Florida so far. (Update part 2)

So although many of you may think this post is longggg overdue, I actually think it's the perfect timing because I have been here just over a month now and it hasn't been what I was expecting at all. Read on to find out why!

 Our first week here I was dealing with an insane amount of frustration due to being placed in a mouldy, disgusting, and dust mite filled apartment with two of the filthiest room mates I'd ever seen. Then on top of that our University from California had sent a very disrespectfully worded message about the state  "all" of our rooms were left in and how we'd have to pay money or we'd be terminated from our program. The message was basically bullying saying we were all disgusting and they're ashamed of us all. I never ended up having to pay money yet was still included in all the insults. Not so professional.

However, we did have a lot of fun in traditions class at Disney University.

The ceilings were filled with Disney Characters Dropping in

My nametag, which has since been lost and replaced with a Vancouver, Canada tag. Hehe.

My first week it was also a blast spending time with friends and Jeremy who was amazing and drove down to help me settle, a 16 hour drive!! 

We celebrated our two year anniversary in downtown Disney, and had probably one of my favourite dates so far. 

We also spent a day at the beach and a lot of time grocery shopping and running errands (sorry Jer!) 

After fighting with the complexes for a week I was relocated to a better kept apartment complex due to asthma I haven't had since I was four acting up again. I was waking up coughing so hard I was choking every night. Now my apartment is great and room mates likewise. (Check out my previous post for a walk through of my place)

In the weeks that have followed we've been working our bums off and hanging out whenever we can usually in the parks, which despite what everyone says never lose their magic even if you are in on the scoop of all things Disney. 

No matter how many times I ride splash mountain it still gets me every time, clearly!

These are my four closest friends on Bianca's birthday. I'm so blessed to have gotten close with these ladies, they're so selfless and every adventure is filled with laughs! (Debbie, Christina behind me, and Bianca on the right) 

This is a "limited time magic" sundae, so we had to! 

So scary right?

Gaston's tavern. 

If you have not played this game you need to, it's serious business! 

I finally got my Disney balloon! Although I chose the new princess design over a mouse head balloon, sorry Mickey!

I requested that we eat at be our guest for lunch, it was just as breathtaking months after my first time seeing it. 

Disney lets me order kids meals!

We also had to do enchanted tales with Belle.

 I wanted to be part of the story, so I was silverware.

I totally forgot you get to meet Belle if you're part of the story. I was on top of the world! I will be volunteering every time now, haha!

Back to all seriousness, my first month of work has been all over the place! My first week was all about joining the entertainment workforce. This is what we did my first day:

It truly is a rough life!

This is my "bowling shirt" costume. Haha, it's not so bad. I don't always wear the undershirt either.

My first two weeks of work I was trained in the costuming room, preparing our character's lovely costumes for them. Mickey and Mini can not go out to meet and greets with dirty clothes or gloves so I have the wonderful job of washing their clothes and inspecting all the characters before they head out for the day. 

It's not super fun, but it's still creating magic so I try to make the most of it.

However, my other job I've been learning the past two weeks is an absolute blast. I also work backstage at Beauty and the Beast live on stage. It is very fast paced and so much fun. Basically we run around like a bunch of crazies dressing and undressing performers in an efficient and systematic way. Each person is in charge of different performers and outfits and theres always something going wrong and laughs to be had. Our performers are amazing people, I've been loving getting to know them all and am constantly in awe of their talent. 

Sunday night after work Debbie, Christina and I decided we would go to Downtown Disney despite the fact that it was the worst storm we have encountered since arriving in Florida. In our defence when we left it had stopped raining.

I couldn't resist the princess magic mirror. 

So why is being here different then I expected? 

Disney isn't everything I expected it would be on the inside, which is understandable. Everywhere you go in life you encounter people who have lost their magic, and surprisingly Disney is not an exception. Some people are just here to make a living and really have grown to be indifferent towards or even dislike our wonderful characters. 

But! There are many people who inspire me through their inner light that never stops shinning. 

