the last blog

the last night was a rough one. after spending the day quietly at our home with my roommates we went to magic kingdom to watch wishes for the last time. i went back to my work location one last time, said some more final goodbyes and met up with my friends. we walked together to main street to watch the fireworks and as they set off, so did the waterworks. all the girls were tearing up knowing that it was our last time togther, in this wonderful, magical place that we called home for six months. after wishes, walking down main street usa was hard too. my favourite place in the world was no longer 'in my back yard.' no more can i just go and ride a roller coaster, or watch a parade, or see a fireworks show, or eat at one of the worldwide known restaurants in disney. there was so much we had at our fingertips that people spend years and years and years saving money to experience just for a few short days. after the show, we went back and just limed together for the last time. one by one everyone decided they needed to go home to get some sleep for the long day of travelling the next day. each goodbye got harder and harder. the friends that i made while being here are such wonderful people and not knowing when i'll see them again is something i can't quite wrap my head around. i got home, tried to repack my suitcase (for the fourth or fifth time) to get everything to fit and then after one hour's sleep, it was time to say goodbye to two of my roommates. lord that was so difficult. these girls who became my best friends and my sisters were now leaving. we waited for their bus to pick them up and when it came we quietly walked over, and then it was the moment of truth and it hit me like a brick wall. niza and i went back to our apartment, and it was so quiet. but after a few hours, we had to get ready for our taxi to pick us up and take us to the airport. i had to hand in my disney i.d and my housing i.d and my key and it wasn't a nice feeling at all. while we were waiting for the taxi to come, we were just watching other people say their goodbyes to their friends, and even though we didn't know them it was still so emotional. they were far away enough that we couldn't hear what they were saying, but close enough that we could feel the sadness in their goodbye hugs. after our taxi finally came, we picked up mauricio from his house. there i had to say goodbye to britt one last time, and again, one of the hardest things i've had to do. we drove off and i quietly kept to myself in the taxi while i had to control the tears from coming. when we got to the airport we struggled to carry all eight hundred thousand of our suitcases so we had to get a cart. thank god mauricio was there with us because we probably would have died if it weren't for him. my suitcases were overweight, but the lady i was dealing with was bajan and she let it slide. she also let the three of us sit together on our way to miami. i was fine in the airport, fine when we boarded the plane; it felt as if it was part of our adventure, and we were just going somewhere together for the day. but as the plane started to move, we all just sat there with tears in our eyes, quietly comforting each other, knowing exactly what everyone was feeling. when we got to miami, and got off the plane, i was fine again, knowing that i had a couple hours before the last goodbye came. however, when we got off and the lady was there to direct us, we found out mauricio's gate was in the opposite direction from ours, and so far away. ours was in egypt apparently and we had to take the sky train over to it. finding that out was shocking, and i cried like a baby when i had to say goodbye to him because it was the last goodbye, and he became one of my very best friends. i couldn't stop the tears from coming as we waited for the plane home. and even on the plane, i kept tearing up. i was so exhausted, and so emotional, that i didn't know if the exhaustion was making me more emotional, or if the sadness was making me more tired. coming home felt good as my family was there to meet me at the airport. coming to my house, and seeing everything, and my dogs and my room and my bed and everything made me feel good as well. it definitely felt like home when two of my friends and my brother came home at two thirty in the morning (slightly tipsy) to wake me up and welcome me home. i'm home.

and i just want to thank all my friends on the program for making it the incredible experience that it was. without you it definitely wouldn't be the same, and without you i wouldn't be the same. i've grown to love so many people from around the world and i know i have best friends wherever i go. so thank you. thank you thank you thank you for everything. i love you and wish you the best with everything and look forward to seeing you SOON. always be safe and always be happy and find the magic in everything. i wish you all the success in the world. always know you have a friend in me and a home in barbados. love you always.

