Happy Birthday Host Daddy!

Today happens to be my host dad's birthday! Happy Birthday, Edward! I couldn't have asked for a more amazing hosting experience. I love the time I've spent with the Piscia's and look forward to the rest of my time in Lakeland! I feel so at home and love this first extension of my soon-to-be HUGE family worldwide! =)

We had a small get-together yesterday for Edward's birthday. I baked him a cake (to the best of my ability without any of my normal cake decorating equipment! Yikes!) and we enjoyed some fun company and celebration!

With the Birthday Boy!

I got Edward a kitty Princess card. I thought it was appropriate! haha

That mixer's got power! I was shocked!

Edward and Jessica wanted to lick the beaters. Awww...they're cute!

Our night a few nights ago! Edward and I were Wii buddies with awesome 3D glasses!

Roomie Blog: Jolien!

So, I wanted a fun way to document all of my roomie experiences on Up With People, so I figured I'd do Roomie posts every time I change roommates. That's another wonderful thing about homestays in Up With People. We not only meet new families around the world, but we get to room with different members in our cast with every new city. It's a great way to spend more quality time with cast mates and learn more about them and from them!

My VERY FIRST roommate of UWP is Jolien (Betty Daisy) Roelandt from Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, Belgium (but she just says Brussels to make things easier). How great is it that her other two names are Betty and Daisy? haha. My host mom and I LOVED that when we learned that about her. Jolien is working for UWP as a PR (Promotions Representative) and is leaving Lakeland sooner than I am so she can go to future cities on our tour and set them up for the cast's arrival! Unlike most of the staff, Jolien is new to UWP and never traveled as a student herself. UWP likes to call these staff members "Rookies," but only two weeks into her new job, she's already a pro.
So, fun facts about Jolien:

Age: 22

Favorite color: Red

Favorite activity we did as roomies: In Jolien's words: "Do you even have to ask? Dis-nehhhhhhhhh" ... That's Disneyworld for those of you who can't sound that one out.

Other fun memories:
- Jolien is fluent in French, Dutch, Portuguese and English, and speaks some German. What a pro.
- Our host family always had fun giggling at Jolien's "Jolien-isms." She is known for always saying, "It's guuuuuuuud" (It's good) about food or plans for the day. Pretty much anything, Jolien answers with her traditional (hilarious) response.
- Come the end of the day, Jolien's brain is usually tired from having to constantly think and speak in English, so she'd say some pretty hilarious things like, "Oh great...now I'm gonna be the 5th wheel on the wagon?!" And we also loved learning from Jolien little differences between our cultures. Instead of packing her suitcase, Jolien "makes" her suitcase. Love it!

Have fun in Ft. Myers, Jolien! See you soon! =)

 

 This was Jolien's first time making home-made pizzas!

Staging Week 1

Phew! What a week! I'm sitting on the couch, SORE as all get out, and completely exhausted. But I wouldn't change it for anything! This week has been a whirlwind. Days have flown by, yet I can't even think back to the beginning of the week because it feels like it was over a month ago. Weird how our perception of time can change so drastically! I'm LOVING having a busy, busy schedule that keeps me going non-stop, and I can't even begin to describe how much I LOVE having over 100 new, amazing, unique, interesting people to talk to everyday! This family has only existed for a week, and already it feels like home!

So. This was the first week our whole cast was together...and we wasted no time! Monday we worked on some orientation stuff with getting to know you activities and workshops, etc. but then we jumped feet first into the staging process on Tuesday.

Tuesday was "Module Day"... aka a day where we were broken up into small groups of 10-12 and we rotated around to different stations for 50 minutes at a time from 9am-5pm. PHEW. Module Day gives each area of the production team a chance to see the cast in small groups and get a better feel for our strengths and weaknesses. Kind of like a day full of auditions...but not quite as intense.

My module day schedule went: Dancing first thing in the morning (UGH! SO INSANELY DIFFICULT!), Late Registration where we made sure we had EVERYTHING turned in we needed and answered some questions about UWP social media! Then we had a tour of Florida Southern College's campus, and then lunch with the cast. Yum. Did I mention we LOVE lunch here? After lunch we went to costumes to have our show costumes approved and take our cast head shot (Yeeee!). We had a mini tech workshop, then headed back for vocals where we all sang solo. Then we had speaking (for narration throughout the show). Then we ended the day with Admissions answering questions about ourselves and our decision to come to UWP, etc.

