Halloween @ disneyworld!

My flooble chatterbox has been unavailable for more than a week... so much for being temporarily unavailable... and then i realise that the flooble database is being screwed up (too many connections they say) and i see all the other flooble chatterboxes on other blogs arent functional either. So ive decided to change it to another type.



The last 30 secs of halloween fireworks! the bestest part!!







Anyway, i know its still really far from halloween, but these americans are really crazy about it and are already celebrating it in big scale now. especially in disneyworld. yesterday there was mickey's not so scary halloween party going on in the magic kingdom. Night life and halloween at the magic kingdom is a real blast! too bad i went alone. and i also realise, i couldnt have gone with other ppl that easily either.

Since i happen to work in the magic kingdom, after work, i changed out of my costume and sneaked out of the restaurant.
Whew, it was such a liberating experience to get out of the restaurant and the tunnels where we stay within everyday, and into the magic kingdom outside! once outside, in my civilian clothes and without nametag, i am now a guest, and its their turn to serve me.

so then i started going around the trick a treat locations and got a handful of candies at each of them, visiting attractions along the way. theres all sorts of american candies in there, and randomly given. the occasional packets of chocolate are the ones i wanted most.
at the end of the time, i went home with half a bag full of candies, and it filled up a basket left in the apartment for sharing.

and then the highlight of the day is of course the halloween fireworks above the cinderella castle. almost everyday there would be fireworks above the castle. but whats different for the halloween party is that the fireworks are much longer (maybe 20 mins), during which the cinderella castle, the building supposedly a bright fairy taleish wonder, is instead steeped in eerie lighting effects. after the fireworks there is also a performance by life size disney villians at the entrance of the castle.

i noticed that the crowd was well dressed in halloween costumes, and they had disney accesories and goodies that i didnt get, like a goodie bag specially for collecting treats (i used my own bag instead), a book for collecting character's autographs, and seemed to know where to go very well. they must have gotten them at the entrance when coming in. and thats where i didnt go.
later when i came back and told my housemates about it, they were all surprised and said i was lucky and a cheat. because apparently, what i was unaware of, is that specially for this halloween party, even cast members have to pay! for normal guests, they pay even more than the ususal park ticket. and i got in free, because i didnt go in by the main entrance with the guests, but by the cast entrance and through the tunnel to my restaurant, and subsequently sneaking out through the back door into the magic kindom!

i got to attend such a large scale event, which would normally cost me $33, for free! and it was a great time. its such a great feeling to have unknowingly cheated and gained lots from it that others would not. haha. the rest of us intend to go for it on 1 oct, and pay for it. i dont mind going again... and it would feel like i paid once to go for it twice. heh

Earning my ears

Had my first day of work. and i would say, it seems all good. got to see the restaurant and the surroundings. the restaurant is all wooden and oldern texas style (cause Pecos Bill is a cowboy ). the restaurant is only open from late morning till evening about 7pm, so we practically dont serve dinner, and everything is cleared up by 8. no late nights for me! and mornings are free too, since my shift only starts from noon onwards.

the food is served quite similar to fast food style. the customers make their order, then they go to the counter to collect it, and bring it to their tables themselves. so there actually aint much of the waiter role involved ~ the roles are rather specialised. filler, stock taker, drinks, counter, salad bar, dining room. thats about it. and each of these roles have a rather narrow scope
we arent very busy. and since out tasks are simple, it is quite stress free, though boring.

my trainer is a nice laidback guy, really tall and huge, but not at all intimidating. very patient and friendly, doesnt talk like he is any higher status than me. doesnt pick on me when i make mistakes. too bad he is not my supervisor.

colleagues are alright... most of them didnt take the initiative to welcome me or talk to me, but they all seem friendly, even if they keep to themselves. there are some who do talk to me though, and i am able to make some connection with them even on the first day. look forward to working with these ppl. ive got coworkers from everywhere - different parts of USA, south american countries (so they speak spanish), puerto ricans, australia, indonesian, koreans, chinese. too bad no singaporean. but the chinese ppl get really happy when i speak chinese to them. haha.

i think ill like the culture here while working ~ very open, outspoken, easy to talk to strangers and customers, low emphasis on protocol; so dont need all that respectful culture like it is in chinese and jap restaurants.

there was also a special cast celebration on! a big party for all cast members where we get to eat our fill of bbq food, salad, drinks, even ice cream, and a party going on on stage with some disney characters. apparently im very lucky to start work at such a time, cause the cast celebrations only happens annually! since i was on training, i was able to take a longer break to attend the cast celebration. yay.

fireworks light the sky every other night above the cinderella castle. too bad im still working at the time it shows. but i can still go to the backyard to catch a glimpse of it.

ok, my 2nd day of work is starting soon. shall see how much my impressions would change after a while.