last day

yesterday was the day of many "lasts." it was my last day of work here at disney and although i almost held it together, i broke halfway through my day and realized how much i really am going to miss everything. i heard the three o'clock parade coming by, so i went outside to watch it... and realized it was my last time seeing it. i was being strong, right up until the last float. then a couple hours later, i got handed my last bumpout (which is a piece of paper that the person taking over your assignment gives you, that tells you to go and clock out.) that hit me hard. but definitely not as hard as clocking out for the last time. having to say goodbye to my new friends and family was difficult. not knowing when i'm going to see anyone again is overwhelming because i've grown to love them all dearly.

after work i got my last home cooked meal (out of barely any) since i've been here. my last mexican meal (which is what all my home cooked meals consisted of.) afterwards we were all just liming together. just sitting together on the couch, in quiet conversatoin, simply just enjoying each others company. and it was perfect. i still can't wrap my head around the fact that i only have two days. bleh.

fireworks & more fireworks

everything is always incredible here. tomorrow's a week until home, and i can't wrap my head around it. in fact, technically it's a week until home right now. and like my roommates and countless of my friends, i'm so not ready to leave yet. it does make it easier that the majority of my friends are leaving at the same time, but it's going to be hard to come to terms with the fact that the best thing that's ever happened to me is coming to an end.

the past few days have been great. a few days ago, i met up with a friend at magic kingdom. she was still working, so i decided to go to main street to get my name embroidered on my graduation mickey ears - something i had been waiting to do since the moment i got here. it's such a unique milestone and it's a very special 'souvenir.' on the way, i saw one of my friends crying, and she just found out the sad news that she has to leave a bit earlier than us. it's heartbreaking to have to say goodbye already. obviously i got emotional too and everyone knows i'm not too good at hiding my emotions. i went to my old friends on main street and they comforted me, and gave me treats from the confectionery, and i got my name embroidered on my hat. that just added to the height of emotions. we went and ate a quick dinner together and then headed back to her apartment complex where we met up with the rest of our little posse and we went for a midnight dip in the pool. completely unprepared for this little adventure, we went in our clothes. my phone went for a swim too, but it's okay now. thank god.

the next day, july 3rd, i was upset i had to work a late shift because disney had special 4th of july fireworks on the 3rd and the 4th. i so badly wanted to see them. however, i got the right assignment at the right time and was working outside during the 25 minute spectacular. it was absolutely amazing. they had identical fireworks shooting off from two different locations in magic kingdom - one in their usual spot behind the castle, and one somewhere else (i'm not too sure where it was because our restaurant was blocking the view for me.) at the end, the entire perimeter of magic kingdom was lit up with fireworks. it was the most incredible thing i have ever seen. my shift ended about five minutes after the fireworks, and waiting for the bus was insane. there must have been hundreds of kids on the college program waiting for the bus, which was taking forever due to closed roads for the fireworks. more and more people kept on coming and me and a friend of mine were just sitting there in shock. friends of mine with cars kept passing by, greeting me and i was just secretly hoping they would offer us a lift home. finally another friend of mine from main street came by and i begged him to drop us home. thank god i saw him or we would have been there for another three hours waiting in the confusion. that night i got the exciting news that my good (only friend who visited me haha) (except drew) friend scott tasker and his family were coming up this side for just one day on july 4th. i literally spent all night contemplating whether to call in sick to see them. i asked my managers and coordinators what to do and everyone was telling me to call in.

