going to be where I am at forever, I got to experience someone's happiness for the first time and I am convinced that is what I am supposed to do in life.

Enough rambling about that...

Work is great! I wouldn't have chosen any other location to be placed. I worked a shift at Team Mickey, the sports store, this week and I was miserable. I didn't get to interact with very many guests, I didn't work the register, I simply stocked and straightened the store for 6 hours. I hated every minute of it. BUT it made me appreciate my job so much more. Pin Traders is magical every single day. I interact with hundreds of guests and children every shift and am never just standing there. I may not look forward to going to work everyday, but once I'm there I don't complain.

My schedule is so funny though because I work all nights that I don't really have a life right now. I work 6 days this week and on my day off all I want to do is relax, not go to the parks or anything. But hopefully within the next few weeks my shifts start to change a little bit. I work with some amazing girls and we have been trying to get together to go out dancing or something on Sunday nights so that has been fun. I have already met a friend for life here and its so great to get to work with her everyday and be able to talk to someone.

I also just booked a trip to Panama City for 4 days in March. I AM SO EXCITED! I will probably never get to do things like this again so I'm trying to take full advantage of being here. It's about 4 or 5 hours away but I'm taking a greyhound with my friend Derrick and we are spending a few days on the beach there. I can't wait for this mini-vacation :) It's going to be so much fun and I get to experience something a little different than the normal. Counting down the days!

I got to see my brother and his girlfriend Brooke last week. It was so nice to see familiar faces and I hadn't seen them in months! We went out to eat at T-Rex (associated with the Rainforest Cafe) and walked around Downtown Disney where I work. It was really fun and I miss them already.

peace and love,

B

Song of the Day: The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson

Address: 8214 Wesley Manor Court

Apartment 10203

Orlando, FL 32821

Work has been crazy and this is the "non-busy" season... can't wait to see what it will be like when it's 100+ degrees and busy. I work in a pavilion looking building, meaning it doesn't really have doors, just open walkways all around. So whatever the temperature is outside, I am working in. This is both bad and good. Right now, it is cold out at night... even wearing pants and a jacket I am freezing. I know, I know- everyone back home is probably laughing at this. But it's comparable to spring weather up there. So it's not the warmest place on earth... and it was mistakenly named the Sunshine State (at least this time of year). But I'm trying not to complain about the weather because I know soon enough it will be warm and I will be satisfied :)

I miss all my family, friends and coworkers too. Don't get me wrong, I really don't miss Minnesota or Wisconsin (snow mostly) but I miss people I can depend on and love being around. I'm making some great friends here, but nothing compares to everyone back home. I guess this is all part of growing up and I know I'm learning a lot of good lessons here.

Work for the most part is really fun! I get to interact with people all throughout my shift and I work with some really nice people. I'm looking forward to being able to switch to different stores because I'm trained at 2 others. Team Mickey is a sports store and Tren-D is a high fashion, almost couture type of Disney store. Both have really good atmospheres and sell more merchandise than I do at Pin Traders so they could incorporate more into my interactions with guests. I love my job the most when I get to trade pins with little kids because the smile they get on their face when you have their favorite character on your lanyard is priceless. It's amazing how small of a thing can make someone so happy.

I'm really enjoying my time here though and making the most of it. I am going to look into professional internships and see if I can find a good fit for myself. I don't see myself working for Disney in the future, but I know this company will open up a lot of doors for me in my endeavors. I just want to gain as much experience I can while I'm here and hope for the best when I leave.

peace and love,

B

Song of the Day: Vanilla Twilight by Owl City

It's funny how time goes by here. It feels very fast at the same time I feel like I have an infinite amount of time.

Earlier this week I had 2 days off. It was cold for Florida! (I know all of you in the Midwest are rolling your eyes)... I went to Magic Kingdom for the first time out of training with my friend Jesse and he took me on Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain roller coasters. Space Mountain freaked me out because you literally can't see anything, but I really liked Big Thunder Mountain surprisingly. I freaked out during the 30 minute wait, but after I got on it I was better. It was a good day besides it being cold. I also got to see my aunt again on Tuesday because she brought me my coat and talked for a bit. It was nice to see a familiar face amid all the new I am meeting.

Then yesterday I had my very first on the job training for Pin Traders. It's different than I imagined and yesterday wasn't the busiest day, but it should be interesting. Definitely a new experience and I know I'll be learning a lot about myself and others. I met a guy that works there that goes to UW- La Crosse, which was cool! And a girl I'll be working with a lot, named Candi, is from Maryland. She isn't the most enthusiastic to be at Pin Traders, but I think we'll make it fun. I have my next week's schedule and I am working nights mostly, which I am very happy about.