A week's progress

Exactly one week ago, i was on the plane on my way here.

It seems like so long ago that i been here. By now i am starting to get used to this apartment, the environment, weather, and the people. It seems like so long ago since ive last been at home, in Singapore. but the feeling is not of homesickness, but of nostalgia. i dont experience such a separation with my old world back in Sg as i feared or imagined. but then again, it may be too early to say. after all, its only been one week.

Within the week that has passed, i travelled here, moved into the apartment, bought all our stuff to furnish up the place and make it homely, got familiar with the surrouning area, adapted to the new life, and adapted to my housemates. got used to the american lifestyle and products.

in respect to the internship program, ive done all my admin stuff (they were really a chore), completed my training, and today i had my job orientation! Finally i receive my work schedule, get to see my workplace, received my uniform (or costume it is called) and also get to tour around the magic kingdom! too bad i didnt bring my camera and didnt have chances to take photos anyway. tomorrow is the start of my work proper at the Pecos Bills cafe. and next week will be the start of my UNCG modules.

Soon it will be just monotony of work and lessons. though each day should be different since we are dealing with diferent customers (or guests they call them) but after a while it gets quite routine i guess. i know that the best way to make every working day new and unique is to relate to each guest as unique individuals and not just another customer. ill try.

People say that at first we would come here and miss home and wanna go back badly, then after a while we start to like it, and at the end we dont wanna go back. but as far as i can see, i may enjoy my time in Disneyworld and working there. i may come to enjoy the company of my peers while im here. but even so, one things for sure - the environment is so much better in Singapore, and there is no place like home.

A new life

It is now the 4th day into the start of my new life - the life away from home and into the Disneyworld experience.

Prior to leaving, i thought i was ready. i did almost all i could, and there was nothing that i really wanted to do but didnt. definitely, i had underestimated the preparations needed. Reality had not dawned on me yet. It was only when at that historical moment that i entered the checkin area on my own and waved goodbye to my family, did the realisation come and the truth suddenly sank in so deep and awoke me from my delusion.

A new life has just begun. A whole new different life for the next 5 months.
Only then did i realise how mentanlly unprepared i was.
I'm on my own now.
I realise how dependant i was on my family and my friends back here.
the new life would be one of independence - meaning both freedom and vulnerability.
A life full of challenges and pitfalls.
Terrible nervousness set in, like never felt before.

I had been so busy focusing on savouring the old life as much as i could before leaving. Yes i prepared myself for leaving the old life. But i missed out the even bigger part of preparing myself for the new life.
perhaps things could have been better if there was proper amount of orientation programs or briefings back in SG before going. nor did we meet earlier on that day.
its like one moment im busy packing at home and all focused there, and then the next i find myself on the plane, into the new life, and no return till the end.
it was such a sudden transition. happened all so fast. its like i was suddenly pushed out into the open

I must say though that the torturously long flight time to get there served as a good time to think and do the mental preparations i lacked. It was like a good 29 hours of purgatory, neither in the old nor new life. at the end of it, i still didnt get into the spirit of the new life (until now i still havent) but i had gotten over the anxieties.
the song Daniel came to mind, and it brought back memories from the time when i first got confirmed into this program. the excitment, anticipation and fantasies i had of it, which has faded off by now.

Theres so much to say, but not the opportnities and the discpline as of now. Generally im fine. Not missing home too much, not suffering too much, not disliking anything too much. I have still yet to settle into this new life and place. Yes things go wrong, things may not be so pleasant, and i have already faced some problems and disappointments, but they do not have the lingering effect which is what would make my time a torture. I learn to take it in stride.
I can safely say that it would be an enriching, valuable once-in-a-lifetime experiential opportunity. but other than that, many things are still left in the dark, many uncertainties remain about what would be coming up next. From what has been revealed, they have been mostly very different from what i expected.

All the more, it leaves room open for God's guidance to go ahead of me, and His glory to be revealed.

Final Words

The time now is 1am, Tuesday 8 september. Im into my 6th last hour in Singapore for this whole year and part of next. The time has come. the time for me to leave this place, and into
A WHOLE NEW WORLD!


oh fine. its just disney world. haha.


So i shall take this bit of time left to blog. cause its a moment to remember. and i wont know when ill be able to blog again. maybe my next post would be about my whole week of orientation already.

