I was up around nine (location:Orlando). I had managed a few hours sleep to keep me going until I got on the plane.
I still hadn't printed out my plane ticket though, so set off to the Learning Center to do this. When I got there I needed a special code off my phone so had to go back to the apartment, and then back to print it off again! Silly girl. Good reason to get some exercise though prior to my long sit-down later.
After sorting out my ticket I set about getting rid of my final few belongings. I threw out all my bedding and bathroom things into the skip outside, and dropped our remaining food over at the girls next door.
I had just sat down from cleaning up all that I needed to, when the dreaded beast who has been living in my room (for the majority of the time- naked), starts telling me to get up and start cleaning. That was it. I had had it. I had been up all night cleaning up after EVERYONE, including her, and she has the cheek to try and pass off the few jobs which have been left for her to do- onto me. The other girls who had left during the night had said to me, make sure Anne does the dishes and takes out that last load of rubbish.
Well Anne decides it is her job to delegate these jobs instead of doing them, she also decides that the oven needs to be cleaned. We have to be out in about ten minutes.
"Polly, instead of just sitting there you could clean the oven", I said very calmly, "I think considering that I was up all night cleaning everything else in this apartment, one of you two could do it". I got a shocked intake of breath in response from Anne, how dare I have talked back to an elder in this way? I was a little shocked at myself too for not getting up and just doing it, but I was over being here and just wanted to leave already. "Well (now in a more snarky tone), you could at least take out this last load of rubbish". My response was, "I don't think that is fair either when I have taken out the other 12 bags which had been dumped there last night" - a lot of what needed to be taken out now was rubbish she had put here in the last hour as she rushed her packing. This got her going a little crazy, I had stood up and gone to take out the rubbish anyway, and she knew I was angry about it. Her next comment was "well I have just cleaned out the left over food in the fridge, and none of it is mine". I don't know why she thought this would gain her any ground, "Well Anne, none of the mess throughout the apartment which I cleaned out over night was mine, including ALL the food in the cupboards which I went through and threw out or passed on to others to use". As I had already packed and sorted out my things two days ago, none of it had been mine. I knew I wouldn't want to be rushing around in these last few hours- like her. Her final attempt to make it seem like she wasn't lazy and had avoided helping with the final clean was shouted at me, "Well if we don't clean it now we are going to get fined", I turned to her and spoke back in a somewhat raised tone, "I don't bloody care if I get fined". And then I stormed out.
When you live in an apartment you need to contribute, even if you think you are high and mighty and better than the rest of us. Sorry lady, none of us thought this about you in any way.
As she left she didn't even say Goodbye to Mel, and she said "See ya" to me as she went out the door. I didn't even look up from my phone.
Thank goodness she is out of my life and I never have to see her, and her naked body, ever again.
I will never know why a lady in her mid-fifties thought it was a good idea to come on a College Program, also why she felt it was acceptable to sleep naked and walk around with no pants on.
And why of all the people on the program was she the one I had to share my bedroom with?
I know it would have been an extremely different experience if I had had a roommate my own age, and someone who was actually nice. I am extremely pleased I stayed the whole time and didn't choose to get away from her like I considered so many times. But I would be happy to remove every trace of her from my Disney memories. I will also be getting in contact with the housing people once more, even though they wouldn't help me out - despite asking for help on three different occasions while there. I just feel that as she was female, and of similar age to them, they didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable. Even though she was making all of us, and especially me, extremely uncomfortable.
If it had been a man in his mid-fifties in one of the boys apartments and he had been sleeping naked and wandering around with no pants on, I feel they would have taken actions instantly, and that isn't fair.
Anyway, Mel's friend Gary had kindly offered to take us to the airport. I am not sure if he realised just how much luggage we had. Mel and I each had two bags, and then our carry-on too. He has a little hatch back, so it was like tetris fitting us in. We also had to go and pick up George, Mels good friend, on the way.
As we were leaving Vista Way for the last time, we had to hand in our housing IDs and our Disney IDs too. As we went to get out of the car, the skies opened and we had to run through the most intense rain I have seen while here. We also had an array of thunder and lightning to compete with.
By the time we got back to the car, we were soaked (and my jeans were still damp when we boarded the plane about 5 hours later).
When we arrived to get George, he was still asleep in bed! Lucky we had plenty of time up our sleeves. We just sat in the car chatting while we waited.
George eventually arrived and we headed to Orlando International Airport. Check-in hadn't opened yet so we headed to the food court for a bite to eat. I had some fried rice. The four of us sat and chatted for quite some time. Gary was a nice guy, and so very kind for taking us to the airport.
Once we were all checked in and had got rid of our ample luggage, it came time to head on through security. It was a sad Goodbye for George and Mel, and we had lots of hugs all around.
