Check-in: The Early Days

When I left you, we had just arrived in Florida. Now I know where I'm working and I'm all moved in, but I'll get to that in a minute...or several paragraphs. ;)

On Sunday evening we had dinner at Lone Star Steakhouse which was down the street from our hotel. By we, this time I mean my mom and I plus my roommates and their parents! Or rather, one of our parents. It was good to meet (in person, after months of talking on Facebook) and afterwards we went to the Polynesian Resort to watch the fireworks/Wishes. 

The Polynesian is really neat because it's Hawaiian themed; the guard at the gate even told us Mahalo. (That means thank you) 

Then we walked out to the mini beach that's a part of the resort and watched fireworks! Here are some pictures from the evening: 

We called it a night after sort of getting lost on our way back. But that's okay! How else do you learn a new city?

The next morning we met outside of one of the housing complexes, Vista, to 'check-in'. 

During this time we learned where we'd be living and where we'd be working!! I am living with three other girls, the ones I had been talking to on Facebook, prior to coming here. We're living in Chatham Square, for those of you who are familiar with the program. And I will be working at...*drumroll please*

EPCOT! 

More specifically I will be working at Innoventions!!

I'm excited and also nervous but mostly excited. For those of you who are unfamiliar with EPCOT, or with the park/attraction, Innoventions is indoors---so air-conditioning! I'm grateful for this because my skin burns faster than styrofoam in a campfire. 

Afterwards we all moved into our 2-bedroom apartment. Look for a post about my apartment with pictures in the future! I have a little more organizing and settling to do before it's camera ready. 

Later was dinner at Maggiano's which I'm mentioning because they have gluten-free pasta!! I may have accepted a challenge and finished a double portion of it. And they were Italian style portions too. :D

My mom, Lauren (one of my roommates), and I walked around the HUGE plaza that Maggiano's was in afterwards and came across the following charming establishment:

I originally walked over because my dad has the same name. Joe, not monkey ;). We found out it was kind of like a chuckie cheese. The door said ages up to 12 and I was like "Aww, that's not us." This happened right when a small family walked by and the dad, without smiling (while holding a tiny infant), said "You could pull off 11."

It took us awhile to stop laughing after he walked by. 

The plaza was really cool though; it had stuff like this: 

And this:

It was good fun!

The next morning I woke up from a VERY creaky bed and went to Downtown Disney with my mom. Sidebar: if you have advice about how to fix four squeaky beds, my roommates and I would appreciate it. Also the floor is more forgiving than the beds. Mattress pads are on my ASAP shopping list. 

Downtown Disney was fun; we meandered in and out of shops and window-shopped until we were hungry for lunch. After I dropped my mom off at the airport. Tomorrow is our housing meeting, and a housing event that is supposedly Perry the Platypus themed and I am very excited about that. Then on Thursday I'll have my Disney orientation which is called Traditions and on Friday will be my first day of training!

Wish me luck! Or better yet: faith, trust, and pixie dust!

-Steph