i couldn't do it, and i went to work. working on july 4th was insane. i was actually afraid of some guests. what made it even worse, was that it started to rain. when it rains, it feels like the whole guest population (about 70,000 people that day) takes cover in our restaurant. i did my best to keep a smile on my face when explaining to people that we simply can't stop serving food, and politely refusing all the other brilliant ideas they were suggesting. i put in the request to leave early so i could meet up with scott but it didn't look hopeful. after about 3 hours of working, my manager told me i could leave. i was so happy. i was just so excited. i got home as fast as i could, showered and got ready in about ten minutes and met them at the gate, since they so kindly picked me up. they took me to old town to this little amusement park. it was just like what you see in the movies. they had been there so by the time i got there they were winding down. but we drove gokarts on a few different tracks, in between laughing at other people having their turns while we waited in line. after that we went and had dinner together and then drove to this town called celebration (which used to be owned by disney.) seriously the cutest little place i've ever been to. all the buildings are perfect and it looks like a town that would be in a tv show. all the little shops are so quaint and sweet. people were riding in horse-drawn carriages and, the one thing i have found an obsession with while being here, is that the lighting was perfect. it didn't even look like a real-life place. we moved through the crowds, past the live concert, to a spot on the lake where the fireworks were being shot off from. there were so many people but we found a spot and didn't move. when the fireworks finally went off it was so exciting. we were so close we could feel them (literally - pieces of ashes kept kitting us.) there were a lot more fireworks than expected, and every time we thought it was done, more were set off. there was one lady a couple people away from us who was so hyper, and was unsuccessfully trying to get everyone to scream along with her - she couldn't get the hint that everyone was peacefully enjoying the fireworks with their loved ones. but everything there added to the perfect little evening. of course as soon as the fireworks were done, plenty people were ready to go home, as were we. they dropped me back home and headed back to their long drive 'home.'

work today was brutal because i was over exhausted, and i definitely did not have enough energy for a twelve hour shift. it was a nice day though. to thank us for our hard work, the managers had a little cook out for us, and they all took turns grilling chicken, burgers and hot dogs back stage of our restaurant and when we had our breaks we went and limed with everyone out there. it was quite nice. i thankfully got to leave a little bit early again, and of course now that i'm home, i'm full of energy. but it's time for lights out and sleep. just one more week. wow.

eight-seater to daytona

yesterday was another unforgettable day. or an afternoon rather. after only a couple hours of sleep, and waking up in the same clothes from the night before, i was feeling quite lazy but still in the mood to do anything and everything. i got a call from my friends saying to be ready in an hour because we were renting a jeep and going back to daytona. of course i willingly accepted the challenge, got ready in the speed of light and met them up. we rent to the car rental place, piled in the suv and made our way to daytona (after of course finally making that decision after about a hundred other suggestions were made, because it is more difficult for eight people to come to one decision than you would think.) the road wasn't as empty as the last time we went, and the ride took longer with the traffic, but it didn't feel that way, because we were content with each others company the whole way there. when we got there, we learned from our mistake last time, and parked in the paid parking lot and headed down to the beach. there were tons of people, granted it was a beautiful day instead of the stormy weather we went in last time, but we found a perfect spot for the eight of us on the beach. we set up our towels all next to each other and within minutes everyone was sleeping. it didn't matter that we weren't doing all the rides on the boardwalk and going in the sea and doing everything we possibly could. we were just there, together and that's all that mattered. after we woke up, we went in the sea, just around sunset and it was so nice. after that, we decided to go get some dinner. we drove to steak and shake (very high class of us, i know.) we spent the entire time there laughing and laughing. to me, one of the most treasurable moments is sitting around a table with people you love just chatting and happily enjoying the company, so it was really wonderful. after dinner we decided to go to downtown orlando, and it was the first time i had ever been there. it was beautiful. all the lights and trees and buildings were so pretty. everyone walking around the streets going in and out of clubs and bars were dressed up, ready to party. the eight of us looked like beach rats, but we didn't even care. we went to downtown orlando to go to a specific bar to drink a specific drink. apparently on fridays, they do something different, and block off the whole street and charge people to just be on that one street. we would have paid the money, but they had a rule that you had to be over twenty one. of course, me being the baby, couldn't go. the boys were going to drop me home and meet the girls back later, but on our way to the car, they called back and said they wouldn't accept their mexican id's so they had to go home and get their passports anyway. so they all drove me home, and even though i was sad to leave my friends because i knew they were still liming all night, i didn't care all that much because i had just had another beautiful day with them.