I've been getting up and running this week with Jesse. He sucks for making me get up, but I know he'll be a good friend while I'm here. But right now all I can think about it how my legs hurt and how I'm not a morning person, as most of you know. I can't wait until I have my night shifts and I don't have to get up at any special time.

Today I have a 6 hour computer training session about using a cash register and tomorrow I have an 8 hour on sight training on the cash register. I'm really wondering is 14 hours on a cash register is really necessary. I've used them before so I don't really understand the need for the excessive amount of hours, but I guess some people probably take awhile to get it. I guess we'll find out. Then Friday I have my assessment on my training and have to pass a 55 question test in order to start work on Saturday. Cross your fingers I pass!

I've been hanging out with a fun group of girls here too. We all have such different schedules though that it's hard to get together when we all have work in the morning or some of us have days off. Hopefully after the first couple weeks it'll calm down more where we don't feel so flustered to try to plan things. My friend Jenna, from Brookfield, WI, is really fun. I don't think I've laughed so hard since I've gotten here besides with her.

peace and love,

B

Song of the Day: You'll Think of Me by Keith Urban

Dear Cinderella- I'm sorry but the official name of your castle is now "Brianna's Castle"... it's too beautiful not to be mine.

Today was a good day! I had general training called "Traditions" which teaches new employees of Disney all about creating happiness and magic. And we got to see the underground tunnels at the Magic Kingdom. It was so cool! And I officially got to see Brianna's Castle, I mean Cinderella's.... whatever.

Tomorrow I have my first on-sight training day where I get my costume and get a tour of Downtown Disney which I went to last night. It's a really cool boardwalk type atmosphere with lots of places to eat, shop and drink. I'm looking forward to working there everyday. I also go to see where I'll be working and fingers crossed I think I'll be wearing a red polo, khakis and tennis shoes. Not bad :)

The next few days should be fun too... I got my official pass to get into all the parks for free so on my free days Sunday and Monday I am going to the parks. Maybe my first roller coaster is in the near future!

peace and love,

B

Song of the Day: I Woke Up in a Car by Something Corporate

The first day of my internship is officially over (finally). This might have been one of the longest days ever. I was up at 5:30 to stand in lines all day to fill out paperwork and be told what we cannot do. I know it will all be worth it in the end though.

My apartment is so nice... a whole lot bigger than I thought it would be. My roommates are nice girls too: Natalia is from Southern Florida, Brittany is from Philadelphia, and Elise is from Manhattan. A lot of different lifestyles combined, but I think it will be alright.

Tonight at the store I went to check-out and I'm wearing a Wisconsin sweatshirt (represent!) and the family behind me was from Wisconsin too! They started talking to me about the program and where I was from. But as I was unloading my groceries, I put a bottle of wine on the counter and they said "well at least you're buying the essentials!" ....awkward. Regardless, it was kind of nice to talk to someone from back home. I met a few girls today too from the Madison area. They weren't very friendly though.

Anyways, I have tomorrow off and then training on Friday and Saturday. Then I find out my training for the rest of next week on Tuesday. Kind of an easy first couple of days I think just to get us settled and then they get to talk at us more.

Can't. Wait.

Oh and ps- I am working in Downtown Disney as a Pin Trader.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/destinations/downtown-disney/shopping/disneys-pin-traders/

That kind of tells you about what I'll be doing. Sounds like I'll get to interact with a ton of people and kids. At first I wasn't too excited, but I really am now. Everyone says it's one of the coolest parts to see. I'm looking forward to learning more about it!

Off to have a glass of that wine :)

peace and love,

B

Song of the Day: Your Love is a Song by Switchfoot

Dear Southwest Airlines,

Thanks for loving my bags and letting them fly free and not letting them get lost. I enjoyed my time with you and I will be back soon.

On another note... missed the palm trees a lot since I've been in Orlando last. I've been with my aunt and uncle since I got off the plane and we went and got food right away. It's been a good day, but I'm exhausted. PS- I love flying.

Meeting up with my roommates tomorrow to go buy bedding and all that fun stuff, other than that I don't move in to my apartment until Wednesday. I'm just happy to be out of the snow. Sorry Minnesota/Wisconsin- I'm not missing you too much yet.

peace and love,

B

Song of the Day: Takeoffs and Landings by the Ataris