Long overdue update! (Part one)

Today I have finally caught up with my crazy non-stop life, so here is a very belated update on my experience so far! The first part of the update will be all about Cali-style life. 

The University of California Riverside is the host school for my program meaning my certificate in business management, though earned through University of Disney as well as UCR, will be credited by UCR. 

June 29th I landed in California to spend the first two weeks of my program in class (most of the time) before starting life in Florida. The classes were structured as mini crash courses on Tourism industry, Hospitality, Hotel Management, Cross Cultural Perspectives and Ethics. We had class from 8:30-4:30 every day and yes it was exhausting!!

The last two days of class before we left were devoted to presentations, we chose to do ours on the barriers within languages. In our group we had Pau and Havi as Spanish native speakers, Bianca who speaks Portuguese as her first language, and myself as an English native speaker. 

After our presentations were over we celebrated by going for sushi at a delicious (and crazy cheap!) restaurant and seeing monsters university. 

Besides lots of class and bonding during our break times over mutual disgust of the food (it was just insanely unhealthy and made with terrible quality ingredients cooked in buckets of oil, but we pulled through!), humorous culture differences, and love of Disney and adventures we did go on a few outings. 

July fourth the campus was closed so we decided to celebrate in style at Disneyland! 

Myself with two Canadian ladies, Madison and Kaeli and Adam from the UK.

Canadian Crew!

My first Dole Whip experience, how have I been so many times and never discovered this stuff?!

We've since gotten another round, haha. 

Tea time, pinkies up! 

Just loving life, give me a splash of Disney any day and I'm a happy kid!

Front Row for the Parade!

We also took a trip through LA on one of the Saturdays we were in Cali. The tour included Santa Monica Pier, Downtown LA and Walk of Fame, and The Grove: a super gorgeous shopping area that happened to house my favourite candy store from NY, Dylan's Candy Bar <3

Inside the candy bar.

Santa Monica beach

The pier with Bianca, Christina and Debbie.

Joined by some of the French ladies.

Bubba Gump's for lunch :)

We sought out some stars worth stopping at amongst the shopping!

A legend for both Disney and musical theatre <3

The hero himself. 

All in all California was a great experience but I just couldn't wait to get to Disney! 

Part two to come, the first few weeks in Florida! 

Love you all! 

Happy Birthday Daddy!!

July 3rd I am missing daddy's birthday! So the best I can do from afar is to make a birthday card blog style! 

Everyone says they have the best father in the world, you hear it a lot and it's even said when not truly believed, but I truly believe my dad is the best in the world. Before I left my dad and I had many things we shared together: mornings off from work, Hawaii 5-0, Once Upon A Time, Cheap Tuesday movie dates, and many others. I will miss all those things and my dad terribly but Today is his birthday so it's time to celebrate, not be sad!! 

My dad is a goof, sentimental, strong, brave, artistic, loving, and every wonderful trait all rolled into one. From teaching me how to drive to cleaning up my exploded Italian soda at the airport (who knew you can't mix the whipped cream in?!) I could not have gotten through the last few years of my life, well any years to be honest without him! 

I have countless laughs and lessons stored in my memory thanks to him, and many shared traits I've learned over the years. We both: 

-Forget to breathe deep when pushing weights

- Get watery eyes when explaining something we're passionate about

- Have thick hair

- Have an incredibly artistic side

- Share a love of adventure

- Cry in every movie

- Love football

- Dislike very hot food

- Understand that you're never too old for anything! 

Thank you daddy for always leading me and believing in me, teaching me and helping me, and for loving me in so many ways!!! 

Hopefully we can skype later tonight, 

And before you know it I'll be back home to see more movies and make more memories :)

I love you more then I will ever be able to say! I'm so sad I can't be home to wish you happy birthday but I pray it'll be just as great as ever, you're love and strength is one of the greatest blessings far beyond what I could ever imagine or deserve!

You're the greatest dad, for real!