Ever since then, we've been plowing through the staging process. Each day has some kind of educational workshop, group vocals, and group movement (aka working out and/or show choreography). So far we've learned the choreography for an AWESOME country line dance to Rascal Flatts' "Backwards" (this is so fast and insane, but I've never had more fun learning a dance!) and Jai Ho! Also, throughout staging, folks in the cast can be pulled out in small groups for dance or vocal callbacks. I've been called back 2X for vocals and spent ALL today in a 4 hour dance workshop for the 60s/70s medley. Holy crap. I used to think I was pretty decent at picking up choreography. NOPE! I felt like a bumbling idiot today, but I'm going to keep trying! Our choreographer/instructor Ken is AMAZING and I love spending time in his workshops, but BOY does that man move fast. No time to stop and go over things 50 times. Do or die, right? Anyway, the staging process moves so unbelievably fast, and whatever we miss while we're pulled out in other sessions, we're responsible for on our own time. They don't mess around! haha

I'm loving every moment of this experience. Of course there are ups and downs, but I know this experience is going to change my life. I'm already developing amazing friendships and challenging myself in new ways...just in Week 1 (Well, Week 2 for us FSC kiddos, but you know!)

These types of photos happen spontaneously and quite often in our cast! A camera appears and everyone comes running! Yay Cast A family!

Host Family Day: Disney Continued

Besides enjoying her awesome company, it's great having Ambrea along on adventures because she's permanently attached to her camera and takes awesome pictures! Here is some extra footage from our Disney adventure through Ambrea's lens!

 Birthday girl with her Birthday button!

 At our VIP dinner/show watching area

Host Family Day: DISNEYWORLD!!!

I have such awesome host parents! They are Disney buffs, and they vowed they would take my roomie and me to Disney while we are staying with them! My roommate, Jolien, is a PR for UWP, so she is leaving Lakeland before I am to go set up future cities on our tour! So...given our time crunch, we headed to the "The Mouse House" this weekend before she leaves! We kidnapped Ambrea, too, so she could celebrate her 19th birthday in style! =)

Edward and Jessica hooked us up with passes, a FastPass for Every. Single. Ride! And VIP seating for dinner and the night shows right on the water with a perfect view of the castle. Sheer perfection! I was smiling from ear to ear!
 

We got to the park and rode Thunder Mountain first. Then Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan, Small World, and the new ride in Fantasyland, Ariel’s Grotto. We grabbed some ice cream treats, which for me is a MUST. Every trip to Disney that I can remember, I've always enjoyed a Mickey Ice Cream bar! After our rest, we hit up Space Mountain (MY FAVORITE!), and Buzz Lightyear. We had dinner at the VIP section with corndog bites and fries and shopped a bit. We enjoyed the light show on the castle and the fireworks! Afterwards, Ambrea, Jessica, and I rode Space Mountain one more time (while Jolien and Edward went to the Monster’s Inc. laugh show), then ended the night with Pirates of the Caribbean. Edward and Jessica spoiled us by buying us little trinkets of Disney, which meant a lot to all of us. Then we tried Thunder Mountain one more time, but it was closed. So we headed home. Awesome day!

Here is our day in picture review (with more to come later!):

 Ambrea's birthday cake that I got for her since I couldn't bake her one...yay hideous colors!

 YAY!!!

Family photo!

 Snow White

 One of my favorite rides was unfortunately closed for maintenance! =(

 Here we go on our first ride...Thundermountain Railroad!

 Small World

 The Beast's Castle...new to Fantasyland

Prince Eric's Palace...new to Fantasyland

We also saw that they're building Rapunzel's tower! It's still under construction, though

Tradition!

 LOVE

 Ready for Buzz Lightyear!

 With my host mom, Jessica! We're awesome.

Jack baseball!

 Light show on the castle

Firework photos:

I'll have TONS more photos when Ambrea (aka..Miss Photographer) posts her pictures! Stay tuned!

Sponsor A Day: Sara Blake

Today, January 13^th, my travels are sponsored by Sara Blake in memory of her sweet husband’s birthday. Maynard is watching over my journey, I have no doubt! =) Thank you, Sara, for all of your support! I hope your year is off to a great start and that your musical endeavors treat you well this year! Tell the GShep choir a big hello for me please! =)