So There’s This Bench …

I made a HUGE blog post, and it didn’t work. I’ll rewrite it when I feel like it. =]

Yesterday I went to my assigned time to check in and get registered and stuff. I tablehopped my way around the pavillion, signing forms, etc. I got my picture taken for my Housing ID (and it’s HORRIBLE) and then at the Immigration table I was asked for my passport and my DS 2019 form. I gave them my passport, but I didn’t have a DS 2019. The border guard hadn’t given it back to me.

So they sent me back to search my apartment. I cried for awhile, called my mom panicking, turned my room upside down, but couldn’t find it. So I went back to the table, told them, and they told me to meet them at 830 this morning to sign a new one.

The afternoon orientation session was boring. We were all hot and tired and didn’t want to listen to them tell us to lock our doors a thousand times, because that’s essentially all the presentation was. We booked it outta there as soon as we could, hit the pool, then got rushed to go back to the Commons because Steffie needed her character information, and then took a bus to Downtown Disney. We wandered a bit, taking pictures and stuff. We bought key chains, because we’ve all lost our key atleast once. It’s Sam’s first time in America, much less Disney, so she was like a little kid the whole time. Then we got in the HOUR LONG wait to go to Rainforest Cafe, but then there was a guy standing there yelling for a party of six because they had a table for a party of six, and so we jumped in, even though we were only five. He was nice, the food was good and we all ended up stuffed to bursting. We found our way back, went for a swim again, and then that was it.

Today I had to meet them to sign my form, so I did that, and then I went and got the bus to The Commons for my morning presentation, which was about immigration compliance and banking, and then came back. I was home alone, but now Sam’s here. I get my work location and training schedule at 1pm, but until then I do nothing, which is boring. I might read, but I figured I’d blog first. I got here really early, so I have all the early sessions of orientation, and everyone else is later, so I tell them what happens as they’re on their way out the door.

I’m apparently “the mother” of our little group we’ve formed, which is cute. Everyone likes me. =]

We had a roach! Atleast I think it was a cockroach. I’m not sure. I sprayed it with Lysol and Sam sprayed it with deordorant until it stopped moving. Then I took the garbage out and washed the garbage cans. I’m obsessive, what can I say? 

Our phone is fixed, and the internet works now, though there are no more wireless signals so it’s a plug in. Oh well, it’s better than nothing, and my room is close to the front, so I can plug in and still go sit in my room!

I think it’s lunchtime. I’m always hungry here!

The apartment complex is like it’s own little village. It’s very cozy, and there were no wild parties last night or anything, so it seems to be okay. All six girls are here now. In the front bedroom it’s Sam and I; in bedroom two it’s Giulianna and Gemma; and in the third it’s Jenny and Jennifer. In order of appearance we’re from: Nottingham England, Windsor, Ottawa, Wales, Hong Kong, and Hong Kong.

We haven’t really had a roommate meeting yet. It’s been busy around here, but we are going to have to work on our communication. There are four jugs of milk in the fridge and I don’t think anyone can go through that all on their own. Steffi’s roommates all went to sleep before midnight, so she wandered over here (she lives across the volleyball courts) and hung out until 3:30 in the morning when I realized I had to get up in four hours. So we all headed to bed, and Steffi headed home.

I like it here. No major roommate crashes so far. Everyone’s just been doing their own thing. I have Orientation today - at 9 I go sign for my payroll deductions and housing agreement, and then at 12:30 I have a housing orientation across the way at The Commons. I’m done at 2:45 though, so it won’t be bad, and I have a break in between 9:30 and 12:30. Thank goodness - I can sleep more and then hit the pool!!

Thank goodness for ground floor! If I had had to lug my stuff all the way up the stairs, I would not be happy!

I’m in Vista Way, about in the middle. I got here around noon, with mom. Checked in, which was quick. Mom helped me move my stuff in and unpack and then we set off exploring. We wandered through Vista and then we came back, got in the car, and went to Publix. She bought my groceries for me (thanks mummy), then I dropped her off at Pop and came back to my apartment. I unpacked my food, had a small panic attack because the phone doesn’t dial out and I couldn’t get the internet to work, but then I managed to connect.

On the way back to Pop, when I was driving mom, there was a cop trying to get through, but the oncoming traffic wasn’t stopping, so finally it did, and then the cop went, but a SUV thing smashed into it! It was crazy, the SUV spun into a wall and the part of the cop car’s bumper got knocked off.

Anyways, so I’m unpacked and just chilling. I have one roommate so far, in my 3 bdrm apartment. Her name is Sam, and she’s from England. I took the room with the bathroom attached, and she’s joined me in there, so it should be good times ahead!

2:54pm, Friday

I blogged briefly yesterday, but I didn’t say anything important. We drove through Ohio, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Ohio took forever, Tennessee seemed to go quickly, and then Kentucky I drove, so I think it went slow, but Mom says it went quickly.

