If Silence is Golden, Then What is Noise?

Living with 4-5 roommates (it depends on how many are home, and whether or not they bring someone home to spend the night) is far from quiet. There's always someone coming and going- at all hours of the day or night sometimes- and people coming to visit and play games, and, well, you get the picture. Then there's my complex, which is really like a college dorm, with the parties, shouting, and people getting drunk and screaming and boomboxes playing way past midnight. (Just as though nobody has to go to bed.) And working at a major resort I am constantly surrounded by noise and commotion. There's always someone talking, people asking questions, children screaming or crying because they've been up too late too many night, an occational little persom running through the food court and screaming just because they can, and music constanly playing in the background. (As if the people ambiance isn't enough, we get to listen to the same four jazz songs over and over again. That or two or three much over-done Disney songs.) I am continuously surrounded by people talking to me, needing my full attention, and, after awhile, I start to feel overwhelmed.

So naturally, when I finally get a moment alone, I take full advantage of it. I will either listen to music (of my choice and volume), read a book, watch TV or a movie (well, at least I would until one of my roommates sent her TV home with some friends, and the only other one that had a TV sold it), or catch up on my sleep. (I discovered that when I'm really tired, I can sleep really heavy, and, even if I'm sleeping in the living on the sofa, nothing interupts my sleep and wakes me- at least, not for more than a minute or two.) More importantly, when I'm alone, I can finally read my Bible and pray without interruption.

As y'all know, I am naturally quiet, and am not a person who enjoys loud noise, particularly not for extended periods. I much prefer going home after work and propping my legs up, fixing myself a cup of tea, and surfing the internet, reading, watching TV (at a normal volume), etc. If I'm going to hang out with someone, I would rather not do something loud. We can play games and shout because we're winning or losing, but I don't want to listen to rock music past a certain hour, or have a loud party. Don't get me wrong, I love hanging out with my friends, I just don't like LOUD.

I can't wait to get home and have, at the most one roommate, who, hopefully, is not loud, doesn't party, and doesn't bring friends home to spend the night without asking. (It's not so much that part that gets to me; it's when that friend spends the night in my room- especially when that friend is a boyfriend.) Plus, I'll be able to have at least one cat (cats are quiet!). And, most of all, to be able have a little more me time.

Time Sure Does Fly When You're Having Fun!

I can't believe it's already been almost four months since I left! People told me that it was going to pass quickly, and it really has.

So, what have I learned? Well, I've learned alot about dealing with people- all kinds of people, from all over the world. I've learned how to talk to people, how not to deal with people, and how to work past lanquage barriers. I've learned that I can push myself alot further than I ever thought; physically, mentally, and emotionally. I've also learned that getting up early in the morning five days a week and going to work is not such a bad deal as I thought. In fact, it's a good thing. (The human body can only stand a mixed up schedule so long before crashing. And then you sleep for two days- and then start all over again.) I've also become alot more independent, so look out world! I am extremely used to doing my own thing now, and I love living on my own!

I have no place to live when I get home, but I know that God has a plan. He provided the money for my ticket home, and has provided extra hours at work so that I can actually save money for when I get back. He's brought me this far, and I know that He's not going to let me hang. He's given me the strength to get this far, and He'll continue to do so!

The Sign Says CLOSED. What Don't You Understand About That?

Have you ever noticed that when we are determined to go somewhere, we're not going to let anything stop us? It doesn't matter where, or what time it is; we're going to get in to wherever that is.

Picture this:

-It's 10:00 pm and you've suddenly decided that you just have to go to the library. Never mind that the last time you went to the library at that hour, it was closed. All you care about is that you're bored with all your books and want something new to read. Ditto on your movies. You want something new to watch tomorrow night (or at least new to you) and you don't want to have to pay for either one. So, you drive all the way to the library, only to discover that, guess what? IT'S CLOSED. Then you go on to the next one... and the next one... and the next one. And, yup, they're ALL CLOSED. And you get mad, and rant and rave about how stupid they are for being closed. But, as there's nothing you can do about it, you just go home.

Or how about this one:

-You're still awake at 3:30 am. You can't sleep, and you have to be at work at 8:00, so why bother to go to sleep anyway. You settle down in front of the TV to watch whatever happens to be on- even if it happens to be the latest info-mercial for vacuum cleaners. Just as you settle down in your recliner, it hits you. Why not get a head start on your caffeine intake for the day? How are you going to do that? Well, you could make some, but, really, why? Afterall, you don't have very much left, and the coffee maker is still dirty, and you would have to clean it, and fill it with water, and get a filter and put it in the coffee, and... it's just way to complicated for you to deal with right now. You ponder for a minute, and.. Aha! You've got it! Your favorite coffee place has the perfect early morning pick-me-up; and it's just down the street. Plus, there are more locations around town. You're all excited, and can already taste your coffee. You drive perhaps a little faster than you should, but, you do want to get there, afterall. And, when you get out of the car and walk to the door, you see the sign that says "closed" and "we'll be back at 6:00 am". And.. well, you know what happens next.

