I started the most magical adventure of my life when I began my first International College Program. I can't believe it's already been two years since I moved into Vista Way and met some of the most amazing people in the world. I feel so lucky to be going back for a third program since I know this is supposed to be a once in a lifetime opportunity.
The May 3rd arrival group arrived today which means my arrival group is next. It hit me today that I'm the next one to arrive which is a little scary since I still haven't started packing! I got an e-mail from Yummy Jobs saying that we can now pay our program fee which is exciting. That and buying health insurance is pretty much it for payments I need to make for this program.
I started looking at the Walmart website for bedding and other odds and ends I want to pick up for my apartment. Some things I don't know yet if I will need to buy (like toaster, coffee maker) since I have no idea if I am moving into an apartment full of arrivals or people who have been there for a few months. I did find the bedding I want so that's good. I'm going to do the site to store ordering thing this time around. I know a few of the ICPs did it last summer so I thought I would try it this time.
I can't wait to walk down Main Street again and watch Wishes. YouTube videos just don't cut it.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Six More Weeks!!!
Time is flying by so fast, I'm so worried I won't get everything done before I leave. I am definitely starting to feel really emotional about leaving. I am really excited to leave but I will miss my friends and family so much, especially my dog. I am definitely trying to make the most of what little time I have left at home.
Haven't done much on my to-do list lately. I started to go through some of my clothes. I'm finding it really hard deciding what to bring and what to leave behind. Other than that I've been making my list of things I need to take care of before I leave like cancelling my gym membership and unlocking my phone. I think I finally figured out what to do with my Blackberry. I can't live without it and don't want to buy one of those cheap pay as you go phones this time around. I'm going to buy my health insurance next week so then all I have to worry about is paying my program fee.
I do feel like I should be leaving for Disney next week when the ICPs leave, it feels weird not heading to Florida in May since I have the past two years. It will be nice to be home for Mother's Day this year though. I will leave you with this really cute video I found, it's called a Model Day at Epcot and shows quite a bit of the theme park I will be calling home for a year. At the end it shows the World Showcase costumes, including the Canadian one just to give you an idea of what I will be wearing until I start working in the restaurant :).
Model Day at Epcot
Haven't done much on my to-do list lately. I started to go through some of my clothes. I'm finding it really hard deciding what to bring and what to leave behind. Other than that I've been making my list of things I need to take care of before I leave like cancelling my gym membership and unlocking my phone. I think I finally figured out what to do with my Blackberry. I can't live without it and don't want to buy one of those cheap pay as you go phones this time around. I'm going to buy my health insurance next week so then all I have to worry about is paying my program fee.
I do feel like I should be leaving for Disney next week when the ICPs leave, it feels weird not heading to Florida in May since I have the past two years. It will be nice to be home for Mother's Day this year though. I will leave you with this really cute video I found, it's called a Model Day at Epcot and shows quite a bit of the theme park I will be calling home for a year. At the end it shows the World Showcase costumes, including the Canadian one just to give you an idea of what I will be wearing until I start working in the restaurant :).
Model Day at Epcot
Monday, April 18, 2011
50 Days
Only 50 days to go until I'm back in the sunshine state! I got my visa petition and I94 card last week which is super exciting. This visa looks so different from the one I've used to work at Disney before. Luckily I don't have to make an appointment with the embassy or anything like that. I just give the petition and my I94 to customs and they deal with it all. Going to put that, my social security card, and passport in a safe place until it's time to leave. I am so happy I already have my social security card, no getting up at 5am for that appointment yay!
I e-mailed Yummy Jobs and Disney my flight info so they know what time to expect me at the welcome centre (and hopefully this time I arrive 1-2 hours after my flight unlike last year where I swear I spent like 4 hours at the airport waiting for the shuttle). I still haven't bought my health insurance. I ended up using my March Break pay check to buy my camera and other stuff so I will buy it next pay day.
Ended up finding this amazing deal on luggage one day and got my carry on and second piece of checked luggage for $100. So happy with that deal! Now I've got three very bright colourful pieces of luggage. Definitely won't have trouble finding my luggage this time around! Now all I need to do is start packing :).
I e-mailed Yummy Jobs and Disney my flight info so they know what time to expect me at the welcome centre (and hopefully this time I arrive 1-2 hours after my flight unlike last year where I swear I spent like 4 hours at the airport waiting for the shuttle). I still haven't bought my health insurance. I ended up using my March Break pay check to buy my camera and other stuff so I will buy it next pay day.
Ended up finding this amazing deal on luggage one day and got my carry on and second piece of checked luggage for $100. So happy with that deal! Now I've got three very bright colourful pieces of luggage. Definitely won't have trouble finding my luggage this time around! Now all I need to do is start packing :).