today i woke up at my own time. i probably would have died if i set an alarm. i met up with aunty serena and family at epcot and travelled around the world with them. it was nice to be with family, especially because they're my family., and i truly have the best family in the entire world. we went to all my favourite places - italy for lunch, paris for tea and england for dinner. after dinner, because we were at the right restaurant at the right time, we had a special vip viewing of the fireworks. it was absolutely beautiful as usual. everytime i watch the fireworks it gives me a different feeling - something i will definitely miss, among everything else. the time is drawing nearer, and the closer it comes, the more difficult it becomes for me to comprehend, and the more emotional i feel. i can't believe it.

'graduation'

yesterday was just lovely. honestly. it was 'graduation,' formally known as 'cast service celebration.' it was just a little lime that was organized for all the college program participants who end their program before july 28th. everyone was there, wearing their biggest smiles. the sun shone all day long, and the day was beautiful. it was perfect timing since the past few days it has been storming like crazy every single day. while everyone was overjoyed, many people were also quite sad, knowing that goodbye is on the way. but it was beautiful to see the hundreds of people laughing, and hugging, and taking pictures with friends that they only recently met, but without a doubt, they know that the friendships will last forever. we did have to say goodbye to some people right then and there, and that really made me emotional, even though i wasn't best friends with them, there was still something about saying "it was so nice to meet you, and please keep in touch," adding a goodbye on the end that was just so heartbreaking.

after socializing at the little event for a little while, me and some of the best friends i have ever known went to downtown disney specifically to (finally) go on the hot air balloon. we were getting very impatient while we waited for what seemed like forever for our turn, but in the end it worked out perfect because when we got up in the sky, we could see everything, including the fireworks at magic kingdom which had just started. that, with the beauty of seeing things from above with the music playing at downtown disney was the perfect combination to just stand there, tons of feet in the sky in the best company, admiring everything. it was such a special time. i felt so happy. and so sad. and i really had no idea what i was feeling but it was perfect.

after that we went back home, where we laughed, and sang, and played games, and it was the perfect end to a perfect day; mainly because that scenario has become a routine over the past few months. the night didn't end until all hours of the morning (in fact, i'm surprised i'm awake right now.) of course the day wouldn't have been complete if i didn't cry. realizing that we only have two weeks left is overwhelming, and things got sentimental. compliments were overflowing and all the love in the world was declared right then and there. it didn't matter who saw, or who heard, because the friendly embraces and the mutual feelings trumped everything. the moment ended when there was a knock on the door, and we assumed it was security breaking up our little party, telling us to be quiet. so we all scrambled to find a hiding place, waking up people in the apartment who were sleeping, but it turned out that it was just a friend who got locked out.

afterwards, everyone was just sitting on the floor chatting. some people fell asleep, and eventually everyone followed the trend. after a little while, it was time to go home. it was made sure of that everyone went home or was where they were meant to be and we all said goodnight. it felt like last night was a dream. but then again, it feels like the last six months has been a dream. and knowing that i only have two more weeks before i have to wake up again makes me, and everyone else, way too emotional.

these moments, and these people have changed my life. i think differently, i act differently, i've become more interested in everything, they have given me space to mature, even though i'm considered 'the baby' (because i'm the youngest person here,) the little things that used to break me are now insignificant. i have met some truly special people while being here and this is the happiest (and saddest) i have ever been. and now we just have two weeks ot spend every last second with each other. i do miss my friends and family at home, but i know i'll always have them at home. these wonderful people? i don't know when i'll see again and it breaks my heart every time i think about it.

