Well well well… where to start.
Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start.
Todd got home from work and drove me all the way back out to Disney. I felt sad saying goodbye to him after the wonderful 3 days I spend with him Melanie and Beau, and he was very nice about my nerves. I was going a little mental. He also lent me a cooler to transport my milk in, and a pillow! Bliss.
Once we got my bags out of the car we moved them into the outdoor baggage holding area. Did I mention it was a little bit chilly this morning? It was, I could see my breath. I hugged goodbye to Todd and was directed into the Welcome Centre. Boom- Hello Disney. The first move was a little awkward. I was directed into a room full of about 50 people who were all looking straight at me. They had sent me in the door behind the speaker who was currently going through the welcome for the group prior to mine. Way to throw me in the ring. I had no idea where to go and stood there looking at the room full of people. One of the girls in the front row kindly pointed the right way for me to go. Phew. I stood in line behind two other girls, then went up and was given my room number and key. Room 3408 at Vista Way. Vista Way had been my first choice on the list of complexes so I was happy. I had my photo taken for my house ID. It printed out about 30 seconds later and I took a seat for the quick talk to welcome us. We were given welcome bags. They held our bank cards which our pay will go on to, timetables for the next days, bus timetables, inventory forms for our apartments, payroll forms, programme guides, dishwashing powder, and laundry powder. I also got a few Disney pens. Love free stuff. They also had a table alongside me full of sweets (candy!), and water. I introduced myself to the people around me, 3 from NZ, and 1 from Australia. I bumped into two of them at Walmart later in the day! Our welcome talk lasted about 10 minutes. We then wandered out to our bags and as the Welcome Centre is on Vista Way property a little Vista Way walking school bus left on its way around the complex. I could see my building (34) from the Welcome Centre so I didn’t have far to go.
I pulled my bags up the first flight of stairs and HELLO, there was my room straight to my right. I popped my key in the lock and then the door was opened for me. Two of my flatmates were already here and they had made friends with a few others from the building next door. Stacey (Aus) and Melissa (NZ) are in my apartment; Vanessa was a friend here to help Stacey move in, and then Dan (Aus) and Siv (NZ) from the building next door were sitting in our lounge. I said a quick hello and then went to grab one of the 3 remaining beds (one of the flatties had saved a bed but not left any belongings yet). I chose one in the remaining room which was lying in the most sunlight. I have grown to like my wee nook. I have my single (twin) bed, a bedside table with two draws, a chest of draws which I have half of (3 draws) a mirror on top of those, and then a walk in wardrobe of which I have half of, and a locker within that. Neither of the two padlocks I brought with me fit the lock though, Emma (from NZ who is here at the moment) has said that maybe I could swap one of mine with hers and see if it fits. I headed out to chat with the others.
After a while we all decided to venture to the phone shop around the corner and then on the bus to Walmart. We can travel on the Disney buses between certain destinations for free and they run all day. On we hopped and off on a journey around all the other apartment complexes and finally to Walmart. What a store. I wish I had bought a jacket while I was there because it was super freezing when I ventured out this evening. Here is me thinking it would be warm or hot, but no sir no sir a jacket and scarf would have been of great benefit in the 4 degrees brisk evening I was to encounter. Anyway, I didn’t get a jacket- but I got a bundle of other things. Food, containers, hand soap, dishwashing liquid etc. Melissa was with me and got all her bedding etc. After getting out trolleys outside, we saw that the bus had just pulled away. Lucky for us, he stopped and let us on-board. Phew- it was a chilly wind we would have had to wait in for 30mins. Got back, unpacked the groceries. Met Emily (Aus), the flatmate who had left a few things on one bed. Her parents are here with her for the first week.
A beautiful ladybird at the bus stop
I started to unload my suitcase and make my bed. I am very excited to start pinning my pictures and bunting on my bulletin board tomorrow. I will be able to make my space a bit more mine. Pictures will be available in tomorrows post- I am not organised enough yet to share that with you all!
I looked at my clock and saw I only had ten minutes to get to the stop in order to get the bus to Downtown Disney to meet Lizzy, Amber and Emma. I grabbed all my things and had a brisk walk to get on the bus. It takes about 30 minutes to get there after going around all the stops on the way I think. I got off- had no idea where I was, but realised I needed to cross to the other side of the car park to get to DD. I was wearing a ¾ sleeve jacket and my ¾ floral trousers. I wasn’t uncomfortable at this point, but I came to regret my clothing decision on my way home later.
The girls arrived soon after and it was fantastic to see them all. We had a great dinner talking about all our adventures. You know they are true friends when you pick up like you haven’t spent a day apart and laugh away the hours. They were all a little tired from their big day at Universal but there company was extremely comforting. They are here for another 5 days so I am really looking forward to spending more time with them between my training and orientation meetings. We ate at a place called Bongos. I had some delicious fried rice with prawns, chicken, beef and an assortment of goodies. Extremely filling and I have seconds waiting in the fridge for me.
I looked at my clock and saw I only had ten minutes to get to the stop in order to get the bus to Downtown Disney to meet Lizzy, Amber and Emma. I grabbed all my things and had a brisk walk to get on the bus. It takes about 30 minutes to get there after going around all the stops on the way I think. I got off- had no idea where I was, but realised I needed to cross to the other side of the car park to get to DD. I was wearing a ¾ sleeve jacket and my ¾ floral trousers. I wasn’t uncomfortable at this point, but I came to regret my clothing decision on my way home later.
The girls arrived soon after and it was fantastic to see them all. We had a great dinner talking about all our adventures. You know they are true friends when you pick up like you haven’t spent a day apart and laugh away the hours. They were all a little tired from their big day at Universal but there company was extremely comforting. They are here for another 5 days so I am really looking forward to spending more time with them between my training and orientation meetings. We ate at a place called Bongos. I had some delicious fried rice with prawns, chicken, beef and an assortment of goodies. Extremely filling and I have seconds waiting in the fridge for me.
After dinner we wandered along DD looking in a few shops and stopping for a cup of tea at an Irish café type thing.
We headed our separate ways to find a way home. I got back to the bus stop and boy was that wind freezing. I was looking at everyone around me wrapped up in their winter coats- I looked like a bit of an idiot shivering in the corner. Finally the bus arrived and I raced on. We are the first stop on the homewards route so I got out and made my way back to our apartment and put on socks and a jumper. Turned on the heating too! My roommate was here too so I could meet her. Her name is Anne and she is here from Australia.
I have a drug test in the morning tomorrow, and then a house meeting in the early afternoon. My evening is free though so I might stay put in order to catch up with everyone back home as today I haven’t been able to connect to the internet until now. We find out our roles on Thursday, so another few days of suspense to make our ways through.
Love from a sleepy Colly (what someone thought my name was when I introduced myself).
We headed our separate ways to find a way home. I got back to the bus stop and boy was that wind freezing. I was looking at everyone around me wrapped up in their winter coats- I looked like a bit of an idiot shivering in the corner. Finally the bus arrived and I raced on. We are the first stop on the homewards route so I got out and made my way back to our apartment and put on socks and a jumper. Turned on the heating too! My roommate was here too so I could meet her. Her name is Anne and she is here from Australia.
I have a drug test in the morning tomorrow, and then a house meeting in the early afternoon. My evening is free though so I might stay put in order to catch up with everyone back home as today I haven’t been able to connect to the internet until now. We find out our roles on Thursday, so another few days of suspense to make our ways through.
Love from a sleepy Colly (what someone thought my name was when I introduced myself).