Sooooooo I have been home a month and a half but it feels like sooo much longer I swear. The first week or so it was so nice to be back and I literally couldn't wait to get home from Disney when I was leaving. Looking back, Disney really was a fantastic experience. All the amazing times and the yes really bad times too made it everything I wanted! I got some work experience and met some amazing people. I had a fantastic time living in Paris but the work wasn't so interesting that I wanted to stay, it made me realise I really wouldn't like to be in a job like that for the rest of my life. Plus I learnt a load of French which was just great :) So all in all everyhting I could have asked for.
About 10 days after being home I went to visit Gygy my Hungarian friend from Disney and stayed with her in Budapest. I had a fantastic time and stayed there for 6 days. It was actually the first time I had flown anywhere completely on my own but no glitches (ok I did get on the wrong bus on my way home and no-one seemed to speak English so I nearly missed my flight but lets not mention that) so I am feeling rather wise and travelled now... ok maybe not that much! We did so much in those days and I really couldn't have asked for anything more form Gygy she showed me everything, I really did have my own personal tour guide! I stayed in her university halls in Buda and we did lots of touristy things during the day. Everything was seriously cheap too which was a plus. Ok so I did get my purse stolen on the second day, that was a low point, BUT just by chance I didn't have any important cards in there or my passport and only some money so I had enough to last and I have just the other day got most of the money claimed back on my insurance so it didn't really matter. I was on the bus and it was crowded and my bag wasn't closed properley so it was my own fault really. Gygy was my translator at the police station and we had to write an official report it was quite an experience for my first time in a police station. In the evenings we did lots. We went to a folk dance and a belgian bar on the second night and then also to an amazing cruise trip down the river Danube with a buffet dinner and musicians. The view was amazing. Another night we saw Beauty and the Beast at a lovely theatre (we can't escape Disney!) which was in Hungarian but with English subtitles at the top of the stage. One night we went to a huge club called Morrisons (yes I know its like the supermarket, lol) which was an entire building with 4 floors or something. I think we counted it had 9 bars and who knows how many rooms. Each room had a different type of music playing so there was RnB, House, Pop, Indie, Cheesy, you name it it was there. There was a karaoke room too so me and Gygy sang 'Hit me baby one more time' for Disney memories of karaoke. I also went to some parties at her university which was really nice meeting all her friends. I could go on about Hungary forever but I never made a post when I got back so I must move on or this post will take up forever!
I've visited quite a few uni friends now I've stayed at Poppy's twice, been up to visit Jen in Sheffield over Halloween for a long weekend (we went all out a zombies it was great) and visited my sister for a few days and Kim for a few hours as she was nearby. Laura is at home so I have been seeing her quite a bit and we are off to see Kirsty in Bedford this weekend as I finally have a car again(YES!)and we are going to a silent disco which I am a bit too excited about as I love these sooo much. Ellie has been here too as she's on a gap year working so I've seen her a bit and we are going to watch the new Harry Potter on Firday, I cannot wait. Anyone who knows me know that I am a super Harry Potter geek so this will be my heaven. I spent a week working with Alexander during his halfterm which was lovely to see him as I missed his party so he showed me all his pictures and I found out a bit about his time at college. It was be really nice I'm seeing him again at xmas.
To add to that, Niek came to stay for a long weekend too and we really did pack everything in. Ok so we did see 3 muscials which I know is a bit unacceptabole but we both do acting and he reeaally wanted to see them and I wasn't complaining :P so we saw Oliver!, Legally Blonde and Mamma Mia! They were all great and whole less cheesy (or atleast bearably cheesy) than I thought they might be. We also went to Thorpe Park, Ripley's Believe it Or Not and London Dungeons with lots of half price tickets so we really did do loads. I was pretty exhausted by the end of all those days in London, but it was really fun I'm happy I saw Niek and Gygy since Disney and hopefully we will all 3 meet up next year too.
Wow so looking back at that it really does seem like loads, no wonder it feels longer than a month and a half, BUT even so I am verrry ready to move on to the next part of my gap year now. 3 months does feel like a long time at home and if there's one thing I hate its sitting around and doing nothing. I guess this is a good length of time to be at home because I have managed to catch up with my friends and do some other exciting things but it still feels like I often have days lounging around the house trying to find things to do. I did try to find xmas work but I arrived a bit late and all the major stuff seemed to be taken so I will hopefully earn a bit with Alexander. I also may be doing a couple of scratch play performances with NYT which would be amaaazing but I've yet to hear back so fingers crossed for that. I have booked my flight for Finland and am off on 3rd of January. Just to mention I am now officially going to martial arts academy in China for the summer, how crazy is that?! I should explain more about how I ended up doing this but this blog is so lengthy I think I will have to leave that discussion for another day. So for now I have had a bit of a break here in Enlgnd but am sooo ready for my next endevour so not long now!xxxxxxxx
Wednesday, 17 November 2010
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
The end is nigh!
I only have 10 days till I come home it is crazy! I have 5 work days left with 2 days at Steam and 3 at BTM. This month has been so much quieter than the 2 summer months which was always expected. 90% of the people I knew left so haven't really been partying it up anymore! I kind of liked the fact is was more relaxing though with the 3 days off (despite the 10 hours days!) and just relaxing when I'm home. Work seems to take up the whooole day here though as I will get up at 9 to get ready for work, then leave at 10 (stupide bus times) to get to costuming ready to start just before 12 and then I don't finish till 10 and by the time I get home its about 11.30!
Tiffany came to stay the other week and we spent one night in Paris togther and then one night in my apartment. It was soo nice to see her and forget about Disney for a bit. We did go to the park one day, but its always so different being a guest there when you are not working so it was nice to show her around. We spent the other two days in paris and actually got so much done. We weren't in a rush but we were very efficient we went to the flea market, Versailles, catacombs, orangerie museum, Shakespeare and co bookshop and latin quarter to name a few! The hotel room was nice aswell.
I've been sorting out stuff for leaving gradually, present shopping, attempting to get my eurostar tickets but failing miserably and my mum now has to send them from England which is annoying but can't be helped. I am on my 3rd day off today before back to work tommorrow, I went to Paris with Elisa yesterday and we went to the Paris science museum. It was happy hour apparently so we got student tickets for 3 euros and spent nearly all day there lol. We also went to a famous cemetary before and saw the graves of Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, Jim Morrison and Chopin. Afterwards we went to see the arch of La Defence which was huuuge and then headed back home in the evening. I am going to a swimming pool with lots of slides called Aquaboulevard today with a German girl from BTM which will make a nice change. Not really sure where it is but I guess I will will wait and see!
