All the world is made of...faith, and trust... and pixie dust

verden er min tumleplass...

2009-08-13T17:35:00.000-07:00

Og i det siste har jeg tumlet litt rundt i hodet mitt...

Det er mye rart som får meg til å tenke, det er ingen tvil om det, og en ting er lukt.

Jeg har alltid vært veldig bevist på lukter og dufter rundt meg, og sier fort i fra hvis det er noe(eller noen) jeg syns lukter godt, eller for den sags skyld lukter vondt.

Alle mennesker har en egen lukt, og det syns jeg er ganske morsomt, og alle vil oppfatte lukten av forskjellige personer helt forskjellig. men mange dekker over denne lukten med en spesiell parfyme. og veldig ofte kan jeg lukte en parfyme og få opp et bilde av en jeg kjenner i hodet - jeg forbinner denne personen med lukten av parfymen jeg kjenner.

Dette med lukt er kanskje noe som ville passet bedre på den andre bloggen min, men jeg kommer nå til poenget, for Jørn Idar måtte fjerne alle fire visdomstennene sine (stakkar mannen) og da jeg ble tatt med inn i rommet etter operasjonen der han satt med blodig gas i kjeften og så rimelig medtatt ut, brydde jeg meg ikke så mye om hvordan han så ut(han er jo seg sjæl om han er litt forslått) men at han lukta skikkelig merkelig. Han lukta narkose, tipper jeg (jeg har tross alt aldri egentlig luktet på narkose før) og det ble bare helt feil... Han fikk noen heftige medisiner han måtte ta også, mot smerten, og mens han gikk på dem luktet han medisin, og ikke seg selv. Jeg kunne våkne midt på natta og det var som om jeg sov ved siden av noen andre - fordi han ikke luktet seg selv, og jeg ble helt forvirra. det gikk over da, så fort han slutta å bruke medisinen, og nå lukter han helt normalt igjen..hehe=) men det er rart - hvor mye lukt har å si...

Nå reiser vi hjemover om to uker. Det går nok ravende fort, skal vi se... Vi er ikke hjemme før om nærmere tre, men så fort alt har gått...jeg er rett og slett litt skremt

2009-07-30T06:35:00.001-07:00

på tide med en aldri så liten oppdatering igjen.

ting har skjedd i det siste. det er lite tid igjen før jeg skal jeg og jeg har insett USA har forandret meg. ikke på det vonde, tror jeg, men jeg kommer snart hjem - og det som et ann

et menneske enn det som re

iste ned hit 9.september i fjor.

Den største forandringen er v

el den at jeg nå har fått meg kjæreste. Og den søteste kjæresten noen

kunne hatt. Han heter Jørn Idar Kvig og er fra Velfjord. Han er en av de snilleste menneskene jeg noen ganger

har truffet

, så full av varme og kjærlighet, og han kommer ofte med herlige sarkastiske kommentarer til omverdenen. også er han skrudd sammen nesten tilsvarende som meg,og derfor like rar som meg - og ikke minst er han like glad i kosing og klemming som meg(om ikke mer). og det er veldig koselig. Også spiller han ukulele. Det er jo også rimelig fantastisk at man er på andre siden av jorda og faller for noen som kommer fra andre sida av fjellet hjemme. livets små finurligheter...

Vi har den siste tiden vært alt for få folk på jobben, fordi så mange har reist hjem, og de nye ikke helt har blitt trent opp ferdi enda. dette resulterer i alt for mange timer på jobb. timeantallet ligger rundt 50 hver uke, vi jobber seks dager i uken, og til tider flere doble skift. for to uker siden jobbet jeg 71 timer, og jeg begynner å bli rimelig sliten. og det begynner kroppen min også. i tillegg til den herlige scnebetennelsen jeg har hatt siden januar, har jeg nå også fått vondt i den høyre skuldra og nakken. Går til kiropraktor nå, og han tok på skuldra mi og sa "you´re muscles are overworked" NO KIDDING!! Ble faktisk sendt hjem fra jobben i dag pga dette, og skal inn og bli knekt litt i ettermiddag. det blir fint skal en se.

Å leve et liv med Jørn som en stor del av det betyr at det skjer mye mer enn jeg er vant til. Han liker å finne på mye greier, og vet hva man kan finne på også, så i det siste har jeg gjort mye rart.

Vi( jeg, jørn og Christian) dro på wonderworks - en interaktiv utstilling med merkelige ting som spikermatter, orkanmaskin, jordskjelvmaskin, baseballmaskin, såpebobleavdeling osv. samme dagen spilte vi tre også minigolf. Jeg, jørn og Christian har også vært på Vingård. der fikk vi omvisning og gratis smaking. nice.

Jeg og Jørn, og Christian og hans kone Christina var på dinnershow en ettermiddag - Araban nights. Det var en...interessant opplevelse kan man vel kalle det. Et halvbra show med hester mens man fikk servert en halvbra middag. alt i alt sånn midt på treet, men veldig koselig da=)

Så på onsdag var Jeg og Jørn med Mats opp for å fly. Siden jeg kjenner så mange som er piloter nå, har jeg hatt lyst til å fly, og har mast litt på Mats om det, og på onsdag var det endelig vår tur. det var utrolig morsomt. Jørn fikk til og med styre flyet. jeg er så stolt. Jeg hadde spist litt lite den dagen, så jeg ble faktisk litt dårlig, men det gikk greit=)

I helga skal vi hoppe i fallskjerm, det gleder jeg meg til. jeg lover en herlig oppdatering etter det.

For alle dere som lurer på når jeg egentlig skal komme meg hjem, så reiser vi fra USA 28.august. vi skal stoppe et par dager på Island, og lander i Oslo 3.september. Gleder meg sykt til å se dere alle igjen.

litt oppdatering

2009-07-13T20:02:00.000-07:00

hmmm, ja...et par ting har skjedd i det siste.

la oss starte med en litt morsom historie fra jobben i dag.

Jeg går bort til et bord med 7 personer på, blant dem et eldre ektepar.

De sitter der og diskuterer hva han skal spise fornoe. han sier til meg

"I´ve been fighting with her the last 50 years" og da må jeg jo spørre mannen:

"do you ever win?" ganske fort svarer han "no." -liten pause- "but that´s the way it should be. the woman is supposed to be in charge"

Han har skjønt det=)

I går skulle vi ut og se på rakettoppskytning. altså, egentlig så skulle vi det forledendag, men den ble avlyst og utsatt til i går. så vi kjørte med Jørn Idars svære SUV fullasta med sju folk og kjørte ut til Cocoa for å bænke oss til og se på oppskytninga. Vi var der rundt to timer før , og satt der og koste oss og grilla og alt. så ti minutter før oppskytning kommer en tordensky lurende og alt sammen blir avlyst og utsatt enda en dag. litt kjedelig, men det var koselig å være der ute da=)

Ellers jobber vi hele tida. akkurat nå sier timeantallet mitt for denne uka 72 timer, og det på seks dager (mandag til lørdag). dette blir spennende, og jeg tror nok jeg er serdeles vakker på slutten av uka! ønsk meg lykke til og be for meg om du kan ;) (eller ikke ønsk meg lykke til, si "brake a leg"...du veit...ja)

Nå er det litt over en måned til jeg skal hjem. nå som det har begynt å bli skikkelig morsomt å være her nede. Jeg savner dere alle utrolig mye, men jeg kommer nok til å savne det enkle livet her nede også. og ikke minst den gode økonomien som gir frihet til mye mer enn studielånet gjør. Og det er utrolig skummelt å skulle komme hjem igjen. Kjempe skummelt. jeg vet ikke hva som kommer til å skje når jeg kommer hjem.

Glad i dere!

2009-06-22T08:33:00.001-07:00

Livet som en servitør i Norgespaviljongen i Disney, er helt ærlig for det meste enkelt..

men av og til skjer det ting som vi bare må snakke litt om, og gjerne klage litt over ;)

Her om dagen skjedde det noe spesielt med meg...

Vi er delt opp i seatingtider, fordi vi har prinsesser som går rundt og hilser på alle bordene. Det var siste lunsj og jeg hadde den siste stasjonen i restauranten, og fikk derfor det siste bordet som kom inn, en to-topp, med en bestomor og et barnebarn - en litt hyperaktiv gutt...vel de hadde spist opp all maten sin, og jeg var på vei bak for å hente desserten til disse folka, hvorpå Bev, en av våre herlige koordinatorer, kommer bort og sier at nå har resten av selskapet deres kommet.. Og de har tenkt å spise. på dette tidspunktet har hele kjøkkenet lunsjpause, Lunsjmenyen er tatt ned, og det er fremdeles 45 minutter til middagen skal serveres, hvorpå 20-30 av disse minuttene vanligvis ville vært min lille pause. resten av selskapet består av sønn og barnebarn nr 2, og bestemor er rimelig forbanna på sønnen sin, i og med at han er alt for sein, og hun insisterer på at de skal sitte der og vente på at de kan få mat. så jeg ringer inn mat til dem, forklarer at det kommer til å ta en stund, og ber kjøkkenet på mine knær om at de skal fort seg med maten... storfornøyde drar bordet, to og en halv time etter de to første kom inn, og jeg fikk ingen spisepause :(

Noe annet litt morro skjedde i går. jeg drev å tulla med et bord. fordi jeg har tre språk på nametaggen min så mente de at jeg var veldig smart (jepp, det er Norsk, svensk, og dansk...jeg er et geni) og langt uti måltidet sier jeg "yep, I am very smart. (det påfølgene må leses høyt) S M Rt" jeg knakk sammen i latter og måtte bare gå fra bordet og la dem deale med regninga jeg akkurat hadde gitt dem. om de merket det vet jeg ikke, men det var fantastisk morsomt for meg... hahahaha

KM og Bella takes America

2009-06-17T19:51:00.000-07:00

Så endelig kom tiden som Isabel skulle komme på besøk til meg. Ganske mange timer forsinket ankom hun Orlando sist tirsdag morgen, og fra den dagen har jeg dratt henne rundt overalt.

Vi startet med det litt lokale. Jeg er litt lei av parker, og spesielt nå som det er så mange gjester i parkene, men jeg tok henne med inn i Epcot for å se på illuminations(og det var egentlig det vi gjorde av park morro) og forsåvidt også ned til Downtown disney så vi kunne spise god is og hun kunne kjøpe noen gaver til familien. Jeg måtte jobbe de to første dagene hun var her, men på torsdag hadde jeg fri og vi tok turen opp til st.Augustin, to timer nord for Orlando, USAs eldste by. der andret vi litt rundt sammen med Gjermund og Solveig før vi for på St. Augustin beach og lå der i et par timer. vi tok også turen innom daytona før vi la oss på vei tilbake til Orlando igjen. Den dagen opplevde jeg tre litt spesielle ting. eller kanskje det bare var to... vel i hvert fall var det en kar som viste meg fingern da han kjørte forbi, og jeg ble stoppa av politet midt på natta fordi jeg ikke hadde skiftet fil for han... Det var litt vanskelig og se at det var politiet i og med at han hadde langlysene på og først ikke no blålys, og jeg ble helt blenda og ikke så en dritt... Men, det tenkte han ikke på da han sa "no wonder people are getting killed on the interstate" vel, han kjørte sinna videre, og kjørte litt mer nervøst videre...