We left our hotel in Georgia – which is the state that never ends by the way – around 3am. We drove and drove and drove and drove. Well, I slept and Mom drove, but I had driven all of Kentucky on Thursday and then I drove the last 80 miles of Georgia. We stopped at a Flying J right before leaving the Orange state.

Entering the “Sunshine” State of Florida, I couldn’t see the “Welcome to the Sunshine State” sign due to the copious amount of rain falling from the sky.  Mom was driving, thank goodness, because visibility was limited, but after the rain tapered off we switched and I drove to Ocala, where we switched again so Mom could drive the Florida turn pike. At some point I fell asleep, only to be awoken by Dad yelling my name so he could point out the first sights of the apartment complexes I’ll be staying.

A few miles more and we stopped at The Suites at Old Town, which is a hugeee hotel next to Old Town. When I was little, Amanda was just a baby we got our pictures taken olden style at Old Town. It’s like a carnival, but cooler. We just went for a swim, and I came back to blog and check forums, but discovered that there’s no internet, which sucks. Oh well. Pop Century, where we go to tomorrow, will have internet.

Mom’s ordering pizza right now. I’m sleepy and hungry, frustrated ‘cause I can’t figure out how to make a collect call, and mad about the internet. Gah. I miss my boy & my sister & the other bff, but I’m surviving, and super excited to move into my apartment on Sunday.  Catch up with you again tomorrow (later today).

We’re in Georgia, about halfway there. Everything fit in the car. It’s nap time, and it’s WARM outside.

Tomorrow, tomorrow.

We leave soon. Five hours. Maybe six. Probably six, knowing this family.

We’ve fought about packing and food and luggage allotment. All that’s left is to fight packing the car and we’ll be on our way. I hope the border goes okay.

I spent an amazing day with my boy. ALLLLL day, we spent together, trying to stay busy so we wouldn’t cry. We almost succeeded.

So I  have enough socks to last me a millenium, and a katrillion bags to be put in the car. I might have to strap myself on top of the cartop carrier, but hopefully not.

See you in Orlando!

Yesterday, the boyfriend and I cleaned out my room.  When I come home in August, there will be another body occupying the basement with me, and so this summer my room is going to be used as a storage space for all the construction materials my dad sees fit to use.

So my shelves are empty and I guess I’m “packed,” although it’s just an ever-growing pile of stuff. I think I’m going to ban my dad from the basement - he just comes down and shakes his head while mom and I throw more stuff on the pile.

I leave in 64 hours.

Today is a day of rest and panic. Double-checking my documents folder, vaccuaming, and hanging out with the boyfriend. Prince Caspian (the movie) came out this weekend, so the family and I are off to see it later tonight.

I just want to sleep until it’s time to go. Yesterday was my last shift at McDonalds. So I’m off to paint my nails shortly! I’ve got a whole week before I go back to strict look guidelines.

64 hours. See ya there!

So it’s 14 days until we leave for our 2-day drive to Florida. I’ve been going crazy, organizing and packing, although to look at my room you wouldn’t think so. I can’t wait to pack all my clothes, so I think I’ll be doing that next week.

We’re leaving May 22nd at like 2am. I probably should be planning to sleep ALLLLL day on the 21st, but I’ll be busy saying goodbye and such. I’ve got a lot of hours for this weekend, so I’m excited for that. I really hope that I manage to stay calm.

Right now I’ve just been organizing the rest of my life. Sunday School, Sparks, work, etc., plus making appointments with doctors and my hair place. I had one appointment today, one last week, and my hair appointment is next week. The doctor’s appointments resulted in 84 dollars worth of prescriptions, which is crazy, but it’s for 3 months, so I can understand. Today I bought multivitamins - Kid’s Chewable, because I HATE swallowing large pills.

There are 3 milk crates, a tiny rubbermaid tote, a giant space bag (with comforter, sheets, pillow cases, rug, blanket, and towels), a closet hanger, my exercise mat, and a memory foam mattress sitting outside my room. My dad comes down and looks at the pile and just shakes his head. I’m so glad we’re driving down! I don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t bring all my stuff.

So over the last month I’ve stocked up on underwear and shorts and general summer clothes, along with all the toiletries anyone could possibly want. My family put me in charge of snacks for the trip down, but I’m broke as no joke, so I don’t know how I’m going to swing that one. I’ve got to pay all my bills and shut off my phone before I leave. What good is an emergency credit card if it’s full?!?

All in all, I’m very excited. I’m trying to swing a mini DV cam from my neighbour so I can take videos of my adventure and post them, but I don’t know if they’re going to go for it. I’ve got a muffin-baking adventure soon, so I can freeze muffins, and I’m figuring out which foods I can eat with my IBS. I don’t want to have an episode down there, I won’t have time to be in pain!

I’ll be back before I leave. More packing to do!