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Two Months To Go
Only two more months to go! I got an e-mail from Yummy Jobs saying that in the next few weeks they will be sending my visa petition which is exciting. I got my income tax refund check on Friday so on Monday I'm going to put it in an American account since the Canadian dollar is really good right now.
Other than that, I went and did some Florida shopping. I got a new camera (mine wasn't working too good towards the end of my last program). I just got a really basic Samsung, nothing too fancy. I didn't want to spend too much money since I won't have a warranty on it once I enter the States which sucks. I also got some new summer dresses, some new sweathers and two new bathing suits. I know it seems silly to buy sweathers for Florida but I know I will need them since it can get quite chilly there. Next I need to start looking at getting another piece of luggage and a new carry-on bag. I also need to start going through my clothes and deciding what to bring, what to get rid of, and what to pack away. It's so hard thinking I need to pack for a year.
Other than that, I went and did some Florida shopping. I got a new camera (mine wasn't working too good towards the end of my last program). I just got a really basic Samsung, nothing too fancy. I didn't want to spend too much money since I won't have a warranty on it once I enter the States which sucks. I also got some new summer dresses, some new sweathers and two new bathing suits. I know it seems silly to buy sweathers for Florida but I know I will need them since it can get quite chilly there. Next I need to start looking at getting another piece of luggage and a new carry-on bag. I also need to start going through my clothes and deciding what to bring, what to get rid of, and what to pack away. It's so hard thinking I need to pack for a year.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Ten Weeks Left in Canada
Can't believe I only have ten weeks left at home. There is so much I need to get done. I did get some stuff done on my to do list during the past few weeks so that is good.
Went to Service Ontario to get my health card renewed since it expires on my birthday and asked them what I needed to do since I was leaving the country for a year ( you have to be in the country for like 152 days to maintain your coverage). The lady told me I just need to bring a letter to them a few days before leaving explaining that I have a job for a year, and they will stop my coverage and restart it on my first day back after my contract is done.
Filed my American and Canadian income tax. My Canadian income tax ended up being the exact amount I wanted saved up for Florida so I am feeling a lot better about money. I did start working my second job but I am thinking of giving my notice soon. I had a major freak out a few nights ago about how little time I have left and about not getting everything done. I will probably just work at the science centre for the month of May so I have time to do everything and spend time with my family and friends.
Got all my doctor/eye doctor/dentist appointments booked so I can get those once a year check-ups out of the way. Need to go clothes shopping soon to find some more bathing suits. I went and looked a few weeks ago but they had nothing. I did get some flip flops though so it wasn't a bad shopping trip. I get my March Break paycheck on Friday so next week I will hopefully be purchasing my health insurance. After that all that is really left is paying my program fee and waiting for Yummy Jobs to send me my visa. Both of those things probably won't happen until late April/early May.
In more exciting news, I have some friends from home planning a visit out to Florida in October which is super exciting. For both of them it will be their first Disney experience so I can't wait to show them around what has really become my second home. In August, my roommate from this past summer is coming to visit which will be so much fun. I really love having people come to visit me when I'm in Florida. Well that's about it for now. Sorry for the late delay in writing, things were pretty crazy with March Break and doing everything I needed to get done after March Break.
Went to Service Ontario to get my health card renewed since it expires on my birthday and asked them what I needed to do since I was leaving the country for a year ( you have to be in the country for like 152 days to maintain your coverage). The lady told me I just need to bring a letter to them a few days before leaving explaining that I have a job for a year, and they will stop my coverage and restart it on my first day back after my contract is done.
Filed my American and Canadian income tax. My Canadian income tax ended up being the exact amount I wanted saved up for Florida so I am feeling a lot better about money. I did start working my second job but I am thinking of giving my notice soon. I had a major freak out a few nights ago about how little time I have left and about not getting everything done. I will probably just work at the science centre for the month of May so I have time to do everything and spend time with my family and friends.
Got all my doctor/eye doctor/dentist appointments booked so I can get those once a year check-ups out of the way. Need to go clothes shopping soon to find some more bathing suits. I went and looked a few weeks ago but they had nothing. I did get some flip flops though so it wasn't a bad shopping trip. I get my March Break paycheck on Friday so next week I will hopefully be purchasing my health insurance. After that all that is really left is paying my program fee and waiting for Yummy Jobs to send me my visa. Both of those things probably won't happen until late April/early May.