I called Mum and Dad when we were in by our gate, got a Starbucks too- I have become addicted. I think it is because they are so accessible, Starbucks is everywhere. Even in the Disney parks.
I still hadn't printed out my plane ticket though, so set off to the Learning Center to do this. When I got there I needed a special code off my phone so had to go back to the apartment, and then back to print it off again! Silly girl. Good reason to get some exercise though prior to my long sit-down later.
After sorting out my ticket I set about getting rid of my final few belongings. I threw out all my bedding and bathroom things into the skip outside, and dropped our remaining food over at the girls next door.
I had just sat down from cleaning up all that I needed to, when the dreaded beast who has been living in my room (for the majority of the time- naked), starts telling me to get up and start cleaning. That was it. I had had it. I had been up all night cleaning up after EVERYONE, including her, and she has the cheek to try and pass off the few jobs which have been left for her to do- onto me. The other girls who had left during the night had said to me, make sure Anne does the dishes and takes out that last load of rubbish.
Well Anne decides it is her job to delegate these jobs instead of doing them, she also decides that the oven needs to be cleaned. We have to be out in about ten minutes.
"Polly, instead of just sitting there you could clean the oven", I said very calmly, "I think considering that I was up all night cleaning everything else in this apartment, one of you two could do it". I got a shocked intake of breath in response from Anne, how dare I have talked back to an elder in this way? I was a little shocked at myself too for not getting up and just doing it, but I was over being here and just wanted to leave already. "Well (now in a more snarky tone), you could at least take out this last load of rubbish". My response was, "I don't think that is fair either when I have taken out the other 12 bags which had been dumped there last night" - a lot of what needed to be taken out now was rubbish she had put here in the last hour as she rushed her packing. This got her going a little crazy, I had stood up and gone to take out the rubbish anyway, and she knew I was angry about it. Her next comment was "well I have just cleaned out the left over food in the fridge, and none of it is mine". I don't know why she thought this would gain her any ground, "Well Anne, none of the mess throughout the apartment which I cleaned out over night was mine, including ALL the food in the cupboards which I went through and threw out or passed on to others to use". As I had already packed and sorted out my things two days ago, none of it had been mine. I knew I wouldn't want to be rushing around in these last few hours- like her. Her final attempt to make it seem like she wasn't lazy and had avoided helping with the final clean was shouted at me, "Well if we don't clean it now we are going to get fined", I turned to her and spoke back in a somewhat raised tone, "I don't bloody care if I get fined". And then I stormed out.
When you live in an apartment you need to contribute, even if you think you are high and mighty and better than the rest of us. Sorry lady, none of us thought this about you in any way.
As she left she didn't even say Goodbye to Mel, and she said "See ya" to me as she went out the door. I didn't even look up from my phone.
Thank goodness she is out of my life and I never have to see her, and her naked body, ever again.
I will never know why a lady in her mid-fifties thought it was a good idea to come on a College Program, also why she felt it was acceptable to sleep naked and walk around with no pants on.
And why of all the people on the program was she the one I had to share my bedroom with?
I know it would have been an extremely different experience if I had had a roommate my own age, and someone who was actually nice. I am extremely pleased I stayed the whole time and didn't choose to get away from her like I considered so many times. But I would be happy to remove every trace of her from my Disney memories. I will also be getting in contact with the housing people once more, even though they wouldn't help me out - despite asking for help on three different occasions while there. I just feel that as she was female, and of similar age to them, they didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable. Even though she was making all of us, and especially me, extremely uncomfortable.
If it had been a man in his mid-fifties in one of the boys apartments and he had been sleeping naked and wandering around with no pants on, I feel they would have taken actions instantly, and that isn't fair.
Anyway, Mel's friend Gary had kindly offered to take us to the airport. I am not sure if he realised just how much luggage we had. Mel and I each had two bags, and then our carry-on too. He has a little hatch back, so it was like tetris fitting us in. We also had to go and pick up George, Mels good friend, on the way.
As we were leaving Vista Way for the last time, we had to hand in our housing IDs and our Disney IDs too. As we went to get out of the car, the skies opened and we had to run through the most intense rain I have seen while here. We also had an array of thunder and lightning to compete with.
By the time we got back to the car, we were soaked (and my jeans were still damp when we boarded the plane about 5 hours later).
When we arrived to get George, he was still asleep in bed! Lucky we had plenty of time up our sleeves. We just sat in the car chatting while we waited.
George eventually arrived and we headed to Orlando International Airport. Check-in hadn't opened yet so we headed to the food court for a bite to eat. I had some fried rice. The four of us sat and chatted for quite some time. Gary was a nice guy, and so very kind for taking us to the airport.
