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