I had one really hard day at work on Steam near the beginning of the month when it was a aturday evening. We had changed to only having one train and there were around 47,000 guests in the park so this was no way enough and we ended up with 2 hour queues at every station! Needless to say we had plenty of guest situations and the guests were all just shouting and complaining for the 30 minutes I had to wait alone at each station. Was actually quite scary when you have 400 guests in a queue that you are in charge of and all of them are shouting at you! Not fun! Also when the train left Fantasyland station everyone actually started booing really loudly! Oh the lovely guests of Disney. I spoke to people on other attractions and they said it was the same with some of them having worked there for ages and had never seen the guests that bad! I hope I don't experience that again before I leave but I'm not working at a weekend again so I should be safe lol.
I have already started making plans for when I go home as the last thing I want to do is be bored and fed up, I am going to make the most of my time back in the Shire and have a break too as I have been working since I finished my last exam! I have already planned to visit Laura in Southampton, then I am going to Hungary for 6 days to see my firend Gygy from Disney. Also at the beginning of November Niek is coming to stay for a long weekend and we have booked tickets to go see Legally Blonde and Mamma mia which will be great :D I am really quite concerned about my money and all that though. I know I have enough right now till I leave but there is no way it will last the whole 3 months at home with everything I want to do and I still want to save some. I will have to find some kind of work as soon a sposs when I go home which will be difficult to work around everything else I want to do. I hope it all works out I will just have to keep searching untill I find something!
This last week I hope to do a lot more fun things and go out etc to party before I leave! I am definitely heading off to Paris for the night one last time and hopefully will have a party here in la Boiserie. My next post will probably be when I am back in England aaah can't wait! Definitely time to come home and 'rentre chez moi'. Kohta kotiin! xxxxxxxxxx
Tiffany came to stay the other week and we spent one night in Paris togther and then one night in my apartment. It was soo nice to see her and forget about Disney for a bit. We did go to the park one day, but its always so different being a guest there when you are not working so it was nice to show her around. We spent the other two days in paris and actually got so much done. We weren't in a rush but we were very efficient we went to the flea market, Versailles, catacombs, orangerie museum, Shakespeare and co bookshop and latin quarter to name a few! The hotel room was nice aswell.
I've been sorting out stuff for leaving gradually, present shopping, attempting to get my eurostar tickets but failing miserably and my mum now has to send them from England which is annoying but can't be helped. I am on my 3rd day off today before back to work tommorrow, I went to Paris with Elisa yesterday and we went to the Paris science museum. It was happy hour apparently so we got student tickets for 3 euros and spent nearly all day there lol. We also went to a famous cemetary before and saw the graves of Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, Jim Morrison and Chopin. Afterwards we went to see the arch of La Defence which was huuuge and then headed back home in the evening. I am going to a swimming pool with lots of slides called Aquaboulevard today with a German girl from BTM which will make a nice change. Not really sure where it is but I guess I will will wait and see!
I had one really hard day at work on Steam near the beginning of the month when it was a aturday evening. We had changed to only having one train and there were around 47,000 guests in the park so this was no way enough and we ended up with 2 hour queues at every station! Needless to say we had plenty of guest situations and the guests were all just shouting and complaining for the 30 minutes I had to wait alone at each station. Was actually quite scary when you have 400 guests in a queue that you are in charge of and all of them are shouting at you! Not fun! Also when the train left Fantasyland station everyone actually started booing really loudly! Oh the lovely guests of Disney. I spoke to people on other attractions and they said it was the same with some of them having worked there for ages and had never seen the guests that bad! I hope I don't experience that again before I leave but I'm not working at a weekend again so I should be safe lol.
I have already started making plans for when I go home as the last thing I want to do is be bored and fed up, I am going to make the most of my time back in the Shire and have a break too as I have been working since I finished my last exam! I have already planned to visit Laura in Southampton, then I am going to Hungary for 6 days to see my firend Gygy from Disney. Also at the beginning of November Niek is coming to stay for a long weekend and we have booked tickets to go see Legally Blonde and Mamma mia which will be great :D I am really quite concerned about my money and all that though. I know I have enough right now till I leave but there is no way it will last the whole 3 months at home with everything I want to do and I still want to save some. I will have to find some kind of work as soon a sposs when I go home which will be difficult to work around everything else I want to do. I hope it all works out I will just have to keep searching untill I find something!
This last week I hope to do a lot more fun things and go out etc to party before I leave! I am definitely heading off to Paris for the night one last time and hopefully will have a party here in la Boiserie. My next post will probably be when I am back in England aaah can't wait! Definitely time to come home and 'rentre chez moi'. Kohta kotiin! xxxxxxxxxx
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
The summer has ended and Disney continues
I've reached the 2 month mark and am still surviving the Disney experience ... just! Unfortunately I have been ill this last week so not sleeping very well and feeling lousy at work but it finally seems to be passing thank god! Lots of people at work have had the same thing.
Right I will try and start from the beginningish of the month and explain things in a vaguelly chronological way seeing as its been nearly a month since my last post! Hmmm Well there was results day which was strange being here so far away from it all, looking back I really should have booked a eurostar back for that day and taken some time off, silly Naomi! Not sure how I would have paid for that though to be fair. My Belgium friend Niek took me out to Cafe Mickey in the Disney Vilage though that eve and we had a really nice time, not quite school disco at Stonehouse but we had lots of fun taking pictures with the characters and generally being big kids. He is training to be an actor so we get on really well and seem to have lots on common :)
I have been out to Paris twice in the night this month. First time was at Duplex with a czech girl and then 3 people from work, my English friend Ben, Mikk the Estonian and Elisa a Finnish girl. We went on a Sunday so it wasn't too busy and overall a good night if a little crazy! Then a couple of weeks ago I went to a bar called Cafe Oz with Elisa again and my German friend Laura. It was a reeally cool australian bar which at night turns into a club. They push all the tables aside and everyone dances on the table and the drinks were reasonably cheap! It did close at 4.30am which did mean we were waiting for the first metro for an hour or so, but it worked out ok and had a really god night.