På fredag reiste vi til New York. Det ble mye shopping. veldig mye shopping. og selfølgelig en tur i central park. Det som er litt fint med å gå i central park på sommeren er at folk jogger forbi, og da gjerne uten skjorte. Fanget i øyeblikket med to fnisete jenter på tur ble det litt snikfotografering...dog dagen vi gikk der begynte det å regne, og det var ikke like kult.

Vi fikk med oss et stand-up show på Stand-up NY, noe som var fantastisk morsomt. Og som nordmann bosatt i utlandet har jeg lært meg å spotte Nordmenn på lang avstand, og det var flere på Stand-up NY denne kvelden. Jeg måtte på do litt utpå kvelden og gikk ned og stilte meg i dokø, forran meg sto et par som snakket sammen om ting de ellers ikke ville snakket om hadde de vært et sted folk flest skjønte språket de snakket. .. om diverse ting mannen skulle gjøre inne på do. Jeg så ned, og jeg klarte ikke holde meg alvorlig og prøvde å unngå blikket deres og vurderte om jeg skuller si jeg var norsk eller ikke. Det endte med at mannen spurte meg "are you ok today?" og jeg svarte "jeg har det bra jeg" hvor han ble veldig rød, sprang inn på herretoalettet og sa til dama "du fikser dette" innblandet med all latteren, og hun sa "jeg tenkte "hun kan jo ikke forstå oss, men det ser jo sånn ut""... vel jeg forsto, og lo..haha=)

Vi tok båten over to staten Island for å se på frihetsgudinnen fra båten. da vi kom over mista vi båten tilbake, og bestemte oss for å gå rundt og se oss om. akkurat denne dagen var the "art by the ferry festival" og mye rart å se på. da vi kom tilbake tok vi vandringen opp manhatten med ground zero, Brooklyn bridge, og chinatown.

Siste dagen ville Isabel se Friendshuset (hva er det med det huset som gjør at alle vil se det?) og da vi hadde tatt en titt på det så var det på tide med frokost, og vi gikk inn på en cafe i greenvich villages. jeg bestilte to retter(jeg var sulten og på fetekur) og en kaffe. En av guttene som jobba der så akkurat ut som Ole Christian, en venn i Oslo, og jeg ble helt satt ut. Det ble et par snikfoto (og jeg er tiiidenes dårligste snikfotograf, så det er sagt..). vi gikk videre opp byen, og gikk innom Barnes and nobles på 5.th avenue, Verdens største bokhandel, det perfekte stedet for en litteraturnerd som Bella=)

på kvelden på mandag reiste vi til Buffalo,eller rettere sagt Niagara falls. Flyet var veldig forsinket, og vi kom frem midt på natten. vi leide en frisk Toyota Corolla, og kjørte rundt med vår medbrakte GPS. vi fant Motellet vårt - et som er definisjonen på et lugubert motell, og la oss til å sove i et utrolig varmt rom uten aircondition... (de trenger visst ikke det i nord..). Vi hadde kjøpt et discoverypass for Niagara falls på nettet, en pakke med fem billetter til forskjellige attraksjonener og hele morgenen gikk med på å finne ut hvor i helsike vi kunne få passet vårt. Vi fant det tilslutt og det var duket for en aldeles nydelig dag. Niagara fallene er utrolig. det går ikke an å beskrive dem med ord. Vi tok en båttur som førte oss nesten helt inn til fossen "maid of the mist", og det var utrolig vakkert. Etterpå gikk vi på en gåtur som førte oss helt inntil fossen. man ble kliss våt av alt det fallende vannet. det var så herlig.

På kvelden tok vi turen inn til Buffalo, og det er den stilleste byen jeg noen gang har vært i. Det var ingen folk der og alt var stengt da vi kom, rundt halv sju. det eneste som var åpent var Fridays, og vi gikk dit for å spise. Servitøren vår bekreftet at det som oftest var så stille i Buffalo, og vi døpte byen "ghost city"

dagen i dag har gått med på å henge på newark liberty airport. Jeg er dødssliten og blakk, men har hatt en helt aldeles fantastisk uke.

Bra sitater fra denne uka:

"You´re in america, speak spanish!"

"The subway as a crowded place do not make it acceptable to preform sexual harassment"

mann: "are you taking a photo of me?" KM: "yes I am"

Bilder kommer folkens

17.mai i Orlando

2009-05-22T13:10:00.000-07:00

17. mai i år ble feire i Epcot. Det startet med frokost i restauranten, og resten av dagen ble feiret rundt om kring rundt verden.

Det ble til og med 17.mai tog og tale for dagen=)

mellom 12 og 17 ble det arrangert cast celebration backstage i den gamle international trailer, og rundt to stakk vi innom der og fikk is og diverse andre saker. jeg var fremdeles mett etter frokosten men de serverte også pølser, burgere, riskrem og skolebrød.

utpå dagen begynte det å regne, og det har fremdeles ikke sluttet , seks dager etterpå

Coldplaykonsert 15.mai

2009-05-22T12:43:00.000-07:00

15. mai dro vi en gjeng i to biler til West Palm Beach for å dra på Coldplay konsert. 2,5 timer i bil hver vei, gorde det til en fantastisk liten roadtrip som endte med fartsbot, soving liggende i baksetet, og folk som sovna av på skuldra mi.

Det var en utrolig bra konsert, og en helt fantastisk tur.

Vi kom tilbake kl 4.00 på morran, og jeg måtte opp kl 6.00 og dra på jobb. ble en tung dag på jobben=)

Tur til Norge

2009-05-22T11:57:00.000-07:00

22 april tok jeg en liten tur til Norge.

Uten å egentlig fortelle noen at jeg kom tok jeg turen til Oslo for å være med på musikkhelg som Bella arrangerte. Hun hadde fått beskjed om at hun skulle hente en eller annen Linda som skulle være med på helgen, og hun ble skikkelig overrasket da det var jeg som kom av flytoget=) det blikket hennes akkurat da var vært hele turen til Norge.

Jeg var en dag i Oslo, og gikk rundt og hilste på folk, stakk innom menighetskontoret og hilste på, gikk rundt i byen, traff et par folk rundt om kring, og bare nøt vårsolen. det var skikkelig hyggelig. og jeg spiste en ostepølse med bacon. det er først når man lever uten Norsk mat man skjønner hvor viktig det er for en ;)

på kvelden kom Maria Bjørn og Christian over, så da var vi samlet, jeg , Bella, Maria M, Maria Bjørn og Christian - hele gjengen. det var kos det!

Så på fredag reiste vi ut til Mariaholm for musikkhelgen. Jeg var med som leder, men var nesten litt mer deltaker. hadde jetlag, så måtte legge meg nedpå en del også.

På søndag reiste jeg opp til Trondheim for å være sammen med familien min der. De fleste visste at jeg kom, noen hadde blitt fortalt det og noen hadde gjettet det. men det var uansett helt fantastisk å få tilbringe tid med mine vakre tantebarn og min herlige søster. Og selvfølgelig alle andre ogsp men var de jeg var mest med=)

Så på mandag kveld dro jeg tilbake til Oslo og tirsdag morgen reiste jeg tilbake til Orlando.

Besøk av familien

2009-05-22T09:48:00.000-07:00

Det er veldig lenge siden jeg har skrevet her, så jeg skal nå - i de neste innleggene - prøve å oppdatere dere på alt som har skjedd.

Vel 2. april kom mamma, Ørjan, Simon og Maj-Elise på besøk. det er altså mamma, hennes ektemann, min lillebror og hannes kjæreste.

Det ble et veldig fint gjensyn med mine kjæreste.

De var her i to uker, og det var de to beste ukene så

langt her nede,

og vi reiste litt rundt mens de var her.

Ført tok jeg dem med i parkene. Vi var en dag i Magic Kingdom og en dag i Epcot.

Vi reiste til St. Augustin, en av USAs eldste byer fra den spanske kolonitiden:

så dro vi to dager til Miami. Vi bodde i en forstad sør for Miami kalt Homestead, og dette var et skikkelig lugubert strøk. dagen vi kom dro vi på en liten badebukt og solte oss litt der. Vi tilbrakte en av dagene på South beach, hvor jeg selvfølgelig klarte å bli helt utrolig solbrent. Når solen gikk ned reiste vi til en liten by som heter Coconut cove, og der var det utrolig koselig. og dagen etter drovi til Ft. Lauderdale by the sea, og gikk litt rundt der, og stoppet og spiste på en strandkafe. Før vi dro tilbake til Orlando. Det var påskehelg da vi var i Homestead, og jeg insisterte på å delta på påskenattsmessen. Det var den værste messen jeg noen gang har deltatt på. De leste kun tre av lesningene, og hver av dem på forskjellig språk, det var ingen form for respekt for liturgien, så menigheten satt og snakket under messen. Det var helt forferdelig....

En av de siste dagene familien var her tok jeg dem med til Winter Park, en av byene i Orlando Området. Jeg hadde ikke vært der før men hadde hørt at det var veldig fint, og vi ble absolutt positivt overrasket. Det var som en liten bit av Europa plassert her midt inni dette åpne amerikanske landskapet. Helt fantastisk. Vi satte oss ned på en liten kafe. (Baristaen var ganske så pen , se)

Jeg jobbet de to ukene familien var her, men fikk et par dager fri. og det var da vi gjorde alle disse tinga.

dagen før de dro hjem ville mamma se Kirken jeg pleier å gå i, Mary Queen f the universe shrine, og jeg tok dem med dit. vi kom akkurat for seint og kirken var stengt (mamma prøvde ALLE dørene). Kirken har et utekapell hvor folk kan tenne lys. det hadde regnet den dagen så de fleste lysene var sluknet, og vi begynte å tenne alle lysene igjen. det var så fint - som om vi tente andre folks bønner igjen slik at de ikke skulle forsvinne.

Det var så fint å ha besøk, og jeg gleder meg til å komme hjem!

2009-03-20T10:38:00.001-07:00

jeg har kjøpt meg bil=)

En Infiniti I 30 1996 modell. den er grønn og fin,
og de to siste dagene har gått med på å bli kjnet med å kjøre den, kjøpe matter,
nødutstyr og brannslukningsapparat. og det elementæra man trenger i Florida: solskjerm til fremruta. JEg er dekt folkens, og friheten til å dra hvor jeg vil er her. I love it!

min uke

2009-03-15T21:24:00.000-07:00

Denne uka har vært svært spesiell, så jeg skal fortelle dere om den.