Once we were all checked in and had got rid of our ample luggage, it came time to head on through security. It was a sad Goodbye for George and Mel, and we had lots of hugs all around.
I called Mum and Dad when we were in by our gate, got a Starbucks too- I have become addicted. I think it is because they are so accessible, Starbucks is everywhere. Even in the Disney parks.
Our first flight was Virgin America to Los Angeles. Mel and I were in the same row, but not next to each other. Instead I was next to a lovely girl called Natalya. She was also from Auckland and had been in Disney for the same time as me. She looked familiar, but I had never talked to her before. Maybe we had been on the buses together. Anyway, she was super lovely and we had some fantastic chats before I fell asleep.
I think I slept off and on for about 2 hours in total throughout the 5 hour flight.
I read a bit too, probably mainly just daydreamed.
I think I slept off and on for about 2 hours in total throughout the 5 hour flight.
I read a bit too, probably mainly just daydreamed.
When we got to LA (location: LA), I said Goodbye to Mel who was staying here the night and flying to Australia tomorrow. Natalya and I had a plane to catch though. I had not been very prepared so had no idea where we were going, Natalya didn't either! But we sorted it out in the end. We walked over one terminal and proceeded through security once more.
There were two LA-Auckland flights leaving this evening. Our one was still on time, but the other one which should have left already was delayed. This meant that a few people who had left Orlando this morning, were still waiting around. Jacob from the boys apartment was one of these lucky souls, and had been stuck in the airport all day. I expressed to him my happiness that our flight was still fine, and I had him on a bit about getting home before him. He didn't seem to mind.
Bid him adieu once more (had already done this in the middle of the night), and boarded our flight.
This flight went pretty quick for me. It was a 12 hour flight. I had an aisle seat (hooray). I watched That Awkward Moment first.
Bid him adieu once more (had already done this in the middle of the night), and boarded our flight.
This flight went pretty quick for me. It was a 12 hour flight. I had an aisle seat (hooray). I watched That Awkward Moment first.
Then dinner arrived. Some delicious fish. I don't normally like fish, but it was lovely.
Then I started to watch The Muppets, but started to fall asleep so switched it off.
I then promptly fell asleep on my tray table, as I always do- and didn't wake again until breakfast was being delivered to me. I slept for about 7 hours.
While eating breakfast I started to watch The Grand Budapest Hotel. Good movie too- and it entertained me until we had about 30 minutes till landing.
Then I started to watch The Muppets, but started to fall asleep so switched it off.
I then promptly fell asleep on my tray table, as I always do- and didn't wake again until breakfast was being delivered to me. I slept for about 7 hours.
While eating breakfast I started to watch The Grand Budapest Hotel. Good movie too- and it entertained me until we had about 30 minutes till landing.
The landing was so smooth I didn't even realise we were on the ground.
Great flight all around. Can't believe how quick it felt compared to the trip over.
And then I was back.
HELLO NEW ZEALAND!
I text the fam to notify them of my arrival. I promptly retrieved my bags, sailed on through customs and then there were three beautiful beautiful souls who I had missed so much.
Mum, Dad, and MANAWANUI were there waiting for me.
I had brought my Minnie Mouse ears in my hand luggage so popped them on before turning the corner to see everyone. I was trying to embarrass Dad. Didn't seem to work though!
Mum and Dad had got me a bunch of flowers to welcome me home. I couldn't believe it.
Great flight all around. Can't believe how quick it felt compared to the trip over.
And then I was back.
HELLO NEW ZEALAND!
I text the fam to notify them of my arrival. I promptly retrieved my bags, sailed on through customs and then there were three beautiful beautiful souls who I had missed so much.
Mum, Dad, and MANAWANUI were there waiting for me.
I had brought my Minnie Mouse ears in my hand luggage so popped them on before turning the corner to see everyone. I was trying to embarrass Dad. Didn't seem to work though!
Mum and Dad had got me a bunch of flowers to welcome me home. I couldn't believe it.
I had a nap late morning, and we then had a family dinner later. I can't believe I am back. It is so peculiar.
While this is my last day-to-day post of my adventures, I will be posting one final post which will be an overview of my time at Walt Disney World, Orlando. Thank you for reading and following along with my American Experience. It's been a blast.
For now, all I can say is 'There's no place like home'.
Love, Polly Mouse (location: NZ)
While this is my last day-to-day post of my adventures, I will be posting one final post which will be an overview of my time at Walt Disney World, Orlando. Thank you for reading and following along with my American Experience. It's been a blast.
For now, all I can say is 'There's no place like home'.
Love, Polly Mouse (location: NZ)