Herro all. It's been a couple days and I've been up to some stuff, believe it or not.

First things first, I got a professional internship! I applied for it on a whim per an email that I received from a meet and greet contact. I think I actually applied for it the day before the deadline. There were some marketing internships available, but most were in sales, which I'm going to try to avoid as much as possible. This internship is in youth events, so all my work will center around two events: the Disney Youth Jazz Festival and Festival Disney. The first takes place over one weekend, towards the end of February I believe, and is open to high school and middle school jazz bands, choirs, and combos. Festival Disney happens over nine weekends, from March to May, skipping Easter weekend. It's open to all performing groups, not just bands...I think.

There is a bit of sales involved, when times are slow, but most will be coordinating and troubleshooting, leading around groups, and presenting awards at the end. They'll perform at Saratoga Springs , Hollywood Studios, or a couple other places. Awards will usually be given out at Indiana Jones amphitheater, but if there are that many groups, it will take place at Lights! Motor! Action! arena, which can hold something like 5,000 people. I guess they can get that big. I'm SO excited. It will last from Jan. 14th to June 2nd and will pay a lot more, $11.15/hour, aka, there's a chance of overtime. Nice. Since my college program ends Jan. 2nd, I think I'm gonna make an appearance at home!

I think it's good that I'm going to be able to move on in just a couple months. I can already feel myself falling into some sort of a rut with safari. However, it could be because I know I will be moving on soon to another project, because don't get me wrong, I LOVE where I ended up and always thank my lucky stars when I go into parks and watch other CPs slave away at incredibly thankless jobs. I just can see myself getting a little bored somewhere down the line.

I've also started looking for apartments...again. But I pretty much know who I'm going to live with: another safari guy with the same internship and his current roommate. Should be pretty sweet and real cheap too, surprisingly. They found a 3-bedroom for $280 + utilities. I am pretty sure it's in the heart of the ghetto, but they assure me it's not. I need to start the car hunt again full force. It's gonna be rough to part with that much money, but it's gotta be done.

After my parents left, it was time to focus on Halloween. A few days before my parents came, a bunch of us went to Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. It's a huge celebration that takes place like 18 different nights between the end of September and Halloween. There's a completely different parade, trick-or-treating throughout the entire park, characters decked out in costume, and EPIC fireworks. It was so much. A bunch of us went as Peter Pan characters, with me going as Michael Darling, brother of Wendy. Yes, that is a woman's nighty. It was a challenge to find one not overwhelmingly gay. Who would have foreseen that as a problem?

I also went to another Halloween party, and for this one, I was Marty McFly. Most people got it, so that was good. I was considering Duffman from The Simpsons, but that would have been a) more involved and b) not sure how many people would have gotten it. But still, being Marty in the Florida warmth = poor choice. I guess I'm used to it being cold on Halloween. Silly me.

The other part of my life that is hectic is making sure I have some good contacts going on before the end of my program. It is ALL about networking 'round these parts. Luckily, it's very easy to do. We have fantastic management at Safaris who are so willing to help anyone that is wanting and deserving. I've spoken with at least two managers, and the most recent meeting was with Kevin. He told me that he sees a great cast member who comes to work everyday, does a good job, and then goes home. He told me I need to start going that extra mile and that he needs more Eric in his face. I told him I'm honestly afraid of stepping on toes around here and he told me not to be. If I get like that, he'll tell me to calm down, since he's already relayed that message to some cast members and they haven't taken the hint. Unfortunately, we all know who he's talking about.

I also had a meet and greet with Tami, someone who works with Magic Music Days. However, that program is getting a name change. To appeal to a more broad spectrum than just bands, like dancers, it will now be called Disney Performing Arts. The name change also brings more credibility to the program. Unfortunately, it's challenging to get into that position, but after my discussion with her, it sounds like the role of Production Assistant would be great for me. I would assist Production Managers with the day-to-day activities of a live show, like Indiana Jones or Lights! Motor! Action! Stunt Show. She gave me all the info on how to get into that.

In my marketing class, we met with an individual who does handles all the special events that Disney does, like Not-So-Scary, Very Merry Christmas, Food and Wine, etc. Her job sounds AWESOME. It's even harder to get into that select group, but most of them have come from Guest Relations. Guest Relations puts you through a lot of situations where anything can occur. They want someone who can really think on their toes. So maybe that's the role for me...

Oh! And I got to ride Rock'n Roller Coaster with the lights on. That was, if anything, more intense than with the lights off. The housing structure is surprisingly small. We got a backstage tour on everything there as well as at Tower of Terror. We didn't get to ride TOT with the lights on, but I think that's better for me since it's my favorite ride and the magic remains preserved.

That basically brings you up to speed. I just had an interview for the Youth Events Professional Internship which would have me directly working with the Disney Jazz Festival and Festival Disney, also a music festival. I think I would be perfect for this internship, plus it pays waaaay better than safaris. Like twice better ($13/hour). Miss everyone!

Good news: I'm still alive

Remember how I said no time? So true. This is really the first opportunity I've had to write since...well, in awhile.

My parents came last week and that was fun...you know, after I found my ID and went back for my main entrance pass. I think I was subconsciously testing their love, just to let them know that I can still do that stuff that would drive them crazy. We went to Epcot the first day to test the waters at the Food and Wine festival which was good because it was very busy. All the local yuppies coming to Disney on the weekend to spend their 'hard' earned money. That night we ate at the Animal Kingdom lodge at Jiko and let me tell, I'm pretty sure that's the best meal I've ever had in my life. SO GOOD.


Next day we all went to Animal Kingdom and rode a couple rides before I clocked in to work. I was only working so they could ride my safari. That was a lot of fun and didn't make me nervous. I've become very comfortable in that job and could really perform well regardless of my passengers. I met them at the Boardwalk later for food and then we went back to Port Orleans - French Quarter to see one of the more interesting performances at a jazz club that I've ever seen. Let's just say that 'Axel F.' was played. On an EWI. Awesome.


Next day we took on Epcot with full force. Did most of Future World in the morning and realized how flippin' lame Journey Into Imagination has now become. Effing Eric Idle! Anyway, we tried A LOT of food during the course of the rest of the day. It was very awesome. Everything was very delicious with the only disliked dish being the Potato and Lentil Crepe. Not that it was bad, it's just that none of us are crazy about Indian food. I'm just glad I finally like food and have gotten away from the bland roots that was my palette.

More to come soon!