anyways. the sad moment's over and its time to go and enjoy the beautiful sushine with my friends. <3

a week with family

finally! a chance to sit down, breathe, and write a post since before my family got here. everything was incredible. the day they came, i spent the morning cleaning the apartment, getting it "show-ready" (disney slang) and packing my suitcase (full to the brim with clothes because i couldn't possibly decide what i was wearing every day, and of course i packed way too much..again.) i was ready and waiting for them to come pick me up... chomping at the bit, i kept texting and calling them to see where they were because they were taking forever. after a while, i decided to be productive so i started doing things around the house, and as soon as i did, i heard a knock on my door. i was never so excited. seeing them made me ecstatic, in fact, so happy i was crying, obviously. we then went to our hotel, checked in, went to publix to get a few supplies and then went to downtown disney. downtown disney wasn't as pituresque as it normally is for me because it was so packed with people that you could barely move. but i didn't care. i was with my family, and so happy.

the next day, we woke up (before seven in the morning i may add,) and got ready for hollywood studios. the four of us eating breakfast together was so nice and something that i definitely missed. the first thing we did at hollywood studios was get our fast passes for rock n roller coaster, because clearly i was taking the family on that without a doubt. we went to see beauty and the beast (which ben and dad really must have found less than interesting because sleep took over,) and did more of the attractions there (including rock n roller coaster, which mum did cry before we went on, and during the ride, i just had to say) until the rain came down, as i promised my family it would. it poured and poured and leaving was not an option without getting ponchos since we had no other rain gear. the four of us wearing ponchos really was quite a sight to see, but because of the rain, we decided we weren't waiting for an hour to see fantasmic.

the next day was animal kingdom. we did a couple things, like go on everest, watch the festival of the lion king (which is always brilliant) and watch bugs life 3d. that was the most hilarious thing i have ever witnessed. not so much the show, but ben's reactions. oh my god he was so funny, screaming in his monotone. i'm pretty sure he thought everything was real. in fact, ben was our entertainment for the week, and every ride or 3d show we went on or saw, we all called to sit next to ben just so we could be closer to him for his priceless reactions. we left animal kingdom early, so we could meet some of our family for dinner that night, which was also lovely. we had lots of laughs until it was time to go home.

the following day, we went to epcot. i insisted that we didn't need to go super early because we wouldn't want to spend like twelve hours there because we'd have time. we didn't have time. we first ate lunch in england, which was jolly god. then we did so many rides in the future world that we didn't even have time to spend time in all the countries. it was a rush while i was trying to get us to a great spot to watch the fireworks. we ate dinner in morocco while the show was going on, and i was so upset because we couldn't fully see the show, but we watched it. niza had joined us by the time we got to the countries so that was nice that i could introduce my family to her. we dropped her home and headed back to the hotel since we had an early start the next day, which was fathers day.

we woke up and gave dad his cards and little gifts and got ready for our breakfast at the crystal palace with winnie the pooh and friends in magic kingdom. even though we had to wait a little while to be seated, it was so nice because when we came when we were little, we ate there for ben's 4th birthday. we even got pooh to take a picture with us in the same exact spot we took it in when we were there those tweleve years ago. after magic kingdom we hit the park. i first took my family back to main street show i could show them where i used to work, and i had the privelege to introduce them to some of the amazing people i used to work with, and miss very much. afterwards we did all the rides we could, we ate lunch in pecos where i got to introduce my family to my newer co-cast members, watched the parades, and 'the magic the memories and you' and the fireworks. it was such a magical day, because magic kingdom has always been so sentimental to me, because it's everything i remember about disney. in fact, the whole trip was so magical and perfect. 

the next day, we had no idea what our plan was because we had suggested about a hundred different things, but mum (surprisingly) made the decision to go back to epcot to do the things we hadn't had a chance to do, which was a great idea. there were so many things i had never even done in the whole five months of me being here (some things i didn't even know existed,) so it was really nice.