I did my training at BTM and it was very tough there are so many procedures etc. I much prefer Steam Train I have to say, ti definitely made me realise how attatched I am to the team there and I really like the job so whenever I am at BTM I am not too happy. I also may have pressed the wrong button when dispatching a train a caused the attraction to break down! They were not pleased at all and since I have only been on outside positions and not controlling! I am working there all this week though so they may give me a refresh or somehting. I have my hours up to 16th now and I am thinking I will come back end of Sept instead of extending to Oct. I am enjoying it here but I have thought of lots of things to do at home before I go to Finland in January and one person can only take so much Disney! Tiffany said she can hopefully come see me this month too which would be loverly!
As the summer is over and the peak season has ended I have started 10 hours of work a day with 3 days off. I have only done one day that long so far and it really took up the whole day. I woke up for work at 9 and then didn't get home till after 9 in the eve. Another day off though will be nice, I will try and do some more touristy things in Paris. Almost all my friends have left because they were only staying the summer so I have had to say goodbye to so many people which is sad, especially the people I am closest to. I have already planned to go see my Hungairan friend in Budapest when I am back home and Niek wants to come to London which would be great. It was so strange at work as there is usually 20 of us working and there were only 10 instead!
This also means that I have had to move residence as I was staying in a hotel before that was being used only for the summer as the Disney residences were full. I have now moved into the Boisserie a fulltime Disney resdince and arrived today. I am with an Italien girl and 2 French girls so will be speaking French at home all the time too which will be a great intense French experience for the last month when I really want to keep getting better before I leave. I haven't actually met the two French girls yet but the apartment is really nice. It may not be the 4 star hotel but ti is a lot cosier and ther is lots of space. I am lucky because some people have apartments of 6 but we are only 4. There is a really big room with Kitchen, liunge and Dining room in it, then two doors lead of to two corridoors each with a bathroom and bedroom for 2. There are lots of bits and bobs everywhere and it seems really like I home so I think my roommate may have lived in the apartment for a long time as I know the other Italien arrived today like me and she says her roommate has only been here 2 months, I will ask her when I meet her. It really reminds me of my aunt Anne's flat in Finland, all open plan and lots of trinkets everywhere. I could see myself living happily here. Also my Spanish and Finnish work friends are at the same residence as they are 2 of the 3 short contract people who are staying on at work because they are doing 6 month contracts which finish end of Sept. That makes it nice and I went to the supermarket earlier with Elsa earlier.
I will try and get to bed now it is neary 11(I'm alone in the apartment atm), as I have a loong day at work tomorrow and want to feel better for that! Night night England not too long till I see you dear xxxx
Right I will try and start from the beginningish of the month and explain things in a vaguelly chronological way seeing as its been nearly a month since my last post! Hmmm Well there was results day which was strange being here so far away from it all, looking back I really should have booked a eurostar back for that day and taken some time off, silly Naomi! Not sure how I would have paid for that though to be fair. My Belgium friend Niek took me out to Cafe Mickey in the Disney Vilage though that eve and we had a really nice time, not quite school disco at Stonehouse but we had lots of fun taking pictures with the characters and generally being big kids. He is training to be an actor so we get on really well and seem to have lots on common :)
I have been out to Paris twice in the night this month. First time was at Duplex with a czech girl and then 3 people from work, my English friend Ben, Mikk the Estonian and Elisa a Finnish girl. We went on a Sunday so it wasn't too busy and overall a good night if a little crazy! Then a couple of weeks ago I went to a bar called Cafe Oz with Elisa again and my German friend Laura. It was a reeally cool australian bar which at night turns into a club. They push all the tables aside and everyone dances on the table and the drinks were reasonably cheap! It did close at 4.30am which did mean we were waiting for the first metro for an hour or so, but it worked out ok and had a really god night.
I did my training at BTM and it was very tough there are so many procedures etc. I much prefer Steam Train I have to say, ti definitely made me realise how attatched I am to the team there and I really like the job so whenever I am at BTM I am not too happy. I also may have pressed the wrong button when dispatching a train a caused the attraction to break down! They were not pleased at all and since I have only been on outside positions and not controlling! I am working there all this week though so they may give me a refresh or somehting. I have my hours up to 16th now and I am thinking I will come back end of Sept instead of extending to Oct. I am enjoying it here but I have thought of lots of things to do at home before I go to Finland in January and one person can only take so much Disney! Tiffany said she can hopefully come see me this month too which would be loverly!
As the summer is over and the peak season has ended I have started 10 hours of work a day with 3 days off. I have only done one day that long so far and it really took up the whole day. I woke up for work at 9 and then didn't get home till after 9 in the eve. Another day off though will be nice, I will try and do some more touristy things in Paris. Almost all my friends have left because they were only staying the summer so I have had to say goodbye to so many people which is sad, especially the people I am closest to. I have already planned to go see my Hungairan friend in Budapest when I am back home and Niek wants to come to London which would be great. It was so strange at work as there is usually 20 of us working and there were only 10 instead!
This also means that I have had to move residence as I was staying in a hotel before that was being used only for the summer as the Disney residences were full. I have now moved into the Boisserie a fulltime Disney resdince and arrived today. I am with an Italien girl and 2 French girls so will be speaking French at home all the time too which will be a great intense French experience for the last month when I really want to keep getting better before I leave. I haven't actually met the two French girls yet but the apartment is really nice. It may not be the 4 star hotel but ti is a lot cosier and ther is lots of space. I am lucky because some people have apartments of 6 but we are only 4. There is a really big room with Kitchen, liunge and Dining room in it, then two doors lead of to two corridoors each with a bathroom and bedroom for 2. There are lots of bits and bobs everywhere and it seems really like I home so I think my roommate may have lived in the apartment for a long time as I know the other Italien arrived today like me and she says her roommate has only been here 2 months, I will ask her when I meet her. It really reminds me of my aunt Anne's flat in Finland, all open plan and lots of trinkets everywhere. I could see myself living happily here. Also my Spanish and Finnish work friends are at the same residence as they are 2 of the 3 short contract people who are staying on at work because they are doing 6 month contracts which finish end of Sept. That makes it nice and I went to the supermarket earlier with Elsa earlier.
