It's a Hard Life, But Someone's Gotta Live It!

Hi everybody!

I apologize for taking so long in updating this. My mom kept calling me pleading with me to post something so people would quit asking her!! And Rebecca and Madelyne are giving me gentle reminders :)

Well, the reason I have not updated in so long is just because I am so busy .... doing things like laying out at the pool, exploring all the Disney World theme parks, visiting Keaton in Tally, going to Tampa ... ahh, the rough life!!

I am going to try to add some pictures to this post!! No promises, but we'll see how it goes!!

This is a pic of the outside of my apartment complex. Remember, there are three main complexes (Vista Way Apartments, The Commons Apartments, and Chatham Square Apartments) and one smaller complex (The Treehouse) for Disney College Program Interns.

Here are pictures of the guard shack in the complex, my building, the 38 wonderful steps leading up to our apartment, and the costume I get to wear at work!!! LOL, it's so embarrassing!!

As you can see, the grounds are beautiful here at Chatham Square!! This is one of the paths that leads to Building 4 where I live.

Something else I thought you might find interesting ... most people here do not have vehicles, and it is a PAIN using the bus transportation provided. So everybody walks to the Publix a few blocks away. You grab a shopping cart from our little "stock" here at Chatham, walk it to the store, get your things, and walk back with the cart. Then you return it to our own little cart inventory for the next person to pick up!!!

I haven't really taken any photos of the inside of the apartment yet, but will hopefully get to that this week and get those pics up ASAP!!

As I said, I have definitely taken the time for some FUN while I've been here!! The first park I went to was Magic Kingdom with my roommate, Elise. We were only there for a couple of hours but it was so much fun!

While Elise and I were trying to lug our new TV up the 3 flights of stairs to our apartment, we randomly flagged down a guy to help us. His name is Ben, and we ended up going to Epcot with him a couple of weeks later.

We got to ride Segways!!!

Then about a week ago, I went to the Animal Kingdom with one of my friends, Matej. He is from Slovakia and we work together at the Port Orleans.

We got soaked riding the River Rapids!!!





They have the biggest bats I have ever seen!!!



My FAVORITE thing so far since I've been here is when Elise and another girl from Boston surprised me with an early Christmas present ........ they took me to A RED SOX GAME AT THE TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So as you can see, I've been having a TON of fun!!! Yes, it is a lot of work and no, you don't get a lot of respect as a college intern! But overall it is a great experience and I am having a BLAST!!

Have a great week!!

Kara

Happy Birthday To Me, Disney Internship Style!!

Well, yesterday was my 19th birthday and I had a chance to celebrate in true Disney College Program style!!

The day started off well, my roommate and I just slept in (she had the day off), got up and around and had some breakfast, hung out at the apartment and straightened some stuff up. I left about 1:45 to head to work. I was scheduled for the PM shift, 2:15-10:45.

It was my third day of On-The-Job-Training. I really like my trainer, so I've had a lot of fun these first few days and learned a lot!!

Now, remember that the Port Orleans Resort has two seperate sides, the French Quarter and Riverside. They actually used to be two seperate resorts, but they joined a few years back. There are still two seperate lobbies for the sides, but they now both fall under the resort name Port Orleans. I will be working both sides, and I have three days scheduled at each side for my On-The-Job-Training.

WELL ... as I finished my shift at French Quarter, the manager on duty approached me and asked if I would be willing to stay late over at Riverside. Apparently they were short-staffed for the graveyard shift and needed some help with the paperwork and just generally needed another staff member behind the desk. Of course, I wanted to make a good first impression, so I agreed.

SO ... I got myself a double shift the third day on the job!! I spent my birthday working from 2:15 pm until 5 o'clock the next morning!! I can truly say I have been introduced the working the Disney way (I guess doubles are a regular thing for full-time employees!!) so there should be nothing more shocking after that!!!

It actually was not bad, and because I am a hotel management major, it was really nice to be able to see what an overnight shift at a resort is like! I'm going to have to learn it all eventually, so I might as well jump right in there!!

On a brighter note, I guess somebody had told Cinderella and Prince Charming that it was my birthday, because I got a personalized birthday card with a picture signed by both of them!!! ;)

Until next time,
Kara