Howdy Folks!

Oh myyy goodness! I don't know where to begin after my first day of training yesterday, so warning this may be a super long post! :)

Because of the shady bus system here they recommend you leave super early for your shift to gurantee you wont be late. So...I had to be at work at 3:15 so my roomie Shaleen and I took the 1:33 bus (they change bus drivers at Vista Way so you have to sit there for 30 min) and we got to the cast drop off area at Magic Kingdom at 2:40. Shaleen also had work that day but she got there a little early to hang out with me! I told you there were fantastic people here :) I was super nervous so we walked around the tunnels underground the MK. She showed me where the locker rooms were and which direction to go towards Frontierland (it is quite easy to get lost in those tunnels, but there are handy dandy cute signs pointing you in the right directions and inspirational quotes on the walls).

Let me digress for a bit...I was thinking about my job as I was falling asleep last night and I concluded it is like a show. Disney encourages that by calling us Cast Members, and our uniforms costumes and we have onstage and backstage. But this mentality will help me get through my job everyday, especially because this mindset is familiar to me coming from a theatre background! I put my costume on, do my make up, get ready back stage and walk the tunnels to my location and then WHAM I'm onstage behind the counter or the greeter outside Pecos Bills and I put on a smile for the guests and try my absolute best to make sure each and every guest is happy and their questions are answered! Just like in theatre, if I'm not on my A-game the guests/audience can tell and it effects their experience. After work yesterday, as I was walking back through the tunnels, I felt like the show was over and I was on my way home, it was such a satisfying feeling knowing I completed my task for the day and created happiness for maybe not every guest that came into our restaurant, but at least some. Ok, now back to my day...!

I was training with this girl from Thailand named Ratchadporn, or Beau as she likes to be called and she was about 4'10, definite Snooki size, although I'm pretty sure she has no idea who that is haha We met our trainer Ray, who is 20 from Puerto Rico. He was fun and knew what he was doing but he moved fast! Although with the business of Pecos Bills (the 2nd busiest on Disney property!) he would run off to do something and Beau and I would be so lost! I felt like a lost puppy following him around all day. He showed us how to be filler at the counter, be counter stock and fill drink orders. When Pecos is at its busiest times flies so freakin fast! Which is good, I would rather be busy then bored out of my mind herding people into an attraction. We learned where they stock all the food and how to read the recipts to give the guests their food in a smooth fashion. We also learned how to close down Pecos and clean the soda machine, the coffee machine, hot chocolate machine, wipe EVERY nook and cranny down, restock the cups and lids and put all the food back in the coolers plus more I already forget...whoops!

It is nerve racking being the filler (the one who gives the guests their food) because when it's busy there are 30+ pairs of eyes watching you and waiting for their food. BUT....yesterday there were particular guests that stood out to me and put a smile on my face, even in this busy time. They were kind and patient which can go a long way. One man called my name (which I still have to get used to because my first reaction is "omg how do the know my name!! creeepy!" but then I realize I have the awesome Disney nametag, and all he wanted was to let me know he recognized his food. That's another thing is the guests just stand there waiting for their food and easily recognize their order and are not afraid to let you know, which in the end is helpful! It is almost like a game...get the right food to the right person! It's crazy, a definite challenge, fun and problem solving at its finest!

This job is going to keep me very very busy, but it's a good change of pace for me and out of my comfort zone, which will help build character hopefully! Although I work late nights (until 1:30 tonight!) I get to sleep in and hang out with my awesome roomies in the morning/afternoon :) And I can call/text my beyond amazing friends from back home, who I miss way to much to put into words or I will tear up, on my way home from work because it's only 11 back in Cali!

Oh my gosh how could I forget! I work with a bunch of fun Puerto Ricans who all speak Spanish and of course I forget all the spanish I learned in my life except how to say elbow and and lettuce...not helpful! But my goal is to be muy bueno at espanol!

I know I have more to say, but I'm drawing a blank, but keep checking back for more updates!!