Working here and being away from home has pushed me in so many ways I wasn't expecting. There's some days where it's so easy to feel lost in this world that is so big (both the world of Disney and the world outside of it). I'm constantly having to remind myself who I am and ask God for the strength I need to hold true to myself. 

I also expected to be more drawn to a career in the world of Disney, although to my surprise being here has pushed me to work towards my passions more then ever, and that doesn't necessarily have to do with Disney. I am baffled by the talent and skill that imagineers possess, but my passions are not in engineering, business, animation, or any of the other positions Disney requires to create their magic. 

Those who create Disney magic have a gift, I am (and always will be) moved and strengthened by the morals and messages placed in Disney movies. Walt was an incredible man that taught us to never give up and lean on the strength of God and trust our hearts.

This opportunity has been so good for me, and I know it will continue to push and strengthen me in more ways then I could ever have imagined. 

"Is this my story unfolding?

It's all here to discover

Everything that I am"

Those are all the words I have so far, and now I have to get some rest for another busy day of work tomorrow. Step in time! 

I shall leave you all with this wonderful blog post I found today: 

Powerful Disney Quotes

Hold true to your magic always <3

Apartment tour!

Alright, to everyone waiting for an update on Florida I am so sorry!

I meant to post it last week but I started training for a new position so right now my days consist of waking up at 7:30am and getting home at 8pm, making lunch and going to bed again because though amazing my job is exhausting!

Thursday night I did see my lovely friends for a few hours :)

We caught Fantasmic and went on two rounds of tower of terror.

Tuesday I also got to meet up with some family friends in Florida and go to universal studios which was a blast.

Life here is really good, I'll elaborate more in another post, fingers crossed for Monday or Tuesday!

In the meantime, here is a tour of my apartment:

Haha hope you all enjoyed my over-tired commentary. 

Lots of love,

Mrs. Maxine Marie

My mother,

Who I actually never refer to as mother, always mummy or mum.

She just had a milestone birthday and I had to miss it (I miss my whole families birthdays, except Maddison) so here goes another post on my other parent. Now you'll all know why I am the way I am, because I have exceptional parents!!!

Every girl dreams of having a mother she can call a friend, but unfortunately in life it doesn't always work out that way. I really feel for girls who aren't close with their mothers because mine always has been a friend and confidant whenever I need it. When I'm stressed I can call her and she'll work things through with me, when I need money she's there to lend it (A LOT of it!), she's the best clothes shopping partner I have (except when she makes me try on really expensive gorgeous dresses that I can't afford which usually end up being Christmas or birthday presents anyways), she even was the first one to hear every detail of my blossoming relationship with Jeremy on a two hour trip back from Seattle as I began falling hard.

People say you will never not need your parents, and although I'm still young I entirely believe this to be true. Day after day I find myself asking questions, how things work, basically how this whole funny world operates. My mum is like a fount of knowledge, I swear she knows everything and I still am at a loss without her sometimes. Especially in restaurants, half the menu I don't understand and she used to always be there to explain, I miss that. Even as I'm growing on my own she's still always there for me to go to when I need help, and when the world won't take me seriously, you better believe she's there to tell them off for not respecting her 21 year old daughter that should be treated like an adult! 

She's the perfect balance of every trait needed in a parent and so fun all at the same time. Writing this message really is hard as it's making me realize how much I truly miss her! I really pray that when I have children I'll know how to raise them exactly the same way, because it was truly perfect parenting in my eyes.

Before I left we had so many amazing times together and talks and I look forward to many in the future! I miss grocery shopping with you, watching movies on your bed with the pups, going on day trips, basically I just miss you tons!! I hope you had a wonderful birthday, sorry for the belated post (that cold just knocked me out!) 

My mum has been a part of every step in my journey to get here and the love my parents constantly poured into me has enabled me to grow and blossom on my own out here in what feels like a million miles away! 

My parents have taught me the morals, values, and lessons I need and in turn have been able to trust in me and grant me with friendship, guidance, and so much love. I am beyond blessed that my parents met and fell in love and that I got to be raised under that love. Thank you both, we'll have to skype again soon!

P.S. Stay tuned for a Florida update, I promise it's coming...