Endelig er sommeren kommet tilbake til Orlando, og nå er været slik man forbinder det med Florida. varm og sorikt.
Så da jeg hadde fri på mandag gjorde jeg det som var mest naturlig, jeg tok på mag bikinig og hatt la meg ned ved bassenget og leste, og der lå jeg i nærmere fem timer. Det var bare en elementær ting jeg glemte når jeg skulle ligge i sola i Florida (ikke akkurat det samme som sola i Norge, det skulle jeg ha lært til nå..) og det var selvfølgelig solkremen. Dette resulterte naturlig nok i den værste solbrentheten jeg har hatt siden den litt ufriske opplevelsen i Frankrike i 2004 (uten å gå nærmere inn på det) denne gangen knall rød på hele fremsiden av kroppen. det førte til et par smertefulle netter, da spesielt den første da Aloevera ikke fantes i huset... Jeg kom på jobb morgenen etter og hadde så vondt at jeg så vidt klarte å røre meg og ba om å få gå hjem. men med for få servitører på jobb var ikke det mulig, og jeg fikk ikke dra hjem. Jeg fikk derimot velge hvilke bord jeg skulle ha(tusen takk, Michell), og jeg valgte dem nærmest sidestasjonen,slik at jeg slapp å gå så mye. Denne dagen prøvde jeg å gjøre minst mulig fordi bare å gå et skritt resulterte i store smærter og jeg prøvde alle mulige kjærringråd med melkeprodukter på kroppen (funka forøvrig ikke med half n half mot solbrenthet) og en kan si at servicen jeg ytte den dagen ikke føltes spesielt bra. Anyhow, fikk jeg høre i ettertid at et av borda mine hadde bedd om å få snakke med en manager fordi de var så utrolig fornøyd... sånt skjer. beats me... etter jobb tok jeg taxi til frisøren og fikk fiksa litt mer på hårfarga mi (er en lang prosess dette) og taxi fra frisøren til walgreens for å kjøpe aloevera. når jeg først var på walgreens så gikk jeg liksågodt innom publix og kjøpte meg jordbær, og morgenen etter lagde jeg jordbørsyltetøy. skikkelig godt, så jeg er veldig fornøyd.

Torsdag var det Throw-in (velkomstfest) for de nye folka som kom på tirsdag (Therese som gikk i parallellklassa mi på barneskolen kom faktisk) og temaet for oss gamle var "S" fest. Jeg gikk som sporty og solbrente solveig. Noen kostymer :Maja som Susan (en av våre managere.), Fie som Stine Lunde (en av de vi jobber med) Martine som Sau, Ina Christine som Super Skotte, Christian som Satan, Ida Marie som Spøkelse, Helle og Ida Christine som superstjerner. Mange bra kostymer denne dagen.

i dag har vi hatt litt av en dag. det startet kl kvart over tolv i formiddag da vi (11 stykker - Meg, hege, Martin, lise, vivian, karijanne, kari,fredrik, daniel, steffen og Julie) la oss i vei mot Disneys world of sports (eller noe sånt) for å se baseballkamp, en ny opplevelse for oss som aldri har vært på det før. Vel, som utolmodige nordmenn ble det litt kjedelig i lengden, så halvveis ut i kampen (før morroa har startet vil nok noen si) la vi oss av gårde mot Cocoa Beach. på veien mista vi Hege og plukket opp Ina Christine. på stranden spilte vi volleyball, solte oss og badet i et herlig vann (også kalt atlanterhavet). klokken 19.43 ble det skutt opp en rakett fra Kennedy space center, noe vi hadde fantastisk utsikt til fra stranden. etter oppskytningen var vi alle ganske sultne og bestemte oss for å spise. etter å ha lett litt rundt i cocoa bestemte vi oss for å kjøre og spise i Orlando. Det var da moroa startet. vi i vår bil (Karijanne, Martin, Ina Christine og meg) la oss i vei i det vi trodde var retning Orlando. men etter en stund skjønte vi at noe var feil, vi burde ha krysset en bro på dette tidspunktet, en halvtime etter vi kjørte fra stranda. vi sjekker kartet mot veien vi er på, og upsann vi var visst i Melbourne, en 20 miles sør for Cocoa, mens Orlando ligger 37 miles vest for cocoa. I godt mot finner vi en vei mot Kissimmee og kjører den, igjennom mørke landskap me fantasier om at "kanskje vi får se en aligator på veien?" (vi gjorde ikke det) mens vi sang sangen "Optimist" av jahn teigen. Motet måtte holdes oppe. På god vei stoppet vi i St. Claud og spiste på Chillis. Fredrik hadde ringt og sagt at de spiste på en Mexicans restaurant på høyre siden av veien (ja så flink er han til å forklare vei.. spesielt siden de hadde tatt en annen vei enn oss) så vi stoppet på den første mexicanske på høyre siden av veien, før vi kjørte hjem til Lake buena vista. så tolv timer etter vi reise hjemmefra er jeg hjemme igjen. tusen takk for en herlig dag, folkens!

Det har vært en spesiell uke... jeg skulle egentlig vaske leiligheten, men det skjedde visst ikke. har vært sliten denne uka jeg...og solbrent.. det er min unnskyldning. jeg skal ta det igjen, jeg lover!

om to og en halv uke kommer Mamma, Ørjan, Simon og Maj-Elise! Jeg gleder meg sånn!

New York! New York!

2009-03-03T16:28:00.001-08:00

JEg har tilbringt de siste dagene i New York.
Her er et lite resymé over hva som skjedde=)

VI landet på JFK sent på kvelden og tok banen flyplassen inn til byen.
Hostellet vi skulle bo på, L Hostels, lå på 118th street. Kort tid før avreise hadde vi skjønt at dette hostellet ligger på Harlem, men det var for sent å gjøre noe med det, og folk vi kjenner har bodd der før, og beroliget oss. Etter nesten to timer på T-banen kom vi til hostellet, og det var faktisk utrolig bra. Siden det var så seint (klokken var over 2. da vi kom) la vi oss med en gang.

Dagen etter, fredag, gikk vi ned til byen og startet med å være skikkelige turister. Vi var oppe i empire state building, og der var det en gangtastisk utsikt ut over byen. vi var en kjapp tur innom Madison square garden, og gikk igjennom Macy's 9 etager. så vandret vi opp Broadway til times square. så tok vi turen opp til rockefeller center, og så til st. Patricks Cathedral. Litt shopping ble det også dagen, med tur innom H&M og Victoria's secret. Vi var overlykkelige da vi kom til H&M. Det eksisterer ingen i hele Florida, og enkle og billige basisklær vi er vant med er en mangelvare.

Lørdag gikk turen ned til Staten Island Ferry for å ta den gratis båten over til Staten Island for å få en utsikt over Statue of Liberty. Alternativet var å ta en dyr guidet tur, så dette var absolutt å foretrekke. etter en time på båten gikk vi nordover og forbi Ground zero, området der Twin Towers sto før sin skjebne i 2001. Det var spesielt å være på området, som hadde en veldig urolig stemning, så jeg klarte ikke være der for lenge. Vi fortsatte å gå nordover forbi City Hall, tok turen ut på Brooklyn Bridge, så Nord til Chinatowns og Little Italy mange fantastiske gater. Det var virkelig som å ta et skritt ut av NY og inn i Asia, med Kinesiske, japanske og vietnamesiske butikkerrad på rad.
Så gikk vi til Soho i jakt etter en Vintage butikk (som vi ikke fant, for øvrig) og opp til Greenwich Village for å se på Friendshuset - fasaden på det huset gjengen i friends "bor"i.

på søndag da vi sto opp og skulle gå ut snødde det. Siden jeg er et vinterbarn betyr snø mye for meg, og er en av de tingene jeg virkelig har savnet med å bo i Florida. så da jeg står på hostelltrappen og snøen daler lett forbi meg begynner jeg og gråte, og jeg må stå stille bare for å ta det inn et øyeblikk. da jeg fikk samlet meg tok vi oss en skikkelig søndagstur gjennom hele Central park, noe som var en god avvekslin fra å gå i byen. Jeg ville fremdeles på en vitage butikk (som ikke var dyr) så jeg hadde funnet et par i turistboka mi og markert dem av i kartet og vi la oss på vei mot disse. på vei opp mot en av dem går vi forbi et marked. et fantastisk market med brukt tøy, antikkvarer, husflid, design...alt mulig egentlig. Dette var fantastisk, og jeg fant et par ting jeg bare måtte ha...Etter dette introduserte jeg Solveig for en av mine favorittbutikker her nede "Urban Outfitters" (hvorfor har vi ikke de i Norge?) en kleskjede med Mange utrolig stilige klær, samt også morsomme nips og bøker. Litt mer shopping ble utført denne dagen, før jeg tilslutt bare måtte slutte.... fordi jeg hadde gått langt over dagens budsjett.. Jeg dro med meg SOlveig ned mot St.Patricks for å gå i messen (det var tross alt søndag) og på veien gikk vi forbi Trump tower og fikk tatt et par bilder der også. vi avsluttet så kvelden med å dra på kino for å se filmen "He's just not that in to you".

Mandag var egentlig litt en dag vi hadde til overs. vi følte vi hadde gjort alt vi trengte å gjøre i New York. Vi hadde tenkt å gå på et Broadway show, men gadd ikke stå i timer i kø i den ekstreme kulden (for oss vant med varmen i Florida) for å kjøpe billetter, og vi var egentlig litt lei av å være på ferie. SÅ vi tok en rolig dag med shopping og tok turen innenfor Madame Tussauds, og moret oss med voksdukker et par timer. Vi endte dagen med å dra på kino (igjen) og så filmen "Confession of a shopaholic". Siden vi skulle reise så tidlig på tirsdag morgen gadd vi ikke å betale for en natt ekstra med overnatting, men vi oppholdte oss i fellesrommet på hostellet og klarte der å sovne av en time før vi kl halv fire måtte komme oss av gårde mot JFK. Først to timer på tog, så en liten stund på buss før vi så kom til terminal fem og kom oss hjem.

Dagen i dag har jeg brukt på å sove...

Det var dagene våre i NY.
Jeg er nå hjemme igjen med gode minner og:
1 jakke
3 gensre
1 skjorte
2 bukser
9 t-skjorter
2 tights
4 skjerf
1 belte
1 rød leppestift
1 lipliner
1 lippgloss
2 glittering eyeliners
4 bh
7 truser
1 vest
1 bok
1 hard rock café glass
1 pysjamas
3 par sokker
4 smykker
2 par støveletter
1 såpe
1 sjampoo
1 hårkur
1 lue

........rikere...... og 1200 dollar fattigere.

No longer a spunky blond!

2009-02-22T10:18:00.000-08:00

Hei, folkens.
I går fikk jeg et sterkt behov for å farge håret,
så jeg gjorde det da. Gikk til frisøren, og fikk det gjort.
Var en lang prossess, og tre timer og to hundre dollar etter er dette hvordan jeg ser ut nå:

Før frisøren min, charlotte, kunne farge håret mørkt måtte hun tilføre pigmenter, fordi håret mitt var helt lyst og rett og slett uten pigmenter. Pigmentene hun la inn i håret mitt var gyldne, og det resulterte i at håret mitt ble signaltgult. veldig morsomt.:

Har fremdeles litt farging igjen. akkurat nå er jeg en 7 er, og skal ned til 6, (litt mørkere) og så må jeg tilføre mer farge, ford mestparten av dette kommer til å bli vasket ut. jaja=) sånn er det=)

2009-02-16T11:16:00.000-08:00

tenkte jeg skulle fortelle der om noe som skjedde på Busch gardens.