There are so many more instances and senarios I could talk about, but I think you get the picture. Suffice to say, we live in an I-want-what-I-want-and-I-want-it-now culture, and we aren't going to let anything stand in our way.

Except perhaps for those pesky "closed" signs.

An "It's a Small World" Mentality in a Big, Grown-up World
or "I Don't Wanna Grow Up" (But Maybe I Have No Choice)

As a child, I always thought that, when I became an adult, I was still going to do the same things I did then, with the added bonuses of having a car and driving, getting married and having kids, all while continuing to depend on my parents for everything. (Naturally, I didn't consult my parents on the last part- I just assumed that it would be OK with them.) I wasn't going to change- I was just going to get older and taller, with no reponsibitlities to worry about.

Of course, over the years, that mentality has changed- quite a bit. As I've grown up, I realize just how much responsibilty there is in actually being an adult. You have things to do: working, paying the bills, laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping, etc. And you can no longer act like a child. Plus, there's all the emotional stuff that we, as adults, must deal with: life, death, relationships, life's little ups and downs, knowing who we are and what we want. It's a big world out there, with a lot of problems and challenges! And, unlike a child, we can't go hiding behind Mommy or Daddy, knowing that they're going to save us.

So what do we do about it? Well, honestly, most of us have one of two reactions: we either whine about our "lot in life", wondering why it can't be any easier, or we freak out and shut down. (I've always been the freak out kind.) Very few of us always do what we should do in the first place, and that is to go to God.

When we do go to God, the whole world seems so much brighter, and, while it's not easier, it's better and we know that we can bear anything that happens. We learn that it's not what life throws at us, but how we react to it that matters. And it's all by the grace of God that He is patient enough with is to be there and help us learn that lesson- or series of lessons, if needed. Eventually, if we follow the Father, we discover that the world really isn't as big as it seems, not where God is concerned. He's way bigger than anything we could go through, and there's nothing He can't handle! If we let him, He'll get us throught it all, and take us on an amazing journey while we're at it. He's the one that will help us grow up- the way that He desires.

We also learn that there is much wisdom in a cheezy Disney song. Come on everybody, sing along!

"It's a world of laughter, a world of tears,
It's a world of hopes and a world of fears.
There's so much that we share,
that it's time we're aware
It's a small world after all!
It's a small world afterall!
It's a small world afterall!
It's a small world afterall!
It's a small, small world!"

"Earning My Ears"

That's what the ribbon on my Disney nametag said. I wore it until I was done with my training- and I ended training officially last Thursday. (I wore the ribbon until last night.)

So, how's it going? Well, the work is still hard, that I know what I'm doing (for the most part), it's gotten better. And I'm starting to make friends at work. In fact, I spent Tuesday morning at Epcot with four of them.

I'm still working long hours for the most part, and am having a hard time getting a couple of days off (they keep saying that my request has been "denied"- and that's a month in advance). However, I understand that the labor office is not giving anyone time off right now (besides their one day off). I have a manager that usually tries to work things out for us though.

All I can say is; those ears- they'd better be big ones.

The Pollyanna Mentality

Working for Disney is just what it sounds- working for Disney. The work is very hard and tiring; at times, just plain exhausting. For Disney expects perfection. They have exthremely high standards, that, at times, seem absolutely inpossible to live up to.

I admit, I have been very discouraged lately, and there have been days that I just felt like I could not go on any further; days that I just wanted to quit the program and come home early. I've had a couple of really bad days, and some really long days. I've even cried a couple of times.

However, I am trying something very radical- being thankful for everything. I have made it my goal to find at least one thing to be grateful about every day, whether I'm going to work, or resting at home, or playing in one of the parks, or doing my laundry, or shopping. No matter what it is that I am doing, I have to find one thing to be thankful about. I tried it today, and, you know what? My day went alot better! And I took the whole thing one step further- anytime I stared to grumble about my job, I thanked God for something.

A friend told me that that was a very "Pollyanna-like" way of thinking.

I know it's not always going to be easy. But, if i sit down and think about it, the list of things I have to be thankful for is relly wuite long: I have a job that pays me what I need to live right now, a roof over my head, family, friends, food, clothes, and more. Most importantly, I have a Father in heaven who loves me, and forgives me, and is always there for me.

How could I really complain when I have all that?

I know it's been awhile, but, y'all would not believe how busy I've been the past two and a half weeks. WDW really works their employees! However, I'm going to try to keep y'all updated. (Notice I said try.

BTW, the whole "getting-up-at-the-same-time" thing is not working right now. I work five days a week, and work different hours every day, with my schedule changing weekly. Many days the past two weeks, I've gotten up earlier than 6:15 (try two days of getting up at 3:30 in order to be at work at five, and two or three days of getting up at 4:30).

Great, so the one time I actually get excited about getting up on time (well, as excited as I'll ever be about getting up early), my work schedule changes. Figures.