In more exciting news, I have some friends from home planning a visit out to Florida in October which is super exciting. For both of them it will be their first Disney experience so I can't wait to show them around what has really become my second home. In August, my roommate from this past summer is coming to visit which will be so much fun. I really love having people come to visit me when I'm in Florida. Well that's about it for now. Sorry for the late delay in writing, things were pretty crazy with March Break and doing everything I needed to get done after March Break.
Monday, March 14, 2011
85 more days
On Friday, I picked up my criminal background check and faxed it to Yummy Jobs. Feels great to take another thing off my to-do list. Next up is purchasing my health insurance. Since I am doing a year-long contract, I am allowed to receive Disney's health insurance after I have passed my probation period. That means I only need to purchase insurance for 4 months before I leave. I'm going to use the same company I used last summer which is recommended by the recruiters. As soon as I get my awesome March Break paycheck in April, I will buy it. I also want to get some more luggage since mine barely made it home from Florida last summer. Plus, I want to get a new camera but I am hoping someone will buy me one for my birthday.
Other than that, not much new to report. It's March Break right now so it's super busy at work which is nice. A few weeks ago, I mentioned how Le Cellier was becoming a signature restaurant and I found this blog about it on the Disney Parks website:
Le Cellier
The chocolate dessert looks so delicious!
Other than that, not much new to report. It's March Break right now so it's super busy at work which is nice. A few weeks ago, I mentioned how Le Cellier was becoming a signature restaurant and I found this blog about it on the Disney Parks website:
Le Cellier
The chocolate dessert looks so delicious!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Three Months To Go
So I am totally writing this blog listening to Disney Park music. I am starting to get super excited now. The 3 month mark makes it feel like this is actually going to happen. As excited as I was when I got hired in October, it was hard to believe this was actually happening since I had to wait like 7 1/2 months for it.
I went and ordered my police check last week and it will be ready for pick up on Thursday. The only trouble is I work 9:30am-4:30pm Thursday and Friday so hopefully I get a chance to go before work or I will have to wait until next week to send it in to Yummy Jobs.
The biggest question on my mind right now is what housing complex I will be living in. For the ICP, you can live in Vista Way, Chatham Sqaure, or Patterson Court. I have lived in Vista and Chatham. While Vista will always have a special place in my heart because I spent my first program there, I loved Chatham. It was so nice, clean, and still fairly new and not run down. I loved it so much I wish I could live there again!
Originally, CRPs could only live in the Commons but they have been letting participants live in Patterson. I'm so torn on where I would want to live. While the Commons would be great since it's where the majority of the CRPs will be, Patterson is so gorgeous. The only con with Patterson is there is no bus service so I would have to walk to the Chatham bus stop but beyond that I could definitely see myself spending the next year of my life living there. Either way, I love the area where I will be living. It's called Little Lake Bryan and is such a gorgeous little community. There's a Publix and Walgreens within walking distance so I can definitely avoid taking the awful Walmart bus once I'm settled in. Plus, it's like a five minute walk to the outlet mall which is awesome. Especially for my Starbucks addiction. I just wish I could know where I was living and who my roommates will be (and where they will be from). I'm really hoping I get a 2 bedroom apartment again like I had last summer, that worked out perfectly. Oh well, guess I will have to wait until June 7th to get the answers to my questions!
I went and ordered my police check last week and it will be ready for pick up on Thursday. The only trouble is I work 9:30am-4:30pm Thursday and Friday so hopefully I get a chance to go before work or I will have to wait until next week to send it in to Yummy Jobs.
The biggest question on my mind right now is what housing complex I will be living in. For the ICP, you can live in Vista Way, Chatham Sqaure, or Patterson Court. I have lived in Vista and Chatham. While Vista will always have a special place in my heart because I spent my first program there, I loved Chatham. It was so nice, clean, and still fairly new and not run down. I loved it so much I wish I could live there again!
Originally, CRPs could only live in the Commons but they have been letting participants live in Patterson. I'm so torn on where I would want to live. While the Commons would be great since it's where the majority of the CRPs will be, Patterson is so gorgeous. The only con with Patterson is there is no bus service so I would have to walk to the Chatham bus stop but beyond that I could definitely see myself spending the next year of my life living there. Either way, I love the area where I will be living. It's called Little Lake Bryan and is such a gorgeous little community. There's a Publix and Walgreens within walking distance so I can definitely avoid taking the awful Walmart bus once I'm settled in. Plus, it's like a five minute walk to the outlet mall which is awesome. Especially for my Starbucks addiction. I just wish I could know where I was living and who my roommates will be (and where they will be from). I'm really hoping I get a 2 bedroom apartment again like I had last summer, that worked out perfectly. Oh well, guess I will have to wait until June 7th to get the answers to my questions!
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