Jeg, Thea, Thuan og Phillip står i kø for å hoppe på et tog som vil ta oss med rundt parken for å se på forskjellige dyr. Det står en gammel mann bak oss og plutselig spør han om han kan få ta bilde av meg, fordi jeg var kledd så annerledes. Han drar opp et kamera som mest sannsynlig var produsert på syttitallet og jeg smiler jeg mens han tar bilde. så kommer han frem til oss for å snakke med meg. Denne mannen er 86 år og syns det er helt fantastisk at jeg er fra Norge, for under 2.verdenskrig pleide han å være styrmann på Norske skip. Han pleide å lære de norske dekkguttene å skrive engelsk i brev de skrev til kjærestene de hadde i england og USA. Han snakket og snakket og det viste seg at han var kunstner. da vi kom frem til Toget satte jeg, Thea, Thuan og Phillip oss lenger frem i toget enn denne mannen, men da vi kom til stoppet han skulle av kom han frem til oss og viste oss et bilde av sine to døtre. så sa han at han kunne ha malt meg, også gikk han... og mer så vi ikke til han.

Det var en veldig spesiell opplevelse å snakke med denne mannen... veldig spesiell...

I got my license!

2009-02-12T17:15:00.000-08:00

Well guys, I finally did it!
I took my road test, and passed, and I am now a certified driver!
Now it's time to find a car to buy...

The last two weeks Thea, Thuan and Phillip have been down here.
They're here for a wedding, and I've been hanging with them a couple of days.
It's been really nice. They're a great family.

I took them in the parks a couple of times.
first Epcot, then Hollywood studios and Magic Kingdom.
One day we were at Prime outlets,
and today we were at Busch gardens in Tampa.
Busch gardens is an amazing park!!
the park has several rollercoasters.
including one that has a 90 degree drop. it was so cool!!

last week some of the guys (Stein-Ola og Jørn Idar) arranged a party,
and not any party - a Cowboy party.
so people dressed up in their best Cowboy/cowgirl/indianoutfit and came over.
after the party we went out, to a club called "Cowboys" and we linedanced all night.

pictures from the party will be posted later. Or you can find them on my facebookprofile under "Florida-4"

2009-01-31T21:05:00.001-08:00

So, it's been a couple of weeks since I last postet anything here, and that's mostly 'cause not much has happened. I'm working four days a week, and I'm of three.

Just did my taxes for 200, though. And they've withheld 614 dollars. I did not make enough money to pay taxes so they're giving me everything back, and there's one more things. since the economy is so bad right now the state is giving all taxpayers atleast 300 dollars extra. So I payed 614 dollars in tax, is getting everything back and is also getting 300 dollars more. 914 dollars... I don't get why they're doing that, but right now I like it. It'll be good to have some extra money when I'm going to New York in the end of the month.

Now, I'm taking weekend as we say in Norway!

God Hælj!

drivers licence and insurance

2009-01-10T21:10:00.000-08:00

well guys, just writing to tell you I got my learners license.

And what is that - you say. well it is here as it is in Norway, that you have to have permission to drive before you get your license. you then get a learners license.

I got mine on monday, and startet taking lessons on friday. having three lessons now, including the one on friday. one tomorrow (sunday) and one on monday. and my teacher says that should be enough. I'll e ready to take my license when the three lessons is over. I don't really think so, but we'll see.

I also got dinsey insurance. I got my Norwegian insurance, it's just that in Americca they don't take anythin else than american insurance. So if I get sick I have to pay for it my self and get the money back from the company. If I'll end up on an hospital it's no way I can afford that. so I got the cheapest insurance just to have a ticket in to the hospital if anything would happen. then the Norwegian insurance can pay the rest.

2009-01-03T17:51:00.000-08:00

adding more animals.

Saw a
Didelphidae here at the commons. (pungrotte)

saw dolphins in daytona

2008-12-28T13:21:00.001-08:00

it´s christmas...

not that I see to much of the christmas where I am...

or what I usally call christmas -

the holiday cheer, the family joy, the celebration together.

But, it has not been all to bad.

I´ve been working, and when I´m not working I´m sleeping.

Or hanging out with Solveig and Gjermund.

They spent three nights on a hotel, and one evening they invited me over for a glass of

champagne in their room, and a dinner in Downtown Disney.

and I came, and we cheered for the season.

Christmas night I went to church - alone - and I celebrated the birth of Jesus with the

thousands of people that had come to church. That was the important thing that day.

And as my grandmother said I should I sang with my soul for Jesus.

in the morning of christmas eve some of the peeps went over to Fie´s house and we saw "tre nøtter til askepot" and it gave us all some holidayjoy.

Animals I´ve seen these last couple of days:

a snake outside my house

a rakoon (vaskebjørn) outside my house

2008-12-20T15:40:00.000-08:00

I've finished my first week alone in service, and it's been relativly good.
I'm sick.
I've had a cold sence this summer, that just won't let go.
on sunday it escaleded into a flu, and I haven't really gotten any better
Well stressing around at work for ten hours straight with no brakes and no food,
and minimaly to drink isn't really what a doctor would recomend, i guess, but it's the reallity down here.
No work - no pay.
call in - a point on your recordcard.
so I've been on painkillers and fluemedicin all week, just hoping to not cought to much on the guests.
everybody is sick.
it's the way it gets, i guess, when we live, work and hang together.
hopefully three days of will help.

2008-12-12T16:07:00.000-08:00

So I now have had 4 days of service training.
this is what has happened these days:

I've spilled a bit of juice on a kid's head so he started crying
I've dropped a glas of sprite so it spill all out over a table, and on a man's lap.
I called a little girl with the wrong name

That's not to bad.
Now I've had two days of and is flying solo tomorrow.
Wish me luck =)

No more seating!

2008-12-06T12:07:00.000-08:00

To day was my last day as a seater.
Tomorrow i start my service training.
so it´s no more podium, no more seating, no more bakery and no more biercart.
No it´s only serving.

I delivered my bakeryhats at costuming when I left work today.

i didn´t mind.
I´ll miss Harry, our chef in the bakery,
but he´s there. I can go talk to him.
no problem.

And i whent out of seating with a bang, as I like to say,
wit magical huurs yesterday - worked until 2.am, and started today at 8am.
No more magical hours. don´t really mind that either.

I´m looking foreward to this.
Finally something new =)

2008-12-03T07:54:00.000-08:00

Brannalarmen gikk i natt klokken fire...
hva er bedre enn å vekkes midt på natta
fordi noen fant ut at det var morsomt å trekke ned alarme?

2008-12-02T20:28:00.001-08:00

I dag på jobb kom Joe, en av managerene bort til meg og fortalte at de kal nå ha meg inn i servicetraining! folkens dette betyr at jeg skal bli servitør! Hurra!

One night at mt. olympus

2008-12-02T19:59:00.000-08:00

Dagen i går gikk hovedakig med til en skikkelig julevask av leiligheta.
Og det trengtes skal jeg si deg.
Det var julevasking på høyt plan oog friske julehits på CDspilleren.
Etter vaskeingen skulle vi på wall mart, og på veien bort ble vi huka tak i av
Markus, Caroline og Axel som skulle like ved butikken å ete sushi.
Kanskje vi ville være med. De skulle spandere.
Vel vi kunne da ikke si nei til gratis sushi, så vi ble med vi,
og bra var det, for sushien var skikkelig god.

da vi hadde spist og kom tilbake var et bare å gjøre seg klar, for vi skulle på ball.
rettere sagt Winter formal, med temaet "one night at mt. olympus" så det ble en kveld med guder.
Vi stæsja oss vi og hadde det koselig på ball. Ballet var i Epcot for alle College program og International program folka, så det var en del folk der. vi gikk innom Restaruantenv vår først, siden vi først var i Epcot. Der hang de etter, og vi så muligheten til å ta et bilde med Belle.
Ikke så værst det.

Bilder

2008-11-30T12:50:00.000-08:00

Det er en stund siden jeg har lagt opp bilder, så her kommer alt på en gang, i motsatt rekkefølge da, men det er ikke så farlig:

Thangsgiving på jobben, 27.november

En dag i Disney Hollywood Studios

Meg i stolen i foajeen i restauranten. En ekte prop fra Pirates ofthe carabbian.

Husmøte dagen før jeg flyttet fra den gamle leiligheta. vi rydda ut av kjøleskapene, fryserne og et lagerskap. fant mye spennende:

Jeg, Kirsti, Stine og Helle i Downtown Disney

Noen turer til Magic Kingdom:

Martine blir 19 år:

Cast Preview på juleparaden i magic kingdom

på Pauseommet på jobb:

2008-11-27T14:28:00.000-08:00

Hei folkens.
Nå har jeg faktisk flytta!
Jeg har flytta fra leilighet 411, helt ned til leilighet 2816.
Hva mener jeg med helt ned?

Vel, Commons folkens, som er boligkomplekset jeg bor i består av 29 hus i et innrammet område. Husene 1-9 Blir betegnet som "Beverly Hills" og ligger rett ved inngangen til komplekset. Husene 10-17 ligger forsåvid ikke så langt fra utgangen, og er ikke så ille område det heller.
Men derimot husene 18-29 ligger langt borte, og blir kalt "Slummen", og det er hit jeg nå har flytta.
Og hvorfor gadd jeg det - å flytte fra "Beverly Hills" til "Slummen"?
Fordi jeg flyttet fra en leilighet med åtte mennesker til en med tre, og i den gamle bodde jeg med
4 japanere, en kineser, en mexicaner og ei fra england (De var greie altså. ikke noe galt med dem) og nå bor jeg med ei norsk og ei japansk. Derfor gidder jeg det=)
Og fellesområdene i den nye leiligheten er like store som i den gamle.
Og jeg og Solveig (som er min nye romvenninne) holder på å innrede leiligheten
og har ommøbelert litt og kjøpt trekk til Sofaen (for sofaene er skikkelig stygge)
og jeg driver å håper på at jeg snart skal få råd til en tv.

det ER KALDT

2008-11-20T09:18:00.000-08:00

Glemte forresten å skrive
at det er KALDT HER!!
I går natt var det minusgrader!
Og vi går rundt på jobb i rundt 5-10 grader
og vi fryser!!

Litt oppdatering

2008-11-19T16:39:00.001-08:00

Nå har det gått en stund siden sist gang jeg skrev, så da er det på tide å skrive litt mer da.
Hva har skjedd i det siste da?

Vel, jeg har nå vært her to og en halv måned, og jeg trives endelig her.
alt er greit, og funker.
Jeg irriterer meg fremdeles grenseløst over hvor lurt man blir over alt hele tiden,
men jeg bryr meg mindre og mindre.

For et par uker siden var jeg med noen jenter i magic kingdom på cast preview på Juleparaden. skal legge ut noen bilder, men må vente til jeg har fått fiksa min egen pc først.

