2nd Week in California

Work has finally started (that means no more orientation or training). Parking cars is fun and very challenging. Imagine hundreds of cars flying at you and having to park them within the minute in a very specific pattern. crazy stuff.

I went to Los Angeles a couple days ago. It's really a neat place. I did feel a little unsafe though. I was warned by some friends that people on the streets really want your money - which was true. Many guys charge at you trying to hand you "free" c.d.'s, then they want cash. There are also con-artists dressed up as disney characters. I made sure to stay away from all those clowns.
As you can see from my pictures, I got to see the Hollywood sign. Very cool in person.

I think my favorite part about this land is that when you're in the city, you can just look out and see the snow-covered mountains.

Thanks for all your comments on things to eat (especially Megan, my mom, and john behrens).
Yesterday I bought grapes, tomatoes, salad (dark greens), apples, oranges, and canned peaches, oh and lime tortilla chips. Here's something though - the big bag of grapes I got said $4 on it. Turns out it was $4 per pound. The bag I got was 2.7 lbs. So when I got home and looked at the receipt, I found that I paid $10 for grapes! I don't know if it was really ten dollars or not, but I already ate half the bag before I noticed how much I was charged. Do you think I should go back and see if I can get my money back? I don't think the grapes were really $10.

More to come!

2nd Week in California

Day 5 at Disney

Like I said this whole week has been "Orientation". So last night we had our night orientation where we learned about the classes we will be taking and we met our leadership team. There's about 350 kids in the disney college program spring 2010. They split the kids up into groups. I'm one of the last groups to have orientation and there's about 90 of us. So far getting along really well with the guys and girls in my group! making great friends.
Last night we got to tour "backstage disney". it was super low-profile. so we weren't allowed to take any pictures. If we did we would be sent home immediately (I'm talking like home home).
Today was our last orientation day and it was 8 hours long.

You would not believe how much there is to know about disney!!!! I have seriously had SOOO Much Disney knowledge crammed into my head it's insane. I love it. I just had no idea?! I feel under qualified because I came here not knowing a lot about Disney. But boy am I learning! I mean WOW! It's Disney crazy in these parts. Anyways, today we took a super long tour of the park. We've been wearing our "professional attire" like every day. (and yes mom, I wear the same outfit every day haha it looks good).

For anyone who doesn't know, the "Disney Look" is a SUPER huge deal here at disneyland. I'll have to go over that more in another post, cause' it's not something that should be taken lightly. I finally got my disney ID today and can go into the park for free by myself. No tours or nothing! So tomorrow is my day off and my roommate is going to give me the grand tour of disneyland and disney's california adventure.

Got picked up by a nice man (Mr. Card) from the orange county sovereign grace church and went to homegroup tonight. Ate a delicious homecooked meal (lasagna and breaksticks) and then had a great time meeting new people and talking. It's so crazy singing worship songs here in California in someone's living room that we sing in Akron! It's like that little bit of home that I get to keep while I'm out here. A lady at homegroup tonight said she thinks she has a bike for me. Yay! this could mean no more waiting 20 minutes for the bus!

Me, Yuan, Mike, Darcy and Tien

First Day in California

Here's the story so far,
I don't know why... but for some reason I got accepted into the Disney College Program. I live approximately 2 miles north of the park at 180 Center Street Promenade. Anaheim, CA. 92805 Apt. 408

(Sat. Jan 16) I flew alone for the first time to get here! Very exciting, very nervous. A man named Mike Davis of the Orange County Sovereign Grace Church picked me up at the John Wayne Orange County Airport. That night I went to their church which meets Saturday nights at 6:30. The family I stayed with (the Davis') are an amazing family. Incredibly hospitable!!! Mike Davis (the father) gave me a history lesson of California then went online and showed me the bus routes of orange county.

I live with 4 other guys in a super nice apartment. All my roommates are really cool. They're from Chicago, Texas and China. One of which I haven't met yet.

We can see DisneyLand from our apartment. every weekend night they have fireworks which we will be able to see from our window. But tonight there is too much rain - so no fireworks :(
Apparently this week there is supposed to be a ton of rain, like 8 inches. Hey as long as it's still in the 60's and 70's, rain is no problem for me!

I took the bus today to wal mart to pick up some essential items with 2 Phillipino kids I met in the disney program. Check this out - We pushed our shopping cart as far as we could in the parking lot in the direction of our bus stop. As soon as we reached the end perimeter of wal-mart the wheels on this "normal looking" shopping cart locked up. There is actually a device on all the shopping carts that makes the wheels literally "lock" when you try to push them past the limits of wal-mart. So all three of us were shoving this shopping cart with all our might and couldn't get it to budge past at the particular spot of the parking lot.

Everyone back in Akron said that California is SUPER fast paced and that I won't be able to keep up with the speed of things out here. But so far everything is very chill. Not fast paced at all. Nothing like new york city or anything. People are nice and pleasant (well especially around disney). People like answering questions and are very helpful.

Very grateful to God for this experience.

I don't start my job until next week. This week will be all training and orientation.
I'm going food shopping tomorrow (I'm starving). haha
Any ideas on good cheap bulk foods?