I will try and get to bed now it is neary 11(I'm alone in the apartment atm), as I have a loong day at work tomorrow and want to feel better for that! Night night England not too long till I see you dear xxxx
Thursday, 5 August 2010
Steam Train uniform
So many people have asked to see it so here it finally is. One is costuming at I Imagination building with the sexy hat and one on Mainstreet station in my 1st week.
1 month of Disney!
I am now in my 5th week at Disney and much has happened since I last posted!
The more I work here, the more I like the job that I am doing. I have been out with the team quite a few times now and they really are a lovely group of people. I understand the job quite well now and though I still make mistakes every now and again I definitely know what I am doing overall. Saying that, yesterday I opened the station at Discoveryland too early, I looked like some mad woman running to catch up with the long queue of guests to stop them getting into the station!
Next week I am being moved to Big Thunder Mountain to do 5 days of training there so that I can work on that attraction too. I'm not sure how I feel about this. Overall it is good to be moving onto others things especially as I am here for longer than almost all the other people my age who leave in August, but even so I don't want to work on the Steam Train less haha. I really have become attatched to those trains! Plus everytime I have told one of the older workers that I am going to BTM (Disneylingo for Big Thunder Mountain) they all say how hard it is and how the group isn't very good and its very stressful! I remember how hard the first times at Steam were and I dread to think what this will be like! BUT it is a good oportunity to practise my French even more and learn new vocab and I guess a challenge is always good so I will update on that when I have finished it. The cowboy costume is miles better anyways :)
I have been to karaoke 3 times now and I love it lol, it s atradition now and I'm a bit of a regular. First time I sang YMCA with a group of us. Then 2nd week we sang Spice Girls Wannabe and I sang A Whole New World with a Hungarian friend and Spanish friend, which was quite a treat I'm sure! Last monday it was the goodbye of my Spanish friend Pere who has finished his contract already so there were about 30 of us there in the end and I sang Its Raining Men as a duet with him haha, first up and everything! Its really sad he's gone he always cheered up Main Street station.
My roommate Sophie left last week too because of problems with a friend back home, which was soooo sad because she was my closest friend here. Its very quiet in the room without her and I miss having her around but its kind of got me to go out with more different people and I am especially good friend's with a Hungarian girl from Steam called GyGy :)
I went out a lot last week actually as it was also an English guiys birthday and then I also went to Paris 'clubbing' for the night with some girls. That was a complete disaster as we never actually got in the club. We went to some guys apartment which was like a millionaire's flat and really surreal with these really god looking guys and velvet carpets, chinese vases and paintings, with opera programmes just strewn around the floor. Then one of them turned out to be a professional musician and serenaded us. Turned out they didn't want to go clubbing with us in the end and my friend was feeling pretty rough so we lef tin the end but did go and try to find the club. The station entrance was closed though so we found another club but weren't allowed in! It was 2.30 by this point so I don't know if it was too late or if they'd thought we'd drunk too much or what but it was so bad. We had to get a taxi to the bus station (though the view of Paris as we drove in the night was BEAUTIFUL) then we got a night bus for 2 hours where my friend got off at the wrong stop for her hotel and had to wait 2 more hours alone for the first train! Then the other 3 of us finally got to Val D'Europe the near by town and had to walk from there to home. We finally stumbled in at 6am. I wasted sooo much money on travel but atleast it was a story to remember!
I am seeing my parents and Yasmin next week yaaaay :D I can't wait and best of all is I have one day off when they are here! I only found that out today as I was doing training on BTM so thought it would be impossible to swap but it's all worked out :) They arrive on 10th and will go to the park free with my tickets I get then I will meet them there after work. 11th I will meet them in Paris after work and stay the night there then I have the next day off to spend in Paris with them. I feel rather out of touch with everything back home so it will be so nice to see them. Plus I have a million and one things I want my mum to bring for the next 3 months and I need to give her some stuff back so that is always useful! I will be shattered that week though with doing the training aswell.
I also now have 19th August off as my Germnan friend wanted to swap a dfferent day with me. This kind of works for me with it being A level results day and all :/ Even though I am abroud I have thought about it quite a lot, but all I can do is wait I guess, my sister and mum will go get them at 10.
I'll end my update here as its 11 and I'm chatting it up in reception so night night England. Lots of love from Paris xxxx
The more I work here, the more I like the job that I am doing. I have been out with the team quite a few times now and they really are a lovely group of people. I understand the job quite well now and though I still make mistakes every now and again I definitely know what I am doing overall. Saying that, yesterday I opened the station at Discoveryland too early, I looked like some mad woman running to catch up with the long queue of guests to stop them getting into the station!
Next week I am being moved to Big Thunder Mountain to do 5 days of training there so that I can work on that attraction too. I'm not sure how I feel about this. Overall it is good to be moving onto others things especially as I am here for longer than almost all the other people my age who leave in August, but even so I don't want to work on the Steam Train less haha. I really have become attatched to those trains! Plus everytime I have told one of the older workers that I am going to BTM (Disneylingo for Big Thunder Mountain) they all say how hard it is and how the group isn't very good and its very stressful! I remember how hard the first times at Steam were and I dread to think what this will be like! BUT it is a good oportunity to practise my French even more and learn new vocab and I guess a challenge is always good so I will update on that when I have finished it. The cowboy costume is miles better anyways :)
I have been to karaoke 3 times now and I love it lol, it s atradition now and I'm a bit of a regular. First time I sang YMCA with a group of us. Then 2nd week we sang Spice Girls Wannabe and I sang A Whole New World with a Hungarian friend and Spanish friend, which was quite a treat I'm sure! Last monday it was the goodbye of my Spanish friend Pere who has finished his contract already so there were about 30 of us there in the end and I sang Its Raining Men as a duet with him haha, first up and everything! Its really sad he's gone he always cheered up Main Street station.