For å bli sevitør her nede, må man spille et lite rollespill med en av managerene,
der man later som om han har med seg familien sin og vi (eller i dette tilfellet jeg)skal være servitøren.Det heter å spiele menyen. Man sier hei og velkommen, hva man heter og hvor man kommer fra og forteller om hvordan middagen i restauranten funker. Etter spielinga gir manageren deg tilbakemelding og en karakter.Jeg spiela i går og Jeg fikk karakteren 8,5 av mulige 10, så jeg er veldig fornøyd. Kommer ikke inn før etter jul, men han sa at jeg er langt opp på lista, s¨forhåpentligvis går det fort. Jeg er lei av å være blakk!

Ellers er julegaveshoppinga nesten over, jeg mangler kun to gaver og når jeg har kjøpt dem så må jeg bare sende gavene hjem til Norge. Er veldig fornøyd med årets julegaver!

ønskeliste til jul

2008-11-08T14:20:00.000-08:00

Da er både jul og bursdag snart her,
og etter mye masing, skal jeg da legge ut ønskelista mi:

Presskanne
vaffelhjern (et billig et som varer ca...6mndr) )og her må vi også tenke på at det mpå kunne brukes i USA, her de har halvparten så stor strømkrets)
Rettetang som funker i USA
Krølltang som funker i USA
Abonnement på Nemi
smash!
Mosjø-/Norgekallender
Bilder av familien min og vennene mine! (oh, kanskje en kalender med bilder..oi det hadde vært friskt.)
Det dere tror jeg trenger og vil ha.

Og folkens, hvis dere har tenkt å sende noe til meg - send sammen så det ikke blir så dyrt for dere!

Holloween!

2008-11-04T09:55:00.000-08:00

Well, guys. November's here,
that meens that october 31.th just was here.

And october 31.th in america is the big Holloween!!

I went to Roxy for their anual Holloweenparty, nd I was dressed as Tinkerbell!
Here's some photos:

The Winter came to Florida

2008-10-31T14:37:00.001-07:00

A couople of days ago,
the winter came to Florida,
and it stayed...well...three-four days =)

What will winter say?
It was cooold...
and no, not as cold as it is in Norway, as we're "used" to.
But when you're down here, you don't expect cold weather,
and so you're not dressed for cold weather.
It was below 10 centigrades, (50 f.) and appearantly the coldes octoberday in Florida in over 50 years. It's getting hot again now, but we're expecting more cold days out through the winter.

Pixiedust!

The different assignments

2008-10-25T17:20:00.000-07:00

Today I'll be telling you about the different assignments at work.
At the Norwegian pavilion we have three different workgroups:
It's Food & Bev (that's what I'm in), merchandice and Attraction.

I can't say anything about the assignments in the other two groups , but I can tell you abit about our assignements.

In food & bev we have three different locations, it's the restaurant, tha bakery and the biercart.

Restauran:
The restaurant has different assignment that has to be filled. Assigner, greeter(s), seater, busser, photorunner, foodrunner and server. The restaurant opens at 8.30 in the morning and closes around 9.30 at night. We serve three meals - breakfast, lunch and dinner, and we have two seatingtimes at breakfast, three at lunch and three at dinner. The restaurants theme is dining with the princesses, and includes a Photoshoot With Belle, and there are four princesses walking from table to table during each seating.

Greeter:
There should always be two gretters - greeter 1 and supergreeter. The greeter 1 stand outside at the podium with a computer and welcomes the guests. all the guests that has resevations sign in with the greeter, and the greeter put's them on a waitlist, so that the assigner can assign them a table. The guests that don't have a reservation will can get greeted and get a table if the seatingtime is not fully booked. When the greeter has put the guests on the waitlist, the assigner assignes them a table. When a table is assigned there will be printet a ticket (automaticly) and the supergreeter take the ticket, call out the name on the note and leads the guest in to the line for the photo with Belle.

Assigner

- the assigner is the one who assignes tables for the guest when they are all signed in by the greeter

Seater:
- the setater is the one that leads the guests to their table. When the guests has taken their foto with Belle, The seater get the seating ticket from the guests, and on the ticket it's all the information yuou need - their table, their server and if they have any special requests (like allergyes, or birthdaycakes).

Busser:
- The seater is a busser between the seatings, and when it's needed. some of the seater are just bussers and are the called "superbusser". a busser cleans the tables and set's it for the next guests arrivals.

photorunner
- all the meals comes with a picture with belle. When the guests are seated the Photo will be brought to the table by the photorunner.

Server
- The server is the one who serves the guests. He/she takes their order, bring them drinks, help bring out the food. All the server also have differen areas they are told to keep track of (like filling plates, or juise). This is not something I'll be writing about now. The server is always a server or a foodrunner. all working in Food & bev will become servers after some time.

Foodrunner
- The foodrunner is the one who brings the food to the table

The Bakery

The bakery sell different kinds of cakes and pastery. In the bakery there's two tasks. Bakery filler and bakery register.

bakery filler
- the filler take the orders and give the guests what the want. they also make shure that it's always enough of all they need - pasterys , cups, straws. the also clean the seeting area and fill the condimentbar.

Barkery register.
- is the one who is standing in the register. he/she also has to count the money and the recipts at the and of the night.

The Biercart
The biercart is a cart (surprice) that sells bier, wine, soda and some snacs. theres usually just one person here and he/she takes the order, give the guest what the want, and then take the payment for it.

That's the tasks we do here !

Sjømanskirken <3

2008-10-13T17:57:00.000-07:00

To day the Norwegian Sailor's church Priest (sjømanskirken) visisted our pavilion.

This is something he does six times a year and he makes wafles and

brings with him Norwegian newspapers and Norwegian things that we kan buy.

I bouhgt 5 pices of Daim. nam=)

It was so good to have him there... It was a little pice of Norway there in the middle of Disney.

2008-10-12T12:26:00.000-07:00

Knekkebrød med brunost og et glass med verdens beste appelsinjuice...
oh lord this is nice...
som jeg har savna brunost, og så lykkelig jeg ble da jeg så det på matbutikken!!

2008-10-11T18:55:00.000-07:00

Well... this has been sort of a bad day...

one of the locations at work are the biercart, and it was my job to open it today.
I started all I had to at 9.45 - 15. minutes before my starttime - so a good start you would say.
I got everything where it should be - the snacs, all the alcohol and all the sodas and water.
Everythin except money - and a radio. so I was there alone, and couldn't leave because of the fact that there was alcohol in the cart, and I had no radio to tell anyone. I got somone to go to the bakery and she ran and got money and a radio for me. But I still could't open, cause I did not have a operating number for the register... and I was alone again - but my radio didn't work!
so the lovly girl from the bakery again ran over for me and got a manager - and a manager came and a coordinator came with a new radio, and the coordinator said that I had to stay close to the radio cause she would call me on it... well - what happened - my radio didn't work - again!
She came over about 20 minutes later, gave me my number and I could open - one hour to late!
The line was so looong for over two hours, before I could go on a brake. Kirsti came in the mess to help me, and Haakon came to brake me at 14.40. When I got back from my brake the other Haakon was there with two trainees - so we were five people at the cart. I didn't really feel well and I asked one of the coordinators for an ER (Early release) and got one.
The manegers was awesome, and the coordinaters as well. They are very understanding and helpfull.

When I got home I went to bed and slept for three and a half hour. woke up around 8-or 9.pm and now I'm waiting for it to get so late that I can sleep again until the morning. Sunday and monday is my days of this week.

Pixiedust !

The morning and Out of Training!!

2008-10-04T07:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning started like a shock to me.

I had set the alarm on my phone to 6.am, because my shift startet at 8.am.

I woke up at 7.10 am by my Roommates alarm. I jumped out of bed, grabbed a bagpack, and got all the pices of my costume in it, and ran for the bus, that was supposed to leave at 7.20.

No shower, no food.

But ysterday turned out to become a good day after all. It was my last day in training, and I was traind at the greeting position at the restaurant. It was a fun position, 'cause it was alot to do.

So guys I'm no longer "earning my ears", but are officaly responsible for my own acts.

To those who question the fact that my town is Oslo, Norway, I've ordered a new nametag with Mosjøen,Norway=)

fire!! fire!!

2008-09-30T18:00:00.000-07:00

Last night I woke up of a extremly loud tone.
it was biiping, and I couldn't understand what it was. First I thought it was the alarm on mye telephone so I looked at my phone and it was only 3.am, not the time my alarm was set. after a cople of moments trying to understand what it was, I got that it was the fire alarm. and it was going of in the whole building.
I went out to the street, and the security guards were outside our building. There was appearantly no fire, but no one turned of the alarm. after a while the fire fighters came, but they couldn't do much, 'cause there was no fire and didn't have the key for the fire alarm. After half an hour security got the alarm shut of, and we could go to sleep again....

Hva USA har og ikke har

2008-09-30T15:58:00.000-07:00

USA har ikke:

brunost lett tilgjengelig

toaletter som tåler å bli brukt

Skjønt greia med mobiler uten abonnement eller abonnement uten mobil

smash!

USA har:

sykt mye søt mat

et åpent folk

To my dearest friend

2008-09-28T20:32:00.000-07:00

I miss you...

I could write so much more...
How every thing is different when I can't call you all the time,
or come to you, if just to watch Grey's... I have to watch it alone...
I could wite so much more...
But it's all down to these words...

I miss you....

2008-09-25T10:43:00.000-07:00

Just after I wrote last time,

me, Siri and Iselin went to Disney Hollywood studios, one of the four Disney teamparks here in Disney World. The Studios include many of the most popular rides here, like the Tower of terror and Rock n' rollercoster. I am a coward, I'm not gonna say anything else, but I had to do these rides and I loved them! I was scared as few, but I loved it. It was so fun.

Tower of terror is an elevator ride from h..... It's what you wish never will happen in real life. the elevator suddenly droppes...and it droppes fast!

and rock'n rollercoaster is ...well a rollecoaster, as the name says, but a darn fast one! wohoooo!!!

On our way in to the Narnia attraction we met Prince Caspian. oh yes, he was nice=) Not my type..but...Prince Caspian=) tihii..

Today we (Fie, Kirsti and me) went to Epcot to play! at Epcot we have all the countrys, and some rides - the rides that we tested out was Mission space and test track. Before I've done spaceship earth and soarin. Mission space is a astronaut trainingprogram for astronauts going to mars. you can choose between intence and less intence. intense includes an great amount of g-forces put into your ody (tecnically we're spinning really fast during the ride). It was so coool!!

In test track you're a crash test dummy in a car in a crashsenter. that's a great ride as well.

Soarin is an amizing ride and my favourit amongs the slow ones. Soarin takes you on a hanggliding tour over california. it's really beautiful.

The international food and Wine festival is on in Epcot these days, and that means more people in the park. a lot more this week than the last one. It is actually the biggest food and wine festival in the world, and that naturally effects our scetchual. this saturday, witch is my first day out of training (jei) I'll be working in the amerikan adventures garden theatre, where all the food and wine concerts are. And I have one day next week there as well. interesting doing something thats different from what I'll be doing all year=)

2008-09-23T09:12:00.000-07:00

So guys. I'm back=)
haha!
We had Discovery day last saturday. That basically ment a class on property (Epcot) where we learned about the park (epcot) and took a tour around it.