Right now my feelings are not of excitement, but of reminiscence, quite emotional about leaving this place behind and being separated from this part of the world for the whole 5 months till its over. i cant even make a slight fix to my room after this, or grab a piece of paper i forgot to bring. I feel strange. But it doesnt seem to feel like im gonna enter a transition real soon. maybe it will at the airport. And of course, tiredness.

Its been a whole day of packing. Gosh, i truly underestimated the task and process of packing. yes i had all the things to pack in mind, and it may seem simple putting them into the bags. but when i get into action then do i realise how complicated it is. As for now i have finally packed finish and tidied up my room. But it took me at least 7 hours in total just to pack. and maybe another hour to tidy up my room. and then a bit of business to do using my comp before i go, such as this, blogging.

Looking back, i think my last few days here has been spent quite well. i am satisfied with it, and it will certainly be memorable. i got to meet many friends and go for many events; from sec school to poly to church friends, over several different occasions. Hq and andrew's farewell, dinner at Din Tai Fung twice, gabriel's house twice. some casual outings. and of course, the surprise farewell party for me.

The farewell party was great. though the surprise didnt work except to get me all confused on Friday when i was told to announce it in Jym. i think it was a little too short. timings werent really favourable. the jymers took long to come over from church, and many had to leave early, for whatever reasons including the wake. bad clash of timings. organisation could have been better. activities could have been better too. it almost became just like a free and easy gathering where ppl come to eat and play on their own. but last minute some activity got into place and saved the day. didnt save me from being deceived and forcefully dunked in the pool while wearing a pants i needed for USA. but it was fun while it lasted, yeah.

And then today (im speaking of monday cause it still seems like today) the last day, did feel special compared to the previous days. its the feeling of savouring every moment and experience of Singapore remaining that i could. I spent the afternoon in West Mall with my mom and Joel, doing last minute shopping (never shopped for US any time before). God granted me success and we were able to find the stuff i wanted very easily, and got them all at good deals. I got to enjoy soya milk probably the last time in a long time cause i doubt they have it in USA.
2 people met me to pass me stuff last minute. interestingly, both were passing to me on the behalf of someone else, and both had the opportunity to pass it to me earlier but forgot. haha.

For my last dinner here, i had special home cooked dishes upon request. Curry chicken, sambal kang kong, promfrets and herbal soup... gonna miss all these food! and of course, the durians i had for dessert. no way im gonna find it there. it would drive all the ang mohs away.

Ok im now left with like 1h 45mins left to sleep. its ok, ill replenish it on the plane. But now while i can, i shall take my last sleep/ nap on my bed, in my room. Goodbye in advance, to my home, the Singapore environment, my friends and society. Whats more to say, ive said it before.

Preparations and closures

Only 5 more days remain for me back here in Singapore. Exams are out of the way (or so i consider), and in these last few days im rushing and planning it all to make the time worth while. now that i realise it, time flies so frighteningly fast, each days left is precious and theres no time to waste. I want to make the final days special. I must do all i can back here, while i can, before i go off. thats what i feel.
And I dont wanna miss a thing...

Reality is dawning on me that my time left in SG is almost over, and the next time i'll be back here is 5 months later. Im still looking forward to my time in Disneyworld of course. i still think it would be great and worth the while. But one thing that has changed since the past few weeks or months - i no longer feel the anxiety, nervousness or worry about being away for 5 months. I no longer worry over what ill miss out here and what would happen if i forgot to do something here or bring sth along. I stll think its a long time to be away, but my view of this long time has become not as long as before. Ironic huh, since it should be the other way when the time is coming near.

Part of this could be because i have been talking to others who have been overseas for long periods too. of course they are all going overseas to study and none are actually going for internship like i am, so its different, but the similarities are sufficient. i gained valuable insights on life in a foreign country and settling in there. how to pack, what to bring. Which is why i have also decided to travel light.
I do not intend to bring a lot of things. ill just bring along all those things which i know i would use most and surely use. for all those not so important things which i dont know if i may use or not, ill not be so kiasu. also for the benefit of me carrying the luggage, and the space it may take up in my new apartment.
After all, most of the things i need, i would be able to buy there. yeah it may burn a bit of hole in my shallow pockets while im there, but hey its worth all the fuss and packing and cluttering if otherwise.

yes this 5 months could be a time of separation. where i would miss out on contact with many people here. even those who do contact me, would not be as effective as if im here. I do foresee relations growing dry, communications fading off, and some would forget me altogether. I dont want that to happen as far as possible, but thats a natural thing when such separation is in place.

I pray ill spend this time wisely, and that the opportunities would be favourable to me.