My roommate Sophie left last week too because of problems with a friend back home, which was soooo sad because she was my closest friend here. Its very quiet in the room without her and I miss having her around but its kind of got me to go out with more different people and I am especially good friend's with a Hungarian girl from Steam called GyGy :)
I went out a lot last week actually as it was also an English guiys birthday and then I also went to Paris 'clubbing' for the night with some girls. That was a complete disaster as we never actually got in the club. We went to some guys apartment which was like a millionaire's flat and really surreal with these really god looking guys and velvet carpets, chinese vases and paintings, with opera programmes just strewn around the floor. Then one of them turned out to be a professional musician and serenaded us. Turned out they didn't want to go clubbing with us in the end and my friend was feeling pretty rough so we lef tin the end but did go and try to find the club. The station entrance was closed though so we found another club but weren't allowed in! It was 2.30 by this point so I don't know if it was too late or if they'd thought we'd drunk too much or what but it was so bad. We had to get a taxi to the bus station (though the view of Paris as we drove in the night was BEAUTIFUL) then we got a night bus for 2 hours where my friend got off at the wrong stop for her hotel and had to wait 2 more hours alone for the first train! Then the other 3 of us finally got to Val D'Europe the near by town and had to walk from there to home. We finally stumbled in at 6am. I wasted sooo much money on travel but atleast it was a story to remember!
I am seeing my parents and Yasmin next week yaaaay :D I can't wait and best of all is I have one day off when they are here! I only found that out today as I was doing training on BTM so thought it would be impossible to swap but it's all worked out :) They arrive on 10th and will go to the park free with my tickets I get then I will meet them there after work. 11th I will meet them in Paris after work and stay the night there then I have the next day off to spend in Paris with them. I feel rather out of touch with everything back home so it will be so nice to see them. Plus I have a million and one things I want my mum to bring for the next 3 months and I need to give her some stuff back so that is always useful! I will be shattered that week though with doing the training aswell.
I also now have 19th August off as my Germnan friend wanted to swap a dfferent day with me. This kind of works for me with it being A level results day and all :/ Even though I am abroud I have thought about it quite a lot, but all I can do is wait I guess, my sister and mum will go get them at 10.
I'll end my update here as its 11 and I'm chatting it up in reception so night night England. Lots of love from Paris xxxx
Sunday, 18 July 2010
Paris Je t'aime
3 weeks in France now and still so long to go! I've given in my letter asking to stay untill the end of October and they said it should more or less definitely be ok.
I'm trying to remember all the things I've done since I last updated a couple of weeks back I have 2 days off at the moment and I don't think I will be able to recount the events in any particular order so I'll just have to try and remember what I can!
In terms of work, the job has got a lot better than the first few days. It no longer seems in possible like it used to and I'm even understanding some of the things that are said to me on the phone and walkie talkies lol. I use the codes whenever I can! I still have problems with opening and closing stations and pannic when I'm asked to do safety checks. I had to go and do crossing control the other day which was going to the road that crosses over the trains tracks and control the parade that goes over the tracks, telling the trains when they can and can't use each station. That was definitely tough with the walkie toalkie and I made quite a few mistakes but I think I'll be ok the next time I do it its just a case of practising. I put my first train away in the garage aswell which went fine I changed all the train track switches correctly and no crashes! I'm getting on really well with the new people who started Steam Train the same time as me there are so many of us from Finland, England, Spain, Germany, Hungary, Sweden, Estonia and more. Most of the older ones are really nice too they like to tease me quite a lot which is funny, like making me jump when I'm doing announcements or speaking to me on the walkie talkie when they're actually behind me to confuse me lol, but they're really nice and only joking! I get my own back when I can! I worked 3 days of closing last week till 10.30pm and I have the same next week, I much prefer the mornings to be fair but atleast I'm getting lots of practise of it!
Now what have I done outside work?? Well I've been to the park A LOT, its free, fun and you get to see the people you know who work there so I'm not sick of it yet! I went to Paris for the first time since I got here last weekend with a Spanish freind Juan and we were proper tourists and went to all the sights. We went to a sushi restaurant for lunch which was heaven becasue I hadn't had it since we arrived. In the evening we watched the world cup with more Spanish people in front of the Eiffel Tower which was rather magical and just a bit busy! I've been to the Sports bar in the Disney Village quite a lot aswell, my Friend Ollie from England came to stay for a few days at the park so I saw him at the bar which was lovely and then we went shopping the next day so I could get him discounts on merchandise. I keep meaning to go clubbing in Paris for the night as most poeple have done so far but I haven't had a chance yet really so hopefully next week. I've been to the Disney I max twice and seen Twilight and Toy Story 3, both in French which was quite odd with the dubbing but still good. I went for a run this morning, the first bit of exercise I've done since I go there and it was hell, I crawled back into the hotel after 20 minutes rather embarrasing! I'll try and go tomorrow and keep it up more often from now on! I have another day off tomorrow before I work again so I'm going to Val D'Europe for food shopping which I desperately need to do and might even do some clothes shopping in the sales. Its Karaoke night at the bar in the evening so will be going there with the Stram Train Crew which will be funny. There'only one washing maching here which costs 5 euros and it literally took me 5 days of going there and back till it was finally free, I even went there at 2 am and it was busy! Finally all done though and I have clean clothes again. Still waiting for the cleaners to change our sheets for the first time, I wish they'de hurry up its been a while.
Hmmmm I think that's all to say really, I'm sure there's more but I'll never remember it all. I have tough days and I have great days which is always expected. Its getting better at work all the time as I understand more and more so I've just got to keep going when I really don't understand! I love the whole experience of this all and my french has definitely got better already which I'm so happy about, I WILL be fluent after 4 months, I keep telling myself!
Love to everyone and I'll update sooooon (Well as soon as I have the energy anyway!)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I'm trying to remember all the things I've done since I last updated a couple of weeks back I have 2 days off at the moment and I don't think I will be able to recount the events in any particular order so I'll just have to try and remember what I can!
In terms of work, the job has got a lot better than the first few days. It no longer seems in possible like it used to and I'm even understanding some of the things that are said to me on the phone and walkie talkies lol. I use the codes whenever I can! I still have problems with opening and closing stations and pannic when I'm asked to do safety checks. I had to go and do crossing control the other day which was going to the road that crosses over the trains tracks and control the parade that goes over the tracks, telling the trains when they can and can't use each station. That was definitely tough with the walkie toalkie and I made quite a few mistakes but I think I'll be ok the next time I do it its just a case of practising. I put my first train away in the garage aswell which went fine I changed all the train track switches correctly and no crashes! I'm getting on really well with the new people who started Steam Train the same time as me there are so many of us from Finland, England, Spain, Germany, Hungary, Sweden, Estonia and more. Most of the older ones are really nice too they like to tease me quite a lot which is funny, like making me jump when I'm doing announcements or speaking to me on the walkie talkie when they're actually behind me to confuse me lol, but they're really nice and only joking! I get my own back when I can! I worked 3 days of closing last week till 10.30pm and I have the same next week, I much prefer the mornings to be fair but atleast I'm getting lots of practise of it!