Sunday was my day of, so I washed the bathroom... it gave me mental trauma, and I don't want to talk about it.

Yesterday was my first day in training! Hurray!
I was assigned as a seater, and that basically mean that I led people to their table .
The system work lik this:
When seating starts (about every other our) people sign in at the podium. when they are signed in the assigner assign them a table in the resturant. They have to wait until they are called, and then they get to stand in line to meet the princess and take a picture with her. When they've met the princess they come to us - the seaters, and we take their ticket and lead them to the table they've been assigned. Between the seatings we clean tables.
The day was bussy all day, but went on retty smootly.

Today we went to the sosial security offive to get a sosial security number. thats it for now guys!

Pixiedust!!

2008-09-19T20:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I got my first paycheck! Woho! It was in the amzing value of 62 dollar!!
I'm not really allowed to talk about the about of the money, so that's all I'm saying.
It was our first day on location with training og the different computer systems and
the cashieers. It was also our first day in costume. We were on location before opening, so had to get up early=)

Here I am in costume and with my very first paycheck:

Today we had Food and beverage basics with e-learning and tomorrow it's Discoveryday at Epcot!

Peace, love and Pixiedust!!

Min Kjaere mann

2008-09-14T17:44:00.000-07:00

This message will be in Norwegian, adressed to all my friends and family in Norway.

Kjaere Venner og familie.

Det er paa tide at jeg innrommer noe som jeg har holdt skjult lenge for dere.

Som dere vet er jeg singel og har vaert det i godt over et aar naa. vel...

naa har det seg sann at det stemmer ikke helt.

jeg har funnet meg en, og vi har vaert sammen en god stund naa.

Vi valgte aa holde forholdet vaart skjult fordi det var saa store avstander mellom oss og vi var usikker paa hvordan det ville gaa,men naa som jeg har flyttet ned hit saa loeste alt seg. Vi har faktisk til og med kjopt oss et hus her nede, og har begynt aa flytte inn. ser ut til at det blir serdeles bra.

Vi har bare et problem og det er at det henger litt mye folk rundt huset vaart, men det skal vi nok faa gjort noe med etterhvert.

Naa naar har det faktisk begynt aa bli ganske saa saerioest,saa da tenkte jeg at jeg skulle annonsere det for dere. Moet min kjaere, som jeg bare kaller G.! :

Og her er vaart nye hjem. vi tror vi kommer til aa bli lykkelige her:

Love Ya'll ;)

The last couple of days

2008-09-14T10:25:00.000-07:00

So, it's been a couple of days, and I'm starting to get in in the Disney lifesyle.

My computer suddenly died (not that I didn't expect that to happen, I just didn't want it to happen so soon...)The last cople of days has been good and eventfull.Thursday startet at 12.30 with more meetings, and more forms to fill out.everything is very well oraganised, so it's really no problem. It's very clear that theyre used to this.Thursday night it was time for our "throw-in"party, the national groups welcoming party for us rookies. We was introduced for the group ( the details must be left out, it's a secret. But I can say that no Floridan or Disney laws were broken) and went out on town.

Friday were our first day of, an me and some of the girls had a all girls day. first we went to the outlet mall and shopped (I didn't get anything..) than we went further up the street to a nail salong. some of us got manicures and one of the girls (Siri) got a pedicure. After the nailsalong we went to Publix (grocerystore) and bought icecream (guys, you should see the Icecreamshelf here!): and we went home to Fie and made dinner (pasta) and after dinner we sat down to watch a movie (Cinderella story) and eat icecream.At saturday we had our first day of "Work" - our traditionsclass at Disney university.the class started at 8, so the buss from commons left at 7, so it was an eary morning, and a loooooong day. we had all day in the classroom (exept from lunch - we ate in the tunnel/the backstage castmember lunchroom at magic kingdom). It was a hard day, not because the material we had to learn was hard, but because it was so long. They'd tried to make it fun with a lot of tasks and a posibility to win prices, but still.... I got a price though- a little tinkerbell for reading a section in the workbook (yes, there was a workbook). It wasn't really well done. My oral english isn't bad, but my reading sucks. It' alost worse than my writing... But I got a price anyway=)

After Traditions we got our schedual for the next three weeks, and they are full! This week is dedicated to general learning about Epcot, Disney and Norway Pavilion, including classes with E-learning and a class on Disney University. And Discoveryday at epcot! That'll be fun! My days off this week is monday and Wednesday. Next week I'll start my Training at Norway Pavilion! Hurray! And my traing will last the next two weeks, including some days in the bakery, one day in the biercarten, one day as greeter, one day as setter and one day in the kitchen. after traditions we went out to Downtown Disney, and I/we went wild in the Princess store and played with all the dresses. it was fun!

Today us in food startet really early. We had to meet at Epcot cast service at 7. am!! That ment that we had to take the bus from the commons at 6. I was up 5.15. and it's really not our last early morning. already at thursday we start at 7 again. that time at the university.

Today we had e-learning. That'll say, learning about diferent things considering our evrydaylife in the park - chemicals, hazards, serving of alcoholic beverages and stuff like that. after training we went and got our costumes! hurray! The Norwegian costume, for those who doesn't know is a Bunad, the Norwegian National costume. Though it's not a real one it's a nice copy/replicant of one. Everybody looked so nice!

After training and fitting, me and the girls went to magic kingdom!!

Our first trip to Disney World (that was not backstage), and it was fun. I had to leave ealy to catch the last mass at Mary Queen of the universe Shrine here by The commons at six, but I got to see the 3'o clock parade and ride the Splash mountain. it was so fun! When i Finallly got of the bus at the commons it was already six, and I had to run to the church. just made mass =)

I'm here number 2!

2008-09-10T15:48:00.000-07:00

so.. . updating=)

We arrived yesterday at around 10.

Then we took a taxi (mears) to Vista Way(a hosing complex) for check-in.

We got a package with some food, a Disney Newspaper called eyes&ears, a postit and an applejuice.

We were checkd in and I got my appartementkey, program for the next days, my adress

and a program guide.

We got in to minivans, and drove over to the Commons. I live in the Commons hous four appartement 411. ground floor. It's a four bedroom appartement, so we should be 8 people living here. right now we are only seven. there's one empty bed.

I slept in my sleepingbag last night, 'cause there's no linnens here.

This morning I woke up at 6.30. Didn't really wanted to wake up then, but couldn't help it.

got up, ate and went to church for mass at 8 o'clock .

At 9 we had our welcomingmeeting. it was a meeting including filling out and sosial security number appliction, verifying our program start and end dates, housingrules and communityguidelines. after the welcomingmeeting, we went to Vista way to get our housing identetycard. While waiting in line it started raining. The sky just opened, and everything that wasnt under a roof got wet within a few seconds. I promise! After taking the picture for the car and reciving the card, we went to shop at wallmart.I had to buy sheets, blanket, pillow, towels, food, phone...everything! and so I did..shopped for about 180 dollars, so not much for everything i needed.

Trying to activate my phone now... easyer said than done...

some of the norwegian girls were talking about going out to eat, but I don't have anyones number, and can't remember their appartementnumbers...

Okay people.

if anyone want my adress,

send me an email, and I will send it to you!

My housephonenumber is (+1)407-560-2280-3411 . if you need to reach me, call me

My mobiletelephonenumber...well... send me an email, and I'll send you that as well.

If you want to call me, though, it's better to call on the housephone...it's cheaper for all.

or download Skype and call me online! that's free!

I'm here!!

2008-09-09T20:16:00.000-07:00

I'm here!
I've actually arrived!
I'm sitting in my new appartement, with some of my new room-mates.
It's amazing!
I'm so tired after all the traveling,
but it's so great being here!
I'm here! I'm living in Disney,
I'm gonna work in Disney.
Naturally it's been a emotional day... saying goodbye to Bella and all(had to make some tears)
and getting some lovly letters from my friends
(I promise, noone can ever replace you. noone!)
Now I'm going to bed,
since I have Welcoming meetings from nine in the morning, and now it's 11.30.

I'll write more tomorrow, and post some pictures.
Miss people allready...
Love!

Leaving soon!

2008-09-08T14:34:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting here, it's four hours until I'm supposed to wake up and leave this country.

It's weird.

I'm actually going now.

This last week has been a long goodbye. good bye to my family, good bye to my friends, good bye to my loved ones.

this friday I had my goodbyeparty, it was really fun.

People I had not seen for long came.

Many of my friends came, about 27 people=)

And what costumes! It was a Disney party (natrually) so people came as Disney costumes.

Some were The incredibles! and there was a "Spøkelseskladden" (I don't know what he's called in english, but he's the man covered with the black thingi in the Donald comedys) and "lille hjelper" (still don't know the english name...) and much more=)

here's some pictures:

Today I've been all over town meeting people and saying good bye to them.

It started at the office and I got to say good bye to Stig-Arne, Bjørg, Elisabeth og Fr.Frode.

Then I met up with Guro, so Camilla, so Maria Bjørn, so Jonathan and Kristine and Tao.

Got some nice pictures almost everyone. post them as well.

Now I'm just sitting here, looking at Bella packing for Spain. She's also leaving tomorrow.

Mum and dad has called , and I'm reay to go...I probably should sleep, and I'm really tired..

But don't Know if I'll be able to.

Love you all(even if I don't have pictures of all of you), and I'm gonna miss you !

Tickets arrived and my healthinsurance

2008-09-05T05:36:00.000-07:00

I've got my tickets by email today(probably yesterday, but didn't check then...)
So no I got my seatnubers and all that kind of stuff.

I finally got my Healthinsurance, after I've been calling them three times the last week(the should have been finished with it 27.august) and today I went down to their office and said I needed it now. I got to meet with the lady who has my case. she had not even done anything with it when I came (and its 11 weeks sence i sence I sent it) but everything was OK and I got my papers. finally!!

flightinformation, 6 days left

2008-09-03T13:26:00.000-07:00

The depature date is getting closer and closer.
only six days left, and this day has brought information.
I got two emails and they just called me with my flight information.
I'll be traveling with British airways flight 761 from Oslo to London at 7.50. I have to be at the airport at 5.00 at the latest (hurray!)I'll be in London at 9.20 (local time).
We'll be travelling with united Airline flight 919 from London to Washington 12.00, arriving 15.12 local time, and we'll bw flying with United Airline from Washington to Orlando flight 1565 at 17.26 arriving 19.39. In all that's 18 hours of travelling. I'm so glad I baught special flyingsocks!

