One last little tweak...

...and that's it. Done. Never to be touched again.

Yep, so there are now just 2 days until applications are closed for the CRP for 2012ish positions. Last night I went in to my application - which was submitted in December, even before they opened - and edited my CV and the covering letter.

I'm not sure why, it was obviously good enough the first two times I got on to the Waiting List, but I feel like I've learnt a little bit more since I've been at my work placement about how employers receive these kind of things, so, phooey I edited it.

Recently of course, with me having to apply for lots of jobs and actually feeling more enthused about getting a career in general, the whole issue of where my life is going has been more prevalent in my mind. As any of you who have ever applied for the CRP will know, you have to apply so far in advance that planning for the future is a lil hard!

This time around, that's been stepped up a whole notch, with Yummy Jobs and Disney Recruitment looking for people to start work in what potentially could be 18 months time. Talk about limbo.

Enough about that though: what will be, will be. Let's just say I don't envy Yummy Jobs staff in March, having to sort through thousands of applications and sort out the Waiting List from the previous interviews...

On a nice note, yesterday was pay day! Disaster almost struck when I spilt drink on my laptop keyboard, but since I'm writing this now, all seems to be well. I've hardly started paying this laptop off yet, so that would not have made me a happy bunny at all!

So I've been keeping up with various people's blogs/vlogs recently and apparently some of you have actually been reading what I randomly compose, so massive thank you Emma for saying nice things about my blog. Those blogs I'm particularly enjoying are Vikki's http://www.mydisneyjourney.co.uk and Myah's http://doddi92.tumblr.com and Suzie's http://suziewdwcp.blogspot.com
So a big thank you to them and to everyone else who blogs for allowing me to live a lil Disney magic through you all! Keep up the awesome work, especially so you can have a record for years to come of all you got up to. Occasionally I start from the beginning and read my whole blog: it amazes me what it has bourne witness to and reminds me of all the little things I'd forgotten.

Ummm massive amounts of good luck (can't believe I haven't said that yet!) to everyone whose application is in for this round of apps. It's been great to chat on WDWIP about all the ups and downs of this journey we're on together, so be happy the first milestone is almost upon us. Two days til that's it, the apps are officially under review. Thanks heavens for February only having 28 days!

Other things that I'm happy about (apart from the fact my laptop isn't dead!!) is that my JobSearch day has been switched to a Friday, which means now that the weekend starts at lunchtime Friday for me! Soooo good because I only have one day off a week - now its 1.5 days!

So Tom's in his flat, Sarah's in the Cassel, I'm at my work placement, Ellie's been to Istanbul and is teaching Yr 4, Jenny is pregnant (well excited!!) and life goes on.

Charlotte (my Momentum buddy) and I have set a provisional date of April sometime to meet up in London as she's going travelling at the end of March for a little while. We also have another potential buddy - Joy - who may join us at Momentum.

Have everything crossed for those still on the Waiting List as I know how hard it can be to be them.

What else can I tell you of my life, the universe and everything in it? Probably not a lot (will probably think of it after I post this blog).

Toodles!

I happen to think this is the cutest photo ever! So I'm posting it here:

Maybe I'll blog....?

Maybe I am!!

So you may be asking yourself "Oooh, I wonder what amazing thing has happened in Vicki's life since she last blogged, to warrant a new entry?" Answer = nothing.

So why am I blogging?? Not sure really... (You can tune out, stop reading, go on Facebook etc, if you're bored at this point)!

WAIT! I have news...

1. Oh who cares about laying it all out neatly and under headings. Plus I can't really think of heading right now. On with the show!

Today it is exactly 6 months until Momentum!!!! Hooray for counting down to important events. Charlotte - who I'll be camping with - and I are geting to know each other very well and getting on like a metaphorical flaming abode. We have loads in common and think quite a lot of things the same, so its been really exciting and encouraging to make a new friend. So I'm well hyped for the summer!

Of course, the other great occurance of the summer is Keswick and I'll be heading to London on 12th March for the prayer day, where I get to see the one-and-only Miss Ruth Gill and possibly visit some of my favourite shops.

There are 9, yes 9 days until applications close for the CRP for positions in 2012. E*X*C*I*T*E*M*E*N*T!! As ever there are many, many people on the WDWIP forums all in ardent discussion and various stages of nervousness etc.

Placement continues to go swimmingly. Jenny and I get along very well together and get along fine with all the staff in the office. Sometimes we have quite exciting stuff to do, other times we do shredding, stapling and copying! Although the excitement of this week is that we got to learn to use the binding machine...!

What else??? The weather is naff at the mo, so my "commute" to work isn't as pleasent as it could be, but with my trusty ipod by my side then it goes quicker! On the subject of ipods, I'm considering the merits of purchasing an ipod touch...one with 32G of memory. However timing is tight to get a good deal.
Watch this space...

So "maybe I'll blog" has turned in to a blog, but not one of any great substance. I'm considering the creation of a bucket list of things I'd like to do in Florida, but I don't want to be too optimistic...yet! I may save that for a future blog.

Cheerio!

*EDIT* Sunday 20/02/11

I hate Argos

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UPDATE early hours of Monday 21/02/11

I now have 73 things on my Wish List for Florida, should I ever have the immense fortune to be accepted to spend a year there!

The Cost of the Dream

So I was intrigued and pretty worried about the exact cost of completing the Cultural Representative Program and so I decided to actually bring all the info I've gathered together and get a grand total. Here goes!

Pre-acceptance costs

Since I've gone through the Application Process twice, I can give you a pretty accurate idea!

Clothes for the interview £30

Travel to & from London, as well as Tube £23

Accomadation in London £30

Food and sundries in London £15

Post-acceptance costs

This is what I've found out from seeing a lot of people prepare for their departure over the past couple of years:

CRB check £36

Visa fees:
1. Cost of call to the US Embassy to book appt £10
2. Visa fee ($150) £97
3. Travel to & from London, as well as Tube £23
4. Accomadation in London £30
5. Cost to have Passport returned to you £15

Program Assessment Fee ($100) £65

Flight (depends when you go...) £300-450

Insurance (for just 4 months) £200
OR
Insurance for the whole year £500

Let's face it, there'll be some shopping to do £60

The G*R*A*N*D T*OT*A*L would be £ 925 - 1375

Then you have to consider the fact that there is money to be paid out almost as soon as you arrive:

Travel from the airport to Vista Way Housing Complex

Your first trip to Walmart that day (including a cell phone!)

Eating out/hanging out/going out in the first fortnight

Paying your first fortnight's rent

Perhaps buying Annual Passes to Universal, Busch Gardens & Seaworld

So there's all of that to begin paying out when you first arrive. You don't start work that is paid for almost a week, and then that's only training so not full time. However you still have to pay housing rent from day one(!)
Annual Passes Cost (for Florida residents!):

Universal Studios = $159.99 ~ monthly payments of $8.04
Seaworld = $79.99
Busch Gardens = $77.99

Hmmm, very much money eh? Tell me about it!
Well all we can do is look to the future and wait & see.
If I don't get in this won't mean anything...meh!