Now what have I done outside work?? Well I've been to the park A LOT, its free, fun and you get to see the people you know who work there so I'm not sick of it yet! I went to Paris for the first time since I got here last weekend with a Spanish freind Juan and we were proper tourists and went to all the sights. We went to a sushi restaurant for lunch which was heaven becasue I hadn't had it since we arrived. In the evening we watched the world cup with more Spanish people in front of the Eiffel Tower which was rather magical and just a bit busy! I've been to the Sports bar in the Disney Village quite a lot aswell, my Friend Ollie from England came to stay for a few days at the park so I saw him at the bar which was lovely and then we went shopping the next day so I could get him discounts on merchandise. I keep meaning to go clubbing in Paris for the night as most poeple have done so far but I haven't had a chance yet really so hopefully next week. I've been to the Disney I max twice and seen Twilight and Toy Story 3, both in French which was quite odd with the dubbing but still good. I went for a run this morning, the first bit of exercise I've done since I go there and it was hell, I crawled back into the hotel after 20 minutes rather embarrasing! I'll try and go tomorrow and keep it up more often from now on! I have another day off tomorrow before I work again so I'm going to Val D'Europe for food shopping which I desperately need to do and might even do some clothes shopping in the sales. Its Karaoke night at the bar in the evening so will be going there with the Stram Train Crew which will be funny. There'only one washing maching here which costs 5 euros and it literally took me 5 days of going there and back till it was finally free, I even went there at 2 am and it was busy! Finally all done though and I have clean clothes again. Still waiting for the cleaners to change our sheets for the first time, I wish they'de hurry up its been a while.
Hmmmm I think that's all to say really, I'm sure there's more but I'll never remember it all. I have tough days and I have great days which is always expected. Its getting better at work all the time as I understand more and more so I've just got to keep going when I really don't understand! I love the whole experience of this all and my french has definitely got better already which I'm so happy about, I WILL be fluent after 4 months, I keep telling myself!
Love to everyone and I'll update sooooon (Well as soon as I have the energy anyway!)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Monday, 5 July 2010
The First Week
So I've been meaning to write on here pretty much since the day I've arrived but I've been either too tired or busy to do so but really have no excuse now as I have a day off, especially as I hear Matt has been checking up often :)
Ok where to start?? I think for the first week it would be easiest to go through day by day as it feels like so much has happened and so I can give a general explanation of what everything is like. I'm settling in here nicely and have met lots of lovely people, the language is definitely a shock though when it comes to working!
sooooo....
Day 1: I was a little nervous travelling there as I was quite scared about getting lost or messing up when I changed trains but there were absolutely no problems. There were tons of kids screaming about going to Disney on the Eurostar for 2 and half hours but I suppose I'd better get used to that! When we got there we had a mini orientation about work and then got sent straight to accomodation. In the summer months they hire loads more people so we are staying in temporary accomodation which is actually a 4 star hotel! We were all shocked when we arrived because the place is sooo nice and nothing like what we expected! I am in an apartment with 2 other English girls. At first I thought it would have been good to be with French people to practise my language even more but I've found that after a ten hour day at the park it really is nice to be able to speak in your own language. The apartment is all open planned so almost like one big room and looks quite Finnish with wooden floors etc. We are on the bottom floor so have glass doors to go outside which makes it nice and easy to go outside and sunbathe whenever. That's another thing ....THE HEAT! Ok so I've never been to even a vaguely warm country so this I'm finding it really hard to cope with 35 degrees all day but have actually managed not to burn yet (thankyou factor 50 sunblock) but my roommate has already had sunstroke twice and I have no idea how I won't collapse working outside in costume! We didn't do much the first night just walked to Val D'Europe (The town where I live) and did some food shopping for the week. Also I have the only double bed in the apartment, we drew names out of a hat and I won wooo.
Day 2: Tuesday was a day of Disney traditions where two enthusiastic castmembers taught us all about the past, present and future of Disney, one dressed up as Aladdin and another as some evil guy which was rather odd. They also taught us how to draw Mickey mouse properley, I'm not sure exactly how that will help me but it was fun anyway!
Day 3: We had a lecture (We all fell asleep in almost every single one of these) on the advantages we'll get at Disney like ridiculously cheap food (my dinner costs about 70 cents) and free park entry and transport. Then we went to costuming, as I'm doing a double contract with attractions and spectacles I'm doing training for attractions first so my costume atm is for the Steam Train attraction which does a tour of the whole park haha. They're very strict about taking photos backstage but I will try to ge t a friend to take a photo while I am working it is quite hilarious with conductor's hat and all. We also had a tour of the park and watched one of the outdoor shows. At the moment I am working in Frontierland I really need to try and learn how to get round the park better! In the evening me and my roommates went to 3 Finnish girls' room (there are literally sooooo many Finns here I know atleast 15 already) and had some wine whilst watching the Disney fireworks from their wondow aaah, it was rather lovely.
Day 4: We had a rigorous medical check this morning with drugs tests, full body checks and all which was more than a bit unpleasant but I guess it has to be done! After that we were free 'till 2 so me and Sopie thought it would be a good idea to walk into town. ! and half hours later we were completely lost and Sophie had sunstroke and couldn't really stand up. What a disaster! After a load of rushing around we just about made it back for the security talk in the afternoon but Sophie went home to sleep. In the evening was the cast member summer party which was pretty incredible. There's 13,000 castmembers and most of them turned up. It was like a mini festival with some creative things to do and tents everywhere with all the free food and drinks you could want. Then there was a big performance with singers and dancers and after the whle place outdoors turned into an enormous club of 10,000 people with 2 DJ decks put on stage and lasted till 2am. I don';t think I'll ever go to a staff party that extravagent again and with that many people .... but then again, it is Disney!