the last two days we just did a couple random things, like going to some stores, and the outlet and whatnot. on the last day we went to florida mall, so i could get a pedicure and dad could buy me another (much-needed) suitcase. they then took me to publix to buy me some groceries and they took me home. we said our goodbyes, but it wasn't too emotional because i'll be seeing them in three weeks (now two weeks and four days to be exact:( .)

i was just so happy to see them and have them for a week, and i was so happy that i got to introduce them to some of the friends i have made up here. friends that for the last five and a half months i have talked about to them, dying for them to meet them. i know my parents loved all my friends (because they still tell me about it,) and i'm so proud to have the best family possible to show off to my friends, to have made such wonderful friends that i could show off to my family.

the night they left, we were just liming at a friends house, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the bottle of extra old that dad bought up for them to try. the next day it was back to reality, after an exhausting week of being a guest. i was happy to go back to work, because i, in fact, missed it for the week i was gone. the past couple of days have been storm-like weather. in fact, yesterday it did not stop raining literally all day long. it rained and rained from the time i woke up in the morning until all hours of the night. in the early hours of the morning it stopped, but when i woke up again today, it was down again. apparently we've been under tornado watch, but i don't think that's really happening. actually, i got to work yesterday, and alike many other cast members at magic kingdom (i'm not so sure about the other parks,) i got to work to get told that i had the day off. so back home i went and just waited for a little while until i went back to magic to meet some friends to go to epcot. i thought that plan might have been voided since we were basically in a storm, but no, "we only live once," so we went to epcot. we got soaked. absolutlely soaked. using the umbrella was pointless because it just got turned inside out and was stronger than me, and i couldn't wear my slippers because my feet kept slipping out of them. the three of us were an absolute mess but it was an evening i'll never forget. we even watched the fireworks from the usually reserved area (but due to the weather it wasn't reserved, since there were barely any guests in epcot,) trying to huddle under the baby-sized umbrella i have while the rain poured down on us, and the wind made nearly blew us away. it was such a funny situation. i think we were the only people in the entire park that weren't wearing ponchos. everyone was a mess. but it was wonderful.

not in paradise anymore

"well toto, we're not in kansas anymore." i am definitely not in barbados (island of paradise) anymore! tonight is not real life. i just can't believe it. i was sitting down on break, while i overheard a manager telling another cast member "just prepare for some rain in about twenty minutes." about ten minutes later insane flashes of lightning and the loudest thunder i have ever heard arrived, along with downpours upon downpours of rain. we could hear the thunder from inside pecos bills restaurant, followed by the shrieks and screams of children. looking outside the windows, the sky was flashing blue from the sheet and fork lightning. backstage was flooded, the water reaching above everyones ankles. the water flowed inside, flooding the walkway by the stairs and elevators too. inside the dining room of the restaurant there was masses of water as well. everyone was trying their best to get it dry so that it wouldn't be unsafe for the guests. the restaurant was so full, because people were trying to shelter from the storm. people were sitting on the floor, and sitting their children on the closed side of the counter so that they could just eat their food. it was so crazy. i still can't believe how bad the weather got. i have never seen lightning like that in real life. today was actually a beautiful day, all day long. guests were sunburnt and complaining about the heat. i was so surprised at how nice of a day it was (despite the humidity) because every day for the past couple of days it has rained. all of a sudden, when the sun was setting right after eight o'clock this monster of a storm came. i wish i knew what weather to expect when my family comes (THIS WEEK!) but living here, i have learnt to expect the unexpected. the weather is so unpredictable. i am exhausted and it's time to go to bed. i have the luxury of being able to sleep until ten thirty tomorrow, but i do work twelve hours. since i have the whole week after wednesday off to be with my family, i have been scheduled slave hours. so it's now bed time. tomorrow i can say 'my family comes the day after tomorrow!' I'M SO EXCITED! A;LKSDMF;ALKSDMFOIA;JSERMA;LKSMF;IOAMSDF;KLAMSDFK;ASDMF;LKAMSDIFOJASDKL;FMA;SDF;LKM