The Obsession Grows.....

I dread to think how many blogs I will have completed before I actually go away, but nevertheless here I am again!

As the title suggests, my obsession is growing with all things Disney; spending long hours on relevant Facebook groups, reading my new trivia book and ordering a Vacation Planning DVD to get me some real life footage of the Magic!

I'm working as much as possible at the moment under the proviso that early planning = more time to save up and more money for the trip! :-)

It's official though: I am obsessive. I'm doing lots of research (which if you are sceptical you might call escapism from the week of revision I am facing next week) and it is doing nothing more than exciting me!

You see WDW is more than a theme park (or many theme parks!), its more than the experience of a lifetime (although that's exactly what it is!); its a dream and the product of a dream and a place of dreams. That's where I'm going to go and that's what I am going to be a part of. That thought just makes me want to smile.
Other people's dreams may be to trek through Central America or backpack around Asia or spend a year working and partying in Australia - don't get me wrong, each to their own - but when the day comes that I go to Gatwick having passed my interview and got my visa and planned my travels and saved my money and more than likely spent some of that money on new clothes then that will be the day that my Disney dream comes true.

So now that little rant is over (!) what more can I say? "Goodbye clouds of grey, hello skies of blue" in the words of High School Musical 2. Because that's what it will be.... a whole year of amazingness.....

Thought to end with: Working at Disney is not my only dream, so I wonder if the playing out of one dream will lead to the formulation of another? Maybe I'll have decided on my future by the time 2010 comes around.....

Note to self: really must do some academic work between then and now or I won't be going anywhere..... error!

The Parents Approve!

Well I guess the title says it all really. But I want this to be a complete account so I'll give a few more details, because believe me, if they hadn't, it would've been game over!

Mum didn't seem that excited at first but now I think she realises, possibly from the amount of time I go on about it, that it is a highly sought after job. She's impressed by the benefits and I've been careful to not only go on about Mickey Mouse etc but the finances and practicalities too.

Dad was told by Mum and when he mentioned it to me, it didn't seem as if Mum had spoken ill of it, so that's the first good thing. Secondly, Dad approves in his own right and that's saying a lot, especially from a man who has seen so much of the world. Dad was with the Navy for 20yrs and has probably seen more of the world than the Mir Space Station!
He shares my view that there's nothing that special about Asia or Africa - don't get me wrong I'm sure that if I went to either of those continents it would be an experience of a lifetime, but I'm not that bothered and I'm certain I couldn't spend a year there.

Besides parents it's nice that when I've spoken to my friends - whose opinions I also consider tremendously important - that they're genuinely interested and happy for me. Most of them - no, all of them - have never heard of the Cultural Representative Programme and I've quite enjoyed telling them of it

Other things to report are that I've been thinking about the interview itself, not that I want to but needs must, and whenever I come up with things that I might need to demonstrate or that I would need to make me look good, it seems as if I have them! Yay!

Things I need to think about are that I need to decide when ie what time of year, I want to go. If I work through the summer and go in September/October time, that means I'll be travelling at that time the following year and I doubt that by that point, my wardrobe will be suitable for NY in Autumn.
On the other hand, if I need to raise more money then I'll have to work for as long as possible to fund myself. I need about $1300 which is about £700 for my initial costs; flights, insurance, visa, fees etc and to live off for my first or so, including the initial shopping that'll be quite a bit.

Hmmm...... lots to think about. AND TO BE EXCITED ABOUT TOO

That's why I've started this blog so far in advance, because if it all happens, then I want a record of the build-up, the planning and the excitement of all my dreams and fears etc recorded to look back on, two years down the line.

All of this doesn't really answer the years old question though: what will I do with the rest of my life post-graduation? I'll have to wait and see - 6 months ago I had no idea I would be doing this!

I suppose I had better end, in typical me fashion, with a Thought for the Day: Remember, it (Disney) all started with a mouse. If Walt can start with a mouse and end up with everything there is today, then I can start with a crazy idea and have an amazing year out. Right????

Call me obsessive if you will, but I bought a Disney Trivia Book Today and I am stupidly excited about receiving it and reading up on the place that I love so much and where - one day in the not so distant future - I Will Earn My Ears. YAY!!!!