Day 4: Friday was meant to be my first day of work but I actually have a day off already! I went to Val D'europe with Sophie and Clare my roommates who were also off and then went to the park and went on Buzzlightyear lazer quest which I am absolutely rubbish at and then Space Mountain which is probably my favourite ride. When we got home we cooked a meal for the boys living down the corridoor from us who are Juan from Spain Yohann from France and Harvey, who is Sophie's brother. It actually was quite a success I made a salad (got out of the hard task), Clare made the main of pasta and Sophie did icecream and strawberry's for dessert. We had 3 bottles of wine to go with it of course. After that we went o a bit of a party upstairs but we have to be quite careful about noise here because there are also guests from the parj staying here for just a couple of days each. At the other permanent residences aparently it is a real party atmosphere with noise up to 5am every night but I guess we get the luxury apartments so we can't complain!
Day 5: Saturday was my 1st day of work and oh my god it was soooo hard! I'm working on Steam Train at the moment and I worked for 10 hours from 9.50 to 7.30 with getting up 2 hours before to get ready then go to casting a change and find the actual backstage area. Everyone was friendly but they are all either French or completely fluent. I met an English boy and a Finnish girl at my work which is good but haven't really had a chance to work with them yet. There is so so much to learn and I was being inducted with a French guy who had no problem understanding ofcourse but the lkanguage was so technical and it was impossible to remember when I was hearing it all in French. I did ask when I felt I could but it was impossible to ask about everything. We were shown how to safety check the trains, then how to change the tracks and get them out of the garages in the morning and shown all the different station and our job in each area. There are loads of forms to fill out each day in French which will be really hard to do. We are all given walkie talkies which I struggle to hear in English so are even harder in French and also when on the attractions everyone speaks in code which I will have to learn. For example to say 'the train is open' is 10.08 and 'closed' is 10.07. The train is working on a two train basis is '105' and the train is broken is '102'. I think 54 means there is a bomb suspexcted or something lol There is a list of dozens. Hearibng a list of numbers on a wlakie talkie in French really quickly and reacting to it imediately but I just really how it all somehow clicks. It might all sound a but impossible now but all I can do is try my best and keep working to try and understand. I was shattered when I got home.
Day 6: Sunday I had off again lol so didn't have to work for long so I slept in (which I really needed as I've got up before 7 every day since I've arrived) and then went to the park with Yohann and a Spanish girl Marianna. We went on Phantom Manor, Pirates of the Carribean and Indiana Jones before I met Sophie at the Imagination building backstage for dinner. At night we watched th Disney parade and fieworks which were beauuutiful then some of us went to the Disney Village. We planned to go to the Sports bar but by the time we had wandered around it was gone 12 and we needed to get the last bus back so I'm sure we'll go another day.
Day 7: Finally! Monday, today, is my last day off before I have 5 days of hardcore work which will hopefully be more of a success than the first day. I slept in again (last chance to!) then walked into Val D'Europe with Harvey and Yohann before meeting Sophie again for dinner. I'm in the reception now finishing this off awaiting a 6.45 wake up for work tomorrow. I'll probably post my next blog after my next few days of work to let you know how its all going and hopefully I'll let you know about all the improvements I've made ... I hope. After 3 days I have a test to see if I'm capable of working on my own which I have to do well in or else.
I think that's all the major things I wanted to explain, overall I am really happy with how it has all gone so far and its a really sociable job and if there's anyway I'm going to learn French I guess its by throwing me into the deep end! And so it begins ...
Ok where to start?? I think for the first week it would be easiest to go through day by day as it feels like so much has happened and so I can give a general explanation of what everything is like. I'm settling in here nicely and have met lots of lovely people, the language is definitely a shock though when it comes to working!
sooooo....
Day 1: I was a little nervous travelling there as I was quite scared about getting lost or messing up when I changed trains but there were absolutely no problems. There were tons of kids screaming about going to Disney on the Eurostar for 2 and half hours but I suppose I'd better get used to that! When we got there we had a mini orientation about work and then got sent straight to accomodation. In the summer months they hire loads more people so we are staying in temporary accomodation which is actually a 4 star hotel! We were all shocked when we arrived because the place is sooo nice and nothing like what we expected! I am in an apartment with 2 other English girls. At first I thought it would have been good to be with French people to practise my language even more but I've found that after a ten hour day at the park it really is nice to be able to speak in your own language. The apartment is all open planned so almost like one big room and looks quite Finnish with wooden floors etc. We are on the bottom floor so have glass doors to go outside which makes it nice and easy to go outside and sunbathe whenever. That's another thing ....THE HEAT! Ok so I've never been to even a vaguely warm country so this I'm finding it really hard to cope with 35 degrees all day but have actually managed not to burn yet (thankyou factor 50 sunblock) but my roommate has already had sunstroke twice and I have no idea how I won't collapse working outside in costume! We didn't do much the first night just walked to Val D'Europe (The town where I live) and did some food shopping for the week. Also I have the only double bed in the apartment, we drew names out of a hat and I won wooo.
Day 2: Tuesday was a day of Disney traditions where two enthusiastic castmembers taught us all about the past, present and future of Disney, one dressed up as Aladdin and another as some evil guy which was rather odd. They also taught us how to draw Mickey mouse properley, I'm not sure exactly how that will help me but it was fun anyway!
Day 3: We had a lecture (We all fell asleep in almost every single one of these) on the advantages we'll get at Disney like ridiculously cheap food (my dinner costs about 70 cents) and free park entry and transport. Then we went to costuming, as I'm doing a double contract with attractions and spectacles I'm doing training for attractions first so my costume atm is for the Steam Train attraction which does a tour of the whole park haha. They're very strict about taking photos backstage but I will try to ge t a friend to take a photo while I am working it is quite hilarious with conductor's hat and all. We also had a tour of the park and watched one of the outdoor shows. At the moment I am working in Frontierland I really need to try and learn how to get round the park better! In the evening me and my roommates went to 3 Finnish girls' room (there are literally sooooo many Finns here I know atleast 15 already) and had some wine whilst watching the Disney fireworks from their wondow aaah, it was rather lovely.