I got two emails from the international Recruitment office today. one with luggage packing tips, and a "you're almost there!" mail. here they are:

Dear Kristine,
The countdown is on and you are just a week away from the experience of a lifetime! In preparation for your journey, we wanted to give you what we think are the top five things to keep in mind while packing your baggage to improve your chances that all of your items make it to Orlando safe and sound!
Be prepared should you have a lost bagPack so that you can continue with the loss of one of your bags. Distribute key items between your luggage such as clothes, underwear and other essentials. Remember-- travel documents, valuables and medication should be in your carry-on luggage.
Put your contact information inside AND outside of every bagRemember to put your name and contact address on the outside of every bag. Also, put the same information plus a copy of your itinerary inside every bag. This will make it easier for the airline to reunite you with your separated luggage, if necessary. You should also do this with your carry-on luggage in case you are forced to check that bag at the last minute.
Do not over-pack your bagsItems that are bulging or are not sufficiently constructed to support the weight inside may split during the trip through the luggage belt system. Also, if your bag is over the weight limit you will have to pay a penalty at the check-in counter.
Make sure the airline tag on your checked luggage is for the correct destination Every piece of checked luggage should have a three-letter airport identifier that should match your final destination airport. The three-letter airport code for Orlando International Airport is MCO. Please make sure that you keep the stub for your checked luggage as well. This stub is a critical document that will be needed if your luggage is lost by the airline or if you are trying to prove that you own a piece of luggage.
If arriving through another U.S. city prior to Orlando, remember to re-check your bags after going through Immigrations and CustomsVery important - All baggage must be re-checked upon arrival to the U.S. if arriving to another U.S. city prior to Orlando. Baggage that is not re-checked will not be sent on to Orlando and can result in your baggage being lost or sent to you with a transfer fee.
You should also be aware of any government regulations regarding baggage and refer to your specific airlines travel requirements to learn more about carry-on luggage sizes and airport check-in information. Please be sure to arrive early to the airport to help ensure that all goes well with getting your journey started.
We look forward to seeing you, and have a safe trip!

Sincerely, Walt Disney World International Recruitment

Dear Kristine,
Below are a few hints and reminders to better prepare you for your arrival to the Walt Disney World® Resort. Be sure to print this email and review your arrival packet materials one last time to ensure you have everything you need!
Your Arrival Day: September 9, 2008
What documents do I need to bring with me?
Prior to boarding your flight or arriving by car to the United States, you MUST have the following documentation. Please pack these items in your carry on luggage as you will need this information upon arrival.
Passport with visa stamp*
Original DS2019 Form(J-1 visa holder only)
VERY IMPORTANT (a photocopy is not acceptable)
One photocopy of the following passport information:
Visa stamp*, information page(s) to include: passport number, expiry date, photo, and your signature
Original or certified birth certificate(Q-1 visa holders only)
A photocopy is not acceptable
Proof of medical insurance (This information is not required if you will be working with one of the following companies, Patina Restaurant Group, China Group, Mitsukoshi, Marrakesh Restaurant and San Angel Inn)
Printed receipt for the Program Assessment Fee
Congratulations packet materials
Upon entering the U.S. you will complete a white I-94 Arrival/Departure Record Card. Please be sure to write your name exactly as it appears in your passport. This is a CRITICAL DOCUMENT, DO NOT LOSE IT!
*Candidates traveling on a Canadian passport will not have a visa stampWhere do I go when I arrive in Orlando?
You will need to make your way to our Arrival Center at the Vista Way Housing Complex. There are several modes of transportation you can use to make your way to the complex from Orlando International Airport:
Mears Shuttle Service from the airport to the Vista Way Housing Complex
Mears offers participants a coupon to use the shuttle service at a discounted rate. If you choose to use Mears' services, you will need to present the to the Mears dispatch attendant to receive your discount. You will see the Mears locations on level two (baggage claim) and on level one (ground transportation). The level one service coupon unter location is inside the building behind the bottom of the escalator or directly across from the level one elevators. Mears representatives will direct you to the appropriate motor coach or shuttle van. For more information visit www.mearstransportation.com. We recommend you visit this Web site prior to your departure as it contains helpful tips for making your way through Orlando International Airport.
Taxi, limousine, and car services from the airport to the Vista Way Housing Complex
The Orlando International Airport has a taxi stand located curbside on level one (ground transportation) on both the A and B sides.
Additional options for transportation may also be available; including other shuttles, limos and car services, on the ground transportation level (level one) on both the A and B sides.
A set of Frequently Asked Questions that pertain to your arrival is available now.
If you have any problems en route, such as delayed or canceled flights, please contact our arrivals team at 1-888-839-4890 (toll-free in the US) or 407-560-4681 outside of the US.
Please ensure that you have sent your Flight Information or travel plans to the International Arrivals team at xxxxxx

What happens next?
Depending on your arrival time, transportation may be available to the local shopping center to pick up groceries and other immediate necessities. Remember, you may want to bring bed sheets, a pillow and towels as they are not provided upon arrival. Your itinerary for the rest of the week will include several meetings to get you more familiarized to your new home as well as administrative procedures necessary for becoming a Disney Cast Member!
How should I dress?
Your first orientation sessions are casual in attire; however, your hairstyle, hair coloring, and fingernails must be 100% within the Disney Look guidelines upon your arrival.
You must also be within The Disney Look guidelines in regard to any body modifications or alterations. Examples include, but are not limited to, visible tattoos, body piercings (other than traditional ear piercing for women), tongue piercing, tooth decorations and earlobe expansion.
All males are expected to be within The Disney Look guidelines for facial hair.
You may also click on the link below to review these guidelines on our Web site.
The Disney Look
Please note that you will need professional dress clothes and shoes for your first official day at work.
Safe travels and we will see you soon!

Drivers course

2008-08-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

Just signed up for the
drug and alcohol averness course on the internett, so I can start taking
lessons when I get down there.
The course is over four hours, and i can log on and off as many times as I like.
these are the parts of the cours:

1. Introduction10 minutes
2. Physiological Factors Part One30 minutes
3. Physiological Factors Part Two30 minutes
4. Psychological Factors30 minutes
5. Societal and Economic Costs20 minutes
6. Effects of Alcohol and Drugs on the Driver35 minutes
7. Major Traffic Laws - Part One15 minutes
8. Major Traffic Laws - Part Two25 minutes
9. Major Traffic Laws - Part Three25 minutes
10. Conclusion and Final Exam0 minutes

In the cour it's also an theory test preparation.

I want to drive down there people!

I-797B finally came pr mail

2008-08-28T05:57:00.000-07:00

My I-797b form finally arrived by mail now.
I don't really need it now (I got the copy) but wth it
came the i-94 arrival card.

The I-94 arrival card is the card I need to show with my passport, visa and I-797b form when I arrive to america.
And I also need to have this with me if I plan to leave the country while I'm there,
because I need to show it again when I arrive back in to the county.
It's alot of information on a sheet that came with this form,
and I have to read it carefully=)

peace, love and pixiedust!

VISA!

2008-08-26T09:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I got my VISA!
hurray!

I had to stand in line outside the embassy, go through the saftycheck and in where I was when I applied. there I got to the counter without any waiting, gave the lady my ticket,
and I got my passport with the message that I should check if my birthday and my passport number was correct. I also got the I797-b form back, and was told to bring it with my in my cabinlugage, for i would have to show it with the Visa, when entering the states again.

Yesterday I sent an email to international services and got this answer:

Dear Castmember, It was a real pleasure assisting you and I wish you the best for your Disneyexperience!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------One last reminder to please make sure you have the following documents with youbefore your departure:
*' -proof of your medical insurance for the first months of your contract,
* -birth certificate international or in English if possible,
* -I797 form returned by the US Embassy with the visa,
* -Disney package,
* -copy of your entire passport
* -copy Coupon MEARS: Please reread the instructions sent via email to youby DISNEY regarding arrival at the airport and the MEARS shuttles to Vista Wayapartments!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FOR YOUR FLIGHT INFORMATION :
* Please contact Walt Disney World via phone xxxxxx or email at xxxxxxxxxxx to obtain your flight information.*
* *You will give them your NAME, Departure Date, and City of Departure.

For your Flight: Remember, you are purchasing your own flight. You must arrive onthe EXACT arrival date at Disney.... not the day before or the day after. You can arrive at anytime until midnight! Once you have your flight information, please sendthe details of your itinerary into Orlando (in red) to the addresses below:*
International Services -- xxxxxx *
Disney -- xxxxxxx (or you can call if you like :xxxxxxxxx)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR YOUR FLIGHT INTO ORLANDO ONLY:
* Date of Flight:
* Airline:
* City flying from to Orlando:
* Flight Number:
* Time of Arrival:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You also need to bring your own Pillows, Blankets and Sheets as Housing will not
provide them.

Do not hesitate on contacting us when you return from Walt Disney World, to let us
know your impressions and feelings about your experience.

Feel free also then, to check our website, where you'll find further Disney programs
and other job opportunities.

We wish you a very magical stay in Walt Disney World!!

Megan xxxxx
International Services
Tel = xxxxxxxx
Fax = xxxxxxx
email = xxxxxxxx

Visa appointment

2008-08-22T05:37:00.000-07:00

Today I had my Visa appointment.

at 9.15 I was ouside the embassy, proffesionally dressed (in a pantsuit) and

wit all my papers and money in my hands. I had no purse (if you have you can't come in, but have to go somewhere else and put it in a locker) but my cellphone, my Ipod and my Visa card in my hands.

in the line outside an security guard asked me who I was, if he could se my papers and my ds 156 form. Everything was OK, he only told me to turn of my phone when I entered the security buildng.

after waitin one hour in line outside i could come in.

I had to leave all my stuff in the security building,

only bringing my forms inside.

Inside the embassy I had to wait in the first line in about 15 minutes.

When I arrived to the coun rthe lady asked me for my forms,

and I gave her my ds 156 form, and my I-797b form.

then I gave her my passport and payed 700 kr.

She said: "Oh, you are well prepared, I like that. If everybody came as you, this would go so much faster" The she asked me if I wantet to pick up the Passport with my Visa at the embassy or I they should send it to me. I saied I would come and get it, and she gave me a number (39) and I had to sit down and wait until my number was called.

after waiting about one hour more, (I was reading Discover America while I was waiting) my number appeared on the screen, and i had to go to another counter to be interviewd.

she asked me why I wanted to go to Disney world, What my tasks would be, if I ever have been arrested, What I would do when I got back from Disney, Why it was written that my occupation was bothyouth worker and student and if any of my mother or father was born outside Norway.

after those questions she gave me an receipt with a number, and she put a similar one on my passport, and she said that I could come and get it on monday at 3.pm.

I'm one step closer to leaving !

just 18 days now people=)

Peace and love!

Packing Confusions

2008-08-18T09:36:00.000-07:00

It's 22 days until depature and I've started packing.
Why?
well there's many reasons - like the one that I like to be early,
or the one that I'll be away for a year and that needs planning.
or maby the one that Im actually going to America...
But the most important reason is that all my stuff that
I'm not bringing to Florida has to be packed in boxes and put away.
I Won't keep my appartement in Norway when I'm down there, so all my stuff (and that's ALOT!)need to be carefully sorted into storing and bringing.
What should I bring??? What should I store???
How should I choose the right shoes to bring, and which shoes should I put in a box?
How many pants should I bring down there?`
Do I need my prayerbook, and do I need my notes from my singingteacher?
I'm confused and do already have to much stuff in my first bag...
This is hard, people...its hard...