Day 4: We had a rigorous medical check this morning with drugs tests, full body checks and all which was more than a bit unpleasant but I guess it has to be done! After that we were free 'till 2 so me and Sopie thought it would be a good idea to walk into town. ! and half hours later we were completely lost and Sophie had sunstroke and couldn't really stand up. What a disaster! After a load of rushing around we just about made it back for the security talk in the afternoon but Sophie went home to sleep. In the evening was the cast member summer party which was pretty incredible. There's 13,000 castmembers and most of them turned up. It was like a mini festival with some creative things to do and tents everywhere with all the free food and drinks you could want. Then there was a big performance with singers and dancers and after the whle place outdoors turned into an enormous club of 10,000 people with 2 DJ decks put on stage and lasted till 2am. I don';t think I'll ever go to a staff party that extravagent again and with that many people .... but then again, it is Disney!
Day 4: Friday was meant to be my first day of work but I actually have a day off already! I went to Val D'europe with Sophie and Clare my roommates who were also off and then went to the park and went on Buzzlightyear lazer quest which I am absolutely rubbish at and then Space Mountain which is probably my favourite ride. When we got home we cooked a meal for the boys living down the corridoor from us who are Juan from Spain Yohann from France and Harvey, who is Sophie's brother. It actually was quite a success I made a salad (got out of the hard task), Clare made the main of pasta and Sophie did icecream and strawberry's for dessert. We had 3 bottles of wine to go with it of course. After that we went o a bit of a party upstairs but we have to be quite careful about noise here because there are also guests from the parj staying here for just a couple of days each. At the other permanent residences aparently it is a real party atmosphere with noise up to 5am every night but I guess we get the luxury apartments so we can't complain!
Day 5: Saturday was my 1st day of work and oh my god it was soooo hard! I'm working on Steam Train at the moment and I worked for 10 hours from 9.50 to 7.30 with getting up 2 hours before to get ready then go to casting a change and find the actual backstage area. Everyone was friendly but they are all either French or completely fluent. I met an English boy and a Finnish girl at my work which is good but haven't really had a chance to work with them yet. There is so so much to learn and I was being inducted with a French guy who had no problem understanding ofcourse but the lkanguage was so technical and it was impossible to remember when I was hearing it all in French. I did ask when I felt I could but it was impossible to ask about everything. We were shown how to safety check the trains, then how to change the tracks and get them out of the garages in the morning and shown all the different station and our job in each area. There are loads of forms to fill out each day in French which will be really hard to do. We are all given walkie talkies which I struggle to hear in English so are even harder in French and also when on the attractions everyone speaks in code which I will have to learn. For example to say 'the train is open' is 10.08 and 'closed' is 10.07. The train is working on a two train basis is '105' and the train is broken is '102'. I think 54 means there is a bomb suspexcted or something lol There is a list of dozens. Hearibng a list of numbers on a wlakie talkie in French really quickly and reacting to it imediately but I just really how it all somehow clicks. It might all sound a but impossible now but all I can do is try my best and keep working to try and understand. I was shattered when I got home.
Day 6: Sunday I had off again lol so didn't have to work for long so I slept in (which I really needed as I've got up before 7 every day since I've arrived) and then went to the park with Yohann and a Spanish girl Marianna. We went on Phantom Manor, Pirates of the Carribean and Indiana Jones before I met Sophie at the Imagination building backstage for dinner. At night we watched th Disney parade and fieworks which were beauuutiful then some of us went to the Disney Village. We planned to go to the Sports bar but by the time we had wandered around it was gone 12 and we needed to get the last bus back so I'm sure we'll go another day.
Day 7: Finally! Monday, today, is my last day off before I have 5 days of hardcore work which will hopefully be more of a success than the first day. I slept in again (last chance to!) then walked into Val D'Europe with Harvey and Yohann before meeting Sophie again for dinner. I'm in the reception now finishing this off awaiting a 6.45 wake up for work tomorrow. I'll probably post my next blog after my next few days of work to let you know how its all going and hopefully I'll let you know about all the improvements I've made ... I hope. After 3 days I have a test to see if I'm capable of working on my own which I have to do well in or else.
I think that's all the major things I wanted to explain, overall I am really happy with how it has all gone so far and its a really sociable job and if there's anyway I'm going to learn French I guess its by throwing me into the deep end! And so it begins ...
Sunday, 27 June 2010
Leaving tomorrow!
So I've packed almost everything and I'm off on the Eurostar tomorrow! I am seriously concerned about the amount of stuff I am going to have to haul around. I have a reeaally heavy suitcase and holdall, not to mention some smaller bags.. oh dear. My main concern is finding the actual building when I get there and buying a ticket for the right train when I have to change. I'm excited about meeting my room mates and I've looked at the weather forecast for the next couple of weeks and looks to be about 35 degrees most days! I AM GOING TO BURN!
I had a lovely barbeque with my close friends on Friday night and it made me realise how much I really am going to miss them. I know I'm not going for a year straightaway but it does feel like the end of an era with everyone starting uni and knowing I won't see them much this year as I'm abroad most of the time. They gave me some lovely presents which I will take with me :)
I'd better be off now to finish my packing, I knew I would leave stuff 'till last minute, typical. My next post will be from Disney! I'll post some photos up as soon as possible aswell!
I had a lovely barbeque with my close friends on Friday night and it made me realise how much I really am going to miss them. I know I'm not going for a year straightaway but it does feel like the end of an era with everyone starting uni and knowing I won't see them much this year as I'm abroad most of the time. They gave me some lovely presents which I will take with me :)
I'd better be off now to finish my packing, I knew I would leave stuff 'till last minute, typical. My next post will be from Disney! I'll post some photos up as soon as possible aswell!
Saturday, 12 June 2010
First stop Disneyland Paris
So I'm off to the city of love in 2 weeks! People keep asking me if I'm nervous and I keep saying 'a bit' just automatically, but if I really think about it, I'm not really nervous at all yet. Honestly I really can't wait. I mean, I'm going to France - a place I love, I'm going to be living near Paris -an amazing city and I'm working in Disneyland - where dreams come true! How could I not be excited?! I still have two Alevels left next week so unfortunately still studying for those but as soon as they're over I'll be shopping and packing to my hearts content. My hopes for France are to come back A LOT better at French than I am at the moment, hopefully make some lovely friends and if at all possible bring some money back too but we'll see how that goes! I hope this experience will be all that I am hoping for, I am NOT going to waste this year I am going to pack it with crazy, wonderful and spontaneous moments that will make me a happy happy person. Ready or not.
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