I-797B

2008-08-14T07:02:00.000-07:00

My I797 form has arrived (by email)!
The I797 form is a form that will be enclosed to my Visa application.
It's the prrof from Disney that I will be working there, and
it's their "Visa application" on me.
so that I will not just apply for an visa saying I will work for them,
when I'm not.

On this list there's the names of all the people leaving i september that International services has hired. People from Norway, Italy, France, Marocco and Germany.
There are 100 people on the list.
58 of this are from Norway
10 are from France
6 from Italy
23 from Germany
2 from Marocco.
That leaves one I did not count. Don't know where that person's from.

My soul is safe in Florida

2008-08-12T14:45:00.000-07:00

I just figured out that there's a church
just across the street from the Commons.
as a Catholic I need to go to mass every week.
It should be every sunday, but if I have to work I can't do that,
but as long as I can go every week I'll be happy.
This Church is called The national Shrine of Mary, Queen of the universe,
and is made as a church to take care of all the tourists.
They even have a volunteer choir - The Shrine Chorus.
I hope I can join.

This is the church's homepage: http://www.maryqueenoftheuniverse.org

30 days to go!

2008-08-10T09:53:00.001-07:00

Now it's only 30 days left until depature.
We've crossed the monthline.
It's almost no time left...
30 days..

Disney Package arrived!!

2008-08-05T10:11:00.000-07:00

To day i opened my mailbox, and there it was.
a big, brown envelope.
I opened it and in there was all the papers about the next year f my life.

The Disney Look guide, my housing contract, cast member policies,
a checklist on things I need to do before depature, a insurance offer from Crystal (not taking that), a booklet on general things (how to live with people from all over the world,guest service guidlince and stuff like that). four Mickey stickers to put on my shirt on arrival (so the Disney people will recognise me and two tags for my luggage.

i've signed my housing complex contract and my cast member policies and put them in a folder, and I''ll deliver them when I arrive in Flroida.

Hurray!

program assessment fee and acknowledgment form

2008-08-04T07:04:00.000-07:00

I read through the papers Megan(international services) sent me by mail
(the most basic Disney package papers) and found the adress to pay my
Program assessment fee, so I just payed it.

Here's the prosses:

I went in to the site www.disneyurl.com/internationalPAFs
There I had to fill out some information about me, and I had to pay
with my creditcard information.
When the payment was fulfilled I got this message:

Registration Confirmation
Dear KRISTINE MARIA ALMÅS: Greetings from the Walt Disney World Resort!. You are about to embark on the journey of a lifetime with International Programs. We hope you are as excited to join our team as we are to have you! Thank you for your Program Assessment Fee. This is your official confirmation that an apartment and position have been reserved for you! Below, you will find important information regarding the event and your registration. Registration Code: xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx Date Completed: 2008-08-04 06:46:48 You must bring a copy of this confirmation form on your arrival date in order to check in. No Longer Able to Participate? If you are no longer able to participate, please send a message to XXXX to inform us of your cancellation and remain in good standing with the company.

and so I got this email:

Dear KRISTINE MARIA ALMÅS:
Greetings from the Walt Disney World Resort!. You are about to embark on the journey of a lifetime with International Programs. We hope you are as excited to join our team as we are to have you!
Thank you for your Program Assessment Fee. This is your official confirmation that an apartment and position have been reserved for you!
Below, you will find important information regarding the event and your registration.
Registration Code: xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx
Date Completed: 2008-08-04 06:46:48
You must bring a copy of this confirmation form on your arrival date in order to check in.
No Longer Able to Participate?
If you are no longer able to participate, please send a message to xxxx to inform us of your cancellation and remain in good standing with the company.

Registrant Profile____________________________________________________
First Name KRISTINE MARIA
Last Name ALMÅS
Email Address xxxx
Phone Number xxxx
Country NORWAY
Social xxxx
Gender FEMALE
Other Information_____________________________________________________
Age 21 & OVER
Transaction Detail____________________________________________________
Description Qty Amt Total
Processing Fee 1 $ 2.50 $ 2.50
Program Assessment Fee 1 $ 83.00 $ 83.00
Total: $ 85.50
Date Payments Amt Rcv'd
04-Aug-08 KRISTINE MARIA ALMÅS (Visa 2065) $ 85.50 $ 85.50
Total: $ 85.50
----------------------
Balance due: $ 0.00
______________________________________________________________________
See ya real soon!
Walt Disney World International Recruiting

Great!! I have a house waiting for me down there;)
and it's clean.
Lovin' it!

I Also faxed my Acknowledgment form, signing that I know that I need insurance, visa, birth certificate, to pay my program assessment fee, how much my rent will be, how I'll get my tickets and stuff like that.

For Now I'm ok, I think=) Not much to do before my Visaappointment, which is august 22.

Where is my Package? ahh...

2008-08-04T03:34:00.000-07:00

So, I was getting kind of irritated that my package
still haven't arrived, when I suddenly understod why...
I gave them my fathers adress...Because I didn't know how long I would be living
at this appartmement in Oslo.
So I called dad, and right I was...
The package has arrived at his place...
But he was at his cabin about 15km away,
so my mum had to go up to his place and get the package and send it.
Hopefully it'll gett here in the next couple of days.

Back in buisness

2008-07-29T23:25:00.000-07:00

I just came back from three weeks in Australia.
It was an amazing trip! I loved it.
But when I got back to Norway my Disney package still was not arrived.
It should have been here about two weeks ago,
and I know some of the other guys that have the same depaturedate as me got it.
So i wrote an email for Megan at International services, and she sent me all the papers by mail.
So now I've applied for a Visa, and I have an Visaappointment 22. august.
It's just over two weeks before depature, so I hope it's enough time.

all the world is made of... faith and trust...and pixie dust

2008-07-04T11:34:00.000-07:00

I guess I should tell you where the name of my Blog's from.

It's from the song I'll try from the film Peter Pan: Returning to Neverland.
Here is the full lyrics:

I am not a child now
I can take care of myself
I mustn't let them down now
Mustn't let them see me cry
I'm fine, I'm fine

I'm too tired to listen
I'm too old to believe
All these childish stories
There is no such thing as faith
And trust and pixie dust

I try
But it's so hard to believe
I try
But I can't see what you see
I try, I try, I try...

My whole world is changing
I don't know where to turn
I can't leave you waiting
But I can't stay and watch this city burn
Watch it burn

'Cause I try
But it's so hard to believe
I try
But I can't see what you see
I try, I try

I try and try to understand
The distance in between
The love I feel and the things I fear
And every single dream

I can finally see it
Now I have to believe
All those precious stories
All the world is made of...
Faith, and trust... and pixie dust

So, I'll try
Because I finally believe
I'll try, cuz I can see what you see
I'll try, I'll try
I will try
I'll try...
To fly

Nothing new

2008-07-03T09:15:00.001-07:00

There is not much happening in my Disney experience world right now.
Today it's 67 days until I'm leaving, and I just want the time to go faster!
I think it will, 'cause in a couple of days I'll leave for Australia and
the World Youth Day Festival, and I'll stay there three weeks.
so when I come back it's just over one month left until depature! YEI!

I got a letter from NAV saying they got my application, so hopefully they'll let me be a memeber of the countrys health isurance

Peace and love and pixie dust!

What to choose?!?

2008-06-23T11:42:00.000-07:00

One of the big questions going to Florida is "What insurance company should i choose?"
Working in the US we need health insurance, and there's a lot of companys to choose from, but which to choose?
Disney recomend a company named Crystal, but everyone I've spoken to (and then I meen everyone) say: DON'T CHOOSE CRYSTAL!.
apearantly they're like most other health insurancecompanys in America,
they have a lot of roules that's impossible to follow, and when you need them,
they won't pay.
That made me think: Don't choose an american company... so I won't.
So I started looking for Norwegian and Scandinavian companys.
Gauda, IHI, Europeiske, gjensidige. I was checking out everything I could think of.
But most of it was to expensive.
but gjensidige's Insurance wasn't all that pricy. 2702 NOK was the price (ap. 500$) and it includes movables insurance, travelinsurance, insurance in case of an accident, Insurance in case i end the program, bike insurance and cancellation insurance. It also includes a health insurance - if I'm registered at the Norwegian Health insurance Office. When working in Norway your automaticly a member of the Norwegian Health insurance Office, and pay for it with your taxes. It pays for medicines and doctors and hospitals. But when you move out of the country you loose this membership, but can pay to be a member. You have to pay 9.1 % of your assumed total salary before depature and when you get back you either have to pay more, or get some money back - all of if you payed to much or not enough. After a quick check of an approximatly salary for the next year the price of the membership in the Health insurance office would come to a total 6500 NOK (1200 $).
I decided on this. 9000 NOK is the cheapest and the best offer, because I'm with this is totally insured.
I know the company as well, sence it's the company I use now, and they've always helped me when I've needed them before. And my uncle's fiancée work in the company, so I have someone on the inside, and that's always practical=)

So Gjensidige it is.

how my adveture started

2008-06-21T10:43:00.000-07:00

I have always loved Disney.
how is it possible not to?
Those movies we all see and love, all the parks with so much consentrated fun.
I have to love it.
So, when I had to figure out what I was going to do the next year, after finishing my
bachelor degree, the choice wasn't all that hard to make, but still, not that easy.
I had to get away from Norway, now's my only chance.
I had to get away to get some perspective at things.
I knew that much.
I wanted to work at Disney. Disney was away from here. Disney I loved.
I wantet to work at Disney World Florida.
I have plenty of friends that have worked there before, and believe me
I asked them a million questions.
and then I applied.
just a couple of days later a woman named Megan called me.
she made an short intevju with me.
and I answer with my best answers.
And she said I could come to an information meeting, and an real intervju
march 29.th. She would e-mail me more information. and so she did.
March 29.th, on my brothers birthday, I went down toReiselivshøyskolen.
I got the information. I won a Disney International pen for answering a question about
the parks in Disney World. and i got Intevjued.
Leaving they told us that we would get the resault at april 10.th.
I was nervous, I wantet the job.
I went on a classtrip to amsterdam, and there, just coming in from the opera, in the lobby of our hostel on a rented computer I got my answer the eavning at april 9.th:

The title didn't reveal anything, it only said Answer to your Walt Disney World Interview, but here's what the email said:

Dear Walt Disney World Castmember,
Congratulations!!!!

We are happy to let you know that you have been accepted for the Walt Disney World Cultural Representative Program!
Here are the details of your offer:
Departure Date: September 9, 2008
Position: Food and Beverage
Duration of Offer: 12 months

Please let us know by email before April 15th if you want to accept this position & confirm your departure so that we could explain you the departure process.
When you accept your position, please write the information below in your email :

First Name and Last Name:
Country:
Position:
Date of Departure:

We are looking forward to hearing from you and knowing your decision.

Finally, IF at the time of your interview, you did not have the documents below, please send them immediately:
A copy of your CRIMINAL REPORT (please fax)
A copy of your Passport (please scan and email)
Do not hesitate to contact us for any further information.

Best regards,

Megan Durand
International Services
Tel: +33 2 97 84 84 44
Fax: +33 2 97 84 04 22
wdw@internationalservices.fr

Belive me, I confirmed fast. and was very happy!